Laval Mayor Stéphane Boyer has shared a photo of the tumour in his brain. The 39-year-old took to social media on Monday to express that he recently had his first appointment with his neurosurgeon. “I got to see my tumour, and it’s as big as a golf ball,” he said. “It’s the white mass between my eye and my brain in the photo. It’s quite a shock, and it’s stirring up a lot of emotions.” The mayor went on to say that he’s trying to look past the negative side of his diagnosis. “Stress and everyday problems suddenly seem more trivial, less serious,” he said. “I’m taking each day with a lighter heart.” Boyer adds that he marked the emotional day by getting “my favourite donuts to share at the office.” “I encourage you to do the same,” he said. “Treat yourself and spoil those around you. Life is too short.” Boyer shared the initial news of his brain tumour last week, noting that he plans to remain in office with scaled-back public activities. He explained that he had been experiencing headaches and visual disturbances for several months, which prompted him to undergo an MRI. Boyer has been the mayor of Laval since 2021. Elected at 33 years old, he became the youngest mayor in the city’s history. He was re-elected in 2025, with 59 per cent of the vote. Boyer has also been living with ankylosing spondylitis for several years, a condition characterized by inflammation of the spine that causes stiffness and pain. - with files from The Canadian Press.
