VAL RITA-HARTY - For nearly a decade, Carole Lessard sat to the left of Mayor Johanne Baril in Val Rita-Harty council chambers.
Now, that seat is empty.
Lessard, a longtime councillor known for her dedication and strong sense of duty, died on March 20 after a battle with cancer. She was 64.
Baril, who was elected at the same time as Lessard, reflected on her profound impact.
“The heart isn't there anymore in what she represented, and it's going to cause a hole, and no doubt, because she took her job seriously. She took that role seriously,” said Baril.
Known as a reliable and dedicated councillor, until last summer when she took a leave to focus on her health, Lessard had only missed one meeting since she was elected, said Baril.
“She was good ol’ dependable Carole,” Baril said.
“She was there for everything, and she never shied away from voting on any decision. She truly felt that she had been elected to represent the people of Val Rita-Harty.”
Beyond her work on council, Lessard was also deeply involved in the community, serving as a board member at the local hospital for eight years, Baril said.
She said Lessard played a key role in the creation of the hospital’s foundation, which has been instrumental in supporting healthcare services.
“She always made sure that the outlying communities were well represented when they had to make decisions for the hospital,” Baril said.
One of Lessard’s key passions was reconciliation. When the municipality made reconciliation a priority in its strategic plan, she wholeheartedly embraced the cause, Baril said.
During times of crisis, when evacuees arrived in the community, Lessard was there to welcome them with kindness and respect, she said.
“She really believed that reconciliation was a duty, a civic duty,” Baril said.
“She cared about the people that we were hosting. She just went in there and sat with people and greeted them with a smile.”
Lessard was known for her thoughtful approach to council discussions.
“She was a really good listener, and she didn't say much unless she had something to say,” she said.
“And when she did pipe up, it always had an impact.”
As council now prepares to fill the vacancy left by Lessard, Baril acknowledged the difficulty of moving forward without her presence.
The seat will be officially declared vacant at the municipality’s next regular council meeting on April 15.
“For council, it's very sobering,” Baril said.
“We’re not ready to appoint someone. If it wasn't for the municipal act, we'd leave the seat open. But we have to declare it vacant. It’s not going to be the same. It's going to be difficult.”
Baril said the municipality will likely fill the position through an application process rather than a byelection due to financial constraints. The newly elected member will take over the seat until the next election in October 2026.
“I don't envy the person that's going to have to fill that seat,” Baril said.
“It's going to be a difficult process. And as much as we want to remain professional through it, you can't hide all of your feelings. There are ways of people seeing that you're hurt or you're sad. And if we do have any applications, those individuals will certainly feel that we're not ready.”
Baril said Lessard’s passing is not only a loss for council but also for her family, whom she cherished deeply.
“Carole fought until her last breath. She did not want to pass,” Baril said.
“She absolutely wanted to stay and remain with her family. She worked so hard, she fought so hard.”
Lessard’s funeral service is on May 17 at Immaculée-Conception Church.
