About Bob

Biography

Bob Chiarelli was born and raised in Ottawa. He grew up in the neighbourhood near Preston Street, often referred to as 'Little Italy'.  He attended the former St. Patrick's College High School; then to Clarkson University in New York state (on a hockey scholarship) where he graduated with a BA in business administration; then into law school at the University of Ottawa, graduating in 1967 and practicing corporate law in Ottawa before running for office in 1987.

Bob Chiarelli entered political life as MPP for Ottawa West, was re-elected in 1990 and 1995. At Queen's Park, he served as opposition critic to the Attorney General and Solicitor General, chaired the Standing Committee on the Administration of Justice and developed a keen sense of fiscal responsibility as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Chairman of the Management Board of Cabinet.

In 1997 he was elected Regional Chair of Ottawa-Carleton. Bob Chiarelli was first elected Mayor of the newly amalgamated City of Ottawa in November 2000 and was re-elected in November 2003.

During his time at Ottawa’s helm, Bob Chiarelli has:

• spearheaded emergency measures in Ottawa during the catastrophic 1998 ice storm which created a state of emergency from eastern Ontario to southern Quebec;
• lobbied for funding as provincial downloading of services was moved to municipal government;
• introduced light rail to Ottawa as part of a continuing commitment to the environment and to renewing public transit infrastructure;
• implemented strategies to ban smoking in public places;
• supported efforts to reduce the use of pesticides on public properties; and
• established an award-winning and precedent-setting 'Ottawa 2020' official planning process that has led to the creation of a new community-driven Official Plan for the 'new' City of Ottawa.

In recent years, Mayor Chiarelli has been on the front lines to: 

• persuade other levels of government to create a new, fair deal for Canada's cities;
• examine how Ottawa can be more responsive to the needs of our rural neighbours by hosting the first ever Rural Summit;
• provide a “home away from home” for over 244 people of the Kashechewan Reserve;
• develop an effective drug and addiction policy by forming the Integrated Drugs and Addiction Strategy;
• create the Business Advisory Committee who provide overall business climate advice;
• create The Ottawa Partnership (TOP) composed of leaders from economic agencies, universities, business and three level of governments who help direct Ottawa’s economic policies;
• promote arts and recreation in all parts of the city; and
• establish Interfaith Ottawa, a multi-faith partnership.

He has been a member of the Greater Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation and Ottawa Kiwanis. He helped found the Carlingwood Alex Dayton Seniors Activity Centre, served as a Commissioner with the National Capital Commission and as a Director of the Ottawa Housing Authority.

Bob Chiarelli is a widower and has 6 children Christopher, Lynn, Donna, Michelle, Andrea and Katie. He has lived in McKellar Park in Ottawa’s west end for over 30 years.