On Friday, May 22, Corina Parisien filed nomination documents with the township clerk’s office to run for mayor on voting day, October 26. Parisien will be challenging two-term incumbent Normand Riopel for the position.

For many parents, Parisien may be familiar to them as the Upper Canada District School Board Trustee for Prescott-Russell, a position she has held since 2018. After two terms, she wants to keep having an impact in the community. Instead of seeking a council seat in Champlain, she wants to also have the opportunity to be make a difference across the region.

“Being Mayor of Champlain, you also have a seat at the county table,” Parisien said.

The mayor is the township’s representative on United Counties of Prescott and Russell council.

Parisien’s professional experience has been gained through a 24-year career in the federal public service. She said this experience has given her skills and knowledge about infrastructure, communication, and both strategic and capital planning. Originally from North Bay and Ottawa, Parisien has lived in Vankleek Hill for more than 20 years and is fully bilingual.

Parisien said as mayor, she would listen to citizen’s voices.

“I want to hear what they need.”

Her goal is to lead Champlain Township in a positive direction, based on what she hears from citizens. Indeed, Parisien’s already established campaign slogan is “Working for you, Building Champlain Township together!”

Parisien said she is so far hearing citizens say there are needs for infrastructure and business development in the township. She wants to work with provincial and federal governments to secure assistance for these needs and ensure that the planning process is open and accessible.

With Vankleek Hill and L’Orignal as its urban areas and the rural wards of West Hawkesbury and Longueuil, Parisien wants to ensure Champlain functions as one municipality, but emphasized there are unique opportunities in each community within the municipality for progress.

“These are all things we have to highlight,” she commented.

With respect to fiscal management, Parisien wants to be sure the township is planning its expenditures in the proper areas and that grants and other funding sources are being adequately utilized. She said other nearby municipalities are growing and that is because of how hard their councils have worked to secure funding and new development.

The proposed Alto high-speed rail project is weighing heavily on the minds of many Champlain residents, and Parisien completely respects their objections.

“I am wholeheartedly opposed to it. I’m not for it. There’s no benefit to it,” she said.

Parisien said the line, if built, will infringe upon the municipality’s territory. She wants to be sure the Alto crown corporation and the federal government are listening to the objections from communities.

“Are they really hearing us?” Parisien remarked.

As mayor, Parisien would ensure the concerns of Champlain residents are strongly represented on the UCPR steering committee that was established in response to the Alto proposal.

However, if the project goes ahead, Parisien wants to be sure the municipality is properly compensated for the social, economic, and infrastructure effects it could have.

“We need a plan B.”

She would like that compensation to come in the form of elevated funding for police, education, and roads.

In addition to her hopes of becoming the next mayor of Champlain Township, Parisien has also been a longtime volunteer for the Vankleek Hill Christmas Home Tour, an active member of the Vankleek Hill Curling Club, and was recently appointed as the new Secretary of the Vankleek Hill Agricultural Society.

Parisien is excited about the possibility of serving as mayor.

“It would be life changing!” she enthused.