Andrée P. Boucher
Encyclopedia
Andrée P. Boucher, was a politician from the province of Quebec
, Canada. She was the mayor of Quebec City
from November 19, 2005 until her death. Previously, she had been the mayor of the city of Sainte-Foy
, formerly a suburb of Quebec City, from 1985 until 2001, when the cities of Sainte-Foy and Quebec were merged. She was the first woman to become leader of a municipal political party in the province of Quebec.
and obtained a bachelor's degree
in education and was a teacher for several years.
She entered municipal politics in the municipality of Sainte-Foy, in 1968, often in the role of extra-parliamentary critic of mayor Bernardin Morin. She became leader of the Action Sainte-Foy municipal political party and was elected city councillor in 1984. She was elected mayor of Sainte-Foy in 1985 and served until 2002, when Sainte-Foy and other suburbs were merged with Quebec City
. From 1995 to 1999, she was vice-president of the Union des Municipalités du Québec
, an association of mayors from various cities across the province.
In 2001, Boucher was the Action civique de Québec party candidate for mayor of the newly amalgamated Quebec City. She was defeated by Jean-Paul L'Allier
, the incumbent mayor and a former provincial MNA
and cabinet minister. Boucher fought the merger of Quebec City and its suburbs during that campaign.
During her political and media careers Boucher opposed several high-profile events and developments proposed for Quebec City, including the Rendez-vous '87
ice hockey tournament between the Soviet Union
and players of the National Hockey League
, the building of a new ice hockey arena for the National Hockey League
's Quebec Nordiques
, which subsequently became the Colorado Avalanche
in 1995, and the 2002 Winter Olympics
bid, which were eventually held in Salt Lake City, Utah
.
After a brief stint as a radio host, Boucher attempted a political comeback by running as an independent candidate for mayor of Quebec City in 2005. She did not post any campaign signs or present any platform, running her campaign on a budget of CDN $5000. Despite this, she was elected on November 6, 2005. She was sworn into office on November 19, becoming the first female mayor in Quebec City's history. During her tenure as mayor, she planned multiple projects and events related to the 400th anniversary of the city's foundation by Samuel de Champlain
in 1608.
until a special election selected Régis Labeaume in December.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada. She was the mayor of Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
from November 19, 2005 until her death. Previously, she had been the mayor of the city of Sainte-Foy
Sainte-Foy, Quebec
Sainte-Foy is a former city in central Quebec, Canada on the Saint Lawrence River. It was amalgamated into Quebec City on January 1, 2002. Most of Sainte-Foy is in the Borough of Sainte-Foy–Sillery–Cap-Rouge....
, formerly a suburb of Quebec City, from 1985 until 2001, when the cities of Sainte-Foy and Quebec were merged. She was the first woman to become leader of a municipal political party in the province of Quebec.
Biography
Born Andrée Plamondon, she attended the Université LavalUniversité Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
and obtained a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in education and was a teacher for several years.
She entered municipal politics in the municipality of Sainte-Foy, in 1968, often in the role of extra-parliamentary critic of mayor Bernardin Morin. She became leader of the Action Sainte-Foy municipal political party and was elected city councillor in 1984. She was elected mayor of Sainte-Foy in 1985 and served until 2002, when Sainte-Foy and other suburbs were merged with Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
. From 1995 to 1999, she was vice-president of the Union des Municipalités du Québec
Union des Municipalités du Québec
The Union des Municipalités du Québec is an organization representing municipalities in the Canadian province of Quebec...
, an association of mayors from various cities across the province.
In 2001, Boucher was the Action civique de Québec party candidate for mayor of the newly amalgamated Quebec City. She was defeated by Jean-Paul L'Allier
Jean-Paul L'Allier
Jean-Paul L'Allier was a Canadian politician, a two-term Member of the National Assembly of Quebec and the 38th Mayor of Quebec City.-Background:...
, the incumbent mayor and a former provincial MNA
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
and cabinet minister. Boucher fought the merger of Quebec City and its suburbs during that campaign.
During her political and media careers Boucher opposed several high-profile events and developments proposed for Quebec City, including the Rendez-vous '87
Rendez-vous '87
Rendez-vous '87 was an international ice hockey series of games between the Soviet national ice hockey team and a team of All-Stars from the National Hockey League, held in Quebec City. It replaced the NHL's All-Star festivities for the 1986–87 NHL season...
ice hockey tournament between the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and players of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, the building of a new ice hockey arena for the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
's Quebec Nordiques
Quebec Nordiques
The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
, which subsequently became the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
in 1995, and the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
bid, which were eventually held in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
.
After a brief stint as a radio host, Boucher attempted a political comeback by running as an independent candidate for mayor of Quebec City in 2005. She did not post any campaign signs or present any platform, running her campaign on a budget of CDN $5000. Despite this, she was elected on November 6, 2005. She was sworn into office on November 19, becoming the first female mayor in Quebec City's history. During her tenure as mayor, she planned multiple projects and events related to the 400th anniversary of the city's foundation by Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain , "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608....
in 1608.
Death
Boucher died in the early afternoon on August 24, 2007 while at home. At 12:11 PM, a call was issued to the Sainte-Foy—Sillery police station by the mayor's husband, Marc Boucher, requiring emergency assistance for his wife, whom he had found lying motionless on her bed. Boucher's death was confirmed at Laval hospital. She was succeeded as mayor by councillor Jacques Joli-CoeurJacques Joli-Coeur
Jacques Joli-Cœur is a politician from the Renouveau municipal de Québec in Quebec, Canada. A city councillor and deputy mayor, he was the interim mayor of Quebec City following the death of Andrée Boucher on August 24, 2007....
until a special election selected Régis Labeaume in December.