Full Breakdown
Mayor Michel Soucy of Campbellton Dies Suddenly at 75
By Drooid · · How we work
Sudden Death and Immediate Aftermath
Mayor Michel Soucy died on a Saturday in his mid-70s, with his family’s Facebook post attributing the loss to a heart attack. The post also noted that he passed away at Campbellton Regional Hospital. Deputy Mayor Mathieu Perron, a 24-year-old first-time councillor, will assume mayoral duties on an interim basis while a byelection is scheduled. Perron said the council will meet the following day to discuss next steps.
Recent Political Career
Soucy was elected mayor in the municipal election held on May 11 and was sworn in on May 27. This was his first term as mayor of Campbellton, but not his first municipal role; he served as mayor of the former town of Atholville from 2012 to 2016 before that community was amalgamated into Campbellton.
Community and Official Reactions
Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault, the Liberal MP for Madawaska-Restigouche, described Soucy as “deeply involved in his community” and highlighted his long-standing participation in municipal politics, the local chamber of commerce, and Acadian affairs. He recalled speaking with Soucy less than 24 hours before the mayor’s death about upcoming projects for the town.
Succession and Upcoming Plans
With Perron now acting as mayor, Campbellton’s council will convene to outline the transition and set a timeline for the required byelection. No further details on the election date have been released.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Michel is someone who was deeply involved in his community. He didn't count the hours he gave and his end goal was to make his community a better place to live in,” — Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault
- “We even spoke… less than 24 hours ago, we spoke about different projects regarding Campbellton. We had a great discussion about it. So learning today that he is now gone was a big shock.” — Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault
- “In this moment, we want to express our deep admiration and gratitude for the man he was,” — Mario Soucy, campbellton mayor