Biography
Hélène Laverdière holds a doctoral degree in Sociology from the University of Bath in England. She speaks French, English, Spanish and a bit of Mandarin Chinese.
After a brief period of research and teaching at Université Laval's Sociology department, Hélène entered Canada's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1992 as a foreign service officer. She was posted to various locations, including Washington, D.C., Dakar, Senegal and Santiago, Chile.
Throughout her career, Hélène has received various honours, including numerous scholarships and an award from the Minister of Foreign Affairs for her contribution to Canadian foreign policy.
Returning to Montreal in 2007, she worked as a freelance translator, researcher and journalist prior to her election as a Member of Parliament on May 2nd 2011 for the riding of Laurier - Sainte-Marie. She was named Official Opposition Critic for International Cooperation.
In June 2011 she was made a member of the Foreign Affairs and International Development Committee.
From October 2011 - April 2012, during the NDP's Leadership race, she was named Official Opposition Critic for Foreign Affairs and was also given the responsibility of Deputy House Leader of the Official Opposition.
Under NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair, she was named Official Opposition Critic for International Cooperation, the Americas and Consular Affairs.
Hélène lives in Montreal with her husband, Germain Bélanger.
