Emilie is from a small side city in Quebec: she grew up surrounded by forests and plains where she rapidly developed a taste for individual physical activities like walking with her family dog, Belle. She developed a deep interest toward nature and animal which lead her to enroll in Biological Sciences.

A former McGill student, she moved out of Quebec in 2001 to train and study at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC. She then became coached by Mike Lonergan and her progression showed well the great training environment and program she is since evolving in. Just starting on the senior scene, she finished 2nd in the 2001 National Cross Country Championships, leading to her first senior national teams. By the next summer, she was ranked top 3 in Canada in 3 different track events and became the 2002 National 1500m champion. In 2001 and 2002, she also competed in the NAIA American universities league where she dominated on both track and cross country, finally leading her to a NAIA National cross country record. In 2003, she became known on the international scene with a 13th place finish at IAAF World Cross Country which was followed by a Canadian 5km Road Record. In 2003, she decided to stop competing in the NAIA and focus on National teams.

Emilie has a really supportive family that helped her achieved her dreams. She has 2 younger sisters, Veronique and Marie-Christine, the later being a great Canadian volley-ball player. Veronique is a promising art creator. Her parents, Nicole and Francois, are both French Canadian. Nicole was a former professional singer.

Émilie loves reading and being in nature. She is currently completing her Biological Sciences Major to become a Biologist, specialized in animals in their wild environment.