By Oli Pero, Canadian Red Cross, Quebec
I will always remember the person who welcomed me on my first day at the Red Cross. Newly arrived in Canada (I had only been here for four months), I was invited to work during the 2017 floods response in Quebec. I didn’t even have a driver’s licence and was worried that they would ask me to go to regional offices. Luckily, I was assigned to the Montreal office. When I arrived, it was buzzing with activity and excitement, but silence fell over the room as soon as Claudie began presenting the organizational chart and explaining the efforts being made to coordinate our response to the emergency.
Over the next eight years, Claudie’s commanding presence, motivating energy, and conviction kept inspiring me. As an ambitious woman, I was delighted when she granted me an interview, which actually turned into a warm and friendly conversation.
Photo : Croix-Rouge canadienne
In March 2025, Claudie received the Emergency Management Exemplary Service Award, a prestigious recognition awarded by the federal government. Until recently, she was Quebec’s Senior Director of Emergency Management at the Canadian Red Cross and was on site during major crises such as the Saguenay flood, the Lac-Mégantic tragedy, the COVID-19 pandemic, and so many others. Skilled at adapting humanitarian aid to the needs of those affected, Claudie valued the essential work done by volunteers, contributed to disaster prevention, and developed strategic partnerships with municipalities and governments.
But Claudie did not start her career in a management role. It was her personality and her way of collaborating and communicating with others that revealed her potential as a leader. “You may become a leader, but you must have it in you to begin with. Others may also assign a leadership role to you. You realize that the way you do things has an impact,” she says with conviction.
Without hesitation, Claudie says: “I’ve always felt that it was an organization where I could fulfill my potential.” This sense of purpose, of being able to make a difference, has been the driving force of her career. When she considered leaving, her colleagues and superiors recognized her invaluable contribution and did everything they could to keep her on board.
Claudie is emotional when speaking about the outstanding teams with whom she has worked. “I have been fortunate to live and work in an extremely open and inclusive environment.”
She recalls a team in which most members were different, and it was this diversity that made them so strong. Inclusion was not an abstract concept; it was a reality they experienced every day.
When asked about leadership, Claudie is categorical: “I have never seen any difference between female and male leadership. I forged my own path, regardless of who I was working with.” She humorously recalls her early days in more conservative environments, where she was able to assert herself thanks to her skills and consistency. “I didn’t do things because I was a woman, I did them because I was Claudie.”
But this impressive career has also involved compromises: missed family celebrations, postponed moments with friends, and sacrificed rest to respond to emergencies. Nonetheless, Claudie emphasizes how fortunate she has been to be surrounded by a caring and understanding circle of people from whom she has always received trust, support, and solidarity.
After more than 36 years with the Canadian Red Cross, Claudie has decided to retire, confident that the next generation of red crossers and solid teams will be able to carry on the work. She now has time to rest on weekends, to devote herself to her passions, to spend quality time with family and friends, and to travel. However, true to form, she has agreed to continue working on innovative projects, such as training the emergency operation managers and coordinators cohort.
I will always remember the person who welcomed me on my first day at the Red Cross. Newly arrived in Canada (I had only been here for four months), I was invited to work during the 2017 floods response in Quebec. I didn’t even have a driver’s licence and was worried that they would ask me to go to regional offices. Luckily, I was assigned to the Montreal office. When I arrived, it was buzzing with activity and excitement, but silence fell over the room as soon as Claudie began presenting the organizational chart and explaining the efforts being made to coordinate our response to the emergency.
An Inspiring Presence for More Than Eight Years
Over the next eight years, Claudie’s commanding presence, motivating energy, and conviction kept inspiring me. As an ambitious woman, I was delighted when she granted me an interview, which actually turned into a warm and friendly conversation.Photo : Croix-Rouge canadienne
In March 2025, Claudie received the Emergency Management Exemplary Service Award, a prestigious recognition awarded by the federal government. Until recently, she was Quebec’s Senior Director of Emergency Management at the Canadian Red Cross and was on site during major crises such as the Saguenay flood, the Lac-Mégantic tragedy, the COVID-19 pandemic, and so many others. Skilled at adapting humanitarian aid to the needs of those affected, Claudie valued the essential work done by volunteers, contributed to disaster prevention, and developed strategic partnerships with municipalities and governments.
But Claudie did not start her career in a management role. It was her personality and her way of collaborating and communicating with others that revealed her potential as a leader. “You may become a leader, but you must have it in you to begin with. Others may also assign a leadership role to you. You realize that the way you do things has an impact,” she says with conviction.
Why stay with the same organization for over three decades?
Without hesitation, Claudie says: “I’ve always felt that it was an organization where I could fulfill my potential.” This sense of purpose, of being able to make a difference, has been the driving force of her career. When she considered leaving, her colleagues and superiors recognized her invaluable contribution and did everything they could to keep her on board.Claudie is emotional when speaking about the outstanding teams with whom she has worked. “I have been fortunate to live and work in an extremely open and inclusive environment.”
She recalls a team in which most members were different, and it was this diversity that made them so strong. Inclusion was not an abstract concept; it was a reality they experienced every day.
Claudie's Vision of Leadership
When asked about leadership, Claudie is categorical: “I have never seen any difference between female and male leadership. I forged my own path, regardless of who I was working with.” She humorously recalls her early days in more conservative environments, where she was able to assert herself thanks to her skills and consistency. “I didn’t do things because I was a woman, I did them because I was Claudie.”But this impressive career has also involved compromises: missed family celebrations, postponed moments with friends, and sacrificed rest to respond to emergencies. Nonetheless, Claudie emphasizes how fortunate she has been to be surrounded by a caring and understanding circle of people from whom she has always received trust, support, and solidarity.
After more than 36 years with the Canadian Red Cross, Claudie has decided to retire, confident that the next generation of red crossers and solid teams will be able to carry on the work. She now has time to rest on weekends, to devote herself to her passions, to spend quality time with family and friends, and to travel. However, true to form, she has agreed to continue working on innovative projects, such as training the emergency operation managers and coordinators cohort.
We are glad to still be able to count on her expertise, her frank and inspiring leadership, and her unwavering loyalty. When I asked her for one last piece of advice on leadership, she replied with simplicity and wisdom:
“Assert yourself but make sure you also leave room for others.”
An Inspiring Example for Future Generations
To mark her departure, we organized several emotional gatherings, bringing together former colleagues and collaborators. These shared moments provided an opportunity to honour her career, but mainly to celebrate Claudie herself. We laughed, we cried, and above all, we expressed our deep gratitude. Claudie leaves behind much more than a remarkable career: She was a living example of authentic leadership that we will cherish forever.
