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The 15ᵗʰ edition of the Laure-Waridel Bursary has been awarded to Évelyne Corriveau, a PhD candidate in Criminology at Université Laval, for her project Créer du lien — a travelling exhibition inspired by the lived experiences of residents of Rouyn-Noranda affected by industrial pollution from the Horne smelter (Glencore).
Her project sheds light on the social, psychological and collective dimensions of this form of environmental violence, drawing on testimonies from industrial environmental victims collected during her master’s research in criminology.
Laure Waridel and the spirit of the bursary
Co-founder of Équiterre, ecosociologist and author, Laure Waridel has spent more than 25 years helping transform Québec by placing social justice at the heart of environmental action.
Created in 2008, the bursary that bears her name supports applied and transferable research projects led by students, researchers, or community advocates, with the potential for direct impact in local communities.
This bursary reflects a conviction shared by Équiterre and its co-founder: the ecological transition must be democratic, engaged, and rooted in the lived realities of the people most affected.
An exhibition grounded in the daily lives of residents
As part of her master’s research, Évelyne Corriveau collected testimonies from residents living near the Horne smelter. Beyond medical indicators — such as arsenic levels found in fingernails or elevated risks of illness — participants spoke about stress, guilt, social tensions, and pressure to leave their neighbourhood. Some even linked their experience to other forms of violence.
“When you find out that it was actually that bad, and that they’ve been making us breathe this for years, and that I don’t have the same quality of life as other people elsewhere in Québec, and that the government accepts it… it breaks you a little, disillusions you. […] I feel a bit like a second-class citizen.”
The Créer du lien exhibition will present these stories through an artistic and participatory approach, in accessible spaces (museums, libraries, community centres), and will be accompanied by discussion workshops designed to raise awareness, foster empathy, and encourage citizen mobilization.
A celebration of engaged scholarship
The bursary was presented on November 19, 2025, during a 5 à 7 gathering held at the Caisse d’économie solidaire, a long-time partner of the prize. The event, themed “The Art of Engagement in Research — Culture and Social Transformation”, brought together researchers, mobilized residents, Équiterre representatives, and Laure Waridel.
"Art becomes a powerful vehicle for social transformation. By giving shape to the stories of affected communities, this project creates a meaningful space where research meets creativity to spark dialogue."
The $15,000 bursary will support the production and dissemination of the exhibition across several regions of Québec.
A bursary for a just transition
Open to university students, researchers, and community advocates, the Laure Waridel Bursary helps amplify applied research projects that promote environmental justice, civic engagement, and the ecological transition.
It reflects the shared commitment of Équiterre and the Caisse d’économie solidaire to strengthening initiatives that help transform society from the ground up.
To explore past recipients and their projects: See the full list of bursary winners.
“Just as Laure Waridel has done by revealing the connections between environment, social justice, and the economy, Évelyne chooses to open a space where communities can be heard. This bursary supports that essential continuity: using research as a tool for empowerment and mobilization.”
A travelling exhibition to follow
Créer du lien will begin its tour in 2026. Dates, locations, and public workshops will be announced soon on our platforms. In a community marked by industrial pollution, Évelyne’s work reminds us that making voices heard is an act of environmental justice.
