Former city councillor Mathieu Fleury returns to politics as trustee candidate
After four years away, Fleury filed to run for Zone 10 trustee with Ottawa's French public school board, citing his role as a parent.
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Mathieu Fleury, the former Rideau-Vanier councillor who stepped back from politics four years ago, is running for election again—this time as a trustee with Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario (CEPEO), Ottawa's French public school board.
Fleury, who served 12 years on city council and was the youngest member when first elected in 2010 at age 25, filed his candidacy for Zone 10 on Aug. 14. The zone includes schools in the municipal wards of Rideau-Rockcliffe and Rideau-Vanier, among them École élémentaire publique Francojeunesse, where Fleury's own son will start Grade 4 this week.
"For someone like me who has been active in the francophone community, it's very important to bring some political support there," Fleury said. "But, first and foremost, it's about the neighbourhood and being a parent in the education system and protecting francophone rights."
Fleury left active politics in 2022 to focus on his young family. He subsequently served just over a year as chief administrative officer for the City of Cornwall before that post ended in October 2024. He has also sat on various boards, including Montfort Hospital, Ottawa Community Housing, and Ottawa Public Health.
He emphasized that he is not entering the race to fix a single issue, but to bring good governance and active parental engagement. "I don't want to pretend knowing all the ins and outs," he said. "I'm not a 'come in with one issue and change.' To me it's just being an active parent and support francophone public education."
Schools in Zone 10 include Francojeunesse, École publique Le Transit, École élémentaire publique Mauril-Bélanger, and École élémentaire publique Trille des Bois. The election date for CEPEO trustees and voting details have not been announced.
The facts
Who is Mathieu Fleury?
Mathieu Fleury is a former Rideau-Vanier city councillor who served 12 years on Ottawa city council and was elected at age 25 in 2010, making him the youngest member at that time.
What position is Fleury running for?
Fleury is running for trustee with CEPEO (Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario), Ottawa's French public school board, representing Zone 10.
When did Fleury file his candidacy?
Mathieu Fleury filed his candidacy for Zone 10 trustee on August 14, 2026.
Why is Fleury entering the race?
Fleury cited his role as a parent in the francophone education system and his commitment to supporting francophone public education and good governance, rather than running to address a single issue.
