Karine Toutant

“I immediately thought it was a wonderful idea. This symbolic gesture of shaving one's hair carries a powerful message. Yes, it's personal and emotional, but it's also an act that can have a huge impact. I'm proud and excited to be part of this project.”

Karine Toutant: A Daring Woman Driven by Solidarity and Mutual Aid

Brilliant, passionate and dedicated, Karine Toutant is a woman who inspires by her exceptional career path. Co-owner and Director of Sales and Operations at Buropro Citation, she has risen through the ranks thanks to her initiative, strategic vision and commitment to her team. With a certificate in business administration, Karine combines organization, leadership and authenticity in everything she does. Mother of three daughters, she agreed to take part in Les Audacieuses to set an example through her actions and to support children with cancer.

“I immediately thought it was a wonderful idea. This symbolic gesture of shaving one's hair carries a powerful message. Yes, it's personal and emotional, but it's also an act that can have a huge impact. I'm proud and excited to be part of this project.”

Taking her commitment to the cause a step further

Karine has been working with Leucan for five years. Approached to print Christmas cards for the Association's families, she takes her support a step further: she says yes to shaving her hair for the cause. “Since working with Leucan, I've witnessed the direct impact of their support on families. It's so human and personalized. It goes far beyond medical help: Leucan also acts on a social, family and psychological level. After seeing all this, I asked how I could get more involved. That's when I was offered the chance to become an Audacieuse, and I immediately accepted.”

Following her values in her decision-making, saying yes to the project was natural for her. “Leucan's values - particularly health and mutual aid - correspond perfectly to my own. When I was young, I had a life-changing experience with someone close to me who had cancer. Today, this person is in remission, but this ordeal made me realize the immense impact of this kind of illness on family, friends and those around them.”

Karine's actions demonstrate that she is aware of her good fortune and takes concrete action to give back to others. “You can't just be grateful for healthy children; you have to give back and take concrete action. Participating in the Audacieuses project allows me to contribute to this cause, which is so close to my heart.”

Through this symbolic and powerful gesture of shaving her hair, she hopes not only to support children with cancer, but also to inspire other women to surpass themselves and break with convention. “This gesture goes beyond appearance. It represents solidarity, courage and hope.”

A commitment that resonates with her core values

Involved with Leucan for five years, Karine discovered the organization's human and personalized impact by working on projects that directly touched families. Emotionally involved with Leucan's mission, she wanted to push her impact on the cause even further.

“Leucan's values - health, mutual aid and humanity - are very close to my own. Having experienced first-hand the impact of cancer on those around me, I understand the importance of giving back to the community and providing concrete support to affected families.”

For Karine, being an Audacieuse means embodying her values in action. “I firmly believe that by taking responsibility for our choices and taking concrete action, we can make a significant difference.”

Karine hopes that her gesture will bring comfort to these families who are living through the unthinkable.  “When I see families going through the ordeals of illness, I find them strong and courageous. They represents the true definition of courage. These parents and children have no parachute, nothing to cushion the fall. Except perhaps Leucan, which acts like a balm. I want to be able to offer them a little parachute to support them in this storm.’’

A leader and mother who inspires by example

Authentic and assertive, Karine stands out for her natural leadership and ability to rally others around her. For her, a good leader is one who shines the spotlight on her team, inspires and leads by example.

“For me, taking part in Les Audacieuses is a way of demonstrating that a personal act can be transformed into a meaningful collective gesture. I hope that my commitment will encourage other women to dare and to surpass themselves.’’

She wants to inspire women in Quebec, but has already started with her daughters: “When my daughters found out I was shaving my hair, they thought it was ‘cool’. It touched me, because that's exactly what I want to pass on to them: to think of others, to be generous, and to understand that hardships, like losing your hair, can make you stronger inside. Hair grows back, but what we cultivate inside stays inside forever.”

With courage and determination, Karine Toutant proves that every little gesture can have a huge impact. Her involvement bears witness to her determination to create a better world, one action at a time. Her next concrete action: shaving her hair for Leucan, in April 2025.