Just as she celebrates the 20th anniversary of both the Fabienne Colas Foundation and the Montreal International Black Film Festival with acclaimed director Spike Lee, Fabienne Colas, C.M, MBA FDA (Hon), received one of Canada’s highest honours. Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, appointed Colas to the Order of Canada.
The honour serves as a positive recognition for the trailblazing work Colas has been doing across the country and internationally for the past 20 years to champion for Diversity and Inclusion in the arts and in society overall.
Colas is a Haitian-Canadian who is based in Montreal. She made a name for herself as an award-winning actress, filmmaker, producer, entrepreneur and advocate for extensive inclusion in the film and arts industry.
Through her not-for-profit cultural organization, The Fabienne Colas Foundation, Colas dedicates time to building bridges geared towards diversifying the entertainment industry through festivals, various programs and providing scholarships. Since its inaugural year in 2005, Colas has supported and showcased about 10,000 artists through the organization.
2024 was a significant year for Colas through her work for the Fabienne Colas Foundation as she continued to break barriers in Quebec and within the Canadian cultural community. Concordia University’s Faculty of Arts honoured her with an Honorary Doctorate for her phenomenal career and work in promoting diversity in the arts and entertainment worlds in Quebec, across the rest of Canada and internationally.
The Cartier Theatre was also acquired and set to re-open in 2027 as the Colas Theatre to honour Colas’ groundbreaking work.
At a later date, Colas will be invited to a ceremony where she will invest in the Order of Canada as a new member. This accolade is one of many other prestigious awards Colas achieved throughout her career.
