By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
At a midday press conference held in Lennoxville’s Square Queen on Monday, June 16, Sherbrooke Citoyen leader and mayoral candidate Raïs Kibonge officially introduced Kerwins Saint-Jean as the party’s candidate for the Lennoxville district in the upcoming municipal election set for November.
Saint-Jean, a long-time community advocate and organizer, announced his candidacy with visible emotion, pledging to bring his experience and deep connection to Lennoxville to municipal politics. “I’m ready to give back to Sherbrooke,” he told the crowd. “Lennoxville is a unique and vibrant part of Sherbrooke—bilingual, diverse, and closely knit. I want to help it thrive with listening, respect, and determination.”
Saint-Jean emphasized three priorities in his campaign: supporting the local business sector, protecting the Ascot-Lennox woodland, and improving public transit. He spoke of strengthening the commercial corridor along Queen Street, where he hopes to “support current storeowners and encourage the development of new ventures.” He also called for increased bus service on evenings and weekends and expressed support for a universal transit pass for Bishop’s and Champlain students.
The former Cougars football player and Champlain College alumnus noted how Lennoxville shaped his early life. “It’s where I experienced my first real challenges, my first real victories,” he said. “It’s the view, the spirit, the people—it’s my home.”
Following his remarks, Saint-Jean responded to reporters’ questions, explaining that he chose to run with Sherbrooke Citoyen because of the party’s alignment with his values. “Inclusion and the environment—it’s really the reason why I love Sherbrooke and don’t want to leave,” he said. “This is the right move.”
When asked about the importance of bilingual status in Lennoxville, Kibonge stepped in to reaffirm the party’s commitment. “Lennoxville is a particularly special place that needs that, deserves that,” he said. “People here need to make sure that they can understand what’s going on… Rest assured, that’s definitely one of our priorities.” Kibonge added that the party supported retaining Lennoxville’s bilingual designation in 2023 and would continue to uphold that position. “For us, diversity is not just something to talk about—it’s something to live.”
