Marina Larouche, a great woman who shaped the urban world of Saguenay, died on Sunday evening at the age of 88.
Ms. Larouche was a local councilor in Chicoutimi and then in Saguenay for 28 years. She particularly advocated for drivers to be able to use a divided four-lane road in Laurentides Park and devoted much of her time to young hockey players.
“She is a generous woman who gave her heart and soul to the people of her neighborhood during her first two mandates in the city of Chicoutimi and then in Ville Saguenay. “It's a shock this morning,” confided with emotion Marcel Jean, who worked alongside Ms. Larouche for 28 years as a councilor for the city of Saguenay.
Route 175
She fought tirelessly to complete the four-lane divided road in Laurentides Park. She fought this battle at the head of the Accès-Bleuets group, founded in 1989 after 47 fatal accidents were recorded in just four years.
“All the efforts she made for Accès-Bleuets are unimaginable,” Marcel Jean continued.
“What I remember most about Marina is her honesty and openness. It was an extremely difficult route to the park. There was a time when things were even more difficult for Accès-Bleuets,” said André Harvey.
“She had the brilliant idea of bringing people along and creating a sense of belonging to a project. “It couldn’t have been any other way than to work,” recalls Catherine Morissette, former mayor of Saint-David-de-Falardeau. It was Ms. Larouche who inspired her to go into politics. The two women had a long and beautiful friendship for 40 years. She was a mother-in-law to her in the past and then a friend and a constant source of inspiration.
“We wonder whether there would actually have been a motorway if it were not for Accès-Bleuets, Marina Larouche, Mr. Cayer, etc. For me he is the equivalent of a mayor. Everything she did, she did continuously over a long period of time,” said Councilman Michel Potvin.
In addition to politics, Marina Larouche was a mother of nine children. “She juggled family life and political life, which I think is very difficult,” noted Marcel Jean.
“When we weren't talking about work-life balance, she was a pioneer and knew how to use her enthusiasm and determination to pave the way for women,” said Mayor Julie Dufour.
“She had a lot to do with it,” added Municipal Affairs Minister Andrée Laforest. His determination and will to move his city forward must serve as an example.”
Also active in sports
The Plateau Arena in Chicoutimi-Nord has borne her name since 2014, in particular because of her great commitment as president of Minor Hockey in Chicoutimi and also because of the fight that she led within Accès-Bleuets.
“When I joined in 1990, there were three or four women in charge of minor hockey. Marina, Lola, Nicole and Ginette Fillion. They had been there for at least 15 years and had founded the atomic tournament, the beginners' tournament, minor hockey and the hockey school. She really cared about minor hockey. If there were problems, she would call me and they needed to be solved,” said Bruce Aziz, former president of Chicoutimi Minor Hockey.
“One day she said to me: 'Where my little girl, there are no problems in life, only solutions. If you don't find one, look at yourself, maybe you are the problem. “It shaped many of my decisions and my perspective both personally and professionally,” recalls Ms. Morissette.
The flags in Saguenay City Hall fly at half-mast in honor of a great woman who left no one indifferent.