At the MRC Pontiac council of mayors meeting on September 20, the opening of the meeting featured a tribute to the late Doug Rousselle, the former mayor of Rapides-des-Joachims. Rousselle was elected to lead the small island municipality back in 2021 and passed away on September 11 at the age of 73 after a battle with esophageal cancer.
Warden Jane Toller said that the municipal council had met before Rousselle’s passing and had agreed to name the town’s new splash pad in his honour. She said that securing the funding for the project was a competitive process and showed Rousselle’s dedication to his municipality.
Stephany Rauche, the acting mayor of Rapides-des-Joachims, spoke about Rousselle and also read a statement from the municipality’s Director General Alana Bowes.
Rousselle’s widow Joanne was invited to attend via videoconference and thanked the mayors as they each offered their condolences and spoke about their late colleague. She also spoke about how she was with Doug in Shawville for a chemo appointment when they saw the splash pad at Mill Dam Park and the idea for one in “the Swisha” was born. (Note: ‘The Swisha’ is a local nickname for Rapides-des-Joachims ).
