A long-time Moncton City Councillor is being honoured after news of his death.
Rene Pepsi Landry passed away today surrounded by his family.
Moncton Mayor Dawn Arnold says Landry dedicated many years of service to his community.
“His cheerful smile, his sense of fairness, and his quiet determination were appreciated by everyone who knew him,” says Arnold. “On behalf of all Monctonians I extend my deepest condolences to his family.”
Arnold says the quiet man was devoted to his community and particularly his neighbourhood.
“In my four years of serving on Council with him, I could probably count on a couple of hands the number of times I heard him talk,” says Arnold. “But when he did have something to say it was thoughtful and reasoned and very balanced for the most part.”
She adds he lived and breathed his public service, and really believed in it right until the very end.
“Just this last week I was talking to his wife and she was telling me that he was very, very ill, and he was quite concerned about what was going on at City Hall, that was just who he was,” says Arnold.
The general public is invited to sign a book of condolences in the lobby of Moncton City Hall from Wednesday (9:30AM – 4:30PM) until the day of the funeral.
Funeral arrangements will be announced when they become available.
Flags have been lowered to half-mast at City Hall until sunset on the day of the funeral.
His professional career began with the Moncton Boys and Girls Club. He later became a facilities coordinator with the City of Moncton where he managed the Farmers’ Market, Sportsplex field and organized special events.
Elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1999 to 2003, he was then elected in 2004 as a Ward 4 city councillor. He had just recently been re-elected for a fourth term.
In recognition of his community building, René was the recipient of the Builder of Youth Award from the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of Canada (1991), the Silver Keystone Award for outstanding service to youth (1991) and the 125th Anniversary of the Foundation of Canada Commemorative Medal in recognition of contributions to the community and to Canada (1992).
Landry held a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Université de Moncton and a Certificate in Physical Education from the University of Ottawa.
He is survived by his wife Jacqueline (Gagnon), and their two sons Michel and Marc.
