Gurveen K. Chadha of Westmount, Quebec, has made history by becoming the first Punjabi woman elected as a councilor to the Westmount City Council.

Chadha unseated incumbent councilor Conrad Peart in the recently concluded Quebec municipal elections.

“I know how policy gets built and how strategy is implemented. Now I’m ready to work for the community where I grew up,” Chadha said following her victory.

Born and raised in Westmount, Chadha spent her early years learning to swim at the YMCA, skating at the Rec Centre, and taking classes at Victoria Hall. She later pursued public policy at Harvard and Dartmouth, building a career that spans both government and the private sector.

In Ottawa, she served as Director of Policy to Marc Garneau, Canada’s Minister of Transport, where she oversaw major policy initiatives and managed complex national issues. In the business sector, she has held leadership roles in strategy and operations at companies including Shopify and Jobber. She also co-founded the olive oil shop Olives en folie, formerly located on Victoria Avenue.

Over the past decade, Chadha has been an active presence in local campaigns, going door to door to speak with residents. She joins the council with priorities that include strengthening infrastructure, supporting economic vitality along Sherbrooke, Greene, Victoria, and Ste-Catherine streets, and advancing sustainable public spaces to ensure Westmount continues to thrive for generations.

The City of Westmount’s council consists of the mayor and eight councilors, each representing one electoral district. Members also serve on various standing committees and municipal bodies. The current council’s term runs from 2025 to 2029.

Chadha won her district in a four-way race, earning 52.59 percent of the vote. She received 487 votes, ahead of incumbent Conrad Peart’s 31.49 percent (291 votes). Massimo Mazza placed third with 87 votes, followed by Lynda Lyness with 61 votes.

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