JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

Pointe Claire’s longest currently-serving councillor was recognized for 20 years of service at last week’s council meeting. Paul Bissonnette, who has represented the Lakeside district on the council since 2005, was presented with an award by Mayor Tim Thomas on behalf of the Union des municipalités du Québec.

“It makes you realize how fast time went by,” said Bissonnette in an interview, adding: “It’s nice to feel appreciated.”

Will Bissonnette try to reach 30 years as a councillor?

He is not sure for the time being, he said, adding that he is contemplating whether he will run again to keep his seat in this fall election. Nevertheless, Bissonnette said his time on the council has been “very rewarding.”

At the June 3 meeting, Bissonnette was praised by Thomas for his “unwavering commitment to the Pointe Claire community,” including a near-perfect attendance record at council meetings over his 20-year career.

“Beyond his dedication, he has shown a particular concern for the well-being of seniors in Pointe Claire,” Thomas added.

Indeed, Bissonnette helped establish the Navette Or transportation program for seniors in Pointe Claire back in 2012. The service, offered by the Société de transport de Montréal public transit system, provides a 37-stop shared taxi service within the city for residents ages 65 and over.

“It was really a team effort,” said Bissonnette, praising the collaboration of the city’s Sports and Recreation department to bring the program to Pointe Claire. “The main reason (for the program) is to give someone a chance to (take) a bus to a destination where there is no service. Often seniors don’t have cars and they go to different events.”

“It was very rewarding, because it helped a lot of people,” he added. “And it’s still going.”

Bissonnette jumped into municipal politics in 2005, at a time when Pointe Claire’s demerger from the City of Montreal was on everyone’s lips.

“Everyone was all excited about that,” he said, recalling working alongside then-mayor Bill McMurchie.

Since then, Bissonnette has served under four mayors: McMurchie, Morris Trudeau, John Belvedere and Tim Thomas.

He explained how his previous managerial position with the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railways had inspired his foray into politics, particularly with the fulfillment he gets from working directly with people, whether they are clients or constituents.

“That’s always been my background,” he said. “My motivation comes from being able to get something fixed. I’ve always enjoyed service-type situations. And I still enjoy it now.”

Bissonnette said he has tried to approach municipal politics with both empathy and open communication with residents.

“I’ve always tried to treat people the way I’d like to be treated,” he said.