Event

When Canada celebrates its 150th birthday in 2017, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson has made it a priority to ensure that the City of Ottawa is at the centre of the action.

After government and high-tech, tourism is the city’s 3rd largest industry. Understanding this, the Sesquicentennial celebrations offer Ottawa businesses and residents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen the local economy and brand the city as the best place to visit, live, work and raise a family.

Just as Vancouver owned the 2010 Olympics, Quebec City owned its 400th anniversary, and Toronto will own the Pan-Am Games in 2015, Mayor Watson and the City’s 2017 Task Force are working hard to ensure Ottawa can own 2017.

Mayor Watson will provide an update on the 2017 Task Force’s accomplishments to date, as well as outline how the City will build momentum in the months ahead through new initiatives

His Worship Jim Watson

Mayor
City of Ottawa

Jim Watson was re-elected Mayor of the City of Ottawa on October 27, 2014 after having first been elected Mayor of the amalgamated City of Ottawa in 2010. Mayor Watson has dedicated most of his career to public service in Canada's Capital. First elected as a Councillor in 1991, he was re-elected in 1994. Three years later he was elected as the youngest Mayor in Ottawa's history with 82% of the popular vote. Following the amalgamation of Ottawa and surrounding communities, Mayor Watson was appointed the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Tourism Commission, a federal crown corporation. In 2003, he was elected as the Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean and immediately appointed to cabinet as Minister of Consumer and Business services. In 2005, he was appointed as Ontario's first Minister of Health Promotion and he successfully implemented the Smoke Free Ontario Act. Re-elected as MPP in 2007, he was promoted to Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. An active member of his community, Watson has also served on the boards or as honourary chair of several community organizations, including the Riverside Hospital, the National Arts Centre, the Christmas Exchange of Ottawa and the Forum for Young Canadians. He served as chair of United Way's 2002 campaign, which raised a record $21 million.