Mélissa Gélinas
Local Journalism Initiative
Published online October 22, 2025, at www.pontiacjournal.com.
Brent Orr
For the past 16 years, Brent Orr has served as mayor of Bristol and is now seeking re-election. He says his long tenure has given him a deep understanding of how municipal politics work. “I’m very passionate about ensuring we continue to make progress in managing our taxation,” he said. “I simply want to keep moving forward and make sure everyone enjoys a good quality of life.”
According to Orr, one of the municipality’s main challenges is the rising cost of infrastructure construction. “We will continue to seek grants and funding from various levels of government as aggressively as possible,” he noted.
To support economic development while helping families and businesses stay in Bristol, Orr believes it’s essential to keep tax rates low and encourage new rental housing construction. “That’s important because more people are being drawn to our community, given our proximity to Gatineau and Ottawa,” he explained.
To maintain essential services at an affordable level, Orr said the municipality must keep investing in the upkeep of roads and aging infrastructure.
Regarding fire services, he said recruitment efforts have gone well. “We’ve had many new recruits,” he said.
On taxation, Orr emphasized the need for caution before taking any drastic measures. “We want to be as conscientious as possible toward our taxpayers and keep rates as low as we can,” he said.
Valérie Twolan-Graham
Municipal councillor since 2021 and with more than 30 years of experience in education, Valérie Twolan-Graham is running for mayor of Bristol. She says she brings strong communication skills along with a solid work ethic and a deep sense of fairness.
“At one of my first Council meetings, I learned about the New Horizons for Seniors Program,” she said. A healthy living committee for seniors was quickly formed, which she chaired, successfully securing $33,000 in grants from Service Canada.
Offering quality municipal services despite rising living costs is one of the main challenges, according to Twolan-Graham. “It’s essential to be financially responsible at the municipal level and to carefully review every expense,” she explained.
Another challenge is funding the revitalization of the Norway Bay wharf. Two grants have been obtained thanks to the committee’s persistence. “A new report is expected by the end of November,” she said.
To support economic development while keeping families and businesses in the community, she proposes creating an economic development committee. It would draw on residents’ expertise to develop a plan that supports new businesses, ensuring funds stay within the community to benefit local families and residents.
To improve essential municipal services while keeping taxes affordable, Twolan-Graham suggests exploring shared use of road equipment among neighbouring municipalities. “I would strongly advocate for controlling cost increases at the regional county level,” she said.
Photo credits : Submitted
