Léa Cousineau

Co-founder of the Rassemblement des citoyens et citoyennes de Montréal (Montréal Citizens’ Movement) in the early 1970s, she became its first president, making her the first woman to head a municipal political party in the country. Elected to the city council in 1986, she broke another glass ceiling in 1990, this time by becoming the first woman to be appointed chair of the city's Executive Committee. She became involved in implementing policies for women and minorities, regulating signage, improving access to leisure activities and enhancing urban security. Active in many Montréal organizations over the years, Léa Cousineau has been a model of rigour and loyalty, making a lasting contribution to the city's social and democratic development.