| Canadian politician and statesman Date of Birth: 04.04.1970 Country: Canada |
Born and raised in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Marie-Claude Bibeau embarked on a remarkable political journey that led her to make significant contributions to her country and beyond.
Bibeau pursued a Bachelor's degree in Economics and a Master's in Economic Management from Sherbrooke University. Following her graduation, she commenced her professional endeavors at the Canadian International Development Agency, gaining experience in diverse roles spanning Ottawa, Montreal, Morocco, and Benin.
Leaving the agency, Bibeau ventured into the tourism sector, where she thrived as an international project manager and entrepreneur for 15 years. She played a pivotal role as the Accreditation Director for the 2013 Canada Summer Games held in Sherbrooke and also served as the Executive Director of the Sherbrooke Nature and Science Museum (MNS2).
Bibeau demonstrated her commitment to her community through various initiatives. She co-founded and coordinated the Eastern Townships Museums Coalition (RIMCE), joined the boards of Commerce Sherbrooke and the Quebec Museum Association, and held positions such as Secretary of the Compton Revitalization Committee, member of the Strategic Planning Committee for the Regional Municipality of the Coaticook County, and Chair of the Louis-Saint-Laurent School Board in Compton.
In 2015, Bibeau was elected as the Member of Parliament for Compton-Stanstead, representing the Liberal Party of Canada. She was subsequently appointed as Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for La Francophonie on November 4, 2015.
Under Bibeau's leadership, Canada embraced a new Feminist International Assistance Policy in 2017. This policy recognized the transformative power of empowering women and girls and became the cornerstone of Canada's efforts to eradicate poverty and promote inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous societies.
Bibeau's dedication to gender issues and development earned her global recognition. She served as a Gender and Development Advisor to the World Bank Group from 2015 to 2017 and joined the advisory board of the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children in 2016. In 2018, she received the CARE Global Leaders Network Humanitarian Award from CARE International, and in 2019, she was honored with the Voice of Children Award by World Vision International.
On March 1, 2019, Bibeau made history as the first woman to be appointed as Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. In this role, she continued to advocate for gender equality and sustainable agriculture practices.
Marie-Claude Bibeau is married to Bernard Sévigny, the former mayor of Sherbrooke. Their enduring partnership has served as a testament to her ability to balance her professional and personal life.