FitSpirit is pleased to present this team's leader as part of the 2022 edition of the FitSpirit Mother/Daughter Challenge:
Mélissa Gilbert
Executive Vice-President & Lead, Finance
Sharing a passion for sports
Mélissa is a passionate person. No matter what she is doing, she’s all-in, investing herself completely in every area of her life. Both at work and with the causes she supports, this committed professional is also the mother of twin girls. In addition, she trains six times a week! For her, sports are the ideal way to stay healthy, providing the energy she needs to keep up with her busy life. It is also a great way for her to meditate, develop new ideas and unwind. Mélissa was introduced to sports at a very early age, and today, she bikes, skis and runs regularly.Mélissa also devotes some of her time to the FitSpirit Mother/Daughter Challenge because she believes it is important that girls stay physically active and reap the benefits of sports throughout their entire lives. Moreover, because sports have added so much to her own life, she wants to inspire her daughters, Sophia and Anne-Charlie, and other young girls to develop their own love of sports.
"It’s important to encourage people to take part in sports. It keeps you healthy; makes you feel better, and helps you develop your self-esteem." – Sophia, 12 years old
"I think sports are important for high-school girls, so I want to encourage them to be as active as they can. Sports are cool, they help you meet friends and learn new things." – Anne-Charlie, 12 years old
Throughout her career, Mélissa has held senior positions in several Canadian organizations, demonstrating inspirational and engaging leadership qualities every step of the way. She’s especially proud of the key role she played in the merger of La Capitale and SSQ Insurance, to form Beneva, the largest mutual insurance company in Canada. Every year, Mélissa devotes part of her time to a number of causes, serving on committees and boards of directors, notably as a member of the Board of Directors of the Musée de la civilisation Foundation, a position she still holds today.
