03/18/2026
It was an honour to present the OSUDemocracy Award 2026 to Madam Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, together with councillors Caroline Murray, conseillère municipale de Deschênes, Aylmer, Vincent Roy - Conseiller municipal pour Aylmer, Rachel Deslauriers, Mitigomijokan, Perso Bettyna Belizaire, and others, as well as the administration of the City of Gatineau (a big thank you to Éliane for your help and for this beautiful photo!), for the housing project aimed at addressing homelessness and supporting our intercultural democratic values, notably by raising the Ukrainian flag 🇺🇦 on February 24 for one week this year.
This Ukrainian flag commemorates those who gave their lives for our security and democracy!
OSUDémocratie was created on February 28, and when Councillors Isabelle and Tiffany-Lee Norris Parent - conseillère de Touraine spoke about women, I also wanted to point out that Women’s Day was initiated on February 28 by a woman, but 13 years later, Lenin used the Julian calendar to set it on March 8. Subsequently, this date was approved by the United Nations, which, of course, was predominantly composed of men. Even for Women’s Day, there was a male intrusion.
I thank the councillors for not being afraid to speak about the systemic diminution of women in front of men. Thank you again!