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Alex Cullen

Alex-Cullenm-2015

About Alex Cullen:

Alex Cullen has a proven record as a progressive active in his community, from community activist to Ottawa City Hall to Queen’s Park and back. An economist by training (B.A. (Hons.), M.A. York University), Alex has worked in the private and public sectors and has volunteered as a school council chair, community association president and service club president, while raising a family.

In 1982 Alex was elected as Trustee to the Ottawa Board of Education (re-elected in 1985)

  • Initiated democratic reform for trustee elections
  • Initiated the Middle French Immersion program
  • helped establish Churchill School’s Alternative Program, Canterbury Arts Program

In 1991 Alex was elected to Ottawa City Council, representing Richmond Ward

  • Refused to accept campaign contributions from developers
  • Instituted monthly public Ward Council meetings to discuss civic issues
  • Advocated for public transit, lower recreation fees, environmental protection, increased funding for licensed child care
  • Member of City Living’s Board of Directors (the City’s social housing provider)

In 1994 Alex was elected to Regional Council of Ottawa-Carleton, representing Bay Ward

  • Chaired the Region’s Fair Tax Working Group on Property Taxation & Property Assessment
  • Served on OC Transpo Commission and the Children’s Aid Society Board of Directors

In 1997 Alex was elected as M.P.P. Ottawa West in a by-election, as an Ontario Liberal. In 1998 he joined the Ontario NDP Caucus under Howard Hampton. In 1999 Alex ran as the Ontario NDP candidate in Ottawa West-Nepean, but did not succeed.

In 1999 Alex was elected to the Ottawa West-Nepean NDP riding executive, serving ever since. Alex has been a delegate to the ONDP Provincial Council and to leadership conventions that elected Jack Layton, Andrea Horwath, and Tom Mulcair. He has also served on the ONDP Task Force on Property Assessment & Property Tax Issues (chaired by MPP Michael Prue).

In 1999 Alex was appointed Executive Director of the Council on Aging/Le Conseil sur le vieilissement, a bilingual non-profit United Way agency that advocates for seniors issues in Ottawa

  • Produced the Fact Book on Aging 1999, the Report of the Task Force on the Regulation of Retirement Residences, and the In and Out of Hospital – A Senior’s Guide
  • Managed the successful demonstration project Vieillir chez soi (Aging in Place)

In 2000 Alex was elected to Ottawa City Council, representing Bay Ward (re-elected in 2003 and 2006):
Fought for a pesticide bylaw, worked on anti-poverty initiatives, and on greener urban planning;
Chaired the Bay Ward Task Force on Social Issues, the Board of Ottawa Housing, and the City of Ottawa’s Task Force on Property Assessment & Property Tax Issues;
Served as Chair of the City’s Transit Committee (2006-2010), providing leadership for the City’s $2.1 billion Rapid Transit (LRT) Plan.

In the 2011 federal election Alex was recruited by the NDP as campaign manager for York South-Weston NDP candidate Mike Sullivan, and was successful. Alex now serves as Parliamentary Assistant to Mike Sullivan, M.P. York South-Weston, on Parliament Hill.

Currently Alex serves as President of the Belltown Neighbours C.A. and President of the Board of the River Parkway Childcare Centre (a non-profit licensed child care agency). In 2011 he was awarded Francophile of the Year by ACFO (Ottawa) for his work in the community. He is also a 3-time winner of the Rudy Award (2008, 2010, 2011) for completing 5 endurance events (including an ironman triathlon). In 2013 Alex was awarded The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for his public service. He is married to Theresa Kavanagh.