Pauline Marois
Pauline Marois was the first woman to be elected as premier of Quebec, where she served from 2012 to 2014. Marois had a lengthy career in provincial politics for 33 years, where she held the most ministerial positions in Quebec’s history, including as the ministers of education, health and finance. She also served as the Parti Québecois party leader from 2007 to 2014. In November 2024, she became the first woman Chancellor of the Université du Québec à Montréal.
Marois is known for her role in secularizing Quebec’s education system and for creating a network of affordable early childhood centres that are open to all families in the province.
“I was quite [outspoken] and determined, and I said: I'm going to prove to them that I can do this. They won't be able to sideline me, under any pretext.”