Preserving Lennoxville's bilingual status a key issue for voters in English enclave

David Price, the outgoing chair of the boroughof Lennoxville, is retiring from politicsafter representing the region's citizens for nearly 30 years, atboth the municipal and federal levels.

One of his battles in recent years has been preserving the bilingual identity of Lennoxville, the former town whichmerged with the City of Sherbrooke in 2002.

"If it wasn't for our bilingual status, Sherbrooke would have turned us into part of another district,'' said Price.

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The former Liberal MP, who returned to municipal politics in 2009, considered calling it quits before the last municipal election but reconsidered when Sherbrooke's mayor, Bernard Svigny, campaigned on reducing the number of councillors and boroughs.

"If people in Sherbrooke decided they wanted to go to the government and sayLennoxvilledoesn't meet bilingual status, then we would lose our whole community aspect," said Price.

From town, to borough, to district

Lennoxvillewas the only borough left untouched, while others, such asBrompton, lost their status.

PreservingLennoxville'sdistinct characterisa key issue driving people to go out and voteon Nov.5, said LennoxvilleresidentJohn Crease.

"We're kind of unique here inLennoxville," he said.

"Obviously, I'mgoing tovote, and I think a lot of people will, because we want to protect our identity here. It's very important to local people."

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LindaMaskell, owner ofTri-Knit-T yarn shop, said there is still a cultural divide between Sherbrooke and Lennoxville.

''I get customers who come inand say, 'I'm not from here, I'm visiting from Sherbrooke.'''

''I think it's going to takeanother generation to take that on as one city,'' saidMaskell.

PreservingLennoxville'sbilingual status

Here's what the five candidates have to say about the issue:

Linda Boulanger Independent

Linda Boulanger is the incumbent councillor for Lennoxville's Uplands district.

She said maintaining Lennoxville's bilingual status is important, particularly to guarantee services will be provided in both languages.

"Right now everybody receives everything in French. Anglophones have to take the initiative to call and ask to be sentmunicipal letters in English. I don't believe it's right,'' she said.

Boulangeris proposing to adda form in municipal notices that people could fill out to ask their correspondence be sent in English.

"I think it's a measure that can be put in place at the City of Sherbrooke, for that matter.''

Claude Charron Independent

Claude Charron is the incumbent councillor for Lennoxville's Fairview district.

He said rather than focusing on conserving the borough's bilingual status, he is going to concentrate on maintainingLennoxville'sstatus as a borough.

"Our borough has councillors and a president. The other boroughs aren't set up that way. Bromptonvilleis losing their borough [status], they're becoming a district. That's the difference between us and them now."

Charron saidif Lennoxville were to lose its status, councillors wouldrepresent twice as many citizens in their district.

"Of course, with one representing10,000,you're pushing your councillors away from the citizens," Charron said.

"So that's something worthwhile protecting, I think."

Michael Labarre Sherbrooke Citoyen

Michael Labarre is an English college professorinvolved in sporting events in Lennoxville.

He said the resounding message he's heard from citizensgoing door to door is their desire to have more say in local decisions. He said many feel forgotten since Lennoxville was merged into Sherbrooke.

"Peoplefeel abandoned," Labarre said. "They need to have this feeling they're being listened to and understood."

Labarre said he hopes whoever is elected will take this into consideration and keep people in Lennoxvilleinformed of the decisions madeat city hall.

Franois-Ren Monpetit Renouveau sherbrookois

Franois-RenMonpetitis an English professor and a graduate of Bishop's University.

He is running for Renouveausherbrookois, the party of incumbent mayor Bernard Svigny.

"I have it straight from the mayor's mouth that we have no intention of ever removing Lennoxville's bilingual status," Montpetit said.

He said as a unique, bilingual community, Lennoxville is a huge asset for Sherbrooke.

He said hewouldn't have run for Svigny'spartywithout knowing that bilingual status was secure.

"It would require merging with a large francophone population, which would then cause it to perhaps lose its bilingual identity after a large influx of francophones," he said."We don't want that."

Roy Patterson Independent

Roy Patterson ran for mayor of Sherbrooke in the 2013 elections, finishing with 6.46 per cent of the vote.

He saidbilingual status isn't enough:he'd prefer to seeLennoxville separate from Sherbrooke altogether and go back to being an independent town.

"Lennoxville is the frog in the pot of Sherbrooke," Patterson said."I believe we are slowly being cooked, and at some point, we will be merged with the rest of Sherbrooke and lose even our status of district."

Patterson said Lennoxville could be run more efficiently and should strive to becomeself sufficient.

"Anything you can measure, you can improve on. We need to consume less. Developing systems like a local car-sharingsystem. Things like that that will take us into the 21stcentury through innovation and through sustainability.''

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