The City of Pembroke celebrated the career of its longest-tenured current councilor this week.
At the Tuesday, December 16th city council meeting, Patricia Lafreniere was issued an award for 25 years of service on council.
Lafreniere, who is currently in her sixth consecutive term and also acts as the Chair of the Parks and Recreation Committee, was presented with items from the city, provincial and federal governments by Mayor Ron Gervais at the beginning of the meeting.
Various council members expressed their gratitude to Lafreniere for her efforts over the years.
Deputy Mayor Brian Abdallah said Lafreniere was like a mentor to him when he first began working on city council, and that he appreciates how she always fights “for the little person” and disadvantaged people in the community.
Councilor Ian Kuehl, who is currently serving in his first term, expressed that Lafreniere has served as an example of how to be a council member.
Ed Jacyno, a current councilor and former mayor of Pembroke, said it felt hard to believe that 25 years had already gone by since Lafreniere joined council.
Troy Purcell, who serves as the Vice Chair of the city’s Parks and Recreation Committee under Lafreniere, echoed similar sentiments to the others, said it’s been a pleasure for him to serve with her.
Lafreniere herself thanked her family for their help with her initial campaign 25 years ago. She said that the job of a councilor has changed significantly in the last two and a half decades.
She concluded by commending her fellow councilors thanking everyone in the community who has supported her over the years.
(Written by Steve Berard)