Tutino receives the medal of the National Assembly of Quebec for service to the community

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The former mayor of Baie-D’Urfé, Maria Tutino, received the medal of the National Assembly of Quebec on Monday.

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The medal presentation by local MP Greg Kelley took place on the grounds of Baie-D’Urfé town hall, where Tutino served as mayor for 15 years until his retirement in 2020.

Tutino was overcome with emotion during the medal ceremony, which included tributes from the current mayor of Baie-d’Urfé Heidi Ektvedt and Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia.

“I’m overwhelmed,” Tutino said. “I am honored, humiliated. I’m just very emotional in the sense that I’m honored in a way that I didn’t expect to be. “

Tutino was first elected in 2005 after leading the fight to de-merge the city of Montreal. She served four terms as mayor until she stepped down last fall.

Kelley said Tutino received the Medal from the National Assembly, which recognizes the extraordinary efforts of local citizens, to thank her for all her years of “service as the mayor of Baie-D’Urfé and your service to the community. of Baie-d ‘Urfé, and also the West Island.’

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Scarpaleggia praised Tutino for his leadership efforts in municipal affairs.

“Over the past 15 years, Baie-D’Urfé has been very lucky to have you in mind at a crucial time,” he said.

“You took strong positions, you really pleaded strongly but it was never personal,” he added. “Maria was passionate, but it never hampered personal relationships and that’s part of a healthy democracy, that people can disagree on issues and discuss with passion, but it doesn’t hinder Cooperation. “

Tutino said his tenure as mayor was a fulfilling chapter in his life.

“Time has passed,” she said. “It wasn’t a job for me, it was a passion.”

“It was not the mayor’s job that attracted me to the position, it was the position to occupy to best help my community when it needed it.

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Tutino, a resident of Baie-D’Urfé since 1989, does not regret straying from politics during the pandemic to spend more time with her family.

“I was very lucky in my life that the chapters kind of worked one after the other, sequentially and not parallel. I was a career woman, then I left the career for the family. Then, I left the family for the Town of Baie D’Urfé because of the successful demerger of our town. And then in July 2018 my mom fell and things got very, very hard to juggle.

“I have returned to the family and it seems the timing is perfect because now I will be a grandmother in two months. So I will be able to get full steam ahead in the family.

Tutino also noted that serving as mayor presents challenges for women who are also mothers of young families.

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“Until men are also involved in family life, it is a challenge for women to take on the role of mayor,” she said. “The post of councilor is different, but the post of mayor is really a full-time job.

She also added that the work of mayor is “very, very rewarding, especially for a community like Baie-D’Urfé because it is run by volunteers”.

“One of the things I am most proud of during my tenure as mayor is nurturing, creating and supporting the volunteer groups that are essential in our community.

Tutino is often asked if she fails to be mayor. “I don’t miss the job because I’m still part of the community,” she said.

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