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Ward 13 Rideau-Rockcliffe
www.rideau-rockcliffe.com
Jacques the Man
Jacques first moved to Ottawa with his parents as a young teen in 1955. He attended the University of Ottawa, and then McGill, where he earned a Ph.D. in physics. After graduation, he joined the National Research Council of Canada, where he worked as a researcher in fibre optics for 23 years. Jacques first entered politics through a community effort to protect environmentally sensitive lands from inappropriate urban development. He lives in Carson Woods, is married and has four grown children.
Regional Councillor for Rideau Rockcliffe: 1994-2000
The year 1994 brought a round of municipal restructuring, with the direct election of regional councillors replacing the former system of appointment by local city councils. Jacques was returned as the duly elected regional councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe, a position he still holds.
As Regional Councillor, Jacques serves on four bodies:
- The Transportation Committee (roads)
- The Transit Services Committee (public transit)
- The Planning and Environment Committee
- The Police Services Board.
As Regional Councillor he also:
- Lobbied successfully for a regional grant of $270,000 to upgrade new premises in a former school for the Overbrook-Forbes Community Services Association.
- Persuaded Regional Council to make a grant of $250,000 to the Crichton Community Cultural Centre's ne facility in New Edinburgh, operated in partnership with the School of Dance.
- Chaired a committee to advise on the RMOC's delivery of bilingual services.
A History of Public Service
In addition to his duties as Regional Councillor, Jacques has also served on the following boards:
- Ottawa-Carleton Economic Development Corporation (6 years),
- Board of the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa-Carleton (3 years).
As a concerned citizen, he participated actively in the efforts and activities of S.O.S. Montfort to save the hospital and to make it a training centre for French-language health-care services in Ontario.
City Council Years: 1991 - 1994
In 1991 Jacques was elected to Ottawa's City Council as alderman for Overbrook Ward (the part of his present ward that lies south of Montreal Road). As alderman:
- He persuaded City Council to build a new community centre, now known as the St. Laurent Recreation Complex, on Côté Street and shepherded the project on the way to completion by working with the community to select the services it would provide.
- He initiated a public consultation process to choose the site for the new St. Laurent Branch Library, now operating in the St. Laurent Complex.
- He saved the Public Library's Bookmobile Service, which is vital to people with limited mobility, by persuading City Council to allocate funds for a new vehicle.
- He worked with the City's French Language Services Advisory Committee to improve the delivery of municipal services in French.
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