Marika Tremblay

Committed to Giving Marginalized Groups the Chance to Express Themselves

Marika Tremblay, whose actions are guided by principles of social justice, the promotion of diversity and the value of knowledge, has distinguished herself through her ability to use the classroom as a springboard towards a type of dynamic social commitment that will have a real impact. She sets up projects that address various types of inequality and succeeds above all by enabling those who make up our heterogeneous urban society to have their say.

Among other things, the master’s student in political science at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM) has taught at Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, participated in a project to help street youth in Brazil, developed a nutrition profiling program in Mexico and provided support to immigrants suffering from HIV/Aids in Montréal. Above all, she strives to take full advantage of the media to fight her war against inequality.

“To make a lasting difference in the lives of the most underprivileged, I believe in the need to democratize the public space and provide all types of citizens with access to it. It was this conviction that prompted me to acquire skills in journalism and communications,” explains the young woman.

Marika gained this expertise during the periods she spent working for McGill University’s French-language student newspaper Le Délit and CIBL Radio-Montréal, as well as at UQÀM’s Internet radio station CHOQ.FM, where she directed and restructured the news department.

Marika then had the idea of allowing the community to benefit from her media talents. She designed, developed and coordinated the Pensée dehors project, an introductory course in radio aimed at helping to socially reintegrate marginalized groups. She succeeded in interesting five organizations. The project paved the way for the ParCELLES radio program, which enabled several women who were staying or who had stayed at the Auberge Madeleine, a shelter for women in difficulty, to talk openly on numerous subjects.

“The program has had an un-hoped for impact on the lives of the participants. They proudly voiced their opinions, worked as a team and built up their self-confidence. […] We are truly privileged to be able to count on Marika,” points out Micheline Cyr, director of the Auberge Madeleine.

It was because of her involvement with the organization that Marika also took an interest in homeless women. She decided to produce a documentary, calling on the participation of the shelter’s former residents, which provides a better understanding and detailed information on the issue. “There are an estimated 10,000 women in the city who do not have a place to call home,” she confides. “With my documentary, I wanted to raise awareness among the Montréal population of the realities these women have to face, such as violence, mental health problems and drug and alcohol abuse.”

The master’s student obviously intends to make full use of the media to exercise her role as committed citizen. Be it in enabling those who had not previously been able to do so to speak out or in attempting to bring the different social classes and cultures of our community closer together, Marika exhibits boundless energy.

“I am convinced that Marika has the necessary leadership skills, audacity and enthusiasm to develop future projects that will have a highly beneficial impact on our community,” Éric Lefebvre, director general of CIBL Radio-Montréal, is quick to assert.

Marika Tremblay