Bruno Marchand

Bruno Marchand is a politician, manager, and key player in the community sector (born 22 May 1972 in Quebec City, QC). Marchand is the founder and leader of the municipal political party Québec Forte et Fière (QFF). On 7 November 2021, he became the 38th mayor of Quebec City. In September 2022, he was elected President of the Organization of World Heritage Cities. He is also known for his leadership of a number of charitable organizations and his involvement in the Quebec City community.

Youth and Influences

Bruno Marchand's parents are very Catholic, and put into practice the values of their Christian faith. His mother was often involved in liturgical activities in her parish. She is an inspiration to her son. Her neighbor often used to advised her not to sweep the front of her building since the city employees would do that, to which she replied: “I am The City.” This commitment to the community is second nature to the Marchands.

One time when he was in elementary school, a lunchtime activity was organized: students exchanged lunches. This was the moment Marchand became aware of poverty. He was confronted with the reality of some of his classmates ― social inequalities were becoming a reality for him. While visiting his childhood neighborhood of Limoilou, he would later tell a journalist that many people suffered from financial difficulties. He saw things at this age that had a lasting impression on him: “In the neighborhood, there were people who didn't eat three meals a day.”

Marchand continued to live in Limoilou into his early twenties. Certain places have strongly influenced him, and he identifies himself as a "child of the patro." Patro Roc-Amadour is a community center that organizes various leisure activities for the neighborhood's most vulnerable members. The organization focuses on developing each individual's strengths. The values of mutual aid and inclusiveness are emphasized.

Its environment taught him to help others, to listen, to respect others, to have integrity and a deep-seated desire to improve himself.

Roadmap

In 1995, Bruno Marchand graduated from Université Laval with a degree in philosophy. In 1998, he completed a technical diploma in social work at Cégep de Sainte-Foy. From 1999 to 2008, he was the coordinator and student life advisor at the same CEGEP. He also received leadership training from the Ivey School of Business at Western University in London, Ontario.

After working at Cégep de Sainte-Foy, Marchand became President and CEO of Centraide [United Way] Québec, Chaudière-Appalaches et Bas-Saint-Laurent branch from 2014 to 2021. Previously, he had served on the organization's Board of Directors as a member and Chairman from 2003 to 2013. He also worked for the Association québécoise de prévention du suicide from 2008 to 2014. In 2020, under his leadership, the Centraide fundraising campaign reached a record $17 million. Since his arrival in 2014, the organization has received an increase in donations of over 35 per cent.

In 2014, he received a Tribute Award from the Association québécoise de prévention du suicide. At the same time, since 2008, Marchand has held hundreds of conferences for all sectors of Quebec City's socio-economic community.

Municipal Elections 2021

In the November 2021 elections, Bruno Marchand took the leap into municipal politics. His new political party, Québec Forte et Fière, set out five objectives for Quebec City on which it would base its post-pandemic program:

"strong, lively and diverse neighborhoods;
positive leadership;
a vigorous and ambitious post-COVID economic recovery;
a resilient, green and caring city for all;
efficient and rigorous management of the city's finances and services".

Municipal elections were held across Quebec on 7 November 2021. It was one of the tightest battles for mayor of Quebec City. On the eve of the election, polls showed the two main frontrunners neck-and-neck.

Election night was memorable due to its improbable twists and turns. Barely 14 minutes after the start of the vote count, the main TV broadcasters announced Marie-Josée Savard's victory over Marchand. Advance voting ballots gave her a healthy 39 per cent lead. Marie-Josée Savard and her team delivered the victory speech. But as the evening wore on, the gap in votes gradually began to decrease. At 10:07 p.m., the TVA network (see Québecor Inc) withdrew its victory prediction. At 10:40 pm, Marchand overtook his rival. Against all odds, he was elected mayor by a margin of 739 votes.