Justice Claire L’Heureux-Dubé has had a long and distinguished career. She graduated from Laval University’s Faculty of Law cum laude in 1951. She practiced law from 1952 to 1973 as a partner with Bard, L’Heureux & Philippon, and later as a senior partner with L’Heureux, Philippon, Garneau, Tourigny, St-Arnaud & Associates. She was appointed to the Superior Court of Quebec in 1973, and the Court of Appeal of Quebec in 1979. She became the second woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada upon her elevation to the highest court in 1987. Her contribution to law and public life has been acknowledged by eleven honourary doctorates and many prestigious awards. She retired from the Supreme Court in July 2002.
To mark the widespread admiration for her career and her contribution to social justice, during the year of her retirement, there was a national campaign to raise money to create the Claire L’Heureux-Dubé Fund for Social Justice. Donations were received from individuals across Canada. In 2002, the Fund was officially created, and housed at the Faculty of Law, Common Law, University of Ottawa. A national Board of Directors was appointed, and a series of projects was undertaken in the years that followed. Details of a number of the completed and on-going projects can be found on this website.