Jacky Vallée named 2019 Person of the Year

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Women’s and Gender Studies, in collaboration with the Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Science and the Communications and Corporate Affairs office, is pleased to announce that the 2019 Person of the Year is Vanier Anthropology teacher Jacky Vallée.

Every year, since 1984, Women’s Studies has recognized an employee for their remarkable contributions to our community, and recipients of the honour are pulled from all areas of college life – teachers, professionals in various areas of college services, program coordinators, and technicians.

This year’s honoree, Jacky Vallée, is not only a committed and imaginative teacher, but also a member of the Open Door Network who has made valuable contributions to sensitizing the Vanier community to women’s and LGBTQ issues and student needs.

Among other activities, Jacky has given talks on related issues, such as very enlightening talks to nursing students on the unique health care challenges faced by the LGBTQ community. Jacky has also participated in the High School Outreach program and has contributed to knowledge on campus of Indigenous issues. Most recently, he spearheaded the creation of a new Indigenous Studies Certificate Program (College-Wide Major) at Vanier! This program came at the heels of Vanier signing on to the CICan Indigenous Education Protocol and therefore helps fulfill the College’s commitment to Indigenous Education as well as to the TRC Calls to Action.

Formerly called “Woman of the Year”, the award has been renamed the “Person of the Year” – a change that reflects the evolving maturity of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program. Indeed, three years ago, the program changed its own name to be more inclusive and to reflect changes in society. This year, the Program is celebrating its 40th anniversary – and it is a celebration of 40 years of remarkable contributions to Vanier and to the community.

“Vanier College was the first CEGEP to offer a women’s studies course in the 1970s, which evolved into the Women’s Studies Major,” says Maggie Kathwaroon, Humanities teacher and Women's and Gender Studies Coordinator. “In fact, Vanier College’s Women’s Studies pre-dates the Women’s Studies programs at both McGill and Concordia universities. So it’s not surprising that the program honours a Person of the Year, given its own ongoing track record of contributing to the community and to social justice."

In the 1980s, Women’s Studies members worked to establish the first daycare in the Cegep system and the first sexual harassment policy (which became the “Respectful Learning and Workplace Environment Policy”), to be adopted in Cegeps and universities in Quebec. Women’s Studies also created the Open Door Network, worked on the establishment of gender-neutral bathrooms, and co-edited the first draft of the College’s Sexual Violence policy. It was also the first to organize a week-long event for International Women’s Week.

Congratulations to Women’s and Gender Studies for their 40 years of remarkable accomplishments and to Person of the Year, Jacky Vallée who embodies so well the forward thinking, innovation and community contributions of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program.