Board of Directors
Centre Victoria pour femmes wishes to acknowledge the contributions of the members of the Board of Directors. We are proud of the diligence, the regularity of attendance and the commitment of our volunteer members. In addition to their personal and professional obligations, members of the board voluntarily attend monthly meetings, sit on committees and represent us within the community if necessary. It is a pleasure to work with you so that, together, we can fully realize the vision and achieve the mandate of Centre Victoria pour femmes.
Carole Brouillard-Landry
Secretary-Treasurer
I am pleased to serve on the CVF’s Board of Directors! I like to be involved in my community, and I am even more pleased that it is in French and for a cause that is dear to me. As Romain Gary so aptly stated, “There is nothing better in volunteer work than helping people dream”. [translation] I am presently the director of educational services for the Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario (known as the French-language Public District School Board) responsible for the programming from kindergarten to Grade 12, as well as heading the cultural animation team. What I am passionate about is being involved and engaged. My objective is to develop new initiatives and efficient strategies to move projects forward, particularly those that benefit women within our community. I hope to help promote the Centre’s interests through my knowledge of planning, training, project management and budget management. My ultimate goal is to support women by providing them with the tools needed to live a fulfilling life with confidence and assertiveness. “Every single time that you help somebody stand up, you are helping humanity rise.” Dr. Steve Maraboli
Chantal Guilmette
President
I am a chartered professional accountant. I love my job, but I also enjoy spending time with my family, whom I adore. I believe it is important to contribute to our community and what better way to do so than in our maternal language and with a francophone group. I am pleased to be back on the CVF’s Board of Directors after a year-long absence, because I believe in the Centre’s mandate and I appreciate being able to support the work done by the Centre. I am especially proud when I go to bed late at night and know that I have been able to help someone in need and to put a smile on her face.
Francine LeBlanc-Lebel
Board Member
I am a proud French-speaking native and resident of Northern Ontario. I am also a passionate, committed, empathetic, honest and competent person. I have retired from the field of education, more specifically from teaching in a francophone minority community. Furthermore, I have experience on a variety of levels, including as a member of executive committees and of boards of directors, and as vice-president and president of teacher associations at the local, provincial and federal levels. I believe I have proven my commitment and demonstrated my interest in unionism and the teaching profession. Throughout my journey, I have been in contact with remarkable people of all ages. I hope to contribute to my francophone community by getting involved with the CVF, working towards the advancement of services accessible to French-speaking women and the work of the Centre.
Judith Kambanda
Board Member
I have been a project manager for 17 yeas now. I have a bachelor’s degree in commerce with a specialization in marketing from the Université Laurentienne and a certificate in project management. To this day, I have worked in the fields of health, immigration and education. At the present time, I channel my energy in the field of education. My love for the French language and the Sudbury francophone community knows no bounds, which explains my active participation in the francophone community. I am especially proud of the successes, both professional and personal, which I have achieved in my hometown of Sudbury.
Lyne Robitaille
Board Member
I have worked with remarkable people throughout my career in education and have had the opportunity to gain innumerable experiences and knowledge. Now that I am retired and my children are independent, I can contribute and share my experiences with other organizations. I feel privileged to be on the CVF’s Board of Directors. Through my research while working towards my master’s degree in sociology focusing on women, my enthusiasm and my commitment towards the francophone community, I believe that I can make a valuable contribution towards the advancement of services for French-speaking women in Northern Ontario and the advocacy of women’s rights.
Marla Bouffard
Vice-President
I serve the community of Greater Sudbury as a lawyer in the fields of real estate, wills and corporate law. As vice-president, my objective is to promote women’s rights and to make the public aware of the different issues facing women. I am committed to contributing to the advancement and the full development of women and to promoting initiatives benefiting women within the community.
Melissa Sullivan
Board Member
I am a bilingual lawyer based in Sudbury. I obtained my J.D. from the University of Moncton in 2014. For more than 5 years now, I have practiced law, mainly in the field of family and child protection. I sit on the panel of domestic abuse for Legal Aid Ontario. In the course of my work, I often help women who are separating from their spouse and who are victims of domestic abuse. I am committed to responding to the needs of my clients to the best of my abilities by advancing their interests from a legal standpoint while making sure that they feel as safe as possible. My paid employment, my academic accomplishments and my participation in several administrative committees over the years have helped me hone my communication skills, increase my interpersonal skills and showcase my knowledge in order to meet a variety of social and professional requirements. As a native of Sudbury, I am proud to pursue my career in the North and to get involved in my community.