Like many real estate agents, Derek Ladouceur’s career path was a multi-faceted one. We thought his story might be of interest given the range of experience he did have. First as a fighter, then as a commodities trader, and now as a real estate agent. Real estate is an all-encompassing profession that doesn’t appeal to all temperments but is a great fit for many. Derek is clearly one of the many and is enjoying his world in real estate.
A Roundabout Road to Real Estate
STORY: MARY LYNN TROTTER
DEREK LADOUCEUR’S ROAD TO REAL ESTATE HAS BEEN UNUSUAL TO SAY THE LEAST. WE THOUGHT LOCAL ADVERTISER AND CAREER TRANSITION CONSULTANT MARY LYNN TROTTER WAS THE PERFECT PERSON TO TELL HIS STORY WHICH SHE DOES HERE.
For Derek Ladouceur, a member of The Al Sinclair Group at RE/MAX Hallmark Realty in The Beach, ‘home’ is the east end of Toronto. In fact, Ladouceur has always lived in the east end. Of French and Greek origin, he grew up on The Danforth and attended Wilkinson Public School and Earl Grey Senior Public School.
An avid and talented athlete, Derek attended a number of Toronto high schools and was well known for his skills on the hockey rink and the basketball court. Along the way, he developed a strong work ethic. Ladouceur credits his mother. “She was a single mom. She had to work hard to put food on the table.”
Derek has had a varied career path. After attending Centennial College, he worked as a child and youth worker, juggling several jobs at a time for employers such as the Toronto District School Board and the Muki Baum Association. But his true love was fighting – in the style of Muay Thai Boxing, the national sport of Thailand. He had been lured into the sport on a bet. After watching a tape of a fight, he told a friend, “I can beat that guy!’ Ladouceur started training. Two and a half years later he did indeed beat that same athlete in a Montreal fight. His career advanced and eventually Derek held the Canadian Amateur title, before turning professional. During that time he also fought for a North American title and competed against a world champion. Derek reminisces, “What a huge experience!” He was also able to combine his training with his work in a youth shelter. “I loved working with kids and I loved fighting.”
After turning professional Ladouceur advanced to the point where he was fighting an athlete ranked 14th in the world, but decided it was time to turn his attention to career matters. He took his interest in sports to the field of commercial sales, and later moved into the investment business. This change involved a return to school, and although success came his way, he found there was not enough ‘people contact’ in his desk job.
It was around this time that Derek met his future wife, Fiona, who could see that he was unhappy in his career choice. Meeting Fiona got him thinking about the future, and about providing for a family. One day while at the Balmy Beach Club, Derek discussed his desire for a career change – something with more people contact – with Al Sinclair, whom he had seen often at the club. The discussion eventually led to an invitation to join the Al Sinclair Team, thus beginning Derek’s career in real estate. “The Al Sinclair Team is a great group. Everyone feeds off everyone else’s energy,” Derek says. He is enjoying his new career. “It’s a perfect fit,” he says. “Why didn’t I do this ten years ago?”
