Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson gestures as he responds to a question at the Public Order Emergency Commission, Tuesday, Oct.18, 2022 in Ottawa. Watson has joined the Ottawa Community Housing foundation’s board of directors, the non-profit organization announced Tuesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Former Ottawa mayor Jim Watson is now a member of the Ottawa Community Housing foundation’s board of directors, the non-profit organization announced today.
The foundation says in a statement that Watson has a wealth of experience and understanding of the needs of communities in Ottawa.
Watson left office last year, after his 12-year term made him the city’s longest-serving mayor.
The need for affordable housing in the city became a central theme of the campaign to replace him.
Ottawa Community Housing is the city’s largest social housing provider, and the second-largest in Ontario, with around 32,000 tenants.
This is the first non-profit board Watson has joined since he stepped away from politics.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2023.
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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
