[1] She received a Bachelor of Arts and Master's degree from the University of Ottawa and a doctorate in Paris from the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences.
As part of the Coalition des intervenantes et intervenants francophones en justice, Cardinal published "Coalition des intervenantes et intervenants francophones en justice: a community innovation to increase the offer of French-language services in Ontario" with Marie-Ève Levert, Danielle Manton and Sonia Ouellet.
[12] In 2011, Cardinal traveled to the University of Helsinki where she worked as a professor and guest lecturer at the Center for Research on Ethnic Relations and Nationalism.
"[17] The following year, Cardinal collaborated with Simon Jolivet and Isabelle Matte to publish "Le Québec et l'Irlande: culture, histoire, identité."
The book was a compilation of text to showcase the similarities between Irish Catholics and French Canadians in 19th century Quebec, such as historical, cultural, religious, social, political and identity ties.
[20][21] Cardinal worked with fellow University of Ottawa professor Sébastien Grammond to published a book "Une tradition et un droit, le Sénat et la représentation de la francophonie canadienne" detailing how the French language played a role in shaping the Canadian Constitution, legislation and evolution of Canada.
[27] Cardinal continued her writing and collaborated with Anne Gilbert, Michel Bock, Lucie Hotte, and François Charbonneau to co-edit "Ottawa, lieu de vie français.
[29] In May 2019, Cardinal was loaned to the Université de l'Ontario français to help develop a research strategy to integrate into the organization of the Francophone Carrefour of Knowledge and Innovation.