The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.
Sophie Leblanc, Counsel at the Centre communautaire juridique de l'Outaouais in Gatineau, is appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the district of Gatineau. Justice Leblanc fills one of the four new positions authorized under Bill C-74 (2018) in Terrebonne. The Chief Justice has transferred Justice C. Therrien (Gatineau) into this vacancy. The vacancy is therefore located in Gatineau.
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"I wish Justice Leblanc every success as she takes on her new role. I am confident she will serve Quebecers well as a member of the Superior Court of Quebec."
-The Hon. Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Biography
Justice Sophie Leblanc is originally from the Chaudière-Appalaches region. She received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Ottawa in 1993 and was called to the Quebec Bar in 1994.
Justice Leblanc started her private practice from 1994 to 1999. At the time of her appointment to the bench, she had been practising at the Outaouais Community Legal Centre since 1999, including 14 years at the Buckingham office. Throughout her career, she primarily practised family law, labour law, civil law, and administrative law. She has appeared before the Quebec Superior Court, the Court of Quebec, and various administrative tribunals.
Justice Leblanc's involvement in the legal community included seven years as secretary-treasurer at the Association des avocates et avocats en droit de la famille de l'Outaouais and at the Outaouais Bar Social Committee. She has taught various courses to family law attorneys, including on professional ethics. She has also provided pro bono training on behalf of Centraide Outaouais to numerous non-profit organizations in the region. She generously provided support and shared experiences to young lawyers as well as several aspiring students. Throughout her career, she has also been active on the boards of various community organizations.
Justice Leblanc is grateful for the constant support of her husband of over 30 years, Rémi Bourgault, and of their two now adult sons.
