CALEB NICKERSON
CAMPBELL’S BAY June 20, 2018
The monthly council of mayors meeting at the MRC in Campbell’s Bay got off to an unorthodox start, with the presentation of a gift from the public.
Gordon Gibbons, son of former warden and namesake of the MRC boardroom, Elsie Gibbons, presented a picture of his mother to MRC Warden Jane Toller.
“My father had been mayor and quit from frustration,” he said with a laugh. “So that’s when my mother ran.”
Elsie (1903-2003) was the first female warden of Pontiac County, serving from 1959-1961, and was also the first female mayor in all Quebec after she took office in Portage du Fort in 1953. This was only 13 years after women won the right to vote in Quebec.

She served the municipality as mayor from 1953 to 1971, before being re-elected in 1975 and finally resigning in 1977. Her son noted her vigorous volunteer work in the community outside her elected office.
“My mother was a very impressive lady,” Gordon said. “I think it’s a great thing to see [her] carry on in this capacity. We know there are many women coming along so we wanted to get in on the ground floor before there were too many pictures on the wall.”
The portrait was placed on the wall of the boardroom for the remainder of the meeting. Gordon added that he would be interested in funding more artwork for the offices.