Lemire competes for Canada at Pan-American Volleyball Cup
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Aimee Lemire’s invite to play for Canada at the 2023 Women’s U23 Pan-American Volleyball Cup in Hermosillo, Mexico, last month was better late than never.
“Two weeks before the (July) training start date I heard from the coach and she said, ‘Hey Aimee, congratulations you’ve been named to the travel roster,’” the 21-year-old Paris resident said.
“That was a dream come true.”
Lemire was originally selected to be a non-travelling reserve but she was bumped up just in the nick of time to join Canada’s team.
For those who are ingrained in the volleyball world locally, Lemire’s name may not be one that is recognized but it is certainly one for which to keep an eye out.
Lemire was born in Markham, lived in Richmond Hill and grew up in Georgetown. She attended Georgetown District High School and Appleby College and now goes to Queen’s University.
It wasn’t until the summer of 2020 that Lemire came to Brant County, moving to Paris with her mother, Diane, who she credits with being her rock and a big part of her success.
Lemire didn’t start playing volleyball until she was a teenager.
“I’m six-foot-two with shoes and I’ve always kind of been really tall,” she said. “I started out in dance and really thought it was going to be my future and I’d go to Europe and do ballet and all that jazz.
“However, when I was 13 I started doing (volleyball) skills sessions . . . and when I was 14 I told my mom I’d really like to take it more seriously and join a team.”
While in Georgetown, she was a member of the Impact Volleyball Club for a year under coach Jeff Farrell before going to the Pakmen Volleyball Club in Mississauga for her 15U season.
Lemire then went to the Halton Region Volleyball Club, making a big change during her 16U season.
“That year I decided I wanted to transition from a middle to a left-side hitter,” she said, noting that the club and coach Eoghan Bracken-Murphy were instrumental in the position change.
“I got specific development and all my technique was broken down. My 16U year I didn’t’ play much but I definitely got the technical feedback that allows me to be the player I am today.”
The summer before her 17U season Lemire made the provincial team, with coach Matt Schnarr helping to develop her skill and love for the game.
“That was a big accomplishment and I was excited for the opportunity,” she said of playing for Team Ontario at the national championships.
“We went to the Canada Cup in BC and it was a really cool experience.”
Playing at the Richmond Olympic Oval, the team finished fourth.
Coach Peter Wong then helped her tremendously during her 17U season.
“He is a very technical and amazing coach,” said Lemire. “He broke down my hitting, my passing, my serving and defence.”
During her 16U and 17U seasons, Halton won the provincial and national championships. She didn’t get through her 18U season due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She was supposed to go with the national team to the under-21 Pan Am Games and although that was cancelled, she still got her name out in the volleyball world.
“I was 17 and made the U20 team and that’s when I got on the radar for the national team coaches,” Lemire said.
At the Pan-American Cup this past July, the team was composed of athletes from the senior B team who were under 23-years-old and four athletes from the tryouts in the spring.
Canada was 1-2 in pool play, beating Cuba while losing to Peru and eventual champion Dominican Republic. The team still made the playoffs.
“It was really big for Canada,” said Lemire. “It was the first time a younger team (from Canada) had made the playoffs.”
In the playoffs, Canada lost to Argentina before beating Honduras and Cuba to earn fifth place.
“We dug deep as a team and won three sets to none,” she said.
“We came into the tournament ranked eighth. We were considered the underdogs but we proved ourselves.”
Now back home and getting ready to return to Queen’s, Lemire has lofty goals going forward.
“I would love to do the senior B team program next summer and one day hopefully make the senior A team,” she said, noting that the Fit Effect in Paris has been very accommodating in letting her use the gym to work out.
“Definitely the goal, it’s a longshot and is going to take a lot of hard work, but the goal is definitely the 2028 Olympics.”
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