2012-2013

M^tre Christiane Pelchat

Avocate artisane d’un monde meilleur
Translated from the original french text written by Julie Latour, lawyer, former bâtonnière of The Bar of Montreal

Elected as an MNA in 1985 and re-elected in 1989, Mtre Christiane Pelchat was one of the youngest women ever elected to the National Assembly of Québec.

She was admitted to the Bar of Québec in 1998, after her political career, and practiced law at Fasken Martineau Dumoulin. She then used her skills to serve the development of women’s and children’s rights, democracy and good governance on the African continent.

Mtre Pelchat successively held the positions of Director of the Office of the Minister of State for Multiculturalism and the Status of Women in Québec and the Minister of Justice of Québec, before becoming Chair of the Council on the Status of Women in Québec, a position she held from 2006 to 2011. In fact, she was responsible for preparing the opinion on Right to Equality between Women and Men and Religious Freedom, which led the government to amend the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms to enshrine the right to equality of women and men.  She has been General Delegate of Québec to Mexico for a year.

It is to pay tribute to the role she has so brilliantly played in society and her immeasurable contribution to the cause of justice that the General Council, with the consent of the Conference of Former Presidents, has decided present her with the highest distinction awarded by the Bar of Montreal.