A farewell letter to Valérie Plante, Montreal's first woman mayor

Dear Valérie,

After eight years, two terms, one pandemic, and more orange cones than anyone thought possible, you're walking away from the job. As Taylor C. Noakes aptly pointed out, it was all done without scandal, corruption charges, or a midnight resignation. For Montreal, that's kind of remarkable.

Like all things—especially acting as mayor of a city like Montreal—it was rarely simple. Legacies don't run in a straight line, and yours had its share of messes and contests that probably won't be settled for years. Some will remember you as the mayor who finally made Montreal green and livable, others will remember you as someone who planted trees while the roads fell apart and people couldn't find housing.