France Bélisle
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.
France Bélisle | |
|---|---|
| 22nd Mayor of Gatineau | |
| In office November 16, 2021 – February 22, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Champagne (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Independent |
| Occupation | Journalist |
Bélisle was educated in journalism at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University, 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. She left that role in 2021 to mount her campaign for mayor.
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.
She was sworn in as mayor of the city on November 16, 2021. She resigned on February 22, 2024, citing a toxic political environment and death threats, triggering the 2024 Gatineau mayoral by-election.