Kathleen Rochon Biography

Mayor Kathleen Thorne Rochon — Biography

Kathleen Thorne Rochon is serving her first term as Mayor of the Municipality of West Nipissing, a proudly bilingual and predominantly francophone community of 14,500 in Northeastern Ontario. Her leadership reflects deep respect for the community’s cultural heritage and a strong dedication to ensuring equitable, high-quality municipal services in both official languages.

Guided by her professional background in Economic and Community Development, Mayor Thorne Rochon has brought a collaborative, community-focused approach to local government. Under her leadership, the 2022–2026 Council adopted a term plan prioritizing community development, infrastructure renewal, and modern, efficient service delivery. In a municipality that has experienced past periods of political tension, she has placed particular emphasis on rebuilding trust, strengthening relationships, and fostering stability around the council table.

A passionate advocate for youth, Mayor Thorne Rochon has made youth engagement a central pillar of her mandate. She led the creation of West Nipissing’s first municipal Youth Advisory Committee and is working to expand youth representation across boards and committees. She also played a key role in securing West Nipissing’s participation in the Planet Youth Icelandic Prevention Model with the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit—an evidence-based initiative focused on improving long-term youth wellbeing.

Her commitment to community health and national dialogue has extended beyond municipal boundaries. In 2024, she was invited to join the National Mayor’s Panel at the Municipal Leadership on Substance Use Summit, representing West Nipissing in Canada-wide conversations on addiction and substance-use policy. Locally, she serves on the Advisory Committee of the Alliance Centre, supporting mental health and substance-use services in the region.
In addition to her public service, Mayor Thorne Rochon has been a small business owner in West Nipissing since 2012. Her graphic design and creative services firm works primarily with government and public sector clients and has served as a Vendor of Record for the Province of Ontario since 2019.

Across all of her roles, Mayor Kathleen Thorne Rochon is recognized for her community-driven leadership and her unwavering commitment to strengthening the social, cultural, and civic fabric of West Nipissing.