110 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa ON K1P1J1
Canada
Councillor Steve Desroches was first elected to City Council in 2006 for the Gloucester-South Nepean ward and was re-elected in 2010. He honoured his pledge to his community and family to not seek a third term in 2014. He was successful in returning to City Council in 2022.
During his time at City Hall, Councillor Desroches delivered a number of key infrastructure projects to serve the rapid residential growth in south Ottawa including upgraded roads and cycling lanes, new parks and transit park-and-rides. Under his leadership, Findlay Creek’s largest central park, Diamond Jubilee Park, was opened.
Councillor Desroches also championed the construction of the Vimy Memorial Bridge which has helped improve transit connections and support local business. From his first days in office, Councillor Desroches rallied for the construction of a north-south rapid transit rail network. He has helped build a clean and green city by planting over 10,000 trees in the ward and by acquiring and protecting the ward’s first large urban woodlot.
He is a career federal public servant within several departments including Agriculture and Agriculture-Food Canada, the Privy Council Office and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Councillor Desroches was awarded the Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for his local community service. In 2015, he was awarded the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation for his work to honour and support veterans. He was also the recipient of the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers in 2018 for his extensive community and not-for-profit volunteerism.
He recently served on the Ottawa Region Métis Council and the St-John Ambulance Ontario Council. Councillor Desroches holds an MA (History) from the University of Ottawa and an MA (Public Administration) from Carleton University. In 2014, he was awarded the Bissett Alumni Award for Distinctive Contributions to the Public Sector by Carleton University’s School of Public Policy and Administration. He and his wife Michelle have lived in the ward since 2002 and are the proud parents of four children.