Maria Labrecque-Duchesneau, C.M., C.Q.
Marieville, Quebec
Maria Labrecque-Duchesneau has been a beacon in the lives of many Quebec farmers. She founded the organization Au cœur des familles agricoles and developed the Travailleur de rang program, a model of psychosocial intervention to ensure the well-being of farmers and their families. Always mindful of the need to combat discrimination, she established Fierté agricole, the first group to break the isolation of 2SLGBTQI+ people in rural communities. Her dedication and community involvement also led to the creation of a respite home and a 24/7 phone line, the first of its kind in the world.