A proud Sherbrooke Native
Marie-Claude grew up in Victoria Park and on the slopes of Mont-Bellevue. Daughter of two teachers, she studied Administrative Sciences at the CÉGEP de Sherbrooke before earning a co-op Bachelor's degree in Economics and a graduate diploma in Environmental Management from the Université de Sherbrooke.
A hard worker by nature, she was employed at numerous snack bars and ice cream parlors, served as a receptionist at the Centre Notre-Dame de l’Enfant, and was a French teaching assistant at Champlain College before leaving for an internship at the Canadian International Development Agency in Ottawa.
After living in Ottawa, Montreal, Morocco, and Benin in her twenties, she returned to the Eastern Townships when her son Mathieu was born. Marie-Claude has been living in Rock Forest with her partner Bernard for about fifteen years now.
Always engaged in her community
Her community involvement started early, notably as a soccer coach, an organizer of “Oui à la vie” week at LeBer High School (which led to the founding of the JEVI Foundation), and as co-founder of Maison Jeunes-Est.
She was a member of the management team of Sherbrooke Cité des Rivières in its early days, and played a key role in the creation of the Lac-des-Nations Promenade.
As a volunteer, Marie-Claude was actively involved with Destination Sherbrooke, Commerce Sherbrooke, Downtown Animation, the Association of Museum Institutions of the Eastern Townships, the 2013 Canada Games, as well as the QMJHL drafts held in Sherbrooke in 2014 and 2015.
Marie-Claude enjoys applying her managerial skills in the service of passionate people—whether they are athletes, humanitarians, artists, or members of the military. One of her first major accomplishments as an MP was securing the initial round of federal funding for the Wellington St. South project that is now known as the Grand-Espace. Her tireless efforts also led to a commitment from National Defence for a comprehensive renovation of Sherbrooke’s two historic military armories in the heart of downtown.
The combination of the first 10 years of her career and her subsequent leadership at the Ministry of International Development, have made her a particularly inclusive and empathetic person, committed to supporting the most vulnerable.
A manager who gets results
The recognition earned by the Compton Campground and the Sherbrooke Museum of Nature and Science—where Marie-Claude was respectively co-owner and executive director—demonstrates her ability to work collaboratively and effectively with large teams and numerous partners.
Over the past 10 years, in her roles as Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, as the first female Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food of Canada, and as Minister of National Revenue, she has developed solid expertise in public governance. Whether with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy or the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership, Marie-Claude has delivered results.
Her commitment to women and youth earned her the CARE organization’s Global Leaders Network Humanitarian Award in 2018, World Vision Canada’s Voice of the Children Award in 2019, as well as a recognition award in 2024 from the Fédération de la relève agricole du Québec.
Marie-Claude has also participated in numerous forums from which she draws best practices. She chaired or co-chaired federal-provincial assemblies, the G7 meetings on international development and finance, the OECD sessions on global food security, and she was even the first woman minister to chair the General Assembly of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization! This range of experience has enabled her to observe practices in over 50 countries and build an extensive network of contacts.
Environmentally concious
While managing integrated waste management projects in major cities in developing countries, Marie-Claude completed her degree in Environmental Management. These skills have always served her well, especially during her time as Canada’s Minister of Agriculture, when she implemented numerous agri-environmental programs and upheld the integrity of the organic sector.
An inspiring and unifying leader
A skilled manager, experienced entrepreneur, and someone who cares deeply about people and the environment, Marie-Claude has a talent for bringing together partners with different perspectives to find the means for everyone to achieve their goals. It is this expertise and experience that she will put to work for all Sherbrooke citizens. She is determined to give our city a new sense of energy and purpose.