A few months after a difficult summer dealing with historic forest fires, Chapais Mayor Isabelle Lessard is stepping down due to burnout.
The 23-year-old young woman submitted her resignation on Wednesday and will leave her position in a few days, after having been off work since September.
She will bow out two years after her election at the head of the small town of 1,500 inhabitants in Nord-du-Québec.
In interview with The Canadian Press,Mme Lessard indicated that she simply did not feel capable of fulfilling her mandate, adding that she was at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder.
“Even if I was at my 100% when it was time to return to work, the workload is going to be enormous because I was still absent for a bit,” she explained on the phone.
“I saw it happening and I said to myself: I don’t think I’m going to be able to rebuild myself strong enough to be able to face it, then return and continue leading the same lifestyle that I’ve led in the last few months. »
Challenging fires
Last summer was very tiring for the mayor. Chapais was affected by the major forest fires which raged in the region. At the beginning of June, around two thirds of the residents had to leave the municipality’s territory for several days, driven out by the flames.
In September, Ms. Lessard began to think that something was wrong: she was sleeping poorly and she felt constantly stressed. It was at this point that she had to be placed on sick leave.
The young woman also says she felt a lot of anger in the months preceding her decision, because it was not for lack of interest that she left her position.
“I wanted a little bit of life. I said to myself: “Hug, why did these fires have to happen, it doesn’t make any sense”,” she explained.
“Then, anger towards me: ‘I wasn’t up to the task. I wasn’t strong enough to get through that.” »
However, she wants to assure that this is not the last time we see her in public space.
“Yes, I’m leaving two years later, but I still have my life ahead of me, and maybe it’s not the end of politics for me in my life. I think I need to take a step back. »
A message to young people
Mme Lessard is aware that she is sending a “contradictory” message to young people who would like to go into politics, but she still encourages them to take the plunge.
“I am aware that with the message I am sending today, it is not very attractive to get into politics,” she said, bursting out laughing.
“I think you just have to be aware of those battles,” she added of mental health.
However, she is openly worried that there will be no successor to take her place at town hall. Mme Lessard was elected unopposed in 2021.
“I can’t wait to see who will replace me as mayor,” she confided. I’m still afraid that there won’t be any replacements, that there won’t be people who want to get involved, especially at the young level. »