Edith Bernier is originally from Matane, in the Gaspé Peninsula. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism (specializing in history) from the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQÀM-2003). She is a member of the Union des écrivain·e·s du Québec (UNEQ-Quebec Union of Writers) and the Association des journalistes indépendants du Québec (AJIQ-Quebec Association of Independent Journalists).
Book Author
Her first book, Gros·se, et puis? Connaître et combattre la grossophobie (Fat? So What? – éd. du Trécarré), was published in September 2020. The preface was written by researcher and professor Benoit Arsenault, PhD. It is the first French-language reference guide of its kind. To date, more than 2,500 copies of the book have been sold in Quebec. In February 2022, Gros·se, et puis? was published in French-speaking Europe by Marabout. Under the title Gros·se, et alors?, it marks Edith Bernier’s first official breakthrough in bookstores in France, Belgium, and Switzerland.
Her second book, Grandir sans grossophobie: favoriser une image corporelle saine chez nos enfants (Growing Up Without Fatphobia: Promoting a Healthy Body Image in Our Children – Trécarré), was published in February 2023. It is primarily a caring guide for parents, grandparents, and educators. Jessica Barker, a Quebec filmmaker, author, host, and actress, wrote the preface. Renowned psychologist Rose-Marie Charest and nutritionist Claudia Houle also contributed to the book. Grandir sans grossophobie has also been recorded in audio format by its author.
Her third book was published in October 2025 by Saint-Jean Éditeur. It is Rudy en 23 tounes, the biography of singer-songwriter Rudy Caya, well known as the lead singer of the Quebec band Vilain Pingouin.
All the details about her publications are available on Writer and Books.
Travel Blogger
It was through travel that Edith began to explore issues related to fatphobia. Her first blog, The Plus-Size Backpacker, was created in April 2013. The site was dedicated to highlighting the challenges faced by plus-size female travelers. The first—and only—blog on the subject at the time, the site still holds a special place in the plus-size blogosphere.
In early 2016, she self-published The Ultimate Guide to Plus-Size Backpacker (in French: Le Manuel des routards taille plus) in electronic format on Amazon. That same year, Edith Bernier was a guest speaker at MTL+ Fashion Week. She was also chosen as one of the spokespersons for the #NousPouvonsÊtre campaign by the Sportive Plus chain of stores.
In March 2017, the book Big Fit Girl (by Canadian trainer and athlete Louise Green) included her testimony on hiking as a discipline that helps develop the athletic potential of plus-size women. It was during that same year that she made her first public statements on the issues of fatphobia and body diversity.
Outreach Work
Eager to raise awareness about fatphobia, Edith Bernier launched Grossophobie.ca in August 2019. It is Quebec’s first reference website on fatphobia. In December 2019, her open letter Être gros n’est pas un choix (Being fat is not a choice), published in La Presse, was co-signed by more than 60 Quebec personalities from the arts, science, academia, and activism. That same year, she gave her first lectures on fatphobia and the acceptance and inclusion of fat people.
Despite several events being canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, Edith remains very present in the media and is interviewed on many topics, from fatphobia during lockdown to the closure of AdditionElle stores.
For nearly 10 years, she has participated in numerous radio and television reports and programs, including the documentary series J’t’aime gros (VRAI), the Quebec version of You Can’t Ask That (Ça ne se demande pas – AMI-télé), and the series Louis T veut savoir (Savoir média/Urbania). She has also been interviewed for the print media on several occasions. To date, she has made over a hundred media appearances dedicated to raising awareness about fatphobia and promoting the inclusion of fat people.
Find out more about the different projects she contributed to on Outreach Work.
For her media coverage, visit Press.
Speaker
Edith Bernier has crossed paths with more than 5,000 people of all ages through more than 70 panels and conferences on fatphobia (in person and online) in many settings (elementary and secondary schools, wellness committees, community organizations, workplaces, etc.).
For a summary of her different statements and actions, visit Public Speaker.
