Originally Published: 2010-03-07

Marc Vachon isn’t interested in being called a hero. “How would I describe myself today? I’m a normal person who thinks life is wonderful,” says the former drug dealer who has dedicated his life to helping others.
Vachon, 46, is a consultant for NGOs throughout the world. The French-Canadian’s life story is now the subject of a biography that he co-authored with Italian writer Frank Bugingo. The book, Rebel Without Borders, was released in Rome last week.
Vachon has spent the past 17 years involved in the worst humanitarian emergencies in the world. “I saw things that screw up your head,” he confesses.
When asked what motivated the transformation, he candidly says, “It was just a series of coincidences. I went between orphanages and adoptive parents. There were often dangerous situations, which is why I decided to run away at 16. I had just two choices: prostitution or rock’n’roll. I wasn’t the type to sell myself, so the second one was my only option.”
The “rock ’n’ roll lifestyle” Vachon meant was selling drugs, having lots of money and being surrounded by women and cocaine addicts.
“All I thought about was finding junk and sucking it up my nose,” he says without fear of being judged.
It was a downward spiral that came to a halt one morning when, at 26 years of age, Vachon woke up and simply decided to change the scene – it was not a redemption or a matter of seeing the light on the road to Damascus.
“I was afraid of finding myself with a gun to my back, and I decided to go to Paris,” he explains.
It was 1989 and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was in its beginning stages. They were looking for individuals who spoke French and English.
Vachon took the leap.
He tells of his marvelous Paris experience, of his many discoveries in France and Europe.
“There I wasn’t seen as a dangerous tattooed former criminal – I was simply considered a Canadian.”
He says that he ended up with MSF by chance.

Page 1/...Page 2

Printable Version Email to a Friend Share

Voice Your Opinion Letter to the Editor