In Canada since 2003

Established in April 2003, Handicap International Canada provides support for the asociation’s actions in the field as part of the global programme management system. It does so by mobilizing technical, administrative, and financial resources to carry out field projects.

Our organization receives institutional funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Canadian Auto Workers’ union, the Quebec International Development Program (PQDI) and Quebec’s Ministère des Relations internationales (MRI). Our mandate also includes overseeing all our field projects and making the Canadian public more aware of the causes and effects of disabilities.

Our section is composed of: an elected Board of Directors composed exclusively of Canadian members; a team of six employees, and several devoted interns and volunteers who support us in the implementation of our activities.

President
Thérèse Dupuy
Senior Associate, Business Development, Colin Newhouse & Associates Inc.
After completing her classical studies, Thérèse began her career in health administration. She then raised a family while working as vice-president of her husband’s business.

She later turned to sales, working for several large companies. She received numerous promotions and took on senior sales manager positions. She found time to actively volunteer as executive secretary for the Fondation Pinocchios and Fondation de l’Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal. She is now on the board of trustees for Handicap International Canada. In 2004, her career took a new direction when Thérèse joined Colin Newhouse & Associates as Senior Associate, Business Development. She also coaches senior managers and helps them SET and achieve their professional development goals.


Vice President
Luc Forget
Architectural and Urban Accessibility Consultant, EX Aequo
After studying visual arts in university, where he also received a teaching certificate, he worked as a sculptor for a number of years. He was a member of the Conseil de la sculpture du Québec’s board of directors for 5 years. His interest in living spaces led him to pursue architectural studies. For over a decade, he has specialized in making architectural and urban settings, as well as public transportation, universally accessible, helping to ensure the economic and social inclusion of people with motor impairments.


Treasurer
Jean-Pierre Robin
Psychoeducator and President, Les Consultants en Réadaptation du Québec
With a master’s degree in psychoeducation from the Université de Sherbrooke, Jean-Pierre has worked in the public system with children and adults, first as a clinician, and later as a manager. He is also an instructor and co-researcher at the International Network on the Disability Creation Process and is accredited by the Vocational Rehabilitation Association of Canada. In private practice since 1986, he founded and runs Les Consultants en Réadaptation du Québec.

Jean-Pierre, who is concerned by the development of his profession, is also vice president
of l'Ordre des psychoéducateurs et psychoéducatrices du Québec (OPPQ), the Quebec association of psychoeducators, which comprises more than 3,000 professionals.

“It’s a great privilege for me to be asked to serve the cause of Handicap International. By joining the association’s Board of Trustees, I want to further, as best I can, the organization’s discussions and projects. In more concrete terms, I want to help make Handicap International more visible in Quebec’s professional and academic circles, and encourage the development of mutually beneficial partnerships.”


Secretary
François Boscher
Lawyer
François Boscher specializes in commercial law at the Montreal law firm BKG. After practicing law in France from 1981 to 1992, he decided to emigrate to Canada. He now helps establish European companies, mainly French ones, in Canada. As Secretary of the Association, François provides legal support to the Board of Trustees. He holds a master’s degree in private law and another in international commercial law.

Trustee
Natalia Nuño
Professor, École de technologie supérieure, Université du Québec à Montréal
Department of automated production engineering
“When I joined the Handicap International Board of Trustees, I wanted to offer my experience in biomechanics and prosthesis fittings for the association’s field projects. The North and the South absolutely must exchange knowledge and information about adaptive technology if we want our actions to last in the long term.”


Trustee
Colin R. Newhouse
President, Colin Newhouse & Associates Inc.
“I am struck by the arbitrary nature of disabilities. In nearly every case, the victims could not have done anything to avoid the mine or the illness that caused their disability. Although their abilities are often greatly diminished, people with disabilities demonstrate incredible courage and willpower. All they need is targeted aid.”

Trustee
Lucie Bourgeois
Director, Human Resources, IMS Health Canada
Lucie brings over 20 years of experience and leadership in change management and progressive human resources practices to her position as Director of Human Resources, Global Consulting & Services at IMS Health Canada. Lucie is also a member of the Global Social Responsibility Council as well as the Global Organizational Development Council at IMS.

Before joining IMS, Lucie was Director of Human Resources at Willis Canada. Previously, she led the North American resource management team at Nortel Networks, after working in HR. Before working at Nortel, she held several positions with increasing responsibilities at Bell Canada and Québécor.

Lucie has a master’s degree in HR from HEC Montréal and a bachelor’s degree in industrial relations from the Université de Montréal. In addition to lecturing on change management and leadership, Lucie sits on the board of directors of two non-profit organizations.

Trustee
Pierre Léonard
Partner, Vice President and Creative Director, Parallèle
A graduate of the graphic design programme at the Université du Québec à Montréal, Pierre spent more than twenty years at the Cossette Communication Group as creative director and as executive director of Graphème (now Identica), its branding and graphic design subsidiary. Over the course of his career, he has worked as a consultant for several important clients such as Bell Canada, Air Canada, Bombardier, Desjardins, Provigo, Domtar, Radio-Canada, Softimage, the Université de Montréal, the city of Montreal, Cavalia and Cirque du Soleil.

Pierre taught at the Université du Québec à Montréal from 1992 to 1999. He is regularly asked to give lectures, sit on juries, and present his vision of branding and design. In December 2009, he joined Parallèle as a partner, vice-president and creative director.

Pierre was president of the Société des designers graphiques du Québec from 2000 to 2010. He co-founded and now sits on the board of directors for the Conférence interprofessionnelle du design du Québec. He is vice-president of the board of Mission Design, which he also co-founded.

As part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, the Université du Québec à Montréal named Pierre an institution ambassador.