When sowing kindness becomes a source of inspiration

Interview with Marie-Hélène Lamarche, Claude Bernier's niece.

The year was 1943, when education became compulsory for 6- to 14-year-olds in Quebec under Bill 661. Education... was to become the cornerstone of the career of a Quebec woman with transformative values.

Just a few armfuls north of the Quebec parliament where this law came into effect, in the town of Montmagny, little Claude Bernier was born into a family that was, to say the least, avant-garde. Even before her marriage, her mother was the only car owner in town and, as an independent businesswoman, she even started her own insurance company. When she started a family in 1932, she took full control of the household portfolio, all this at a time when women's right to vote had only been granted three years earlier in Quebec!

Even as a child, Claude was ahead of her time, a lead she would maintain throughout her life, tactfully and vigorously leading other women to follow in her footsteps.

But her path, like that of many other Quebec women, was strewn with pitfalls.

In 1966, her steps led her to Radio-Canada as a replacement in human resources, a sector which at the time was still largely occupied by men. But Claude, driven by her fight for women's rights, was quick to break the conventions imposed by patriarchy...

In 1974, Radio-Canada was faced with a major staff turnover, and stability was essential in the run-up to the 1976 Olympic Games. At the time, Claude already had solid experience, but not the recognition of titles. She was challenged to resolve the issue of staff turnover, a rewarding but in many ways delicate mission. Yet, where others had failed, she succeeded brilliantly in recruiting previously ignored groups: young graduates, people with visual impairments and, above all, women to occupy decision-making, engineering and technical positions.

At just 37, her success propelled her to the highest levels of government, where she became Director of Investigations at the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Claude first came into contact with CECI in the 1980s, through his involvement with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

From 1995 to 1998, when she accepted a position in the Philippines, Claude helped increase the ratio of women working at the Asian Bank from 15 to 150. In this part of the world, it's customary to hire domestic servants, but now you know Claude a little better... To get around this culture of servitude, she finances the education of the children of employees in her service and helps them to become homeowners, enabling them to become independent

All these experiences have led her to discover a hundred or so countries where she deploys her recruitment model, which makes full use of the skills of marginalized professionals. As a result, people living with disabilities or from different ethnic backgrounds are able to open doors that were previously hermetically sealed to them.

Even in retirement, Claude remains tireless: among other things, she negotiates and drafts pay equity for women teachers in the Quebec public service.

Claude Bernier passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on April 17, 2024, but she leaves behind a living legacy that now rests in the hands of hundreds of people who were touched by her life.

Beyond her undeniable professional skills, Claude possessed a remarkable emotional intelligence, enabling her to deal gently and firmly with those who opposed her convictions. She had that rare ability to put herself in other people's shoes. Her generosity, charisma and benevolence made her a true mentor to those around her.

Marie-Hélène Lamarche was positively influenced by her aunt, as she became involved in teaching disadvantaged children in kindergarten. At one point, she realized that one of her pupils was being somewhat neglected by her family circle, as her brother and sister were ill and receiving all their parents' attention. Marie-Hélène vouched to be her big sister of sorts by taking her in from

November to May, while the child's mother found herself in a precarious situation. Since 2017, Marie-Hélène has remained a reassuring refuge in this young girl's life.

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CECI would like to acknowledge Claude Bernier's precious legacy and generosity through this article. Mrs. Bernier made a bequest to CECI to ensure the continuity of its activities. Our deepest sympathies go out to the immediate and extended family of this extraordinary lady.