During the 1940s, she was associated with Les Automatistes and signed the Refus Global manifesto in 1948.
She taught at the Institute of Applied Arts in Montreal and the College du Vieux-Montreal.
In 1965, she opened her own interior design company.
Her work has included design of Via Rail coaches, Air Canada aircraft, the interior of the former studio of painter Jean-Paul Riopelle, a room at the Citadelle of Quebec and public spaces at the residence of the Governor General of Canada.Arbour was named to the Order of Canada in 1986.
In 1998, she was awarded the Prix Condorcet.
She was named a Chevalier in the National Order of Quebec in 1999.
In 2001, she was named to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.In 1984, she was recognized by the Conseil national du design for her contributions to the development of Canadian design.