Mme. Huguette Labelle is former President of the Canadian International Development Agency. Born in Rockland, Ontario, Huguette Labelle holds a Doctor of Philosophy, Education, degree from the University of Ottawa, and has received honorary degrees from Brock University, the University of Saskatchewan, Carleton University, the University of Ottawa, York University, Mount Saint Vincent University, the University of Windsor, University of Manitoba and Saint Paul University. In 1990, she was invested as an officer of the Order of Canada.

In 1993, she was awarded the Vanier Medal of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada, and in April 1998 the Governor General presented her with the Outstanding Achievement Award of the Public Service of Canada. Huguette Labelle was Deputy Head, Millenium Bureau of Canada, in 1998, Deputy Minister of Transport Canada from 1990 to 1993, Chairman of the Public Service Commission of Canada from 1985 to 1990, Associate Secretary to the Cabinet and Deputy Clark of the Privy Council between January and September 1985 and Under Secretary of State in the Department of the Secretary of State from 1980 to 1985. From 1973 to 1980 she held senior management positions in Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and in Health and Welfare Canada. Before joining the federal government, Huguette Labelle held management positions in health science education and in nursing education. Between 1974 and 1976, she served as a consultant to the government of Haiti and Cuba on health care planning and health sciences education.

In 1987, she was co-chair of the World Health Organization's Expert Committee on Health Manpower Management Systems. Huguette Labelle has served as President or Chairman of the Canadian Red Cross Society, the Board of Trustees of the Ottawa General Hospital, the Board of the Ottawa Sciences Center Inc., the Transportation Association of Canada, the Board of Algonquin College, the Board of the Ottawa-Carleton United Way, the Management Consulting Institute and the Canadian Nurses' Association, Vice President of the Canadian Safety Council, member of the Board of Governors of Carleton University, McGill University, the International Aviation Management Training Institute, the Board of Governors of the Canadian Comprehensive Auditing Foundation, the Council of Governors of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, the Board of Directors of "Collaboration Sante Internationale", the Executive Committee of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada, the Faculty of Administration Advisory Board, University of Ottawa, the Master of Public Management Advisory Council, Faculty of Business, University of Alberta, the Advisory Board, School of Public Administration, Dalhousie University and the Board of Directors, Public Policy Forum.

She is currently Chancellor, University of Ottawa, Vice Chair of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development, member of the Board of Directors of The International Development Research Centre, the Export Development Corporation, the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development, the International Institute for Sustainable Development, the Collegium of Work and Learning, and Vice Chair of the World Health Organization's Working Groupon Health and Development Policies.

Back to the Centennial Board