According to a press release issued by the municipality, Pierre Said has taken the reins as the municipality’s new Director General while Geneviève Latulippe has been declared as assistant Director General.

A native of Montreal, Said holds an extensive background in public management and boast solid administration abilities having earned his bachelor’s degree at the Universite du Quebec a Montreal where he learned the ins and outs of government affairs.

After earning a masters’ degree in the analyzation and development of organizations from the École Nationale d’Administration Publique in Quebec City, Said kicked off his career in public service serving at the Ministry of Transportation in Ottawa with a branch responsible with automotive engineering.

“I started at the bottom of the rung,” he said. “From student, then office agent, technician to professional assistant to the supervisor.”

After nearly five years with the Ministry of Transportation, Said spent two years at Revenu Quebec as a technician in fiscal operations, before moving onto the Ministry of Municipal Affairs as a consultant in municipal management.

“That’s where I really immersed myself in the world of municipalities and really understood them,” he said.

From there, after rubbing shoulders with director generals from several municipalities, Said learned about the opportunity to land a job as director general for the MoP – something he had desired for quite some time.

A resident of the national capital region for the last couple of years, Said is quite familiar with the Pontiac, knows its community leaders and has a good feel for what makes its residents who they are.

Having looked at countless maps of the territory, analyzed the dynamic between municipalities, he understands the socioeconomic issues they face, and hopes his knowledge of the region will serve him well going forward.

“I’ve been in all corners as much in the MRC Vallée de la Gatineau, the MRC Pontiac, MRC Papineau” he said. “I’ve visited plenty of municipalities in my two years. I know the region well; I know the director generals. I’m also very familiar with the culture in the MRC Pontiac where I’ve spent the most amount of time.”

With his experiences at the Ministry of Transportation and Revenu Quebec, Said believes he’s developed the necessary attributes to properly communicate with tax payers and optimize resources to serve the municipality’s population adequately.

“It allowed me to get to know the general public,” he said. “To answer citizens demands. To really provide beneficial services and to put myself at the population’s service.”

For Said, the most exciting part about his new position is the wide variety of responsibilities it provides and the ever-changing nature of the job. Ready to face the municipality’s socioeconomic challenges head on, Said is hell bent on finding a way to benefit local residents one issue at a time.

The newly named assistant director general Latulippe arrives in the office boasting a wide diversity of knowledge and experience under her belt.

Already with a bachelors’ degree in French arts and literature and a Diploma of Higher Education in communications, Latulippe is currently enrolled in law school the University of Ottawa in a part-time program.

“I’ve been working on it for many years because I’m working full-time,” she said. “I’m arriving to the end of it soon.”

After working as a television journalist for TVA for a decade, she spent the following decade serving on the political spectrum as an office executive for Quebec Liberal MNA Marc Carriere in the riding of Chapleau Que.

During her time in politics, Latulippe spent a lot of time cooperating directly with municipalities for various projects funded by the provincial government.

“I was like a bridge in between the two,” she said.

With loads of experience in politics and media, Latulippe is confident that her wide diversity of knowledge and expertise will be put to good use in her new position.

“I have all the sides of it,” she said. “I did politics. I’ve done journalism, which allowed me to be in the field with citizens. I have the communications side to be able to properly communicate with residents.”

“It really allows me to have a general portrait of everything in order to make the best quality decisions,” she added.

For Latulippe, the best part about her new position is the closeness that see feels to the local residents as she’s able to work with the residents at the grass-roots level.

“I really appreciate the work that I do here,” she said. “I love being amongst the people. In municipal government in proximity we are truly with the people. We’re closer to the community and that’s what I love.”

Originally from Montreal, Latulippe is very familiar with the region, as she’s resided in Gatineau for the last 30 years.

“This place has become like home for me,” she said.

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