The mayor was invited to attend the New Year's party hosted by host Robert Legault and in particular to play traditional music. In an interview, she discussed the difficulties of balancing her professional and personal life since beginning her tenure at Sherbrooke City Hall.
“Sometimes I had the impression that it was always the mayor, the mayor, the mayor, but at a certain point there is also Évelyne, who needs her place in my life,” she explained at the microphone at the Sherbrooke community station.
“In our societies, which are changing so quickly, it is sometimes important to take a step back and ask ourselves whether the life we lead is viable in the long term,” the mayor said. Sometimes adjustments need to be made, and then sometimes it takes a period of reflection to make those adjustments. »
These are Évelyne Beaudin's first public comments since announcing her resignation on October 30. Acting mayor Raïs Kibonge now serves as mayor of the city and councilor Laure Letarte-Lavoie replaces Ms Beaudin as president of the executive committee.
This leave was granted “on the orders of his doctor,” explained the city’s general manager, Éric Sévigny, at the time. “I want to avoid a state of exhaustion that would be too great and difficult to overcome,” Ms. Beaudin wrote at the time.
“It’s going well,” she told CFLX on Monday. […] There is something healthy about taking a moment in this fast-paced society. We are performing all the time. We either appear on the local council or appear in interviews with the media.”
Évelyne Beaudin said she had taken time for herself since her work stoppage, for example to devote herself to music and dance.
:quality(100):focal(2649x2153:2659x2163)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/lescoopsdelinformation/OWWV67ZGXZGYTC2TQDAXDJYAHM.jpg "Évelyne Beaudin speaks publicly about the reasons for her departure – La Tribune 3")
An early return?
The Sherbrooke City Hall office makes it clear that this interview from the mayor is not a sign of an imminent return. According to the cabinet official contacted by La Tribune on Wednesday, it is still too early to predict a return date.
For now, she emphasizes, Ms. Beaudin continues to rest. Further information may be announced later in January.
According to the law, this situation can last up to 90 days after his first absence from a public meeting without consequences, city clerk Éric Martel said in October. The first meeting following this announcement will take place on November 7, 2023. The deadline for continuation without looking for “alternatives” is therefore February 5, 2024.
The route that could allow Ms Beaudin to extend her vacation beyond that date is a decision by the local council. In the cabinet we did not want to comment on whether this option had already been examined.
There will be a council meeting on January 23rd. Further meetings are planned for February 6th and 20th.