Gabrielle Leblanc Huard, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholar

Congratulations to Gabrielle Leblanc Huard, a doctoral student in social work at the Faculty of Social Sciences affiliated with CIRRIS, who is one of 16 recipients of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation’s 2025 cohort, selected from more than 680 applications!

Her research project, entitled “Growing Up in Pain: A Qualitative, Exploratory, and Critical Study of the Transition to Adulthood for Young People Living with Chronic Pain,” explores the challenges these young people face when they have to balance chronic pain with the transition to adult independence.

Using a qualitative approach, Gabrielle Leblanc Huard analyzes the support mechanisms available, the social dynamics, and the structural inequalities that influence their journey.

Socially engaged, the doctoral student actively participates in collaborative projects, awareness-raising activities, and initiatives aimed at promoting the rights of people living with invisible health conditions and improving access to social services.

In recognition of her outstanding career and the quality of her research, she has also received doctoral scholarships from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture, as well as a prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.

These distinctions highlight her commitment to social innovation and her desire to have a lasting impact on social work policies and practices.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship

Awarded for academic excellence, social engagement, and openness to diverse perspectives, the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship is a three-year program. It aims to train leaders capable of transforming their ideas into concrete actions for the good of communities in Canada and around the world. Through its scholarships, mentoring, and public events, the Foundation supports the development of researchers committed to addressing the contemporary challenges facing our society.

See the complete list of 2025 scholarship recipients

Source and photo credits: Laval University