Who was Debbie Zakaib, Alexandre Taillefer’s wife and a leading voice in Quebec fashion and gastronomy and how did she die?

Debbie Zakaib, a prominent figure in Quebec’s fashion industry and wife of businessman Alexandre Taillefer, and more recently a driving force in the province’s gastronomy scene, died on Thursday, December 11. Her passing comes a decade after the family endured the tragic loss of their son Thomas, reports La Presse.

How did Debbie Zakaib die?

Debbie Zakaib cause of death: Zakaib’s daughter, Daphnée Taillefer, shared that her mother died after a short but difficult battle with cancer. “My mom, my bestie, my life. Today, you left us after a short but difficult battle with cancer. There are no words to express the pain we are experiencing. Hold your moms so tight. To the most beautiful person who ever existed, I love you infinitely. Rest well,” her daughter posted on her Instagram account.

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Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada reacted to the news on her X account. "Debbie Zakaib will be remembered as a fervent ambassador of Quebec talent, an outstanding unifier, and an inspiring leader who dedicated her career to the prosperity of the creative sectors and the cultural richness of Montreal," the mayor wrote in her message.


Debbie Zakaib served as the executive director of La Table Ronde, a group that unites leaders in Quebec's restaurant business and gastronomy entrepreneurs. The organization paid tribute to Zakaib as "a pillar" and "their Queen of Hearts" in a post on their Instagram page.

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Who was Debbie Zakaib?

Debbie Zakaib was a prominent Quebec marketing executive known for her influence across fashion, culture, and the culinary world. A graduate of HEC Montréal with a master’s in marketing, her thesis explored the province’s fashion sector. She went on to build a decade-long career in brand development at L’Oréal, Coca-Cola, and Johnson & Johnson, while also writing a weekly blog for Clin d’œil and contributing to urban-affairs coverage on ICI Radio-Canada Télé.

Zakaib also played a key role in the arts community, serving on the board of the Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art Foundation and chairing the committee for its celebrated annual gala. In recent years, she earned recognition for helping bring the Michelin Guide to Quebec and elevating the province’s presence in the first North America’s 50 Best Restaurants ranking.