A Quebecer, she lives in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, where she trains at the Club de natation du Haut-Richelieu with coach France Latendresse. She took up competitive swimming in 2008. With an impairment in her left hand she competes in the S10, SB9 and SM10 disability classifications.
In 2014 Swimming Canada named Rivard "Female Para-Swimmer of the Year".
Rivard competed at the 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships but did not win any medals. At the 2012 London Paralympics she entered six events and won silver in the S10 400 m freestyle. She won five medals at the 2013 World Championships including two silver, two bronze and joint second place in the 200 m medley. At the 2014 Commonwealth Games she won bronze in the 200 m individual medley.
