A special situation, to say the least, two towns in eastern Montérégie recently lost three of their local councillors, who died in their early 60s and are facing by-elections.
Two of them were chosen by Rougemont and died just 10 days apart. The third was a member of the municipal council of Beloeil.
COURTLY PHOTOGRAPHED / Ville de Rougemont
Mario Cote
In Rougemont, councilor Jeannot Alix, a farmer, died of brain cancer on April 23 at the age of 62, while his colleague Mario Côté, who owned the Verger Roger Côté company, died of complications on May 2 at the age of 63 cancer died of pneumonia.
“Quebec had its Guy Lafleur and Rougemont had its Jeannot Alix. It was a name that was well known throughout the community, says Rougemont Mayor Guy Adam. For his part, Mario Côté was a successful apple entrepreneur, also known to everyone. The community is shocked to see that two people who are known to all disappear in the space of ten days. It is unusual”.
Elected for the first time last November, Guy Adam assures that he could count on the support of these two experienced elected officials, who have been on the council for around 15 years.
“It’s a bit of the memory of our urban world of Rougemont that leaves us with them. Her long-standing membership of the municipal council is a good example of the commitment to her community and the support of the population for her,” said the mayor.
COURTLY PHOTOGRAPHED / Ville de Rougemont
Jeannot Alix
Enjoy every moment
Their departures leave a gap in the municipal council that must be closed by electing two municipal councilors at the end of August. Until then, the community will hold a memorial service for the missing at the next community council on June 6th in the presence of the respective families.
Mayor Adam also wanted to pay tribute to his two elected officials, whom they considered his friends, with a text published in the city newspaper.
“You taught me to cultivate the art of compromise in a collaborative atmosphere. Your positions reflect your years of public affairs experience,” he wrote.
According to him, the untimely departure of the chosen two, when they should have started enjoying life, “reminds us how important it is to enjoy every moment we spend on this earth”.
WITH KIND PHOTOS / City of Beloeil
Pierre Verret
A by-election in Beloeil
About thirty kilometers from Rougemont, in Beloeil, Pierre Verret, alderman elected for the first time in 2005, died of a heart attack on April 6th at the age of 61.
Mr. Verret was the originator of the project “In my street we play”, which aims to encourage young and old to play freely in the residential streets chosen by the citizens. Since its launch in 2016, this initiative has been taken up by several Québec communities.
A by-election will be held on June 12 to fill his vacant city council seat.