Aged seven in 1978, he and his family relocated from Berthierville, Quebec, to the small principality of Monaco on the French Riviera in France's south-east coast close to the border with Italy to be nearer to Ferari's headquarters and for Gilles wanting his children to be taught in French. The death of his father in an accident with Jochen Mass during qualifying for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix at Circuit Zolder in May that year left him with a lack of interest in motor racing due to him feeling nervous over the dangers. On the advice of driver Patrick Tambay, Villeneuve was sent to the French-speaking Swiss private boarding Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil by his mother and attended it from the ages of 12 (1983) to 17 (1988). He excelled in BASE jumping, ice hockey, motocross and water skiing. Villeneuve left the school by mutual consent between his mother and the school owners.