Sylvie Nadeau: A Founding Figure of CRIR Honored by the Université de Montréal and Named Professor Emerita
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Université de Montréal – Commencement Ceremony August 23, 2026 | Montreal Convention Center
A Historic Recognition for CRIR
Since CRIR’s founding in 2000, Sylvie Nadeau has become the first woman among CRIR members to receive the prestigious title of professor emerita. She thus joins three CRIR researchers who received this honor before her: Bertrand Arsenault (Université de Montréal, 2010), Bob Dykes (McGill University, 2011), and Daniel Bourbonnais (Université de Montréal, 2022).
Sylvie Nadeau, pht, Ph.D. — Professor Emerita at the School of rehabilitation at the Univeristé de Montréal and researcher at CRIR-IURDPM.
A Pivotal Contribution to the Development of CRIR
Involved with CRIR since its founding, Sylvie Nadeau has played a leading role in the development of rehabilitation research at our center. Her commitment has helped shape our research priorities, support the growth of our teams, and build a scientific ecosystem recognized for its richness, dynamism, and national and international influence.
A Career That Has Transformed Rehabilitation
A physical therapist by training and a researcher at CRIR — Institut universitaire sur la réadaptation en déficience physique de Montréal (IURDPM) of the Santé Québec Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal – Universitaire, Sylvie Nadeau has profoundly influenced the advancement of clinical biomechanics and rehabilitation. She directed the Laboratory of Pathokinesiology and Functional Activities, a laboratory specializing in three-dimensional motion analysis renowned for its innovation and expertise, located at the Gingras-Lindsay Rehabilitation Institute of Montreal (IRGLM). Her work on locomotion, mobility, and technologies applied to rehabilitation has opened up new avenues for both clinical practice and research.
As scientific director of REPAR from 2009 to 2016, she also made a remarkable contribution to raising the profile of rehabilitation and health sciences- . Her influence extends far beyond our borders: the excellence and impact of her work are recognized internationally, as evidenced by the numerous awards and honors she has received throughout her career.
Her professional career has been marked by commitment, rigor, leadership, vision, dynamism, and innovation—qualities that have helped shape our scientific community and inspire generations of students, clinicians, and researchers. Her inspiring leadership, passion for research, and great generosity have left a lasting mark on our field.
Our most sincere congratulations
The entire CRIR community extends its warmest congratulations to Sylvie Nadeau on this exceptional honor and thanks her for her remarkable commitment to rehabilitation research over nearly three decades.
This prestigious recognition highlights the significance of her contributions to our field and serves as a source of inspiration for our entire research community, as well as for future generations.
Read the news about her appointment from the Université de Montreal (UdeM) – in French: https://nouvelles.umontreal.ca/article/2026/08/20/l-udem-souligne-six-parcours-d-exception-par-l-emeritat
Université de Montréal – Commencement Ceremony August 23, 2026 | Montreal Convention Center
Sylvie was surrounded by her university colleagues, her thesis supervisors, Bertrand Arsenault and Denis Gravel, as well as her family during the University of Montreal’s commencement ceremony held on August 23. This meaningful moment was shared in a warm and deeply significant atmosphere.
- From left to right in this photo:
Bertrand Arsenault, Professor Emeritus at UdeM, former researcher and member of CRIR, Sylvie Nadeau, Professor Emerita and Associate researcher at CRIR-IURDPM, Denis Gravel, former researcher and member of CRIR.
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CRIR | Septembre 3, 2026
