Valérie Plante

Valérie Plante is a Canadian politician serving as the 45th Mayor of Montreal since 2017, representing the municipal party Projet Montréal. She is the first woman to hold the office, having defeated incumbent Denis Coderre in the 2017 Montreal municipal election. Her administration has focused on expanding public transit, promoting active transportation, and implementing ambitious urban planning and affordable housing policies.

Early life and education

Born in Rouyn-Noranda in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, she moved to Laval with her family during her childhood. She developed an early interest in social issues and later pursued studies in museum studies and anthropology at the University of Quebec at Montreal. Plante furthered her education with a Master of Arts in Museology from the University of Montreal, which informed her initial professional work with various non-governmental organizations and cultural institutions across Quebec.

Political career

Her political involvement began with community organizing before she joined Projet Montréal, a party known for its environmentalist and social democratic platform. She was first elected as a city councillor for the district of Sainte-Marie in the 2009 municipal election, serving under then-party leader Richard Bergeron. Plante quickly gained prominence for her advocacy on transit equity and urban development issues, leading to her election as leader of Projet Montréal in 2016 following Bergeron's departure. She successfully unified the party and positioned it for the upcoming mayoral contest.

Mayor of Montreal

Upon her election in 2017, her administration launched several major initiatives, including the proposed Pink Line rapid transit expansion for the Montreal Metro. Key policy achievements include the implementation of the REV (Réseau Express Vélo) network of protected bicycle paths and the adoption of a mandatory affordable housing policy for new residential developments. Her tenure has also seen significant investments in parks and public space reclamation, such as the transformation of Peel Street. Plante was re-elected in the 2021 Montreal municipal election, defeating former Quebec Minister of Finance Denis Coderre a second time, and her second term has focused on climate resilience projects and the Turcot Interchange redevelopment.

Electoral history

She first ran for mayor in the 2013 election as a candidate for Projet Montréal, placing third behind Denis Coderre and Mélanie Joly. In the 2017 mayoral race, she defeated incumbent Coderre with 51% of the vote, a victory that shifted the balance on the Montreal City Council. Her re-election in 2021 solidified her party's majority on the council, with Projet Montréal winning key borough mayoralties like Plateau-Mont-Royal and Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie. These elections were characterized by debates over the REM light rail project, taxation, and the city's post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery.

Personal life

She is married to economist Pierre-Antoine Harvey, with whom she has two children. The family resides in the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough. An avid cyclist, she is a prominent advocate for Montreal's cultural sector and is known for her participation in local events like the Montreal International Jazz Festival and Nuit Blanche. Her personal interests include Quebec literature and supporting the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team.

Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:Mayors of Montreal Category:Projet Montréal politicians