Former mayor Jim Watson is among the 2025 inductees of the Order of Ottawa, an award he created in 2012.
There are 15 inductees into the Order of Ottawa this year. Other inductees include
Dr. Louise McNaughton-Filion
, the r
egional supervising coroner for the East Region;
Jo-Anne Polak
, who was the general manager of the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1989 to 1991;
Suzanne Obiorah
, the CEO of the Somerset West Community Health Centre; and Navan farmer
Wyatt McWilliams
, who
spearheaded the Hay West campaign in 2002 and later founded food aid projects.
Also inducted this year to the Order of Ottawa are: Patrick Newton Bondo; Kenneth Campbell; Holly Ellingwood, PhD; Mike McGahan; Michael McLellan; Patrick Moore; Tahawar Rana; Carole Saad; Bernadette Sarazin; and Christine Trauttmansdorff.
Watson is Ottawa’s longest-serving mayor, in office from 2010 to 2022 and serving as mayor of pre-amalgamation Ottawa from 1997 to 2000. But he left office on a sour note over the largest infrastructure project in the city’s history. In November 2022, a
public inquiry into the troubled LRT project
found that Watson “had accurate information about trial running and the decision to change the testing criteria, but failed to provide that information to Council.” Soon after, Watson
apologized to transit users
and said he took “full responsibility” for the system’s shortcomings.
The Order of Ottawa is one of the forms of civic recognition, such as the Key to the City and the Mayor’s City-Building Award. It is awarded to those who have made significant contributions to the City of Ottawa and recognizes those “who have achieved the highest level of excellence and achievement in many fields of endeavour, have brought honour and prestige to themselves and made significant contributions to the community that benefit the citizens of Ottawa.”
In a statement, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said he’s thrilled to announce this year’s Order of Ottawa inductees.
“These individuals have done truly remarkable work in our city, and it will be my absolute honour to celebrate their achievements next month at City Hall.”
Any city resident who has made a major impact, influence and/or outstanding benefit to the city and the broader community through career and community contributions can be nominated. Ineligible nominations include self-nominations, the nominations of immediate family, posthumous nominations or nominations for elected politicians currently in office. A sitting judge of any court also can’t be nominated, nor a person whose nomination consists entirely of volunteer work.
The nominations are considered by a selection committee that includes the mayor or deputy mayor, city clerk, police chief, chief of protocol, city archivist and the CEO of Library Services.
Recipients are awarded a medal with Ottawa’s coat of arms on a green and blue ribbon. As an unofficial award outside the Canadian order of precedence, it can’t be worn with Canadian honours, such as the Order of Canada.
The city has also announced the winner of the 2025 Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching to Courtney Rego, the director of coaching with the Capital City Condors, a family of hockey teams for those who can’t play on any other team because of a cognitive or physical disability.
This award, created in 2003 in recognition of Kilrea’s 1,000th career victory, honours the contribution of an amateur coach who best exemplifies the qualities of leadership and commitment.
