Public celebration of life for Diane Deans scheduled this weekend

This Saturday, May 25, members of the public can pay their respects to the late Ottawa City Councillor Diane Deans.

The celebration of life will take place at 2 p.m. at the Infinity Convention Centre on Gibford Drive and will be followed by a reception.

Deans died May 14 after a five-year battle with ovarian cancer after heading to palliative care a few days prior. She was first elected to the former Southgate Ward, which was later amalgamated to Gloucester-Southgate Ward. She was a councillor for almost 30 years.

Among some of her accomplishments, she chaired several “high-profile” committees including being the first woman to chair the Ottawa Police Services Board.

Deans was diagnosed with cancer in 2019 and had a “tough” battle that she fought with “the same passion, tenacity and fearless spirit that she brought to her work,” a press release from the city reads.

The flags at Ottawa City Hall will be lowered to half-mast on May 25 for Deans.