Françoise David was born in Montreal on January 13, 1948. Her mother made her aware of various social problems, sending her to help families living in poverty as a teenager. She became a counselor and then director of the Sacré-Cœur summer camp, which welcomes children from disadvantaged backgrounds for the summer vacations. In 1969, she…

Heidi Rathjen graduated from École Polytechnique de Montréal in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Instead of pursuing a career in engineering, Ms. Rathjen became involved in the political struggle for better gun control following the December 6, 1989 massacre at her university. Indeed, a year after the tragedy at her school on…

The Honourable Louise Arbour, C.C., G.O.Q., is a senior associate with Borden Ladner Gervais. She was appointed to the Supreme Court of Ontario in 1987 and to the Ontario Court of Appeal in 1990. In 1996, the United Nations Security Council appointed her Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and…

Carla Beauvais is a dedicated social entrepreneur and tireless campaigner for diversity and inclusion. With over 25 years of commitment to advocating for the representation of marginalized communities, she has dedicated her career towards creating spaces where every voice can be heard. Her passionate work has earned her many prestigious distinctions, including the Médaille de…

Lise Watier is a true pioneer of the Canadian entrepreneurial scene. Born in Montreal in 1944, she began her career as a television host before moving into the beauty industry. In 1972, she founded Lise Watier Cosmétiques, which quickly became one of Canada’s most respected cosmetics brands. Her company’s success is based on a range…