Former mayor Jim Watson among the 15 inductees of Order of Ottawa, an award he created

Former Ottawa mayor Jim Watson in a file photo. Watson was selected to receive the Order of Ottawa this year. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

Article content

Former mayor Jim Watson is among the 2025 inductees of the Order of Ottawa, an award he created in 2012.

Article content

There are 15 inductees into the Order of Ottawa this year. Other inductees include Dr. Louise McNaughton-Filion, the regional 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. 

Article content

Article content

Article content

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.

Article content

Article content

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 usersand said he took “full responsibility” for the system’s shortcomings. 

Article content

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.”

Article content

Article content

In a statement, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said he’s thrilled to announce this year’s Order of Ottawa inductees.

Article content

Article content

“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.”

Article content

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.

Article content

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.