Central Nova

Céline Papillon was born in Québec City in 1950. Her father’s family had been in Québec since the early 1600s and her mother’s family had been in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick since the early 1700s. Her parents, knowing the importance of a broader education and recognizing that they were living in an anglophone continent, sent Céline and her three sisters to English schools. Céline has a BA (1971) in Political Science and History from Marianopolis College (degree granted by the Université de Montréal) and a BSc (1976) in Developmental Biology from McGill University.

Céline decided to opt out of going to medical school when she met her future husband at McGill University. Over the course of his training and professional career they have lived in Toronto for five years, Kapuskasing for two years, Quebec City for two years, Winnipeg for fifteen years, and most recently New Glasgow for nine years.

In Winnipeg (with four children) Céline became involved in the cause for better public education for all. Besides representing three different schools at School Board advisory groups, she was a founding member of a teacher and parent coalition (Parents For Education Standards) that lobbied the provincial government and Education Ministers for improved curricula, better teacher training and more accountability.

In May 2006 Céline was fortunate to receive a liver transplant necessitated by a genetic disorder. It was hard for her, in the years leading to the procedure, to pull away from public service/volunteerism. She is finally able to re-integrate into a life of involvement in public/civic causes and feels running for Parliament is a way to be a part of the solution for the sake of her children, their children and the world that will be their future.

Céline Papillon is the nominated candidate for the Green Party of Canada for the riding of Central Nova.