LINA LACROIX

DONALD TEUMA-CASTELLETTI
CALUMET ISLAND
Nov. 1, 2017
Lacroix looks to revitalize Calumet:
Out on the island, a new candidate has entered the race and she’s looking to bring a younger generation there with her.
A resident of the island for five years and a nurse at the Shawville Hospital, Lina Lacroix Ricard wants to revitalize Calumet Island and in turn, bring in new money.
“I’ve been on the island for five years and to me it seems like nothing has moved in [that time],” said Lacroix Ricard. “Running for mayor, for me, would be doing more stuff for the community to bring people, and the beauty of the island, back like it was many years ago.”

Lacroix Ricard moved to the island when she married her husband and now, she believes it’s time to step up and take matters into her own hands. She’s hoping to attract new residents and visitors through a variety of community events, including dances and outdoor tourism.
She’s also hoping her listening skills and teamwork will allow for a new council to succeed together.
“We need a new team, other people,” she said. “We need a young team of energetic people to work together, make stuff move and bring people back to the island, because the money that’s on the island now is the money paid through taxes.”
She points to her dedication to cooperation and teamwork will prove she’s the right candidate for the job.
“I work as a nurse at the hospital and I work with people,” said Lacroix Ricard. “I’ve been working for 30 years in a team, so I know what it’s like to work with people.”
However, at the same time she knows she faces a serious problem in the mayoral race – recognition. The candidates she’s up against have lived on the island much longer and that could be an issue.
“On the island, people know me, but they don’t know me at the same time,” she said, in regards to the difficulty she’ll face against the other candidates.
But she hopes that residents will let her experience do the talking.
“At the same time, I want to listen to what people need,” she said. “I’ll try my best to answer all their questions, but I can’t promise anything unrealistic. I have to sit in that chair and say, this can be done and this cannot be done.”
As for scheduling conflicts with her nursing position at the hospital? She’s well prepared for any issues that may arise.
“I do 12 hour shifts, I have days off during the week to [perform my duties],” she said. “If there’s an event I need to be there for, there’s lots of employees that I can switch with. There’s always a way to work with my schedule.”

MARIO TREMBLAY

DONALD TEUMA-CASTELLETTI
CALUMET ISLAND
Nov. 1, 2017
Councillor running for mayor:
A councillor on Calumet Island is stepping up and running for mayor, looking to grab more grant money for the area and provide stability, too.
Mario Tremblay has put his name forward for the mayoral role after many years as a councillor for the area and a bloodline that runs far deeper than that.
“I’ve been here all my life, and my father and grandfather were all residents of Calumet Island,” said Tremblay.
He takes his – and his father’s – home very seriously, dedicating countless hours to his current position.
“The island is like my second heart, I’m there almost every day – my wife sometimes tells me to bring my bed to town, that’s how much I’m involved,” he said.
With his experience, Tremblay is looking to put his knowledge of the island’s infrastructure and planning to greater purpose. He’s been in charge of many infrastructure roles, overseeing them from as close as possible.
“My job in town as councillor was to take care of the water system and to take care of the roads, almost every week I was out running the roads,” he said.
Tremblay also highlighted his experience with the latest phase of the aqueducts, where he oversaw the installation of new pipes and resurfacing of the area.
“I spent lots of hours there making sure everything was done right,” he said.
He said his proudest moment so far as councillor has been receiving an award in recognition of 25 years with the community. But, he knows that simply maintaining the status quo going forward won’t be enough and looks to be mayor to provide a better stability in the office.

“What’s been happening the last three years has been kind of rough on everybody, with three mayors resigning, but that was their decision, not ours,” said Tremblay. “In council, it’s not me, or I, it’s us.”
He’s proud to say the municipality’s budget is on track and has a surplus, and now seeks grant money to help the island revitalize.
“We have a dock in town that needs to be repaired, it’s pretty big,” he said.
Tremblay also wants to widen and maintain some roads, as well as open new lots to construction for housing. Plus, he knows they’ll need a few more firefighters if they’re going to keep the area safe.
“Another thing I’d like to do is start campaigning to get more firemen on the island. Right now we’re down to four, which isn’t much,” he said.
As for what the island means to Tremblay? It was hard for him to put in words.
“It means a lot, like I said, it’s my second heart,” said Tremblay. “Some people say they’ve got it in their hearts … but it’s not deep enough, the roots are not there. My father was there in ’64 at the opening of the MRC … [my connection] goes way back.”