Chantale LeClerc is the Executive Director of the Council of Ministers of Education in Canada, where she contributes to ensuring access to quality education for Canadians of all ages. CMEC provides leadership in education at the pan-Canadian and international levels and contributes to the exercise of the exclusive jurisdiction of provinces and territories over education. With a background in both education and health care, Chantale recognizes the important interplay between education and health, and is lending her strategic management, partnership development, and continuous improvement skills to support provinces and territories in these efforts.
Passionate about developing the next generation of leaders, Chantale holds a part-time professor role at University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management. She is also a quality improvement coach for the EXTRA executive training program at Healthcare Excellence Canada—a program designed to help leaders create more resilient organizations, so they are better able to address complex problems—and she is a mentor to students and Canadian newcomers seeking to advance their careers.
Chantale has published in peer-reviewed journals and books, and received several awards, including an honorary degree from Algonquin College and an Award of Excellence from the Ontario Hospital Association.
About the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada
The Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) is an intergovernmental body founded in 1967 by ministers of education to serve as: A forum to discuss policy issues; a mechanism through which to undertake activities, projects, and initiatives in areas of mutual interest; a means by which to consult and cooperate with national education organizations and the federal government; and an instrument to represent the education interests of the provinces and territories internationally.
CMEC provides leadership in education at the pan-Canadian and international levels and contributes to the exercise of the exclusive jurisdiction of provinces and territories over education.
Ministers of education work through CMEC on a wide variety of activities, projects, and initiatives. For example, CMEC: Represents provinces and territories on education-related international bodies and participates in their activities; contributes to the fulfilment of Canada’s international treaty obligations; provides a national clearing house and referral service to support the recognition and portability of educational and occupational qualifications; assesses the skills and competencies of Canadian students; develops and reports on education indicators; sponsors research in education-related statistics; administers Canada’s national official-languages programs; and consults and acts on a variety of issues in early childhood learning and development; elementary-secondary education; postsecondary education; and adult learning and skills development. Some of CMEC’s current priorities include Indigenous education, global competencies, and postsecondary education sustainability.