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Health in French Excellence Award

The Health in French Excellence Award stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to promoting the use of the French language in healthcare and recognizing outstanding contributions from our employees. This award not only celebrates linguistic ability but also underscores the pivotal role of French language in delivering quality healthcare services.

2026 Nomination Forms

Health in French Excellence award English nomination form

Health in French Excellence award French nomination form

Past Recipients

2025: Nicole Lavoie, Occupational Therapist, Grace Hospital 

Winner of the 2025 Health in Excellence Award, Nicole Lavoie

Nicole Lavoie was awarded the Health in French Excellence award in 2024 for her commitment to helping our patients navigate their healthcare in French. Nicole works as an occupational therapist at the Grace Hospital, and as the only French-speaking member of her team, is routinely stepping in to help French-speaking clients access care.

2024: Jérémy Baudet, Clinical Quality Coordinator, Health Links – Info Santé

Jérémy Baudet was awarded the Health in French Excellence award in 2024 for his passionate and caring approach to health care and to the French community. Throughout Baudet’s nursing career he has worked with comfort and ease of supporting clients in their preferred language while providing kind and compassionate care. Baudet works as a clinical quality coordinator at Health Links – Info Santé, the flagship program of the Provincial Health Contact Centre. 

2022: Justine Zidona, Public Health, Downtown East

Justine Zidona was awarded the Health in French Excellence award in 2024 for her work delivering French health services. Justine has been working for Public Health in Downtown East for over 12 years and delivers services in French to support the Franco-African population. Clients benefit from her being able to teach many community programs and offering clinics directly in French rather than going through an interpreter.

2020: Colette Brodeur, Manager of French Language and Administrative Support Services, St. Amant

Colette Brodeur was awarded the Health in French Excellence award in 2020 for her dedication and enthusiasm towards French language services. Colette knows what a huge impact offering services in French have on St. Amant’s clients, residents and family members. She never hesitates to interact in French, creating a compassionate, caring and barrier-free environment for everyone.  

2018: Jacqueline Daoudi, Public Health Nurse, ORSW Travel Health Clinic

Jacqueline Daoudi was awarded the Health in French Excellence award in 2018 for her diligence ensuring that all regional policies were implemented. It is largely thanks to her that the Travel Health clinic offered a fully bilingual service to its clients. In addition, she encouraged all employees to learn French, which was greatly appreciated by her colleagues. 

2016: Joyce Plante, Public Health Nurse, St. Vital

Joyce Plante was awarded the Health in French Excellence award in 2016 for her dedication to the language. Joyce’s first language is not French, and she was not in a designated bilingual position, but that did not stop her from enthusiastically using her French with her clients.  She often changed her days off to provide extra capacity for French school clinics and to be available for clients who were most comfortable receiving their care in French.