Aylmer’s Lucerne councillor, Gilles Chagnon, announced he will not seek re-election 

Sophie Demers 

Chagnon was first elected in 2017 and is completing his second term as Lucerne’s municipal councillor. In a social media post on June 11, he announced to his constituents that he will not be seeking a third mandate. 

“I wanted to sincerely thank you for your support during my two elections. I deeply appreciated the trust citizens gave me, and it was an honour to serve you. It's incredible to see how many people believe in me, and I wanted to share my gratitude,” said Chagnon in the video he made announcing his decision. 

The councillor said that he came to this decision because he accomplished the objectives he set when he decided to get involved in municipal politics. “When I was first elected, I committed to developing infrastructure in Aylmer, implementing speed limits, investing in parks, making paving roads a priority, and preserving the Boucher Forest. I can proudly say that I accomplished my mission.” 

Chagnon revitalized the parks in Lucerne by adding accessible swings, creating a skate park, adding a new splash pad, and renovating the Jardin-Lavigne Park soccer field and dog park. He also made sure that other parks such as Beaumont and Écureuils were able to be renovated and accommodate more sports and activities. 

He ensured that illuminated pedestrian walkways were installed at various locations in Lucerne, including several locations along Wilfrid Lavigne, to make it safer for those crossing. For Boucher Forest preservation, Gatineau has an agreement with the Boucher Forest Foundation that ensures the forest is protected. 

Regarding infrastructure, Chagnon advocated for the Ecocentre that is currently in the plans and should be completed in a few years. He contributed to finding funding for the new library being built in Aylmer, as well as the police station that will start being constructed in the coming weeks. There is also the Sports complex that will be coming to the Plateau area in the coming years. 

In terms of repaving roads, during Chagnon's time as councillor, various roads were redone, such as Clock, Perry, Caveau, and Corse, among others. The Councillor reassures residents that there is funding for Rues Stanley, Pink, and Cook, that will be repaved soon. 

“It was time to pass the role to someone else. I’m looking forward to travelling and taking advantage of life,” said Chagnon. Before becoming a local politician, he spent 10 years as a school commissioner.