Charles-François Painchaud (September 9, 1782 – February 9, 1838) was a Roman Catholic priest and educator in Lower Canada.

He was born in Isle-aux-Grues, the son of François Painchaud and Angélique Drouin, later moving to Quebec City with his parents, and was educated at the Petit Séminaire de Québec and Séminaire de Québec.

A few months later, he was posted to the mission at the Baie des Chaleurs, serving there until 1814 when he became parish priest at Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière.

In 1827, after Painchaud's plan for a college was supported by archbishop Bernard-Claude Panet, construction began.

Although the finances of the institution were not secure, the college was able to survive at first as a result of Painchaud's efficient use of limited funding and later due to a series of bequests.