Biography

Since August 2025, Sonia Ouellet has been a legal counsel at the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada. From 2023 to 2025, she held various roles at the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa, including part-time professor (September 2022–December 2025) and interim executive director of the University of Ottawa Community Legal Clinic (January 2023–June 2024). She taught courses in health law, conflict resolution and professional responsibility, as well as the introductory course to the legal clinic.

Ms. Ouellet managed the Legal Clinic and supervised its lawyers and students, who provide legal advice and represent clients in criminal, family, and tenant-related cases.

As an experienced adjudicator, she worked for the Social Benefits Tribunal (May 2021–December 2022) and served as vice-chair of both the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board and the Health Services Appeal and Review Board (May 2010–May 2020). Prior to this, she was the executive director of the Association des jurists d’expression française de l’Ontario (AJEFO) (July 2003–April 2010). Her legal career began at Gowlings, where she worked in the civil litigation department from 1998 to 2003.

Throughout her career, Ms. Ouellet has served on numerous boards and organizations dedicated to improving services and access to justice for Francophones in Ontario. Her contributions include serving as former president of AJEFO and of the Centre de traduction et de documentation juridiques. She was also a board member of the Law Commission of Ontario.  Currently, Ms. Ouellet is an elected bencher of the Law Society of Ontario and chair of the Law Society’s French-Language Access to Justice Working Group.

Committed to her community, especially in supporting vulnerable populations, Ms. Ouellet served on the board of the Vanier Community Service Centre in Ottawa for 16 years, including three years as president. She is currently a member of the Board of Governors of Saint Paul University.

Ms. Ouellet holds a Bachelor of Science, a Bachelor of Education, and a Bachelor of Laws, all from the University of Ottawa.