CALEB NICKERSON
PONTIAC Feb. 1, 2021
The Pontiac lost a prominent advocate with the passing of Charlotte L’Écuyer on Monday.
In a statement issued by her daughter Josey Bouchard on Feb. 1, L’Écuyer succumbed to cancer at the age of 77. She leaves behind two daughters, a son-in-law and two grandchildren.
Born in Smooth Rock Falls, Ont., she attained a Master’s degree in social work with an administrative option from the University of Sherbrooke in 1984, following on the heels of a bachelors in social work from what was then known as the Université du Québec à Hull. She climbed the ranks of . . .
the health care administration in the Outaouais, eventually becoming the director general of the CLSC as well as the head of the Pontiac Health Centre before she decided to run for office.
The first woman to be elected Pontiac’s MNA, she won a resounding victory for Jean Charest’s Liberals in 2003, trouncing her closest opponent by more than 14,000 votes. She held her seat for a total of four terms before retiring in 2014. During her time in provincial government, she held a number of roles, such as parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Health and Social services, vice-president of the Territorial Planning Commission and a member of the Special Commission on the Question of the Right to Die with Dignity, among others.
Prior to her entry to provincial politics, she was a founding member of the MRC Pontiac’s development committee in the early 90s.
Following her retirement, L’Écuyer did a stint as a commentator for community radio station CHIP 101.9 FM, coving municipal and provincial politics. In 2017, following an extensive tour of the region’s munipalities the previous summer, she ran for warden of MRC Pontiac, placing fourth.
Due to public health guidelines, a private ceremony will be held with immediate family and if possible a memorial will be held at a later date, according to the statement from Bouchard.
