Donna Champagne

Donna Champagne is a former politician in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. She was a member of city council from 1985 to 1988, and campaigned for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a candidate of the New Democratic Party (NDP).

Champagne was a librarian before running for office, and was a member of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. She was recruited to join the New Democratic Party by Dave Cooke in 1984.^[1] Champagne was elected to the Windsor City Council in the 1985 municipal election, winning one of two seats in Ward One. Shortly after her election, she moved a motion that municipal representatives in Windsor be referred to as "councillors" rather than the gender-specific "aldermen". This was accepted unanimously.^[2] Champagne served on the Metro Windsor-Essex County Health Unit and the Essex-Windsor Waste Management Committee, and promoted affordable housing and pay equity.^[3] She also represented the municipal government on the board of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.^[4]

She campaigned for the Ontario legislature in the 1987 provincial election, winning the NDP nomination in Windsor—Walkerville over George Dadamo by twelve votes.^[5] Her campaign manager was Joe Comartin, who later became an NDP Member of Parliament.^[6] She was narrowly defeated by Liberal candidate Mike Ray in the general election.^[7]

In January 1988, Champagne told reporters that she was "strongly inclined" to run for mayor in the 1988 municipal election.^[8] She attempted to become chair of the Health Unit shortly after this, but was outmanoeuvered by members who blamed her for the recent resignation of Phil Fioret, the area's medical officer of health. The position instead went to Rick Limoges.^[9] She chose not to seek the mayor's office after this setback, and later decided not to run for re-election to council. Champagne has four grown daughters: Erica, Monica, Jessica, and Veronica. She currently has four grandchildren: Ruby, George, Sienna, and Stella.

Champagne returned to working as a librarian after leaving politics, and became active with the Women's Economic Forum.^[10]

Footnotes

1. Gord Henderson, "Parent takes it on the chin" [editorial], Windsor Star, 17 January 1987, A6. See also Dave Cooke, letter to the editor, Windsor Star, 11 February 1987, A9. Cooke objected to the tone of Henderson's article.
2. Lynn Messerschmidt, "IS THE TITLE 'ALDERMAN' A DATED AND SEXIST ONE OR IS IT FITTINGLY NEUTRAL?", Kingston Whig-Standard, 4 February 1986, 4 February 1986.
3. Brad Honywill, "Swap freeze proposed", Windsor Star, 22 October 1986, A9; Alan Cairns, "Non-profit plans for Devonshire rile homeowners", Windsor Star, 2 March 1987, A5; Gary Rennie, "Council approves pay equity study for city staff", Windsor Star, 21 July 1987, A5.
4. Harry Van Vugt, "WSO awash in red ink", Windsor Star, 19 December 1987, C1.
5. Marty Beneteau, "Wanted posters up for 'riding theft'", Windsor Star, 5 September 1987, A5.
6. Alan Cairns, "Champagne chosen to challenge Grits", Windsor Star, 19 January 1987, A3.
7. Paul Moloney, "It's a neck-and-neck race in Windsor-Walkerville", Toronto Star, 1 September 1987, A7. Champagne was thirty-eight years old at the time. See Marty Beneteau, "Birds of prey circle over Walkerville Tories", Windsor Star, 29 August 1987, A5.
8. "Mayoral hopefuls lining up", Windsor Star, 19 January 1988, A3.
9. Don Lajoie and Marty Beneteau, "Champagne denies blame in Fioret loss", Windsor Star, 26 January 1988, A3; Rob Ferguson, "Champagne's bid fizzles", Windsor Star, 29 January 1988, A3.
10. Marty Beneteau, "Champagne is in the shadows, and loves it", Windsor Star, 18 July 1990, A9; Gordana Stenovic, "Economic Forum", Windsor Star, 12 December 1995, B3.