Aaron Patella

Website | Linkedin Profile

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Candidate’s Introduction

Aaron moved to North Hatley after spending several years in Alberta. His parents founded the well-known local business, the Auberge Le Cœur d’Or. Professionally, he has extensive experience in real estate, including property management and project delivery that respects both timelines and budgets. He also worked in consulting with his wife in the administrative field.

Academically, Aaron returned to school after many years of hands-on experience. He studied mechanical engineering, English literature, and performing arts, and completed a degree in finance. He strongly believes in bridging theory and practice.

Today, he teaches business administration at Champlain College in Lennoxville. His experience as a municipal councillor opened his eyes to serious gaps in governance practices, which led him to pursue graduate studies, including a master’s and a doctorate. Having recently completed his comprehensive exams, he now has the time to dedicate himself fully to the role of mayor.

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Why the Candidate Wants to Represent the People of North Hatley

Aaron chose to raise his children in North Hatley, keeping his mother’s house so that his family could stay in the village he deeply values. To him, the village is a gem, and he has always been involved in community efforts.

However, he’s noticed a shift in recent years, with the municipality taking over more community activities, something he believes is unnecessary. He explains that, by law, volunteers can’t be treated like employees, and rightly so. Volunteers should be free to help in a flexible, non-structured way, like watering flowers on their own time and terms.

He wants to return to a more community-based model of engagement, where the talents of citizens, many of whom are well-educated and eager to help, are truly welcomed. Too often, their willingness to contribute is rejected, which he finds unacceptable. This desire to bring back strong governance practices rooted in community involvement is what drives him to run for mayor.

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How the Candidate Wants to Improve Quality of Life in North Hatley

Aaron believes that when citizens are empowered to help shape the community they want rather than having one imposed on them, everyone’s quality of life improves.

He also stresses the importance of looking at the village through the lens of interconnected systems: environmental, human, and economic. Drawing inspiration from organizations like Bleu Massawippi, he points out that all three are interrelated. This systems-based thinking is familiar to him, especially from his background in finance, where complex systems are the norm.

He argues that improving one aspect without considering the others has unintended consequences. Lastly, he believes it’s essential to build stronger connections between the English and French-speaking communities in the village.

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What Are the Candidate’s Two Main Priorities?

Aaron’s first priority is to restore order and best governance practices at the municipal level. He wants decisions to be made transparently, with structure and integrity.

His second priority is to improve communication with citizens. He criticizes the current tendency to make things unnecessarily complex, sometimes to hide decisions or avoid accountability. As a teacher and academic, he’s skilled at explaining complex topics in simple terms, and wants to bring that clarity to municipal communications. He often hears during door-to-door visits that people are confused, which confirms the need for more straightforward, honest communication.

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What Is the Candidate’s Favourite Place in North Hatley?

Aaron says it’s hard to choose just one : there are many places he loves. He mentions the view from the old Virgin farm, and the center of the village when standing on the wooden pedestrian railway bridge, a structure his father helped build.

He also enjoys the view from Dreamland Park, where nature surrounds you. He appreciates how North Hatley combines a rich natural setting, with mountains and water, within a vibrant municipal environment. These spots serve as a constant reminder of how lucky the community is to have such beauty all around.