FANE Congratulates Claude Bourgeois, New MLA for Chéticamp – Margarees – Pleasant Bay

Dartmouth (Nova Scotia), June 24, 2026 — Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse (FANE) congratulates Mr. Claude Bourgeois, elected as Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the new provincial riding of Chéticamp – Margarees – Pleasant Bay following the by-election held on June 23, 2026.

The Progressive Conservative candidate, Mr. Bourgeois received 1,315 votes, representing 48.7% of the ballots cast. He finished ahead of Liberal candidate Denis Cormier, who received 1,080 votes. New Democratic Party candidate Trevor Poirier received 258 votes, while Green Party candidate Nik Boisvert received 44 votes. Mr. Bourgeois won the election by a margin of 235 votes.

FANE would also like to congratulate all candidates who participated in this by-election. Their commitment contributes to the vitality of our democracy and highlights the importance of civic engagement.

A native of Chéticamp, Mr. Bourgeois is a well-known entrepreneur in the region. He has owned Bourgeois Diesel Services for 30 years and was also the owner of the Doryman Pub & Grill for approximately ten years. Once sworn in, he will become the 43rd Progressive Conservative MLA to serve in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.

The voter turnout of 68.81% reflects a strong level of engagement among residents of the region, particularly for a by-election. This election also represents an important milestone for the Acadian community of the region. Since the election of Hubert Aucoin in 1925, the Acadian region of Chéticamp has not been represented in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly by an Acadian MLA.

“The election of Claude Bourgeois in this new protected Acadian riding of Chéticamp marks a historic moment for the political representation of Acadians and Francophones in Nova Scotia. We sincerely congratulate him and look forward to working with him to support the development of the Chéticamp community, as well as other Acadian and Francophone communities across the province,” said Denise Comeau-Desautels, FANE President.

FANE looks forward to collaborating with the new MLA on the many issues affecting the Chéticamp – Margarees – Pleasant Bay region, including cultural development, infrastructure, French-language education, local economic development, and access to services in French, to ensure the vitality of Acadian and Francophone communities.