Preceded by Gerald Tremblay Preceded by position created Education Concordia University Succeeded by Michael Applebaum | Preceded by Michael Applebaum Name Jane Cowell-Poitras Residence Montreal, Canada Succeeded by Laurent Blanchard Role Politician | |
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Succeeded by Jean-Francois Cloutier Political party Independent politician | ||
Jane Cowell-Poitras (born 1953) is a Canadian politician. She was an elected member of Montreal City Council from 2001 until 2013 and had served as councillor of Lachine from 1988 until its amalgamation with Montreal in 2001. Her portfolio included social development, family, and senior citizens.
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As deputy mayor, she served as acting mayor of the city from November 5 to November 16, 2012 following the resignation of Gérald Tremblay, and again from June 18 to June 25, 2013 following the resignation of Michael Applebaum.
Background
Born in London, England, and Montreal resident since the age of five, Cowell-Poitras has studied business at Concordia University. Prior to becoming a city councillor, Cowell-Poitras was president of NATA, a business that coordinated conferences and volunteering workshops in the community.
Acting mayor
Following the resignation of Gérald Tremblay on November 5, 2012, Cowell-Poitras assumed the office of acting Mayor of Montreal, by virtue of holding the office of deputy mayor, a position which rotates among different councillors throughout a council term, at the time of Tremblay's resignation. She was the first woman in the city's history to assume, even temporarily, the office of mayor.
She served until November 16, when council selected Michael Applebaum as the city's new interim mayor. She again became acting mayor on June 18, 2013, when Applebaum resigned, serving until the selection of Laurent Blanchard on June 25. She was a candidate for interim mayor in the council vote, but garnered just three votes to 30 for Blanchard and 28 for councillor Harout Chitilian.