Irma LeVasseur, a pioneer of medicine in Quebec who was long overlooked, is now being brought back into the spotlight thanks to an initiative by students at Irma-LeVasseur High School. Born in Quebec City in 1877 and deceased in 1964, she was a major figure in pediatrics in Canada and co-founder of Sainte-Justine Hospital and Hôpital de l’Enfant-Jésus. Trained in the United States, she had to fight to obtain the legal right to practice medicine in Quebec, demonstrating remarkable determination in overcoming barriers.

Her extraordinary career also included humanitarian work in Serbia, where she helped combat a typhus epidemic, as well as inspiring the creation of a school for children with disabilities. To honor her legacy, Quebec’s first school museum dedicated to her will be inaugurated in Anjou, showcasing historical objects and personal artifacts that belonged to her.

This project is part of an educational approach integrating arts and culture, aiming to inspire young people. At the same time, students are advocating for a commemorative postage stamp to be issued in 2027, marking the 150th anniversary of her birth. A symbol of courage and perseverance, Irma LeVasseur remains a powerful role model, reminding us that despite obstacles, it is possible to achieve one’s ambitions.