Marjorie Villefranche is the embodiment of courage, compassion and leadership. A key figure in Montreal’s Haitian community, she has made her mark as a feminist, anti-racist activist fighting discrimination and all forms of exclusion. CUPE is honouring Marjorie’s lifetime of activism for Black History Month 2025. 

Arriving in Canada in 1964, Marjorie left her homeland of Haiti during a period of political turmoil under the dictatorship of François Duvalier. Her journey as a child, arriving in Quebec without her parents and brother, is emotional and inspiring.  

Sixty years later, she is the Executive Director of Maison d’Haïti, a Montreal-based community and cultural organization focused on social inclusion. The organization helps new immigrants of all backgrounds and members of other vulnerable groups be part of and fully participate in their community.  

Marjorie’s social and political activism began in her 20s, when she joined the movement to stop Haitian people being deported from Quebec. She made long-lasting connections during this time, which saw the rise of the Black Power movement for civil rights and international solidarity, and against the Vietnam War.  

In the 1970s, Marjorie started volunteering with Maison d’Haïti, helping fight anti-Black racism, other forms of racism, discrimination, and cultural misunderstandings.  

Today, her work at Maison d’Haïti includes helping new immigrants access services, addressing racial profiling, and running youth programs. The organization also defends the rights of immigrant women and helps educate young mothers and their children. Maison d’Haïti has also been an ally in addressing the stigma faced by 2SLGBTQI+ Haitians through workshops and dialogue as well as through the organization’s performing arts space. 

Building community is a lifelong passion for Marjorie. She helped organize the 1995 Quebec women’s march, known as the Bread and Roses march, and served as a member of a Montreal task force on democracy and a committee taking action for women’s safety in the city.  

In 2021, Marjorie was recognized as an honorary citizen of the City of Montreal, and she was awarded the Quebec National Assembly’s medal of honour in 2024. 

She has worked to preserve and tell Haitian people’s stories, including through Histoires d’immigrations, a project of the Université du Québec à Montréal and Quebec’s national library and archives. She has also produced three documentaries: Port-au-Prince ma ville, District 67, and Petites mères.