The week of January 27, 2025 marks the launch of Les Élu.e.s en action, a 3-year project funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada. This project aims to improve the working conditions and working climate within municipalities in the Eastern Townships, by collaborating with those who are directly involved in the public sector. To have a better understanding of the issues and barriers experienced in municipal politics in the Townships, we want to bring together those directly involved through various forms of activities.

The first step consists of organizing round tables in each MRC of the Townships, bringing together mayors and municipal councilors to identify their challenges and together reflect on solutions. In particular, issues such as access, participation and advancement of women in municipal politics. These meetings will serve as a basis for co-constructing solutions adapted to local realities.

The second stage is the creation of what is currently named a ‘network’ that will bring together elected officials, municipal employees, former elected officials, researchers, men and women and other stakeholders to work on the solutions identified in the round tables. In anticipation of the municipal elections on November 2, 2025, one of the first objectives of the Network will be to implement solutions raised during the round tables and between members of the Network, while publicly promoting the municipal world.

The role of PEPINES will be, not only to support this Network with resources and expertise, but also to ensure its sustainability and effectiveness.

A source of mobilization, partnership, mutual assistance and learning, the Network will develop according to the wishes and needs of its participating members.

For immediate release

Women’s Economic Opportunity and Leadership Fund

Élisabeth Brière supports PEPINES’ Les élu.e.s en action project

Sherbrooke, November 28, 2024 – At the annual general meeting of the Promotion des Estriennes pour initier une nouvelle équité sociale (PEPINES) group, the federal member for Sherbrooke announced $417,447 in support from the Government of Canada’s Women’s Economic Opportunity and Leadership Fund. This amount will be used to launch the Les élu.e.s en action project, which aims to organize discussion and consultation with the region’s municipal elected officials to discuss, among other things, the issue of incivility and find solutions for elected officials and those who may wish to run. In addition, PEPINES wishes to implement a network composed of members of municipal councils and the municipal administration, former elected officials, people interested in municipal politics and researchers, who will be able to exchange ideas, encourage and help each other.

The Annual General Meeting of the PEPINES group was also an opportunity for the organization to update its by-laws to reflect its commitment to promoting an equitable, diverse and inclusive society. In its commitment to be open to all people who share its mission, the activities carried out within the framework of the future network will be accessible to all those interested in the area of municipal politics.

It should be remembered that the Women’s Economic Opportunity and Leadership Fund supports the launch of new projects developed by organizations aimed at generating systemic change and opening up economic and leadership prospects for women.

Quotes

Élisabeth Brière, Member of Parliament for Sherbrooke

“Our municipal elected officials are facing many challenges, which can result in their demobilization, but also that of potential candidates. Thanks to the Les élu.e.s en action project by the PEPINES group, members of municipal councils in the Eastern Townships region will be able to discuss systemic irritants openly, and especially solutions that will enhance the role of elected officials. I am proud that the Government of Canada is supporting this local initiative, which will also create a network of elected officials who can support and help each other. Our government firmly believes that when everyone has an equal chance to flourish and take their place, our communities become stronger.”

Évelyne Beaudin, Mayor of Sherbrooke

“Since 2021, approximately 800 municipal elected officials have resigned. In a recent survey commissioned by the UMQ, we learned that a large number of elected officials have experienced verbal abuse, violence, intimidation or threats. Being a municipal elected official in Quebec is not easy. This is a serious time for our local democracy. I am pleased that the PEPINES organization is addressing the issue of civility and offering its support to the elected officials of the Eastern Townships region, who dedicate themselves every day of their mandate to serving their communities. Thank you for this much-needed help!”

Joan Westland-Eby, President of PEPINES

“While the PEPINES group continues to promote equitable representation in municipal governance, the Elected Officials in Action project not only provides an opportunity to identify the causes of current societal incivility problems, but also to find solutions. »

Jody Stone, Mayor of Stanstead

“Elected Officials in Action is a call to past, present and future municipal council members to come together, discuss and find solutions to some of the fundamental issues facing municipal councils and communities today. It will be a forum to promote the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion. As Mayor of the Town of Stanstead, I am pleased to participate in the launch of the project today. Congratulations to the PEPINES group”

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It is with great pleasure that we invite you to celebrate the “new era” of the PEPINES group by participating in our annual general meeting, in the company of the federal Member of Parliament for Sherbrooke, Ms. Élisabeth Brière.

The year 2024 was marked by many successes. We finalized the Défi-Parité project, in partnership with the Groupe Femmes, Politique et Démocratie, and updated our by-laws to reflect our commitment to promoting an equitable society. We also obtained significant funding from the federal government to implement the Les Élu.e.s en action initiative, a three-year project aimed at generating discussion and consultation to address issues experienced in the municipal world, particularly regarding equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

The year 2025 is therefore shaping up to be enriching and very promising!

On December 1, 2023, at 11:30 AM, we cordially invite you to our Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Café 440 in Sherbrooke. This is a unique opportunity to learn about our projects from 2022-2023, including the Parity + EDI Challenge, the Sectoral Agreement, and the Capacity Strengthening Project. We will also unveil our new website and conduct the traditional board of directors’ election.

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