France Labelle

An iconic figure of Québec’s community sector, France Labelle is known for her enduring and exceptional commitment to helping young people who are homeless and most vulnerable. As co-founder and executive director of the Refuge des jeunes de Montréal, she has dedicated over four decades to psychosocial intervention, advocacy, and the tangible improvement of the living conditions of young people struggling with complex mental health issues, addiction, and social insecurity.

With degrees in teaching history (Université du Québec à Montréal) and psychoeducation (Université de Montréal), France Labelle has shown how to successfully combine academic rigour and clinical intelligence with real action on the ground. She has worked with marginalized populations since the start of her career, initially with young women at risk and, most crucially, with young men experiencing homelessness in Montréal.

Under France Labelle’s leadership, the Refuge des jeunes de Montréal has set the bar for similar organizations across Québec. Initially an emergency undertaking, it is now a mainstay of community outreach. More than 25,000 young people have since come through its doors to find a safe space, quality clinical and human support, and real opportunities to reintegrate into society. France Labelle continues to play a key role in the development of innovative solutions, particularly in the area of social housing with community support, which have a direct positive impact on the autonomy, dignity, and recovery of these young people.

She is also an influential and respected voice in the public and political arena. Through her active participation in strategic bodies, including the Table jeunesse itinérance du centre-ville de Montréal and as chair of the Réseau d’aide aux personnes seules et itinérantes de Montréal, she has contributed to changing public policy in a meaningful way, including the adoption of a national policy to combat homelessness across Québec.

As author and coauthor of important written works focused on youth homelessness, France Labelle has received numerous honours, including the Order of Canada and the Ordre de Montréal, reflecting the foundational, enduring, and profoundly human impact of her engagement.

Université Laval is pleased to award France Labelle an honorary doctorate in psychology in recognition of her exceptional contribution to psychosocial intervention, the fight against youth homelessness, and the advancement of collective well-being in Québec.

Photo: Louis-Charles Dumais