Formally summoned and took her seat as an independent senator representing Quebec.
On March 18, 2016, Chantal Petitclerc was formally summoned to the Senate of Canada and took her seat as an independent senator representing the province of Quebec.
This formal induction into the Senate marked the official beginning of her legislative career, following her appointment announcement the previous month. As an independent senator, Petitclerc joined a growing cohort of non-partisan appointees under the reformed Senate appointment process instituted by the Trudeau government.
Her arrival in the Senate represented a continuation of her lifelong commitment to breaking barriers—this time in the realm of Canadian federal politics. She brought with her decades of experience navigating institutional and societal barriers as a person with a disability, positioning her as a strong voice for accessibility, inclusion, and disability rights within Canada's upper legislative chamber. Her transition from elite athlete to legislator exemplified a rare and powerful trajectory of public service.