Quebec mayor, 23, shepherded her town through forest fires. Now she’s stepping down | 24CA News
After main her small city by means of a historic and devastating wildfire season, certainly one of Quebec’s youngest mayors is taking a step again from politics to handle herself.
Isabelle Lessard, 23, was thrust into the highlight final summer season after raging forest fires compelled the evacuation of tons of of properties in Chapais, Que., about 715 kilometres northeast of Montreal.
In her resignation letter that she posted publicly on social media Wednesday, Lessard mentioned her expertise on the helm of the small city of 1,500 residents was “very enriching.”
Making the choice to go away was “extremely difficult,” she added.
“Unfortunately, the difficult weeks last June during the forest fires had significant consequences for my health and I must take the necessary time to heal,” Lessard wrote in her letter.
After shepherding Chapais by means of one of many worst forest hearth seasons on document, Lessard has been off the job since mid-September. She hoped to come back again in full type, however defined that isn’t the case.
“However, realistically, from a medical and personal point of view, the best decision for my health as well as for the municipality of Chapais is for me to make way way for a new mayor,” Lessard wrote.
“I sincerely hope that my short stay will leave a positive mark despite the circumstances.”
The city of Chapais, Que., was hit onerous by wildfires in June 2023.
Ville de Chapais/Facebook
Lessard, who was acclaimed as mayor in 2021, will formally hand over the reins on Nov. 17 — roughly midway by means of her mandate.
Global News reached out to Lessard, however didn’t but hear again in time for publication. In an interview with The Canadian Press, the younger mayor defined she felt unable to finish her time period and that she is vulnerable to creating post-traumatic stress syndrome.
Before she went on depart, Lessard says she was sleeping poorly and felt always pressured.
The resignation and public publish by Lessard was met with assist from different municipal and provincial leaders. Quebec’s union of municipalities (UMQ) mentioned the outgoing elected official confirmed “remarkable leadership” all through her mandate and particularly throughout this summer season’s disaster.
“Isabelle gave body and soul for her community, it is now her turn to take care of herself,” mentioned UMQ president and Varennes Mayor Martin Damphousse.
Lessard not solely has a shiny future forward of her, however her resolution “seriously reminds us that municipal officials are, above all, human beings,” he mentioned.
“The challenges and crises they face are increasingly complex and also show the importance of their role,” Damphousse mentioned.
The UMQ additionally says it’s working towards a plan to make sure that elected officers can entry worker help applications, significantly for psychological assist.
Québec solidaire co-spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois tipped his cap to Lessard, saying she took on challenges in her job and underwent an enormous ordeal alongside her neighborhood.
“I thank her for her work and wish her well-deserved rest,” he wrote on X, previously referred to as Twitter.
— with information from The Canadian Press
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
