JEROME BOUVIER OVERCAME INCREDIBLE ODDS TO BECOME THE MAN HE IS TODAY …

As a teenager, he lost interest academically. An average student and always trying to fit in, he began drug use at age 14, dropped out of school in grade 11. Jerome didn’t graduate. Hopped on a horse van and headed west to race horses with his family, not knowing where his journey would take him.

Jerome went on to a life of racing horses … and drug use. As a teen, invincible, curious, risk taking, his drug use and partying lifestyle increased. At the age 19, he headed south to California to race horses and was naive to what California would introduce him to. Although he worked with horses, Jerome’s drug lifestyle became who he was, robbing him of himself. He would find himself sleeping in barns, cars, on the street, couch surfing, living day to day while trying to work and face his demon cocaine, like many he hung out with. Often wondering the streets of south Sacramento, east LA, and anywhere else he could get what he needed.

In 1983 Jerome faces his biggest life-changing event. On a warm summer evening, Jerome high on drugs went water-skiing behind a speedboat. Going 50 MPH, within in seconds he was shot out of his ski, skipped across the water and crashed against the rocks … leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. He was 23 years old, in the prime of his life. In one day his life changed forever.

While any would give up and withdraw into self-pity, Jerome faced the challenge. After 5 months in the hospital, Jerome defied the odds. With support from his four brothers, father and mother, he returned to racing horses, and unfortunately, the drug lifestyle. That’s all he knew. His brothers had an idea but did not know how deep he had fallen.

Over the next 6 years he raced horses, was caught up in the drug lifestyle, witnessed the death of friends, dealt with gangs, and yet raced a stable of horses from a wheelchair while hiding a secret life of drug abuse. Although drugs were a huge part of his life, he still did what most said he could not, race horses from a wheelchair. He inspired many who worked with him, and around him.

He went on to become one of the only paraplegics to race harness horses in North America attracting allot of attention for his inspiration, motivation and unwillingness to challenge those who say “you can’t.” However, he didn’t think he was doing anything special, he was just racing horses … and partying.

Jerome shipped to New York to race horses and of course got to know Camden Jersey well where he could get his drugs. He was living in a 10x10 room at the time. However, he received allot of media attention for being a person racing horses from a wheelchair. He was featured on USA Today, local newscasts and other papers. Youth from all over would call the racetrack to talk to him and share their stories. He was an inspiration and yet, he was leading a double life.

The turning point came in New York. One afternoon when two older teens called the track he was at in Wilmington Delaware. They wanted to meet him. Two young men came strolling into the barn. They talked for a couple hours, sharing their life, challenges, asking for advice. As they left, one stopped, turned, and said “you need to be doing something else with your life.” It was like he knew I was still facing my demons.

Jerome realized that his destiny was in his own hands. He reached deep inside himself for the fortitude and character to make powerful, life-transforming choices. He recognized that the chair was a gift. “Next to the wounds reside the gifts, or maybe the wounds are the gifts”. It was shortly after that when Jerome retuned to BC Canada and enrolled in the Child and Youth Care program going on to become a youth Worker specializing in drug counselling and education.

And the healing began.

Today Jerome draws on the wisdom he gained from his experiences from his darkest lessons to help today's youth, adults and professionals to transform their own lives. He has captured the imagination of 150,000 people all over North America, from children, youth and adults, to professionals and businesses.

Jerome has a diverse work experience, a street outreach worker, in drug treatment for youth, drug prevention in schools, program development, managing programs for street youth, teaching in post secondary institutions, running non-profit agencies, to create his own inspirational speaking business. He is currently the executive director of a non-profit serving street involved youth in British Columbia Canada and an inspirational speaker.

He believes it’s not what happens to you, it’s how you react to what happens to you.

At the young age of 49, he went on to get his Masters degree in Leadership and expand his speaking business to offer organizational development workshops, leadership strategies, and inspire others to pursue their dreams … that anything is possible. He invites everyone to LOOK – at whats going on in the world, THINK of ways to make positive contributions, and ACT as a living example of what is possible.

Jerome has presented for many youth leadership & social services conferences, hundreds of school assemblies and classrooms, facilitated organizational development workshops and keynoted professional events, Trans Link Company, Petro Canada, Abbotsford Community Services, Royal Bank, and more. Along with youth programs, Jerome delivers programs for teachers, parents, and communities as well.

Jerome writes articles for magazines, is in the process of writing two books.

Jerome believes that success depends on one views the world - how people perceive their position in the world. His stories of personal transformation uplift, motivate, inspire, and entertain, for Jerome is living, breathing proof of the miracles available to every human. We are all hero’s and shero’s with the ability to influence and make change.

We live in a world that presents us with a great many challenges. Sometimes we find ourselves feeling lost, alone, and unsure of our ability to stand up to those challenges. Jerome has faced his own devastating challenges, and it's been through them that he has found his gifts, his career, himself, and his spirit. He has learnt that it's not what happens to you it's how you react to what's happens to you. He shares his truths, his tragedies, and his triumphs. Jerome speaks to the importance of focusing on the 'Gifts" that reside next to the wounds, and of creating a world where everyone wins. He encourages ALL to bring their "Genius"...their "Spirit" to be present in any given day and trust in your inner resources.

THE POWER of the HUMAN SPIRIT"...that's the challenge...that's the voyage...that's the expedition.

Jerome has been fortunate to have spoken to thousands of young people and professionals throughout North America, speaking at middle and high schools, and adult and youth conferences, with that honor comes great responsibility. He brings with him the teachings of our elders, the influences of his mentors, and the willingness to share his truths.

Find out for yourself why Jerome Bouvier is the most sought-after speaker.