Marcel Parent, who was the provincial Liberal MNA for Sauvé before becoming the very first mayor of the borough of Montreal North, died on August 22 at the age of 92.
His death was announced Monday by his family and the borough of Montreal North.
Born in Montreal on April 6, 1932, Marcel Parent obtained a bachelor’s degree in physical education and recreation from the University of Montreal in 1954. He subsequently worked in the education and recreation sector in Montreal, notably for the organization of the 1976 Olympic Games and at the school board.
Elected Liberal MP for Sauvé in a by-election in 1984, he was re-elected in the general elections of 1985, 1989 and 1994. He did not stand again in 1998.
PHOTO FRANCOIS ROY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
The death of Marcel Parenta was announced Monday by his family and the borough of Montreal North.
Mr. Parent was then elected president of the Montreal North borough in the “new city” of Montreal in 2001. He was re-elected in 2005 and became the first mayor of the borough. He was also appointed president of the city council of the central city in 2001 and 2005. He did not run for mayor of the Montreal North borough in 2009.
During his terms as mayor of Montreal North, he was responsible for the creation of an urban planning department, the construction of the Montreal North Cultural and Community House, as well as the development of two new parks, Langelier-Marie-Victorin and Garon-Amos, according to a press release from the borough.
His daughters Lise and Johanne Parent emphasize in a press release that they are losing a father, but that citizens “are losing a man who, throughout his life, whether at school, at the municipal level or in Quebec, was driven by a great motivation: to create living environments that offer everyone the opportunity to lead a good and beautiful life.”
The statement said that commemorative events will be held in his honor and that information about them will be revealed later.