France Belisle elected Gatineau's first female mayor
France Bélisle is the new mayor of Gatineau, becoming the first woman elected to hold the top job in the city.
The former head of Tourisme Outaouais and executive at Radio-Canada easily won Sunday's municipal election, succeeding Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin as mayor of Gatineau.
As of 11:30 p.m., Bélisle had received 43 per cent of the vote.
Action Gatineau candidate Maude Marquis-Bissonette was second with 38 per cent of the vote, while former Gatineau councillor Jean-Francois Leblanc was third at 16 per cent.
Jacques Lemay, Remi Bergeron and Abdelhak Lekbabi also ran for mayor in Sunday's municipal election.
"Merci Gatineau," Bélisle said in a statement on Facebook shortly before celebrating with supporters Sunday evening.
"It is with humility that I celebrate this victory tonight .. I won't be perfect, but everyday I will do my best," Bélisle said in French.
Bélisle's victory ends eight years of governing by Pedneaud-Jobin and the Action Gatineau party. Pedneaud-Jobin, leader of Action Gatineau, decided not to seek re-election for a third term.
Bélisle was born and raised in Hull, graduated from the University of Ottawa with a bachelor's degree in journalism, and has a master's degree in journalistic studies from Carleton University.
GATINEAU CITY COUNCIL
Twelve new councillors will join Bélisle on Gatineau city council for the next four years, while a 13th district will be represented by a familiar face at Gatineau City Hall.
Eight councillors decided not to seek re-election, former councillors Marquis-Bissonette and Leblanc ran for mayor, and Gatineau added a 19th district for the new term. In addition, former Deschenes District councillor Mike Duggan was elected in Pointe-Gatineau.
Six of the seven councillors seeking re-election in their district won re-election on Sunday night. Incumbent Martin Lajeunesse of Action Gatineau lost in Buckingham.
Here is a look at the district results:
- District d'Aylmer (1): Steve Boivin was elected with 56 per cent of the vote. Incumbent Audrey Bureau did not seek re-election.
- District de Lucerne (2): Gilles Chagnon (incumbent) re-elected for a new term.
- District de Deschenes (3): Caroline Murray (Action Gatineau) elected for the first time. Incumbent Mike Duggan ran in Pointe-Gatineau.
- District du Plateau (4): Bettyna Belizaire (Action Gatineau) elected for the first time. Incumbent Maude Marquis-Bissonnette ran for mayor.
- District de Mitigomijokan (5): Anik des Marais (Action Gatineau) elected for the first time. This is a new district in Gatineau for the 2021 election.
- District du Manoir-des-Trembles-Val-Tetreau (6): Jocelyn Blondin (incumbent) re-elected for a new term.
- District de Hull-Wright (7): Steve Moran (Action Gatineau) elected for the first time. Incumbent Cedric Tessier did not seek re-election.
- District du Parc-de-la-Montagne-Saint-Raymond (8): Louise Boudrais (incumbent) re-elected for a new term.
- District de l'Oree-du-Parc (9): Isabelle N. Miron (Action Gatineau - incumbent) re-elected for a new term.
- District de Limbour (10): Louis Sabourin (Action Gatineau) was elected. Incumbent Renee Amyot did not seek re-election.
- District de Touraine (11): Tiffany-Lee Norris Parent (Action Gatineau) elected for the first time. Incumbent Nathalie Lemieux did not seek re-election.
- District de Pointe-Gatineau: Mike Duggan elected for the first time in Pointe-Gatineau. Duggan was previously the councillor for District de Deschenes. Incumbent Myriam Nadeau did not seek re-election.
- District du Carrefour-de-l'Hopital (13): Olive Kamanyana elected for the first time. Incumbent Gilles Carpentier did not seek re-election.
- District du Versant (14): Daniel Champagne (incumbent) re-elected for a new term.
- District de Bellevue (15): Alicia Lacasse-Brunet (Action Gatineau) elected for a first term as councillor. Incumbent Pierre Lanthier did not seek re-election.
- District du Lac-Beauchamp (16): Daniel Girouard was elected as the new representative. Incumbent Jean-Francois Leblanc ran for mayor.
- District de la Riviere-Blanche (17): Jean Lessard (incumbent) re-elected for a new term.
- District de Masson-Angers (18): Mario Aube elected for a first term. Incumbent Marc Carriere did not seek re-election.
- District de Buckingham (19): Edmond Leclerc elected for a first term, defeating incumbent Martin Lajeunesse of Action Gatineau
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, Ontario police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist Dickey Betts dies at 80
Guitar legend Dickey Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, 'Ramblin' Man,' has died. He was 80.
Taylor Swift's new album allegedly 'leaked' on social media and it's causing a frenzy
A Google Drive link allegedly containing 17 tracks that are purportedly from Swift's eagerly awaited "The Tortured Poets Department" album has been making the rounds on the internet in the past day and people are equal parts mad, sad and happy about it.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.
Lack of detention space could force CBSA to release detainees, internal memo warns
The Canada Border Services Agency is scrambling to find space to hold high-risk detainees that are set to be transferred from provincial jails in June.
What does it mean to be 'house poor' and how can you avoid it?
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.