Passing of Madeleine Parent: McGill salutes a great activist

The McGill University community was sad to learn of the death of Madeleine Parent, a pioneering feminist and union activist, who had a profound influence on Quebec society. A graduate of McGill, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1940, Madeleine Parent was also awarded an honorary doctorate in 2002, in recognition of her contributions to Quebec.

"We would like to honour the remarkable determination demonstrated by Madeleine Parent. From early adulthood, she fought tirelessly against the inequalities she saw around her," said McGill Principal and Vice-Chancellor Heather Munroe-Blum. "From her advocacy on behalf of financially disadvantaged students to her relentless defence of the rights of Quebec workers, she served as a role model for social engagement and as a source of inspiration for all of us. On behalf of the McGill community, I offer my sincere sympathies to her friends and family."

Madeleine Parent passed away yesterday at the Queen Elizabeth long-term care centre in Montreal, at the age of 93.