Louise Bouchard

Louise Bouchard, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus at the University of Ottawa’s School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies and Co-director of the FORCES-Santé, is recognized for her longstanding commitment to research on the health of Francophones in minority communities. From 2019 to 2024, she was co-holder of the Chaire de recherche de l’Université d’Ottawa et de l’Institut du Savoir Montfort sur la santé des francophones de l’Ontario.

An interdisciplinary researcher, she has developed a pioneering research program on the socio-environmental, cultural, and structural factors influencing health disparities among Francophones living in minority communities. Her work has opened up new perspectives, notably by identifying language of belonging as a potential determinant of health, quality of services, and equitable access to care and health professionals. Previously, she co-directed two major research networks: le Réseau interdisciplinaire de recherche sur la santé des francophones (RISF), funded by the CIHR (2006-2011); and le Réseau de recherche appliqué sur la santé de francophones de l’Ontario, supported by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (2009-2014). The extension of the latter funding enabled the development of a prototype observatory for the health of Francophone populations, an innovative geoportal that provides a visual representation of living conditions, health indicators, and access to French-language health services and professionals.

Professor Bouchard’s scientific contribution and leadership have helped position health research in minority language contexts as an essential field of study in Canada.