Joseph De Sylva
Encyclopedia
Joseph de Sylva is a Quebec
politician
in Gatineau
, Quebec
. He is the councillor
for the district
of Du Versant in the Gatineau sector.
De Sylva, a Portuguese-Canadian, was formally a school trustee at the Commission Scolaire des Draveurs
before he entered politics in 1999 when he was elected as a councillor in the former city of Gatineau and named substitute mayor for Robert Labine
. In the 1999 municipal elections, he defeated Jean Deschenes by a small margin of 59 votes.
De Sylva was elected to the new City of Gatineau's Council in 2001 and was re-elected by acclamation in 2005
. His priorities includes the realization of the sports complex
that has been planned by the former city of Gatineau for several years. He also wants an increase of federal workers in his district as well as inside the city of Gatineau, the improvement of the city's transit service offered by the Société de transport de l'Outaouais
and the completion of the widening of the Montee Paiement roadway to four lanes.
In 2006, there were reports that De Sylva was approached by the Conservative Party of Canada
to run in a future election in the riding of Gatineau
, however he later declined the offer. Opponents have however criticized him for been an opportunist since the Conservative Party was in power at the Canadian House of Commons
. He was previously a party member of the Liberal Party of Canada
and the Parti Québécois
.
In 2001, shortly after his election in the new city's council, De Sylva along with several other councillors requested a salary hike up to 10 000$.
De Sylva is heavily involved in the community by volunteering several events or organizations within the neighborhood as well as organizations such as the Canadian Cancer Society
and the United Way
. He is also involved in the annual Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival
that is held every September as well as the Maison de la Culture arts facility. Due to his volunteering he received a medal from the Governor General of Canada
. He is also often present in the Portuguese
community which is located in the Hull
sector.
Until 2005, he was also the author and publisher of the Versant's community newspaper
called "Le journal du Versant".
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Gatineau
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. He is the councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
for the district
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
of Du Versant in the Gatineau sector.
De Sylva, a Portuguese-Canadian, was formally a school trustee at the Commission Scolaire des Draveurs
Commission Scolaire des Draveurs
The Commission Scolaire des Draveurs is a public Francophone school board operating in Gatineau, Quebec. The school board was created in 1986 in the old city of Gatineau about 15 years before amalgamation...
before he entered politics in 1999 when he was elected as a councillor in the former city of Gatineau and named substitute mayor for Robert Labine
Robert Labine
Robert "Bob" Labine was a Quebec politician in Gatineau, Quebec. He was best known for being mayor of the former city of Gatineau between 1988 and 1994 and again between 1999 and 2001....
. In the 1999 municipal elections, he defeated Jean Deschenes by a small margin of 59 votes.
De Sylva was elected to the new City of Gatineau's Council in 2001 and was re-elected by acclamation in 2005
Quebec municipal elections, 2005
The Canadian province of Quebec held municipal elections in its municipalities on November 6, 2005.The municipalities in Quebec for the 2005 election were different than the previous 2001 election, as many municipalities have voted to de-amalgamate....
. His priorities includes the realization of the sports complex
Sports complex
A sports complex is a group of sports facilities. For example, there are stadiums for athletic and football, baseball stadiums, swimming pools, gymnasiums. This area is a sports complex....
that has been planned by the former city of Gatineau for several years. He also wants an increase of federal workers in his district as well as inside the city of Gatineau, the improvement of the city's transit service offered by the Société de transport de l'Outaouais
Société de transport de l'Outaouais
Société de transport de l'Outaouais is the transit service of the Outaouais region of Quebec. It operates public transit routes in Gatineau, Quebec, including the Hull, Aylmer, Gatineau, Buckingham and Masson-Angers sectors, plus limited service to suburban communities such as Chelsea and...
and the completion of the widening of the Montee Paiement roadway to four lanes.
In 2006, there were reports that De Sylva was approached by the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
to run in a future election in the riding of Gatineau
Gatineau (electoral district)
Gatineau is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1949 to 1988 and since 1997. Its population in 2006 was 108,742....
, however he later declined the offer. Opponents have however criticized him for been an opportunist since the Conservative Party was in power at the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
. He was previously a party member of the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
and the Parti Québécois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
.
In 2001, shortly after his election in the new city's council, De Sylva along with several other councillors requested a salary hike up to 10 000$.
De Sylva is heavily involved in the community by volunteering several events or organizations within the neighborhood as well as organizations such as the Canadian Cancer Society
Canadian Cancer Society
The Canadian Cancer Society is a national, community-based charitable organization of volunteers whose mission is to eradicate cancer and enhance the quality of life of those living with the disease....
and the United Way
United Way of Canada
United Way of Canada is the national organization for the 117 autonomous, volunteer-based United Ways across Canada. United Way campaigns raise money for local groups that address community issues and problems, and the national organization provides leadership, services and coordination to the...
. He is also involved in the annual Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival
Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival
The Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival is a yearly festival, held in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, and organized by a not-for-profit organization, during which hot air balloons of every shape and colour are flown and where 300 shows and performances adding up to over 60 hours’ worth of programming are...
that is held every September as well as the Maison de la Culture arts facility. Due to his volunteering he received a medal from the Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
. He is also often present in the Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
community which is located in the Hull
Hull, Quebec
Hull is the central and oldest part of the city of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It is located on the west bank of the Gatineau River and the north shore of the Ottawa River, directly opposite Ottawa. As part of the Canadian National Capital Region, it contains offices for twenty thousand...
sector.
Until 2005, he was also the author and publisher of the Versant's community newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
called "Le journal du Versant".