Gatineau hires new General Director after Marie-Hélène Lajoie stepped down in July 2021

Marie-Eve Turpin

The municipal council of the Ville de Gatineau, meeting in a special session on Tuesday morning, unanimously approved the appointment of Simon Rousseau to the position of Director General.

Endowed with an excellent knowledge of the municipal world, Simon Rousseau has over 25 years of experience in management positions in various municipalities. This is a return to the Outaouais for Rousseau, who was Director of Gatineau’s Recreation, Sports and Community Development Department (Service des loisirs, des sports et du développement des communautés) between 2005 and 2011. Until recently, he was Director General of the Ville de Lévis, a position he held since 2015.

Gatineau's new top official has signed a seven-year contract and will receive a salary of $290,000 per year.  

"Throughout my mandate as Director General of the Ville de Gatineau, I want to contribute to the development of a modern and smart city. I want to be a stakeholder in this successful community and make every effort to develop a culture of citizen experience in this beautiful and great city," said Rousseau. "I look forward to working collaboratively with the City’s various departments. This municipality has the potential to be a vibrant and inclusive city for future generations, and I want to build on that. I thank the members of the municipal council for the trust they have placed in me and I look forward to making a positive contribution in the lives of my fellow citizens in the coming years." 

Simon Rousseau will take office on June 6, 2022. Luc Bard has held the position of Acting Director General of the Ville de Gatineau since the stormy departure of Marie-Hélène Lajoie in July 2021.

Photo caption: Simon Rousseau, Director General of the Ville de Gatineau

Photo credit: Courtesy