WWII veteran has taken the homeless into her home

DENISE RIDEOUT

Having spent most of her 29 years in Iqaluit volunteering with food banks, homelessness programs and education groups, Marje Lalonde wants to take a different approach to helping the community – she is running to sit on Iqaluit city council.

“I’ve always been involved in the community. I figure I can make a difference,” she said.

The World War II veteran is the volunteer vice-president of the Iqaluit food bank, works part-time at Wizard’s Café, and finds time in between to make things for her friends. Today, as she sits in the cafe, she is knitting dishcloths to give as gifts.

During her nearly three decades in Iqaluit, Lalonde was as an adult educator and then transferred to the Baffin Regional Hospital where she worked in the pharmacy and medical records department.

But, now that she’s retired, the 79-year-old says she has the time required to be a city councillor.

“I have the same concerns as my neighbour and the guy across the street. But I have the time to give to help,” she said.

If elected, Lalonde wants to tackle the housing shortage and improve town planning.

She said council shouldn’t sit back and wait for new housing units to pop up in Iqaluit. “The council can’t go out and build houses. Council has to pressure the two levels of government in every way, shape and form,” she said.

Homelessness is an issue that Lalonde takes to heart. She has often taken homeless people into her own place.

She also wants to see council put tighter controls on the haphazard way the city has grown. “Town planning has gone totally ridiculous. There’s a house here and a house there,” she said.

Getting long-overdue projects, such as the sewage treatment plant, up and running is a must, Lalonde said. If not, she’s ready to fight whoever it takes to get things rolling. “I can go and find what’s stopping it. I’m not a shy person.”

This is Lalonde’s second attempt at municipal politics in Iqaluit. In the early 1980s she ran for mayor against Bryan Pearson and Martine Johnson, but was beat out by Johnson.

This time, with much more community experience under her belt, Lalonde is confident in her abilities. “I think I’ve proven my honesty. I think I’ve proven my commitment to the community and will do the best I can working with the team on council.”