In 1983, Caroline Bouchard founded the Institut canadien de la zoothérapie (the Canadian institute of pet therapy) in Montreal, and the Association internationale pour la zoothérapie in France 10 years later. In 1995, Albin Michel published her book, Les effets bénéfiques des animaux sur notre santé (the beneficial effects of animals on our health). In 2007, she set up and became founding president of the Jacques Bouchard Foundation.

A physician for more than 30 years, Serge Daneault practices palliative medicine in home and at the CHUM palliative care unit. In his practice, he has accompanied thousands of patients to end of life. Since 1998, he has also pursued research activities on the suffering of the very sick in connection with healthcare services. Dr. Daneault has published numerous scientific papers and essays aimed at health professionals as well as the general public, including “Un médecin se confie – Pour des soins plus humains” (a doctor confides – for more humane care, 2014), “Et si mourir s’apprivoisait… Réflexions sur la fin de vie” (and if death were tamed...reflections on end of life, 2011), and “Souffrance et médecine” (suffering and medicine, 2006).

Family physician since 1980, Robert Marchand is, above all, a man with a big heart. For him, medicine is a vocation. In fact, he defines himself as a country doctor. His dedication to others earned him the title of Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Providing palliative care since 1997, he has been head of the Palliative Care Service and Program at the Verdun Hospital since 2001. Adjunct professor at the Centre hospitalier de Verdun Clinic, affiliated with the Université de Montréal, he also serves as director of the Palliative Medicine program at the UdeM. Dr. Marchand is truly a pillar of palliative care in Quebec.

Geneviève Dechêne has been a general practitioner for 30 years and has been founder and head of the medical team for palliative care at the CLSC Verdun since it was founded in 1998. She is also the scientific director of Quebec’s Palli-science, a website dedicated to palliative care. Co-author of Précis de soins médicales à domicile (handbook of medical care at home) and author of numerous articles on palliative care and home care published in the journal Le médecin du Québec, she received the Réseau des soins palliatifs du Québec award in 2009 for her Continuum de soins aux patients atteints de cancer (the continuum of care for cancer patients), a project to provide continual medical training. In short, when it comes to palliative care at home, Dr. Dechêne knows it all from every angle.

Jean-Paul Galarneau has worked in marketing and communications for over 40 years. He’s put his extensive experience to work on countless projects for major marketing, advertising, and communications companies. He holds a degree in public relations and is a graduate from the HEC in business management with an option in marketing. In the course of his career, he has used his many talent for the benefit of many philanthropic organizations, including the Jacques Bouchard Foundation.

Danielle McCann holds a master’s degree in Business administration from the University of Montreal and has worked in the Quebec Health and Social services network for over 30 years. She has been a manager and a Chief executive officer (CEO) of several organizations and President and Chief executive officer of the Montreal Health and Social services Agency. She was also a member of numerous boards such as those of Accreditation Canada and the Quebec National Public Health Institute.

Director-owner (since 1973) of the Centre Financier SFL Agence Labelle, a financial services firm and Desjardins Financial Security partner. A recipient (with his team) of more than 100 Méritas d’excellence awards from the SFL network, as well as numerous national distinctions for his outstanding contributions over the years through his leadership in the development of insurance knowledge and skills, wealth management, and financial services.

With a bachelor’s degree in business administration, economics, and international business, Léa Berlinguet worked for four years at the Montreal Council on International Relations as an events coordinator before moving to the investment team at Investissement Grand Montréal, helping to attract foreign businesses to invest in Greater Montreal.

Brigitte Gagnon Kiyanda is a nurse by training and holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Université Laval and a master’s degree in education from the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue. She specializes in palliative care at the Université de Montréal and holds the title of Certified Palliative Care Nurse from the Canadian Nurses Association. She is currently teaching assistant at the Université de Montréal in the End of Life Care, and Family and Health programs. She worked for eight years on the CLSC Verdun palliative care team and has been a volunteer with the Jacques Bouchard Foundation since 2014.

Claudette Bélisle worked in the legal milieu for more than 30 years before becoming a tourist guide in Montreal. Through her social involvement, she has contributed to the well-being of young and old alike for many years.

Edith has more than 20 years of experience at Bos now Dentsubos. Based in Toronto since 2014, she oversees productions for clients in both the Montreal and Toronto offices. She has been closely involved with the Jacques Bouchard Foundation since its inception in 2007, when she met with Caroline Bouchard to present the logo her agency had created for the foundation. She also set up the foundation’s first website and participates in its annual fundraising activities.

With a bachelor’s degree in communications from Concordia University, Anne-Sophie Schlader has over 10 years of experience in public relations, marketing, and event organization, including a large portfolio of international clients at Leo Burnett Middle East.