Here are 8 inspiring Quebec women to mark International Women’s Day

They are talented, strong, cultured and passionate. They move things forward, pave paths and even change the world, one achievement at a time. On this International Women’s Day, The newspaper presents eight Quebec women who have inspired us by their actions over the past year.

Louise Latraverse

At 83, Louise Latraverse recounts precious moments of her rich existence as an artist and woman in her eponymous biography (to be published on March 26) and her show Love screams on tour in Quebec from March to November. “I’m proud of never having been afraid to be myself and never worrying about what other people might think,” she told Newspaper. Her avant-gardism (at the age of 17, she was one of the first women on the radio and is one of the founding members of the feminist musical magazine The Girls in 1969), her love for the arts (acting, drawing, writing, singing) and her outspokenness can only inspire women (and people) of all ages to live their lives to the fullest. (SEN)

Kim Lévesque-Lizotte

It’s hard not to be impressed and touched by the intelligent, relevant and always passionate speeches of screenwriter and radio and television columnist Kim Lévesque-Lizotte. At 42, this strong woman succeeds in making us think by creating rich and solid characters in series that mark our generation: Before the crash And The Simones (inspired by the feminist writer Simone de Beauvoir). Mom, public figure, great lover and accomplice celebrating sisterhood, she offers us the gift of making us feel less alone with our struggles, our questions and the acceptance of our contradictions, which she manages to make us see as strengths. “It touches me a lot because women’s rights, gender equality, is the driving force behind all my works and my speaking engagements,” she confided to Newspaper when we revealed that she was part of our list of inspiring women. (SEN)

• Listen to Sophie Durocher’s editorial on this International Women’s Rights Day via QUB :

Janette Bertrand

At 98 years old, Janette Bertrand has lost none of her desire to make things happen in society. The one to whom we owe the first television shows tackling often taboo subjects (Speak for the sake of speaking, Love with a capital A) and a dozen books made it her life’s mission to open the way for women through popular education. “I want to use what time I have left to continue to make a difference,” she recently told Newspaper. The Montreal Book Fair has just created a new literary prize that will bear his name, dedicated to people who have used the power of words to move society forward. What this great lady did all her life. (SEN)

Kim Thuy

Born in Saigon in 1968 and having had to leave Vietnam with her family to escape the repression of the communist regime when she was a child, Kim Thúy carries with her a story that is as difficult as it is inspiring. It is what the Quebec writer was able to do (strongly and beautifully) with this painful episode that impresses and upsets the most. With his novels Em, Man, Vi And Ru, which addresses the integration of a young immigrant in Quebec, Kim Thúy has touched the hearts of many readers here and around twenty other countries. Translated into 28 languages ​​and sold 540,000 copies worldwide, Ru also won the Governor General Award. In 2023, the film adaptation of Ru (which she co-produced) was a real success, accumulating nearly 2 million in revenue at the Quebec box office. (SEN)

Léa Clermont-Dion

“I don’t know if I’m inspiring, but I’m inspired,” says Léa Clermont-Dion straight away. Newspaper. At 32, she has already distinguished herself for several years as a documentary filmmaker (I salute you bitch), writer (File a complaint), host (Mitsou and Léa) and of course, for her resolutely feminist speeches which have inspired more than one. She continues her momentum with the series Scholarly women, available on Savoir media from March 8. “These are interviews with little-known women who inspire me. Fabulous women transforming society.” Obstetric violence, access to abortion, identity and immigration… Léa Clermont-Dion does not hesitate to raise issues with these researchers that are already shaping tomorrow’s discussions. “I wish us a brighter future.” (PM)

Monia Chokri

“I can say today that the life I have is bigger than the one I dreamed of,” exclaimed Monia Chokri while winning the César for best foreign film with Simple like Sylvain. Happy to do what she loves in life, the 41-year-old director and actress confides in Newspaper: “I didn’t have that many role models when I started my career. If I can inspire women, it’s extremely touching. It allows me to think that I don’t do things for nothing.” Evidence in this direction is already accumulating since his performances in Imaginary lovers And Laurence Anyways by Xavier Dolan. The quality of her first short film as a director, Someone extraordinary (2013), seemed like an omen of a great career. (PM)

Denise Robert

Quebec cinema would not be the same without the producer born in 1954. After the films From father to cop by Émile Gaudreault, Will by Denys Arcand and many other successes, Denise Robert tackles the film Our sisters-in-law by René Richard Cyr, inspired by the famous play by Michel Tremblay, to be released on July 11. “These women are truly the past and the future of Quebec,” she comments. “By watching the film, we realize that they were already shining, that they were already free and that they were visionaries for Quebec.” This is also what she wishes women on this special day: “May they shine!” (PM)

Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse

Who doesn’t know Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse in Quebec? The 32-year-old actress and presenter has the rare gift of rallying audiences of all ages. Whether hosting the dance competition Revolutionmaking laughter burst out at byeimpressing us with the accuracy of his playing in The Rebels (among many other roles) or by appearing as a positive influence on social networks, Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse inspires day after day thanks to her talent and passion. The one who has just given birth to her second child even made it a point of honor to remind people if necessary that a pregnant woman can work – and yes, even in front of the cameras. The artist is also focusing on new episodes of Passion dust and on a new series to come. (PM)