BIO
After graduating from École Polytechnique de Montréal in 1995 as an industrial engineer, Caroline Sauriol pursued a career in quality and change management with a number of prominent corporations, including Vapor Canada, Rolls-Royce Canada and CGI. At the same time, she accumulated 15 years of experience in the charitable sector, developing her passion for social commitment through such roles as Chair of YMCA Quebec in 2007 and 2008, Financial Vice Chair of YMCA Canada in 2009, Administrator at Imagine Canada from 2011 to 2014 and founding member of the Institut du Nouveau Monde in 2004.
“Getting people involved and working together as a community to create a better world – that’s my passion.”
— Caroline Sauriol, Executive Director, Little Brothers
In 2009, Caroline decided to merge her professional ambitions with her desire to improve the welfare of her fellow citizens and became the Executive Director of Little Brothers. She has since focused her expertise and energy on ending loneliness and isolation among Quebec seniors aged 75 and older. Drawing on her strategic and organizational skills, she established a five-year plan designed to support and strengthen existing efforts. A year into her mandate, fundraising was already up 15% and volunteer numbers by 10%, and the number of Elder Friends served by the organization was also on the rise.
Caroline is a strong communicator and public speaker, as her talk at the 2013 YMCA forum clearly shows. A large part of her role is to liaise with various public- and private-sector organizations with the power to make a difference in the lives of lonely seniors.
Caroline is an ardent believer in the importance of dignity, respect and uniqueness throughout the Little Brothers chain of caring. She is determined to raise public awareness in Quebec about Little Brothers and other solutions in the fight against social isolation.
Her commitment to humanitarian work has earned her numerous awards, including a 2012 award for social engagement from the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ). In addition, under her leadership, Little Brothers was named “Personality of the Week” by La Presse/Radio-Canada in 2013 and received a medal from the Quebec National Assembly.
Besides her engineering degree, Caroline possesses a graduate diploma in administration and a master’s degree in sociology.