IRMA LEVASSEUR
1877-1964
The first French-Canadian female doctor, Irma Levasseur fought the battle of her life to have her rights recognized so she could pursue her passion for medicine – she never gave up in the face of adversity. In her youth, she moved to Minnesota to pursue her studies – a feat that would have been impossible in Quebec during the era. Even when she returned to Canada, she was forced to wait for three years for a private bill to be passed allowing her to practise medicine. In 1907, she co-founded Hôpital Saint-Justine de Montréal and dedicated her career to pediatrics. A strong, steadfast woman, her resilience is an inspiring example of emancipation.