The nomination period has now closed for next month’s mayoral byelection in Gatineau, Que.
Seven candidates are officially running to replace former mayor France Bélisle, who chose to step down in February. She cited death threats and a “hostile” political environment as reasons for leaving the position.
Since then, Versant Coun. Daniel Champagne has been serving as acting mayor.
Early polls will open June 2 and run from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., with election day polls on June 9 open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The City of Gatineau says voters should register to vote and bring their registration reminder and a piece of government-issued identification with them to the ballot station. Voters can confirm their their electoral district and eligibility at gatineau.ca.
Here are the seven candidates who’ve put their names forward.
Rémi Bergeron, independent
Rémi Bergeron is a secondary school teacher.
This election marks his third time as a Gatineau mayoral candidate.
Stéphane Bisson, independent
Stéphane Bisson is a real estate broker.
He was also president of the Gatineau Chamber of Commerce until resigning in April to run for mayor.
Yves Ducharme, independent
Yves Ducharme is seeking to return to the mayor’s chair, having previously held the position from 2001 to 2005. Before amalgamation, he was mayor of Hull from 1992 until 2001.
He is the co-founder of a company which produces barbecue sauce and flavoured olive oil, and has been a consultant for local developer Brigil.
Daniel Feeny, independent
Daniel Feeny served as the director of communications and intergovernmental relations for Gatineau’s mayoral office from 2021 to 2024.
He also spent 12 years as a senior executive for the National Capital Commission and volunteers for local community organizations.
Olive Kamanyana, independent
Olive Kamanyana was councillor for Gatineau’s Carrefour-de-l’Hôpital ward until stepping down to run for mayor in April.
As councillor, she chaired the municipality’s transport, sustainable travel and security commission and the public safety commission. She was the first candidate to declare her intention to run for mayor.
Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, Action Gatineau
Maude Marquis-Bissonnette is a professor of municipal management.
She was the councillor for Gatineau’s Plateau ward from 2017 until 2021, when she ran unsuccessfully for the mayor’s seat. As the leader of Action Gatineau, Marquis-Bissonnette is the only one of the seven candidates aligned with a municipal political party.
Mathieu Saint-Jean, independent
Mathieu Saint-Jean was the People’s Party of Canada candidate for the riding of Gatineau in the last federal election.
He was also the party’s regional co-ordinator for the Laurentians, Outaouais, Ottawa and Glengarry-Prescott-Russell regions, a role he says he no longer holds.
Candidate photos taken by Nicholas Persaud, Simon Lasalle, Georges-Étienne Nadon-Tessier, Maude Ouellet and Maxim Saavedra-Ducharme.