A Historic First for the North Shore: Rosemère’s Marie-Elaine Pitre Steps Into a Trailblazing Role at the MRC

The political landscape of the North Shore shifted this week, when Rosemère mayor Marie-Elaine Pitre was appointed Acting Warden of the MRC Thérèse-De Blainville, becoming one half of the first all-female leadership team to guide the regional body since its creation more than four decades ago. Her appointment was confirmed on November 28, marking a milestone moment for municipal governance in the Laurentian gateway.

Pitre joins Liza Poulin, mayor of Blainville, who was elected by acclamation to a two-year term as warden. Together, the two mayors, each already a familiar presence in regional affairs, now stand at the forefront of a territory undergoing rapid transformation. From swelling residential developments to sustained industrial growth, the MRC’s decisions increasingly shape the everyday lives of nearly 168,000 people spread across seven municipalities.

Speaking after her appointment, Pitre described the moment as both humbling and energizing. “I am grateful for the trust my colleagues have placed in me,” she said, noting that the partnership with Poulin opens the door to “working with everyone who is involved in our region” as they prepare for the challenges ahead.

A Region at a Crossroads

Stretching across 207 square kilometres, from the wooded edges of Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines to the compact urban character of Sainte-Thérèse, the MRC Thérèse-De Blainville sits at the junction of key north-south and east-west transportation corridors. Its residents have long watched the region evolve from bedroom-community suburbia into a dynamic mixture of agricultural zones, industrial parks, commercial districts, and tightly knit neighbourhoods.

This evolution has placed increasing weight on the MRC’s responsibilities. Its council oversees land-use planning, cultural development, civil security and fire-safety coordination, road-safety awareness, economic development, watercourse management, and collective initiatives touching everything from public transportation to social and affordable housing. It even delves into more modern concerns like artificial intelligence, reflecting the shifting priorities of a rapidly growing population.

Building the Table Around Them

The council meeting that confirmed Pitre’s appointment also set the stage for the region’s representation on broader metropolitan bodies. Sainte-Thérèse mayor Christian Charron will now serve as the MRC’s delegate to the board of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal, while Poulin and Charron will sit at the Table des préfets et des élus de la Couronne Nord, a crucial forum for negotiating the interests of the Northern Crown. Pitre and Poulin will also represent the MRC at the Conseil des préfets et des élus des Laurentides, reinforcing links to the wider Laurentian region.

These appointments underline the MRC’s growing influence. Decisions taken at these tables ripple outward, affecting planning strategies, funding priorities, housing guidelines, and transportation debates across the North Shore.

A Leadership Team Reflecting a Changing Quebec

The arrival of Poulin and Pitre as the first all-female leadership duo is more than a historic first; it reflects the changing demographics and expectations of northern Montreal suburbs. The two mayors represent municipalities that have seen some of the fastest population growth in the province, driven by housing demand, quality-of-life appeal, and cultural vibrancy.

Their partnership comes at a pivotal moment. Residents are increasingly vocal about traffic congestion, the preservation of natural areas, fire-safety readiness, and affordable housing options. Municipal leaders across the seven towns know that regional cooperation will determine how successfully the area adapts.

The new leadership team appears keenly aware of that. Their appointment comes with the implicit expectation that the MRC will navigate this period of transformation with clarity and unity—balancing development with heritage, growth with sustainability, and local concerns with metropolitan realities.

Looking Ahead

For Rosemère’s mayor, the new role places her at the centre of some of the region’s most consequential decisions. For the MRC, it marks the beginning of a term defined by a different kind of leadership, one that mirrors the community’s evolution and promises a renewed focus on collaboration.

And for the North Shore, it signals something increasingly rare in politics: a genuine turning point.