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Appointee Biographies

Provincial Advisory Committee on Francophone Affairs

GUY MATTE

Guy Matte of Ottawa is the Chair of the Provincial Advisory Committee on Francophone Affairs and the former Executive Director of the Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural Dialogue. He has spent his entire career working in the education sector, most notably within the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens. He is actively involved in Ontario’s and Canada's Francophone Community.

ELODIE GRUNERUD

With a bachelor's degree in communication and information and a master's degree in political science, Élodie Grunerud has over 15 years of experience in Canada, and internationally (France, Morocco, Chile) in management, in community economic development. , in teaching, research and communication. She is also the holder of the Accreditation of Association Executives Emeritus and a member in good standing of the Professional Human Resources Association (HRPA). Elodie benefits from a very good Canadian professional network having also worked in Quebec and the Northwest Territories before taking the direction of AFNOO in September 2011. French, to strengthen the organizational capacities of member groups and contribute to economic development community in Northwestern Ontario.

NICOLE BLANCHETTE

Nicole Blanchette is the Executive Director of la ribambelle, a francophone non-profit organization, which operates nine daycares, two Onyva centers as well as early childhood community activities in the London and Sarnia regions. Ms. Blanchette has sat on a variety of tables and committees representing the field of early childhood and / or French language services at several levels of government for over 12 years. She is passionate about the French language and culture and cares about the importance of early childhood services. She also worked for Radio-Canada in Montreal as well as in Toronto for over 15 years as a national advertising consultant.

MARIE-FRANCE LEFORT

is Director and Senior Consultant with Proforem Inc. She is a former Manager with the Parent Involvement Office at the Ministry of Education. Her community involvement includes serving as Chair of the Association des femmes d’affaires francophones and as former French-Language Business Women Association.

NICOLAS ROULEAU

Nicolas M. Rouleau is an appellate and constitutional lawyer. He frequently argues cases before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Court of Appeal for Ontario, and in other provinces. Prior to starting his own practice, Nicolas clerked for the Honourable Justice Marie Deschamps at the Supreme Court of Canada. He has received numerous academic scholarships, published on constitutional law and legal philosophy, presented at several conferences, and hosted Toronto's popular interdisciplinary Treehouse Talks. Nicolas has also lived in India and West Africa where he worked on international development and taught law. Mr. Rouleau holds a Masters of the Science of Law (JSM) from Stanford University and an L.L.B magna cum laude from the French Common Law Program at the University of Ottawa.

MÉLINA LEROUX

Having grown up in a minority Francophone community in Ontario, Mélina Leroux is well aware of the issues surrounding the Francophonie in Ontario. A graduate of l'Escale Catholic Secondary School in Rockland, she holds a Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences with a specialization in political science with a minor in Francophonie studies. Mélina has participated in many events affecting the Francophonie in Ontario and Canada. She worked for nearly three years as coordinator of major events at the FESFO office. She spent time at the French Language Services Commissioner as a Communications and Community Relations Officer, before returning to FESFO where she briefly held the position of Assistant Director, before being appointed General Manager of the organization in April 2019. .

CHRISTINE LEDUC

Christine Leduc is a Registered Professional Forester with over a decade of professional experience in various policy, communications, forestry, and Indigenous relations positions. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto's Master of Forest Conservation program and passionate volunteer in various forest-related organizations. Christine moved to Timmins in 2021 to advance her career in forestry and start a family. She has a daughter named Madeleine.