Laure Waridel

{{Short description|Canadian environmentalist (born 1973)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2014}} {{Infobox person |name = Laure Waridel |image = Photo Laure Waridel.jpg |caption = |birth_name = Laure Waridel |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1973|01|10}} |birth_place = [[Chesalles-sur-Oron]], near [[Vevey]], Switzerland |death_date = |death_place = |body_discovered = |death_cause = |resting_place = |resting_place_coordinates =  |nationality = |citizenship = Canada |other_names = |known_for = Her public activity, <br />Bourse Laure Waridel |education = |alma_mater = [[Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies]],<br />[[McGill University]], <br />[[University of Victoria]], <br />[[Université du Québec à Montréal]] |employer = |occupation = |years_active = |title = |height = |term = |predecessor = |successor = |party = |opponents = |boards = |spouse = Bruce W. Johnston |partner = |children = |parents = |relations = |callsign = |signature = |website = |footnotes = }}

'''Laure Waridel''', {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|CM}} (born January 10, 1973) is a social activist, a writer, an associate professor of [[environmental studies]] and sociology at the [[Université du Québec à Montréal]], and a radio and TV commentator.<ref name=canenc>[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/laure-waridel/ "Laure Waridel"]. ''[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]]'', July 25, 2017.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Professeures, professeurs - Institut des sciences de l'environnement (ISE) - UQAM |url=https://ise.uqam.ca/membres/professeurs/professeur/waridel.laure/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Institut des sciences de l'environnement (ISE) |language=fr-CA}}</ref>

== Early years == Laure Waridel was born in [[Switzerland]], in the village of [[Chesalles-sur-Oron]] just north of [[Lake Geneva]] in the [[Canton of Vaud]]. She has three sisters and a brother. When she was two, their new home was a dairy farm in [[Mont-Saint-Grégoire, Quebec]], in the [[Montérégie]] region. It was not long before Laure became aware of the shift towards industrial farming methods and the vulnerability of farm producers. As a young girl, she worked at the Cadet Roussel organic farm in [[Mont-Saint-Grégoire, Quebec]]. She lives in Montreal and is the mother of two children, Colin and Alphée; Alphée was the subject of a 2012 documentary film, ''[[Alphée of the Stars]] (Alphée des étoiles)'', by her father and Waridel's then-spouse [[Hugo Latulippe]].<ref name=canenc/> Waridel is now married to Bruce Johnston.<ref name=canenc/>

== Education == From 1990 to 1992, Waridel studied social sciences at the Cégep Lionel-Groulx. Subsequently, she earned a degree in sociology and international development from [[McGill University]]. She continued her university studies with a communications certificate from the [[Université du Québec à Montréal]] and a Master's degree in law and environmental studies from the [[University of Victoria]] in British Columbia. Waridel earned a doctorate degree at the Geneva-based [[Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies]].

== Social activist == After the [[Earth Summit (1992)]] in Rio, Waridel became one of the founders of [[Équiterre]], a non-profit organisation based in [[Montreal]] and dedicated to promoting ecological and socially responsible choices through action, education and research. It focuses on four issues: [[fair trade]], [[ecological agriculture]], energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, [[energy conservation]], and ecological and socially just choices.

Laure Waridel was the president of [[Équiterre]]. Her collaborators are quick to say that Waridel's considerable charm and communication skills were instrumental in getting [[Equiterre]] off the ground and in the success of the fair trade. Waridel is no longer an employee of Equiterre, but continues as its most public representative. She remains with the non-profit organization today as a consultant.

In 2002, she was named by [[Maclean's Magazine]] as one of 25 Canadian personalities who are making a difference.

Waridel defended [[Gil Courtemanche]]'s novel ''[[Un dimanche à la piscine à Kigali]]'' in the French version of ''[[Canada Reads#Le combat des livres 2004|Canada Reads]]'', broadcast on [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|Radio-Canada]] in 2004. This novel eventually won the competition.

In 2012, she was made a member of the [[Order of Canada]] "for her contributions as a writer, commentator and social activist on environmental issues, notably as co-founder of Équiterre".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=14606|title=Governor General Announces 70 New Appointments to the Order of Canada|date=June 29, 2012}}</ref> In 2016, she was made a Knight of the [[National Order of Quebec]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ordre-national.gouv.qc.ca/membres/membre.asp?id=3298|title=National Order of Quebec citation|language=French}}</ref>

==Works== * ''L'envers de l'assiette'' (1998, 2003) * ''Une cause café'' (1997) * ''Coffee with Pleasure'' (2001) * ''Acheter c'est voter'' (2005)

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Waridel, Laure}} [[Category:1973 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Canadian environmentalists]] [[Category:Canadian non-fiction writers]] [[Category:Canadian women non-fiction writers]] [[Category:Université du Québec à Montréal alumni]] [[Category:Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies alumni]] [[Category:Members of the Order of Canada]] [[Category:Knights of the National Order of Quebec]] [[Category:Swiss emigrants to Canada]] [[Category:Canadian expatriates in Switzerland]]