Laurence Parent

When Laurence Parent arrived in Montreal at the age of 17, she quickly realized that her new city was filled with obstacles for people using wheelchairs. At that time, not a single metro station in Montreal was equipped with elevators.

Her experiences as a young disabled woman soon led her to get involved in defending the rights of people with disabilities. For nearly twenty years, she has been an activist, researcher, and advocate for a more accessible city and for greater recognition of ableism in Quebec.

Laurence holds a PhD in Humanities (geography, communication, and oral history), a Master’s degree in Critical Disability Studies, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. In addition to teaching at the university level, she has published scientific articles and participated in numerous conferences in Canada and abroad.

In 2021, she left the academic field to run as a city councillor in the De Lorimier district (Plateau-Mont-Royal) with Projet Montréal.

Convinced that ecological transition must go hand in hand with reducing inequalities and ensuring equitable access to the city, Laurence puts her strong listening skills at the service of her fellow citizens. She is particularly dedicated to making Plateau-Mont-Royal more accessible.

During her first mandate, she also served as Vice-Chair of the STM (Montreal Transit Corporation) and as Chair of the Commission on Transportation and Public Works.