The number of women elected to municipal council positions on October 26 remains the same in Prescott and Russell Counties, while there will now be three women on council in North Glengarry.
According to Leadership Feminin Prescott-Russell (LFPR), the number of women elected at the municipal level in Prescott-Russell remains at 14, the same number as in the 2022 election. However, for the first time in recent memory, two women will now serve as mayors in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR), doubling female representation at this important decision-making body. Corina Parisien was elected Mayor of Champlain Township and Julie Séguin was elected Mayor of the Town of Hawkesbury.
All three councillors in East Hawkesbury are now women. They are Kathleen O’Connell Renaud, Monique Desjardins, and Karina Sauvé.
In Hawkesbury, there will be two female councillors: Denise Robitaille and Johanne Lapalme.
In Russell Township, two women: Dominique Bertrand and Lisa Deacon were elected. For the first time, Russell Council has more than one woman as a member. All Russell village trustees are women. They are Stephanie MacMillan, Julianne Bankley, and Alison Brown.
Female councillors elected in Casselman are Francine Leblanc and Antonella De Dona. Marjorie Drolet is the only woman elected in The Nation. No women were elected in the Township of Alfred and Plantagenet.
Women serving as elected or acclaimed school trustees in Prescott-Russell are Tara Barton Maclaren, Sue Wilson, Nathalie Ladouceur, Muriel Lalonde, and Lindsay Doucet.
“The results of this election show that women have a more important place than ever in municipal and school politics,” said LFPR Executive Director Marie-Noëlle Lanthier in a press release.
Over the past few months, LFPR has launched numerous initiatives to encourage women to run for office: networking activities, training sessions, information meetings, personalized support, and opportunities for exchanges between elected officials and candidates. In total, 21 women were elected out of the 40 candidates who filed nomination documents. Three women who were incumbent council members across Prescott-Russell were also defeated in their campaigns for re-election. They are Geneviève Lajoie and Anik Charron in Casselman and Jeanne Charlebois in Hawkesbury.
In North Glengarry, three women were elected to township council on October 26. Elizabeth Caddell defeated Carma Williams to become Deputy Mayor. Brenda Noble was elected Ward 1 Lochiel Councillor, and Rachel Marleau was elected Councillor for Ward 4 Maxville. Prior to the election, Williams was the only woman serving on North Glengarry Council.
