The Rideau Hall Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of the Jeanne Sauvé—QES Mentorship Program, a new initiative to support Queen Elizabeth Scholars (QES) alumni.
The Right Honourable Jeanne Sauvé was a woman of firsts: the first female MP from Québec to serve as a cabinet minister, Canada’s first female Speaker of the House, and the country’s first female Governor General, becoming the 23rd Governor General of Canada. A lifelong believer in the power of youth, she created the Jeanne Sauvé Foundation to foster leadership opportunities and build networks that connect, engage, and empower new generations of public leadership in Canada and around the world to address key global challenges.
Launched as a pilot in March 2025, the The Jeanne Sauvé —QES Mentorship Program by the RHF connects QES alumni with experienced mentors from a variety of sectors. Mentees may propose a project that builds on their QES experience or furthers their professional goals, with selected projects eligible for up to $7,500 in funding. This inaugural cohort brings together 9 pairs of talented QES alumni and experienced mentors, each committed to growth, collaboration, and impact.
Meet the cohort
The first round of mentors and mentees has been selected, with applications for the next cohort opening later this year.
The RHF is grateful for the support of the Jeanne Sauvé Foundation in helping to create this unique mentorship initiative that builds on the success and global impact of the Queen Elizabeth Scholars program
About QES Connect
The QES Program has mobilized over 2,600 young leaders from Canada and beyond, giving them the chance to grow through international experiences centered on learning, research, and making a real difference in communities. These scholars head home with fresh perspectives, a wider view of the world, and the motivation to drive positive change wherever they go.
The QES Connect platform gives alumni three main ways to grow their careers and forge lasting connections:
- Connect: Find fellow Scholars, see what they’ve been up to, and stay in touch.
- Give back: Introduce, employ, or offer mentorship to another Scholar.
- Collaborate: Link up with Scholars in your field or with shared interests.
Ready to reconnect?
Join QES Connect today and help shape what comes next in the continued journey of Queen Elizabeth Scholars worldwide.
