Red River Métis citizens in the Thompson region have preliminary new leadership after the June 23, 2026, election, with Julyda Lagimodiere leading the race for Vice-President and Vincent Mark Parenteau and Mildred Dorion leading for the two Regional Executive Officer spots, according to the Manitoba Métis Federation.
More than 60,000 Red River Métis citizens were eligible to vote across the province. While President David Chartrand was acclaimed for a ninth consecutive term, Thompson saw contested races that brought out candidates with deep roots in the community.
Julyda Lagimodiere, a Thompson resident since 1966 and current MMF Minister of Justice, finished as the preliminary leader for the Thompson Vice-President role. Vincent Mark Parenteau, who serves as MMF Minister of Mining and helped negotiate an unprecedented royalty agreement with PADCOM, is the preliminary leader for one Regional Executive Officer seat. Mildred Dorion, who also appears in the MMF cabinet, leads for the other.
The results are not yet finalized. Chief Electoral Officer David Neil Gray has said certification will happen in the coming days. Under MMF rules, candidates within 25 votes of being elected can ask for a recount within seven days. Three races across the federation appear close enough to qualify, pending verification.
Lagimodiere has long been involved in Thompson-area issues, including a past memorandum of understanding with the RCMP on community policing. Parenteau’s work on the mining royalty deal with PADCOM highlights the region’s resource ties. Dorion brings cabinet experience as the third preliminary winner.
The election comes as a federal bill that would give legal effect to the first Métis self-government treaty in Canada moves forward. Bill C-21, introduced in February 2026, would turn the Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty into law. For Thompson, steady leadership at the regional MMF table means a direct voice in how that self-government takes shape locally.
Once certified, the new terms for Thompson’s Vice-President and Regional Executive Officers will begin alongside Chartrand’s continued presidency. Anyone who voted can watch for final numbers from the MMF Elections Office in the days ahead.
