Hon. Danièle Henkel: Honourable senators, I rise today to pay tribute to a remarkable woman, Geneviève Mottard, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Quebec Order of Chartered Professional Accountants.

It all started with a revelation. As a student attending her first accounting class, something clicked. That very evening, on a paper napkin at the neighbourhood restaurant, she wrote herself a five-year plan that included the steps she would take and the exam she would pass. Her goal was to become a CPA, and that’s exactly what she did.

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In 2016, at just 41 years of age, she became the very first woman to hold this position. Today, she is at the helm of an institution that represents more than 42,000 members.

This achievement is especially meaningful in a field widely regarded as stern and male-dominated. In the face of these stereotypes, she has led by example. Despite resistance to change and the labels placed on women who step into leadership, she has always responded with rigour, humanity and vision.

Her leadership has transformed the profession, redefining the chartered professional accountant, or CPA, as not just a number cruncher but a genuine strategic partner — a “money psychologist” — capable of supporting businesses and individuals in a rapidly changing world shaped by artificial intelligence.

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She is also a member of the board and executive committee of the Fédération internationale des experts-comptables francophones. Her commitments extend beyond Quebec’s borders.

Ten years after her appointment, she can look back on her achievements with well-deserved pride. She has turned public protection into a noble mission, pursued with a passion.

Ms. Mottard, on my own behalf, on behalf of the Senate, and on behalf of all the citizens of Quebec and Canada, I thank you. You’ve opened a door that remains wide open to any woman who wishes to walk through it.

Thank you. Meegwetch.