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Shelley Judge, longtime Brome Lake councillor and community volunteer, has announced her candidacy for mayor

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

Shelley Judge, a long-time community volunteer and current municipal councillor, has recently announced her candidacy for mayor of the Town of Brome Lake in the upcoming municipal election. If elected, she would be the town’s first female mayor.

Judge, who has lived in Brome Lake since graduating from St. Lawrence College in 1993, has deep roots in the community. She started a home daycare at the age of 19, later working in the local government daycare for two decades. “I volunteered here my whole entire time that I’ve been here,” she said in an interview, listing her involvement in Canada Day celebrations, youth soccer, and breakfast programs at school. “I just volunteer everywhere, and that was my interest four years ago when I got on municipal council because I am a councillor already”.

From councillor to mayoral candidate

Judge has served as councillor for the West-Brome and Iron-Hill sector since 2021. She said her decision to run for mayor stems from a desire to strengthen leadership and bring more transparency to town hall. “I really think I would like to lead the committees better,” she explained. “We have a fantastic group of employees. I just feel that I need to lead them better to get the best quality from each individual that we can”.

She added that openness will be central to her approach: “Transparency for me is super important. People really deserve to know what’s happening… You’ll have my door open. I will do my best to make the best decisions for the citizens of the town of Brome Lake”.

Priorities for growth and services

Urban planning is among Judge’s priorities. She noted that much of the development underway was initiated before her time on council but stressed the importance of harmonizing growth with community values. “I feel we need to hire an architect in a way that we can kind of formalize the development that’s happening in the town,” she said, adding that she intends to work closely with the newly hired urban planner to ensure development “harmonizes our culture here in the town of Brome Lake”.

She also pointed to the long-discussed new fire station as an urgent need. “Our fire station is definitely overdue,” Judge said. “It’s actually unacceptable to ask these men and women to work in these conditions”.

In her campaign launch, Judge emphasized sustainable growth. “Responsible urbanism means thoughtful development—balancing the need for growth with the preservation of our rural charm, heritage, and environment,” she said. “Together, we can shape a future for Brome Lake that strengthens our quality of life while protecting what makes our home so special”.

Lifelong community commitment

Raised in Waterloo, Quebec, Judge has lived in Brome Lake for more than 35 years. Beyond politics, she is known for her decades of volunteerism. She has helped lead Brome Fair, Canada Day events, and school programs, and has organized countless local fundraisers. She has also been recognized as an honorary member of the Brome Lake Firemen’s Association and received the Yamaska Valley Optimist Club’s Women of Influence award.

Her professional experience spans early childhood education, agriculture, and small business. She said this background grounds her vision for the town. “This town deserves leadership that works side by side with all community stakeholders; we have great municipal staff dedicated to help make this happen”.

Looking ahead

Judge says her campaign is rooted in a simple promise: to be available and accountable. “People deserve to know what’s happening at Town Hall. They deserve answers to their questions. They deserve respect and patience,” she said in her campaign release.

As the election approaches, she is positioning herself as a candidate focused on families, community services, and sustainable growth. “I think community-oriented family, new families coming to the town, that’s where I feel we can make the biggest difference,” she said.

With her candidacy, Judge offers voters a choice for what she says will be a more participative and transparent style of leadership—one that she argues can help shape Brome Lake’s next chapter.