France Bélisle is a Canadian politician who served as the mayor of Gatineau, Quebec from 2021 to 2024. She was elected in the 2021 Gatineau municipal election, becoming the city's first female mayor.Josh Pringle, "France Belisle elected Gatineau's first female mayor". CTV News Ottawa, November 7, 2021.
Bélisle was educated in journalism at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University,Ted Raymond, "Transparency and connecting with Ottawa priorities for Gatineau Que.'s new mayor". CTV News Ottawa, November 8, 2021. Bélisle worked as a journalist and news director for Ici Radio-Canada Télé owned-and-operated station CBOFT-DT in Ottawa, Ontario until joining Tourisme Outaouais as its executive director in 2015.Justine Mercier, "France Bélisle à la tête de Tourisme Outaouais". Le Droit, June 30, 2015. She left that role in 2021 to mount her campaign for mayor.Camille Boutin, "Tourisme Outaouais perd sa présidente-directrice générale". Ici Radio-Canada Ottawa-Gatineau, January 6, 2021.
She campaigned on themes of transparency at Gatineau City Hall, as well as on the need for Gatineau to maintain and improve its collaboration and communication with Ottawa City Council. During the campaign she faced allegations that her leadership of Tourisme Outaouais had created a toxic work environment at the organization.Mathieu Bélanger, "France Bélisle nie les allégations de harcèlement en milieu de travail". Le Droit, October 25, 2021.
She was sworn in as mayor of the city on November 16, 2021.Ted Raymond, "Newly-elected Gatineau mayor, councillors to be sworn in". CTV News Ottawa, November 16, 2021. She resigned on February 22, 2024, citing a toxic political environment and death threats, triggering the 2024 Gatineau mayoral by-election.
Electoral record
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