Canadian wrestling legend Emile Dupré was a father, a mentor — and one heck of a boss
CBC
When you're a pro wrestler, it's important to know that there are "no days off," says René Dupré. It's a lesson his legendary father Emile Dupré taught him well.
"Doesn't matter if it's your birthday, or your anniversary, or Christmas or New Year's," René said. "He taught me a strong work ethic."
Emile Dupré — one of the biggest wrestlers to come out of the Maritimes — died on Sunday at the age of 86.
Born in Shediac, N.B., as Emile Goguen, he began training in professional wrestling in the mid '50s.
In 1977, he created Grand Prix Wrestling, a professional wrestling promotion. He was also known for wrestling with ring legends like Killer Kowalski and Dusty Rhodes.
His influence eventually led his son René to become a pro-wrestling star in his own right. In 2003, he became the first teenager to win a title in the WWE.
Emile, who was nicknamed "Golden Boy" for his good looks, had a myriad of lessons to share about the wrestling industry, René says, including that you have to "sacrifice a lot" to become a pro.
"It's not about how much money you make; it's about how you save," René said. "Thanks to him, I invested my money wisely, and I've done OK for myself. Whereas other guys I know, not so much.
"If it wasn't for him, I would've maybe squandered or done stupid things financially."
Ron Hutchinson, a.k.a The Masked Thunderbolt, wrestled for Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling in the '80s. At the time, Emile was working as a promoter.
Emile was great to work for, he says, "because he had been through it himself."
"He was definitely hands-on, definitely knew what was going on at all times," Hutchinson told As It Happens host Nil Köksal.
"There's a difference between a boss that has never done what you're doing, but expects you to do things knowing full well it may not be possible to do.
"But he knew what could be done.... You couldn't ask for a better boss. Really."
Saskatoon resident Delynne Bortis knew her commute to work Tuesday morning would be particularly difficult.
WARNING: This story contains details of abuse and intimate partner violence:
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