Madame (Joséphine) Dandurand

Born Joséphine Marchand and later known as Joséphine Marchand-Dandurand, she was a Canadian writer, journalist, and activist from Quebec. She is remembered for bringing literary work and social reform together, writing for the public while also speaking up for women’s education, professional opportunities, and civil rights.

She founded and edited Au coin du feu, a pioneering women’s magazine, and became active in reform movements that supported women’s advancement in French Canada. Sources also describe her role in helping found important organizations and institutions, including the women’s section of the Association Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Montréal and the first classical college for girls in Quebec.

Today, she stands out as one of the notable women of her era in Quebec cultural history: a sharp, public-minded figure whose writing and organizing widened the space for women’s voices.