Chairperson: Joanne Blanchard

Joanne Blanchard was appointed Chairperson of the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) in June 2024, following more than two decades of contributions to administrative justice, public safety, immigration and refugee protection.

Before her appointment as Chairperson, Ms. Blanchard served as a PBC Board member beginning in October 2022. In 2024, she was designated as Regional Vice-Chairperson for the PBC’s Quebec Region.

Ms. Blanchard began her career as an Independent Chairperson and adjudicator appointed by the Minister of Public Safety to conduct offender disciplinary offence hearings in Correctional Service of Canada institutions. She further developed her expertise in fair, evidence-based decision-making as a member of the Employment Insurance Board of Referees and the Social Security Tribunal.

In 2016, Ms. Blanchard joined the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, where she presided over hearings for asylum seekers and later assumed senior leadership responsibilities, including as Deputy Chairperson of a national task force. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she helped lead change-management strategies that supported productivity, consistency and the fair administration of hearings in a rapidly changing operating environment.

At the PBC, Ms. Blanchard has conducted hearings, rendered conditional release decisions, and contributed to the professional conduct and training of Board members. Her work reflects a strong commitment to public safety, procedural fairness, transparency and the safe reintegration of offenders into the community.

Recognized throughout her career for leadership and innovation, Ms. Blanchard has received multiple Chairperson’s Awards for contributions that strengthened decision-making, organizational effectiveness and service delivery.

Ms. Blanchard holds a Bachelor of Laws from Université de Moncton and a Bachelor of Psychology from McGill University.