Finding Their Voice: Mauricie Women Carve Out a Role in Regional Journalism

Our region’s first women journalists did the legwork and published major stories. Unfortunately, many of their accomplishments have been forgotten.

Charlotte Biron in reference to the publication of her anthology, as cited in Mathieu Robert-Sauvé, “Les premières femmes reporters faisaient bien plus que le courrier du cœur,” Journal de Montréal (November 7, 2025).*

In 1764, the launch of the Quebec Gazette marked the birth of the newspaper industry in Quebec. However, it was not until 1817 that print journalism took root in the Mauricie, with the publication of the first issue of the Gazette des Trois-Rivières. Over the years, more than a hundred local newspapers were established in the region. And yet, very few women were directly involved in writing for these periodicals.

Finding Their Voice tells the story of how Mauricie women gained a foothold in regional journalism. Virtually absent from the field at the turn of the 20^th century, they slowly but surely carved out a role for themselves. Eventually, some were able to secure positions of power and influence within their respective media organizations.

Women have worked in print media as staff journalists, freelancers and managers. In doing so, they have helped shape a regional identity and perceptions of women in the Mauricie. As women continue to play larger and larger roles in the media sector, it is vital to acknowledge their early presence in the newspaper industry.

Explore women’s careers in regional journalism. Learn how they fought to overcome challenges. Listen to their recollections. Their history is our history. It reveals past and present struggles, highlighting victories and setbacks experienced by women fighting for autonomy.

Allow yourself to be captivated. Take the time to look closely at the photographs and videos of these heroes. The present-day relevance of their struggle lies in how future challenges are rooted in the past.

*See the Credits and Acknowledgements section for details on the anthology.