Jeannine Guindon

Born in Montréal, Jeannine Guindon lived in Ontario for a long time and began her career as a teacher there. But her gifts and longing to help disturbed children soon made her turn her attention to what she would later call psychoeducation. She developed this approach in Montreal, where in 1974 she became director of the Centre d’orientation et de rééadaptation de Montréal and where she worked tirelessly until 1977.

In 1953, she founded the Centre de psycho-education du Québec, directing it until 1972. She then became the founding director of the School of Psycho-education at the Université de Montréal, remaining there until 1976. She was subsequently appointed a member of the Board at the Université de Montréal, as well as being a member of its Executive Committee from 1979 to 1985.

Continuing her research in a field that was still new, Dr. Guindon founded the Institut de formation et de rééducation de Montréal in 1977 and directed it until 1984, and soon after she became the program director. She conducted research to improve this technique and the seminars held at the Institut de formation humaine intégrale de Montréal were world renown.

Jeannine Guindon gave unstintingly of her time and energy, not only to members of our own community but also with special dedication to men and women working in developing countries.

Her expertise made her a much sought-after participant in many CBC radio and television broadcasts about the rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents. An engaging speaker, she took part in many conferences and symposia in Quebec and abroad. She also acted as a consultant for the training of teachers for maladjusted children in Canada and overseas.

Dr. Guindon was a professor emerita of the Université de Montréal and was named to the Order of Canada in 1974. She was also awarded the Pro Ecclesia and Pontifice – Paul VI decoration of the Diocese of Montréal, and she holds a Doctorate in Education honoris causa from the Université de Sherbrooke.

She wrote and published a number of books, among them: Le processus de rééducation du jeune délinquant par l’actualisation du moi; Les étapes de rééducation; Vers l’autonomie psychique de la naissance à la mort; Prendre sa vie en main, l’enjeu de la vingtaine (written in collaboration with Julien Alain), La formation humaine intégrale des candidats au presbytérat (a report stemming from a working group collaboration) and many articles in learned reviews, specialized periodicals and collections.

Dr. Jeannine Guindon died in 2002. She was inducted into the Academy of Great Montrealers in the Social category in 1993 and was named a Commander of the Ordre de Montréal in 2016.