Michel Soucy

Michel Soucy was a northern New Brunswick municipal politician who served more than twenty years in local government, including as mayor of Atholville and, at his death, as mayor of the Campbellton Regional Community. He died suddenly of a heart attack on Saturday, 26 September 2026, aged 75, leaving colleagues and residents across Restigouche in shock.

Soucy first built his reputation in Atholville, where he served as mayor before provincial local-government reform folded the community into the new Campbellton Regional Community. He stepped back from municipal politics around late 2020, then returned and was elected Campbellton's mayor in May 2026 with roughly two thirds of the vote, becoming the regional community's second mayor and, at 75, the oldest member around the council table. Telegraph-Journal coverage of that election framed the win as a triumphant return for a familiar local figure.

Colleagues described him as someone who did not count the hours he gave and whose aim was to make Campbellton a better place to live. Madawaska-Restigouche MP Guillaume Deschenes-Theriault said Soucy had long been involved in municipal politics, the chamber of commerce and Acadian community work, and had volunteered on the MP's own campaign. Deputy Mayor Mathieu Perron, who remembered seeing Soucy at local events and singing in church long before joining council himself, called him a mentor who was not just there for show. The evening before he died, Soucy spoke at the Societe nationale de l'Acadie annual meeting in Campbellton about his pride in the community and discussed local projects with the MP.

His family announced the death in a Facebook post, saying they were proud of his accomplishments and his undying commitment to his community, and that further details would follow. Premier Susan Holt called the loss a big one for Campbellton and said Soucy had dedicated his life to making it a good place to live. Under municipal succession rules, Deputy Mayor Perron assumed mayoral duties until a byelection could be held, with council meeting in the days after to plan next steps for the regional community.