First elected as a city councillor in the Sainte-Marie district in 2013, members of the Projet Montréal political party chose Valérie Plante to lead the party in 2016. Her contagious passion and energy have helped her rally people around her progressive vision, which is centred on increased access to public transit, better urban planning and public services, economic development, and protecting the environment.
Before entering the political arena in 2013, Valérie Plante obtained degrees in anthropology, museology, and in multiethnic intervention. She then became actively involved with numerous community groups, including the Fondation Filles d’action, which helps to build the skills and confidence of girls, young women and gender-diverse youth across Canada. On 5 November 2017, she became the first woman to be elected mayor of Montréal.
During Mayor Plante’s first term, major investments were made to increase access to green space, including creating what will be Canada’s largest urban park, the Grand parc de l’Ouest. The park will span 3,000 hectares and rehabilitate nearly 10 kilometres of river banks.