Co-président.e.s d'honneur 2026

Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer is a Mohawk leader, advocate, and proud Two-Spirit woman from Kahnawà:ke. In 2021, she made history as the first woman and the first Two-Spirit person elected Grand Chief of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke, breaking barriers for Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ representation in leadership.
Throughout her career, she has championed Indigenous self-determination, economic reconciliation, and the visibility of Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ communities. Her leadership has led to landmark achievements, including a historic clean energy partnership with Hydro-Québec and major investments in Indigenous language, culture, and heritage.

A recognized trailblazer, Sky-Deer has been honoured for her contributions to Indigenous leadership and LGBTQIA+ visibility, including the King Charles III Coronation Medal and the Quebec Lesbian Network's Lesbian Visibility Award. Through her public advocacy and speaking engagements, she continues to inspire Indigenous peoples, women, and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities to challenge barriers and lead with authenticity.

Theo Wouters is a Dutch-born milliner, fashion designer, and artist who has called Montreal home since 1969. Renowned for his artistic approach to couture, he founded an atelier and boutique that became a landmark in Montreal’s fashion scene, creating bespoke hats and garments for decades. His innovative craftsmanship attracted a loyal clientele, leading fashion houses, department stores, and film and television productions, leaving a lasting mark on the city's creative landscape.

Beyond his remarkable career in fashion, Theo Wouters is a significant figure in Québec’s LGBTQIA+ rights movement. Alongside his partner, Roger Thibault, he challenged the harassment they faced in Pointe-Claire, helping raise awareness of discrimination and contributing to broader recognition of LGBTQIA+ rights. On July 18, 2002, Roger and Theo became the first same-sex couple to enter into a civil union in Québec, marking a historic milestone in the province’s journey toward equality.

In recognition of their lifelong contributions, Roger Thibault and Theo Wouters were named Honorary Citizens of the City of Montreal in 2023 and were awarded the Medal of the National Assembly of Québec in 2026.

Actress, poet, drag queen, and comedian originally from the world's lobster capital, Shediac, Xénia Gould (aka Chiquita Mére) is rapidly rising as one of Canada's most exciting cultural voices. A literary rockstar, she is helping redefine the Acadian cultural landscape through her writing and unforgettable characters—most notably Chiquita Mére—who explore the realities of trans and queer communities with wit, nuance, and humanity.
After earning a Bachelor's degree in Theatre from Mount Allison University in 2017, she further developed her artistic practice through clown training at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and theatre studies at Hammana Artist House in Lebanon. As a performer, she has appeared in Découronné.es (Théâtre Périscope), L’amoure Looks Something Like You (Théâtre Denise-Pelletier), and Ce que je sais de vrai (Théâtre La Seizième). Most recently, she wrote her debut solo show, Juste vide ton cœur (Just Empty Your Heart), created during a residency at Usine C and produced by the International Festival of Literature (FIL). Following performances in Montréal, Québec City, and Acadia, the play will be published by Prise de parole in September 2026.

In 2020, Xénia was recognized by Francopresse as one of the 10 most influential personalities in Canada's Francophonie. She has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Artiste queer acadienne la plus illustrée à l’extérieur du Nouveau-Brunswick award, the Best Acadian Short Film award at FICFA, and the Viola-Léger Award presented by the ATFC. In 2024, she was also shortlisted for the prestigious Antonine-Maillet–Acadie Vie Literary Prize for her poetry collection Des fleurs comme moi. Her growing prominence led to her serving as Grand Marshal of the River of Pride Festival in 2018, and in 2026 she will serve as Honorary Co-President of Fierté Montréal.

Xénia has also built an impressive screen career, appearing in François.e (2026), Les bécasseaux (2026), En Tchèque part d’autre qu’icitte (2025), and Season 2 of Ça clique on Unis TV (2024). Alongside her longtime collaborator Sami Landri, she co-hosts the web series Helpez-Moi. She also publishes regularly in literary journals while developing a range of literary arts projects.

Chiquita Mére was born in 2018 in Moncton, New Brunswick, and has since captivated audiences both on stage and across social media throughout Canada and Europe. In 2019, she hosted the Congrès mondial acadien before a crowd of 24,000 people, produced and hosted the first-ever Acadian Drag Ball, and appeared in CBC Gem's documentary series Canada's A Drag. In 2021, she was featured in Lisa LeBlanc's music video Pourquoi faire aujourd’hui.

Today, Chiquita performs at major cultural events, including Just For Laughs, as well as numerous Pride festivals across Canada. She can also be seen touring internationally with the Sami Party tour. To date, she has amassed more than 100,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok, where she shares her signature blend of absurdist humour and joyful energy while proudly carrying her Acadian culture with her wherever she goes.