Celina
Caesar-Chavannes
Celina Caesar-Chavannes is an equity and inclusion advocate, leadership consultant, and former Member of Parliament who served as parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and to the Minister of International Development et la Francophonie. She is the recipient of the Champion of Mental Health Parliamentarian Award and in 2017 was named a Global 100 Under 40 Most Influential People of African Descent. Can You Here Me Now? is her first book. Caesar-Chavannes lives in Whitby, Ontario.
Award History
2021 Finalist
Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writingfor Can You Hear Me Now? How I Found My Voice and Learned to Live with Passion and Purpose
Jury Citation
“Celina Caesar-Chavannes’ memoir is like no other in the history of Canadian politics. Breathtakingly candid, she takes us on a rollercoaster ride through her childhood, relationships, mental health struggles, and time in public office. Along the way, she exposes deep-seated racism and sexism in Canadian society and on Parliament Hill and reminds us that our politicians are real people: vulnerable, caring, resilient. Her dry sense of humour, sparkling intellect, and courage in speaking her mind leave the reader reeling in admiration. Such a powerful voice cannot be silenced.”
— 2021 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize Jury (Peter Dauvergne, Adrian Harewood, and Heather Scoffield)
