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.

The Canadian Press