MRC Pontiac Warden and Pro-warden elected and new DG hired

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Arnaud de la Salle
(tr. AB)

CAMPBELL’S BAY – During the first Council of Mayors meeting of the year on January 19, the mayors proceeded with an election for Warden and Pro-warden. Raymond Durocher was re-elected as Warden for another two-year term; he said he was proud of the

Arnaud de la Salle
(tr. AB)

CAMPBELL’S BAY – During the first Council of Mayors meeting of the year on January 19, the mayors proceeded with an election for Warden and Pro-warden. Raymond Durocher was re-elected as Warden for another two-year term; he said he was proud of the
confidence the mayors placed in him and said he will continue his work at the head of the MRC Pontiac with determination and passion. “A re-election is never automatic,” he said, admitting he was a
bit nervous before the meeting.
In addition, Mayor of Thorne, Terry Murdock was elected as Pro-
warden, replacing Winston Sunstrum, Mayor of L’Isle-aux-Allumettes.  
Another announcement made during the meeting was the replacement of the MRC Director General after Remi Bertrand’s departure. Gabriel Lance, MRC Pontiac Assistant DG, has agreed to take over the DG’s responsibilities for a “medium-term” until a full-term replacement can be appointed.
A hiring committee will take the necessary measures to fill the Assistant Director position, with a view to groom this individual to eventually take over the Director General’s position.
It was also noted that decisions regarding recipients of the over $240,000 Territory Development Fund had been made; they were then announced
publicly on the MRC
website, January 23. Those receiving grants are: L’Isle-aux-Allumettes Pedestrian Walkway ($19,500); Chichester Waterfront ($27,300); Campbell’s Bay Vision and Development Plan ($13,414); Sheenboro Intergenerational Park ($28,591); L’Isle-aux-Allumettes and Chichester Main Streets ($15,296); CREDETAO L’Ange-Gardien agricultural
platform ($5,000); Résidence Meilleur Senior Residence ($30,000); Jardin Éducatif ($20,957); Pontiac Artist Association – Stone School improvements ($9,130); Les maisons des jeunes du Pontiac ($15,500); Mont O’Brien ($4,030); Le Patro – installing showers ($11,167); Table des aînés du Pontiac ($8,445); and Municipality of Shawville/Lions Club for improvements to Shawville Arena ($32,942).
According to Durocher, these are essential developmental projects and those awarding the funding attempted to assist as many projects as possible in the MRC Pontiac.
The Council decided to set up a monitoring
committee for the Biomass Transformation Centre to follow the progress of the project, report to Council, and seek the necessary
support for project advancement. The committee, composed of Durocher, Murdock, Alain Gagnon (Bryson), Colleen Larivière (Litchfield), and Sunstrum, will be supported by the project manager, Pierre Vezina, and
members of the MRC Pontiac management team assigned to the project.
In conclusion, the Warden emphasized his desire to continue to build the MRC Pontiac as a major regional player in the Outaouais by following through with projects such as the Biomass Conversion Centre, the hops sector, TransporAction, and the Regional Art Collection. He also noted he will be donating 3% of his wages as Warden to local
educational, cultural, and artistic charities.