Donna Champagne
Encyclopedia
Donna Champagne is a former politician in Windsor
, Ontario
, Canada
. She was a member of city council from 1985 to 1988, and campaigned for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
as a candidate of the New Democratic Party (NDP).
Champagne was a librarian before running for office, and was a member of the Canadian Union of Public Employees
. She was recruited to join the New Democratic Party by Dave Cooke
in 1984. Champagne was elected to the Windsor City Council in the 1985 municipal election, winning one of two seats in Ward One. Shortly after her election, she moved a motion that municipal representatives in Windsor be referred to as "councillors" rather than the gender-specific "aldermen". This was accepted unanimously. Champagne served on the Metro Windsor-Essex County Health Unit and the Essex-Windsor Waste Management Committee, and promoted affordable housing and pay equity. She also represented the municipal government on the board of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.
She campaigned for the Ontario legislature in the 1987 provincial election
, winning the NDP nomination in Windsor—Walkerville
over George Dadamo
by twelve votes. Her campaign manager was Joe Comartin, who later became an NDP Member of Parliament
. She was narrowly defeated by Liberal
candidate Mike Ray
in the general election.
In January 1988, Champagne told reporters that she was "strongly inclined" to run for mayor in the 1988 municipal election
. She attempted to become chair of the Health Unit shortly after this, but was outmanoeuvered by members who blamed her for the recent resignation of Phil Fioret, the area's medical officer of health. The position instead went to Rick Limoges
. She chose not to seek the mayor's office after this setback, and later decided not to run for re-election to council. Champagne has four grown daughters: Erica, Monica, Jessica, and Veronica. She currently has four grandchildren: Ruby, George, Sienna, and Stella.
Champagne returned to working as a librarian after leaving politics, and became active with the Women's Economic Forum.
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. She was a member of city council from 1985 to 1988, and campaigned for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
as a candidate of the New Democratic Party (NDP).
Champagne was a librarian before running for office, and was a member of the Canadian Union of Public Employees
Canadian Union of Public Employees
The Canadian Union of Public Employees is a Canadian trade union serving the public sector - although it has in recent years organized workplaces in the non-profit and para-public sector as well...
. She was recruited to join the New Democratic Party by Dave Cooke
Dave Cooke
Dave Cooke is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was an NDP member of the provincial legislature from 1977 to 1997, and was a senior cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae.-Early career:...
in 1984. Champagne was elected to the Windsor City Council in the 1985 municipal election, winning one of two seats in Ward One. Shortly after her election, she moved a motion that municipal representatives in Windsor be referred to as "councillors" rather than the gender-specific "aldermen". This was accepted unanimously. Champagne served on the Metro Windsor-Essex County Health Unit and the Essex-Windsor Waste Management Committee, and promoted affordable housing and pay equity. She also represented the municipal government on the board of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.
She campaigned for the Ontario legislature in the 1987 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1987
The Ontario general election of 1987 was held on September 10, 1987, to elect members of the 34th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada.The governing Ontario Liberal Party, led by David Peterson, was returned to power with a large majority...
, winning the NDP nomination in Windsor—Walkerville
Windsor—Walkerville
Windsor—Walkerville was a federal electoral district that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1988. It was located in the southwest corner of the province of Ontario. This riding was created in 1966 from parts of Essex East and Essex West ridings. The electoral district...
over George Dadamo
George Dadamo
George Dadamo is a Canadian politician. He served as a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1995.-Early life:...
by twelve votes. Her campaign manager was Joe Comartin, who later became an NDP Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
. She was narrowly defeated by Liberal
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
candidate Mike Ray
Mike Ray
Michael Charles Ray is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Liberal from 1987 to 1990....
in the general election.
In January 1988, Champagne told reporters that she was "strongly inclined" to run for mayor in the 1988 municipal election
Windsor municipal election, 1988
The 1988 Windsor municipal election was held in the City of Windsor, Ontario to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees.-Results:*Bob Girard was a veteran community and environmental activist in Windsor. He was a member of Surrounding Citizens Reacting Against Pollution during the 1980s,...
. She attempted to become chair of the Health Unit shortly after this, but was outmanoeuvered by members who blamed her for the recent resignation of Phil Fioret, the area's medical officer of health. The position instead went to Rick Limoges
Rick Limoges
Richard Limoges is a former Canadian politician, who represented the electoral district of Windsor—St. Clair in the Canadian House of Commons from 1999 to 2000....
. She chose not to seek the mayor's office after this setback, and later decided not to run for re-election to council. Champagne has four grown daughters: Erica, Monica, Jessica, and Veronica. She currently has four grandchildren: Ruby, George, Sienna, and Stella.
Champagne returned to working as a librarian after leaving politics, and became active with the Women's Economic Forum.