Pascale Fournier honored by Université Laval

On May 17th 2016, Pascale Fournier (Law, 1997) had the pleasure of being honored by the Association des diplômés de l’Université Laval (ADUL), in association with the Fondation de l’Université Laval, during its annual gala celebrating the 2016 instalment of the “Great Alumni” series.

Professor Fournier and seven colleagues were awarded the Gloire de l’Escolle medal during a ceremony attended by more than 300 alumni and friends. Since 1952, this prestigious annual prize – the highest distinction awarded by the ADUL – highlights the achievements of alumni who, through their professional activities and contributions to society, honor their professions and are role-models for future graduates. Notable former recipients of this prize include, among others, the Honorable Louis Lebel (2008), the Right Honorable Brian Mulroney (2002) and the Right Honorable Jean Chrétien (1987).

Starring in a short video, Professor Fournier talks about her experiences at Université Laval, many of which have profoundly influenced her research and her openness to the world. For Professor Fournier, Université Laval was a significant stepping stone in her career. Indeed, in 2008, she was the recipient of the ADUL’s Raymond-Blais medal, which seeks to highlight the contributions of young high-achieving graduates under 35 years of age.

Full professor at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law, Research Chair in Legal Pluralism and Comparative Law, and Doctor of Law from Harvard University, Professor Fournier is recognized internationally for her significant contributions to the advancement of women’s rights. She intervenes as an expert witness before Canadian and American courts in cases involving Arabic family law. Since 2015, Professor Fournier serves as Commissioner to the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse. The same year, she was named “one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada” by Canadian Lawyers Magazine. Author of approximately forty academic publications, Professor Fournier is a member of multiple boards and is a coveted speaker.

Université Laval is animated by a culture that fosters intellectual rigor, innovation and excellence. It is the alma mater of over 280,000 graduates who have, each in their own way, participated to society’s progress by becoming agents of change at the service of their communities.