Jean-Guy Sauriol

Turning 60 on the Atlantic



Jean-Guy Sauriol
TURNING 60 ON THE ATLANTIC

Most people celebrating their 60th birthday – or any birthday, for that matter – hope to do so with good company, food, and maybe even a drink or two. Jean-Guy Sauriol, however, had a very different vision for how he’d enjoy the landmark birthday. When he turned 60 on Dec. 31, 2013, he was alone on the open ocean, and celebrated with an unglamourous meal of Pringles and cola.

That’s because just a few months ago, Sauriol was in the midst of a journey that, when he completed it on February 6, made him the oldest Canadian to row solo across the Atlantic. The crossing was no small feat, especially for a man with little rowing experience, and a career that made him more than familiar with the meaning (and management) of risk. However, his background as an actuary didn’t raise too many second thoughts for Sauriol, whose other successful feats of endurance include the completion of the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon, the Montreal Marathon, and the Yukon River Quest.

BIOGRAPHY

As turns out, Sauriol is just as adventurous in his professional life as he is recreationally. In 1996, his entrepreneurial instincts drove him to found seclonLogicinc., a company that designs, develops, implements, hosts and maintains web-based systems for pensions and benefits, and he has remained its president ever since.

So what exactly inspired Sauriol to undertake such a monumental, and potentially risky, challenge? Reading about similar crossings, and plenty of research, led him to the moment when he ultimately committed to purchasing the custom craft that got him from the Canary Islands to Barbados. The journey also raised over $10,000 for various charities, including the Breakfast Club of Canada, meaning that plenty of other people benefitted from Sauriol’s journey of a lifetime. This June, ideacity’s audience will undoubtedly join the ranks of those motivated by his crossing, and encouraged to pursue their own goals.

Talks

Jean-Guy Sauriol - Celebrating 60 on the Atlantic Ocean

At 60 years old Canadian Jean-Guy Sauriol decided to row across the Atlantic Ocean. In his talk, he...