Francine St-Denis: Choosing Action Over the Sidelines

If you’ve lived in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region for a few years, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Francine St-Denis or benefited from one of her many initiatives. Spotlight on a woman deeply rooted in her community.

President of the Trois-Lacs School Board, co-founder and president of La Boîte Lumineuse, organizer of the Grande Boucle des Trois-Lacs for the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie, board member at the Centre Multisports, and creator of the Passeport Emplois Vaudreuil-Soulanges project—this is just a partial list of the hats she wears. At the same time. Oh, and she's also a mother and Director of Operations at Réseaux Emploi-Entrepreneurship.

How does she manage it all?

“I didn’t wake up one day and decide to do all of this,” she says. “These opportunities came one after the other, and I see them as complementary. I love my community and our region. I don’t mind investing time to make it shine.”

How it all began

One defining trait in Francine St-Denis’s journey: she never wanted to be a spectator. That’s how it all started.

“My first involvement was becoming president of my kids’ soccer club. I didn’t want to just sit on the sidelines—I thought, I can help,” she recalls. “I gave myself a goal and left once it was met.”

From there, it snowballed—her desire to promote cinema through La Boîte Lumineuse, her drive to get people moving with the Grande Boucle, and more. Reflecting on it all, she seems almost surprised by how exceptional her level of involvement has become:

“I never say no to life,” she says with a smile.

Family first

Family deeply influences her actions. It all began with her children’s soccer club, and every project since has benefited not only her kids but also others in the region. Her involvement with the school board reflects this, even though her own children no longer attend those schools.

Her family also supports her in return.

“Recently, I felt like I was burning out. I told my family that 2018 would be the last edition of the Grande Boucle,” she shares. “They disagreed. Without me even asking, each of them took on a role. They lightened the load and gave me the strength to continue. So yes, I’ll be contributing to the 2019 edition.”

Once again, she refused to stay on the sidelines.

Helping the region thrive

Passionate about her region and aware of its workforce challenges, Francine launched Passeport Emplois Vaudreuil-Soulanges, a web platform that connects job seekers and employers. It also showcases the region to attract new residents.

“We have so much to offer! What other region in Quebec has a quality of life like ours? Vaudreuil-Soulanges is a hidden gem,” she concludes.

Thanks to her tireless efforts, Francine St-Denis will continue to shape her region from the ground up.
Surprised? We didn’t think so either.