A passionate and steadfast advocate for natural environments, Marie-José Auclair has devoted more than 40 years to the environmental field. Chair of the Board of Directors of Appalachian Corridor since 2007—and actively involved in the organization since 2003—she works tirelessly to protect the biodiversity and distinctive landscapes of the Eastern Townships. Her leadership has been central to many of the organization’s achievements, including the major fundraising campaign she is currently steering with remarkable skill.

Ms. Auclair began her career as an environmental assessment advisor with the Quebec Ministry of Transport, followed by more than two decades with Environment Canada. As an environmental management analyst, she contributed to the development of the State of the Environment report at Environment Canada’s St. Lawrence Centre. She also headed the working group on Priority Intervention Zones (ZIP) along the St. Lawrence River and represented the federal government on the environmental committees of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.

Now working as a consulting biologist, she has served as an additional commissioner with Quebec’s Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE) and has undertaken numerous consulting mandates on environmental and biodiversity issues for various organizations.

Ms. Auclair is also an accomplished author. She has written several books and articles showcasing the natural, historical, and cultural features of different regions of Quebec, including the Eastern Townships, the Gaspé Peninsula, and the North Shore. Her book Le Québec au fil de l’EAU (Éditions de l’Homme, 2009) highlights the beauty—and fragility—of Quebec and North America’s precious water resources. As an author and reporter, she continues to publish specialized articles on the environment, outdoor activities, and ecotourism.

Since 2021, she has served as a municipal councillor for the town of Sutton.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in environmental sciences from the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), with a specialization in aquatic ecology.