Jim Durrell
Encyclopedia
James A. Durrell is a former Mayor of Ottawa and former president of the Ottawa Senators
hockey team. He now works as the owner of a car dealership. Durrell, an insurance executive, was elected to Ottawa City Council
in 1980. When long serving mayor Marion Dewar
retired Durrell defeated Marlene Catterall
running on a right of centre platform.
During his time as mayor Durrell was most closely involved in professional sports. He worked to obtain tax grants for the Ottawa Rough Riders
football
team, encouraged a Triple A baseball team to locate in Ottawa, and most notably he won an NHL
franchise for the city. Early in his term, he secured the 1988 Grey Cup for Ottawa, and was involved in Ottawa's bid for the 1994 Commonwealth Games
, which were later granted to Victoria, British Columbia
.
In December 1990, Durrell was named president of the new Ottawa Senators
team, controversially maintaining this job and his position as mayor. However, he resigned as mayor in January 1991 due to the demands of his Senators job. He served in this role for a number of years, before being forced to leave due to the deep financial troubles of the team. He bought a car dealership called Capital Dodge Chrysler Jeep and serves on a number of boards including being Chairman of the Ottawa International Airport and Chairman of the Ottawa Congress Center.
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
hockey team. He now works as the owner of a car dealership. Durrell, an insurance executive, was elected to Ottawa City Council
Ottawa City Council
The Ottawa City Council is the governing body of the City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is composed of 23 city councillors and the mayor. The mayor is elected at large, while each of the councillors represent wards throughout the city. Council members are elected to four year terms with the...
in 1980. When long serving mayor Marion Dewar
Marion Dewar
Marion Dewar, CM was a prominent member of the New Democratic Party , mayor of Ottawa from 1978 to 1985 and a member of the Parliament of Canada from 1986 to 1988.-Early life:...
retired Durrell defeated Marlene Catterall
Marlene Catterall
Marlene Catterall is a former Canadian politician. Catterall was a member of the Liberal Party of Canada in the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Ottawa West—Nepean from 1997 to 2005 and previously representing the riding of Ottawa West from 1988 to 1997. Catterall is a former...
running on a right of centre platform.
During his time as mayor Durrell was most closely involved in professional sports. He worked to obtain tax grants for the Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
football
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
team, encouraged a Triple A baseball team to locate in Ottawa, and most notably he won an NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
franchise for the city. Early in his term, he secured the 1988 Grey Cup for Ottawa, and was involved in Ottawa's bid for the 1994 Commonwealth Games
1994 Commonwealth Games
The 1994 Commonwealth Games were held in Victoria, in the province of British Columbia in Canada, from 18 August to 28 August 1994.The XV Commonwealth Games marked South Africa's return to the Commonwealth Games following the apartheid era, and over 30 years since the country last competed in the...
, which were later granted to Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
.
In December 1990, Durrell was named president of the new Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
team, controversially maintaining this job and his position as mayor. However, he resigned as mayor in January 1991 due to the demands of his Senators job. He served in this role for a number of years, before being forced to leave due to the deep financial troubles of the team. He bought a car dealership called Capital Dodge Chrysler Jeep and serves on a number of boards including being Chairman of the Ottawa International Airport and Chairman of the Ottawa Congress Center.