Monique Richard

Monique Richard (born 1975) is a Canadian mountaineer. Biography Born to an impoverished family in Montreal, Monique had a difficult childhood and lived with several foster families. During her childhood, she was subjected to physical and psychological violence. Early on, it was through sports that she learned to channel her anger and frustration, developing her passion and her taste for action and she quickly stood out by her talents, her performance and her physical abilities. At 22 years old, she was full of energy and desire to discover the world. Often unemployed, or employed at minimum wage, she finished high school and spent her days in libraries where she discovered literature and the arts. Through books, she developed a great interest in Europe, culture and travel, but her situation increased her feeling of helplessness and frustration. Not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, she felt trapped, and she descended into a deep depression, to the point of thinking of ending her life.