Honouring the life, legacy, and enduring spirit of Dr. Francine Lemire

2026-10-13

It is with deep sadness that we honour the life, legacy, and enduring spirit of Dr. Francine Lemire, a family medicine leader, dedicated family physician, and trailblazing Paralympian whose contributions transformed the landscape of family medicine in Canada.

Francine dedicated over 33 years to family medicine, embodying the best in compassionate, comprehensive primary care. For more than two decades, her heart and practice belonged to Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, where she served as a foundational pillar of community health. She also cared for patients at the Toronto Western Family Health Team. Whether teaching at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) or the University of Toronto (U of T), she mentored generations of future physicians with a blend of rigorous excellence and deep empathy.

From 2013 to 2022 Francine served as the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) and the Foundation for Advancing Family Medicine (FAFM). She championed the implementation of Canada’s first competency-based postgraduate medical education curriculum, modernized nationwide examinations, and spearheaded the creation of Family Medicine Interest Groups and the Besrour Centre for Global Family Medicine, connecting primary care physicians worldwide. A fierce advocate for health equity, she frequently brought her bilingual eloquence to Parliamentary and Senate committees, helping to advance federal policies on elder care and health human resources. Francine served as President of the CFPC during 1997/98 and 1990/91, and she was President of the Newfoundland and Labrador College of Family Physicians.

She received her CCFP (certification in family medicine) in 1979 after completing her residency at MUN and she was awarded fellowship (FCFP) in 1993.

Francine's lifetime of excellence was recognized with Canada's highest honours. In 2023 she received the prestigious Calvin L. Gutkin Family Medicine Ambassador Award. Her extraordinary career culminated in her appointment as a Member of the Order of Canada in early 2024.

Beyond the clinic and boardrooms, Francine possessed the heart of a champion. She was a two-time Paralympic gold medalist in cross-country skiing at the 1988 Winter Paralympics in Innsbruck, a feat that earned her a proud place in the Cross-Country Newfoundland and Labrador Hall of Fame.

It was this very love for skiing that sparked the beautiful narrative of her personal life. Upon moving to Corner Brook she met her future husband, fellow physician Dr. Jamie Graham. What began as skiing lessons taught by Jamie blossomed into a profound, lifelong partnership and a shared family passion. Francine often fondly remembered how essential it was to her husband that they share the sport together, along with their passion for canoeing, anchoring a warm and vibrant home life full of mutual respect, love, and adventure.

Francine was recently diagnosed with cancer. After becoming increasingly ill last week, she was admitted to the palliative care unit at Corner Brook Hospital. She was surrounded by loved ones as her wishes for ending her life with medical assistance in dying were honoured on Sunday, October 11th.

Francine leaves behind an indelible mark on the hearts of her patients, colleagues, friends, and loved ones. Her brilliant mind, competitive grit, and generous spirit will continue to inspire the medical community and all who had the privilege of knowing her.

A celebration of Francine’s life will be held on October 27th at 2:00pm (NT) at the Marble Mountain Ski Lodge in Corner Brook. If you wish to donate in Francine’s memory, you can direct your gift to the CFPC’s Foundation for Advancing Family Medicine: Francine Lemire Fund (est. 2021), which supports the Lifetime Achievement Award in Family Medicine Research, the Family Medicine Researcher of the Year Award and the Family Medicine Research Article of the Year Award.