Page 15 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 86

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #86 January 2020 15

Bernadette Clement Reflects on Her First Year in

Office and Her Athletic History

By Molly Kett with team sports in high school work here so that they can come
was important in terms of learning back.”
ernadette Clement has just about leadership skills. For 2020, Clement has some big
Bcompleted her first year as “You learn a lot about teamwork. plans already.
Cornwall’s mayor and says it’s That’s why I remember broomball “I want to work even more
been both exciting and challenging. fondly, for those reasons,” says effectively with my colleagues
“I love being the Mayor of Clement. “For me, sport is
around the council table. I’m
Cornwall, but it is a really big about physical exercise, and for
going to start the year by touching
responsibility. What I’ve enjoyed recognizing that you get this one
base with each one of them
most is to be able to speak to young body. I’m grateful for it, it allows individually, as I did at the start of
people,” says Clement. “The most me to do all the things that I want the term. I’m also looking forward
fun thing I did all year was have to do. I pay attention to it. I eat to meeting with our neighbours
all those students come through too many brownies, but I exercise, Photo Submitted in Akwesasne and Stormont,
City Hall, because that keeps me too.”
in touch with the future and what Clement also recognizes how Dundas, and Glengarry,” says
kids want to see in the future. As athletically involved Cornwall is, Clement. “I think we have a lot of
proud as we are of our heritage, and appreciates that aspect of the but it’s also instructive. They want work to do to work together more
we’re all about the future.” community. to be here, because they feel very effectively as a region. I want to
Not only is Clement politically “I think it’s wonderful how connected to their community talk about the waterfront, too, in a
involved with Cornwall, but she’s and very engaged. Even when big way. We’ll talk about it during
athletically involved our
also been involved in the athletics they say they’re going to leave budget meetings, and I want to see
community is. I think there’s a
of the city. for post-secondary education, a focus on that in 2020 as well.”
real emphasis on team sports
“I played broomball in high for other opportunities, they also We’re looking forward to the
and competitions, and there’s a
school, and still like to watch the diversity of sport too. I know that say they’re going to come back. changes Clement will bring to the
broomball championships here in They’re encouraging us to do our city in the future.
we like to talk about Cornwall as
Cornwall,” says Clement. “What I
being a hockey town, and it is, but
really like to do now is individual Cornwall’s Oldest Paint,
it’s also a soccer town, a swimming
sports. I like to swim and downhill Blind & Shutter Store.
town,” says Clement. “The Family owned Business Since 1988
ski. I’m also a runner, I’ve been
running for decades. I prefer diversity of sports is impressive
to me and encouraging. I think
solitary sports now and I think Presents “Famous Sports Quotes”
we do come together through
that stems from my teenage
sport. We like to watch sports
years. I wasn’t as confident about “You better have a vision, you better have a plan, and you
together. We like to, as families,
my athletic abilities and what I better have the passion for getting things done.” Lou Holtz
brought to team sports.” attend events and support family
Growing up with a younger members. Sport and family are
brother meant Clement was around very connected, certainly from a
hockey for a lot of her childhood. personal level, but also from what SHUTTERS
“Growing up in Montreal I’ve experienced in Cornwall.”
meant that watching hockey and Her favourite part about being
watching the Habs, in particular, mayor has been having students
was very much a part of our come in to see her and connecting SAVE
family activities,” says Clement. with the younger citizens of
“We would support my brother Cornwall. %
as a family, and we would watch “I love when, at the end of
the Habs as a family. For my those sessions, we say, “Ask me 35
father, who is a proud Canadian, anything,” or “What do you want
but also someone who came from to talk about?”. When you ask a
Trinidad and still watches hockey teenager their opinion, they’re In Support of
religiously, this was one way for going to give it to you. Sometimes Made in Canada
Since 1988
a new Canadian to feel a part of it’s hard to hear,” says Clement.
his new country. He’s 97, and “They’ll say why they’re leaving Celebrating 31 years
on Saturday nights he will still Cornwall. They’ll say there aren’t Quality & Service At The Right Price!
religiously watch his Habs.” enough activities or opportunities. Paints, Blinds, Shutters
Clement says her experience As mayor it’s hard to hear that, 240 Pitt Street • 613-933-8924 • www.jas-mar.com