Biography
Arriving in Quebec at age seven in 1991, Youssef Hariri began his education in Montréal-Nord. From a young age, he stood out through active involvement in student councils and associations. He reached the provincial finals of the Optimist International public speaking competition with a speech on My Commitment to the Future and, with a colleague, won the Industry Canada Award for designing the best school website in the country at the dawn of the Internet era.
A law graduate from the Université du Québec à Montréal and a member of the Quebec Bar, Youssef began his political career at 21 as a federal political aide. After being called to the bar, he opened his own law practice and launched his legal career before later becoming involved in municipal politics.
At both the federal and municipal levels, he has worked on files involving cultural communities, immigration, sustainable development, the environment, economic development, transportation, seniors’ services, universal accessibility, and citizen services. His commitment has always been guided by the principles of justice, humanity, and inclusion.
As a lawyer and entrepreneur, Youssef mentors young entrepreneurs and takes on community or humanitarian legal cases pro bono. His leadership and community impact have been recognized with the 2023 40 Under 40 Business Elite Award, and he was featured in the Top 100 Canadian Professionals Magazine.
Trained in Negotiation & Leadership at Harvard Law School and accredited as a mediator in civil, commercial, and labor law by the Quebec Bar, Youssef has also contributed his legal expertise to La Référence (Yvon Blais – Thomson Reuters), a key legal resource for lawyers and judges.
At just 19, he founded a legal portal to promote access to justice and legal information. He was a trained first-aid responder with both St. John Ambulance and the Red Cross. Youssef has always combined community engagement with professional dedication to build a fairer, more inclusive, and forward-looking society.
