Saint-Phard Désir
Chair
Representative, City of Ottawa
 
Saint-Phard Désir has been the Executive Director of the Conseil Économique et Social
d’Ottawa-Carleton (CÉSOC) (Economic and Social Council of Ottawa-Carleton) since 2012.
Before taking up this position, Mr. Désir was the Coordinator of the Réseau de soutien à
l’immigration francophone (RIF).

A native of Haïti, Mr. Désir settled in Canada in 1990. After obtaining his MBA from the
University of Ottawa, he worked abroad, including with NGOs in the United Kingdom
(MERLIN) and the United States (Lutheran World Relief).

Mr. Désir also prepared the guide  "Se trouver un emploi en Ontario, guide pratique pour les
nouveaux arrivants francophones" (“Finding a job, practical guide for French-speaking newcomers”) for the Department of Citizenship and Immigration (published in 2004).

Saint-Phard Désir is a member of the Hôpital Montfort Association and the Executive Committee of the Ottawa Black Mental Health Coalition (OBMHC). He previously served on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI).