New voting system in place for 2026
Suzanne Gammon
Tribune
The nomination period has begun for the 2026 municipal election and names are slowly trickling in, but so far there is no rush of candidates throwing their hat in the ring for a spot on West Nipissing municipal council.
With nominations opened on May 1, only four incumbent councillors, one challenger and one mayoralty hopeful have signed up so far, but candidates have until August 21 to come forward. Nominations are not considered final, as they are subject to review and will be certified and confirmed on August 24.
Current council members Daniel Gagné (Ward 3), Jamie Restoule (Ward 4), Fernand Pellerin (Ward 7) and Georges Pharand (Ward 8) are seeking re-election, with only Gagné opposed thus far, by political newcomer Denis Sabourin. Their fellow councillors Kris Rivard (Ward 1), Roch St-Louis (Ward 2), Kaitlynn Nicol (Ward 5) and Rolly Larabie (Ward 6) have not yet re-entered the race.
Only one person so far is seeking the position of mayor. Charles Gaston Desgroseilliers is a local contractor who was quick to submit his paperwork at town hall on the first day nominations opened. His candidacy has been raising eyebrows due to a 2014 criminal charge related to online luring of a minor, though Desgroseilliers has been answering his critics online. When reached by the Tribune, Desgroseilliers says he has no issue talking openly about his past, insisting that his Facebook account was hacked and that he did nothing wrong, with no conviction on the charges found on the public record.
“The people who know me know that I did nothing wrong,” he says, adding that he is aware that running in the election will dredge up the past charge but that he refuses to let that dictate his choices. “The last thing that I want to focus on is 2014, but I will answer when people ask questions,” he states, adding that he would rather focus on the future of West Nipissing. “My first objective is to unite the community,” says the Operating Engineer, adding that he has been encouraged to run by former mayor Joanne Savage and former councillor Yvon Duhaime and that he has a lot of support, including that of his engineers’ union. “I was born in Sturgeon Falls and I am raising my kids here. I want to work for the community.” Some of his stated priorities include addressing the homelessness crisis and drug addictions.
Current mayor Kathleen Thorne Rochon has yet to register as a candidate, but when reached by the Tribune, says her paperwork is ready and she has every intention of running again. “I do want to do another four years,” she states, citing many ongoing files that she feels need continuity. “Remember where we started from, after two-and-a-half years of dysfunction of the old council, there was a backlog of things to deal with, and 8 out of 9 members were new on council. We did a lot of hard work, and now we’re back on track. Imagine the last council trying to hire a CAO,” she says. Rochon adds that “there is a lot of change going on” and policy work that the province requires council to do, and she foresees that most if not all of her current council will run again to continue that work. “I don’t foresee a lame duck position,” she says, adding that she does not want to see projects slowing as they still have six months to get things done.
