Allan L. Higdon served as acting mayor of Ottawa, Canada from July 2000 to 2001.

Born in Dublin, Republic of Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

, he immigrated to Canada in 1957. He received a BA

Bachelor of Arts

A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...

 from Queen's University

Queen's University

Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...

 in English and History and received a B.Ed

Bachelor of Education

A Bachelor of Education is an undergraduate academic degree which qualifies the graduate as a teacher in schools.-North America:...

 from the University of Toronto

University of Toronto

The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...

.

He then worked with the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy

Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum

The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum is a technical society of professionals in the Canadian minerals, metals, materials and energy industries. It was founded in 1898. In 2006, the organization had 12,000 national members...

. He would later move to Ottawa after living in Toronto and southeast Asia, where he would teach high school. He then worked on Parliament Hill

Parliament Hill

Parliament Hill , colloquially known as The Hill, is an area of Crown land on the southern banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. Its Gothic revival suite of buildingsthe parliament buildings serves as the home of the Parliament of Canada and contains a number of architectural...

 and then became a self-employed consultant specializing in social and demographic research and communications. From 1988 to 1994 he was employed as a senior analyst for the Department of Communications.

In the Ottawa municipal election, 1994

Ottawa municipal election, 1994

The 1994 Ottawa municipal election was held on November 14, 1994, in Ottawa, Canada. The number of wards in the city had been reduced from 15 to 10 for this election. Mayor Jacquelin Holzman was re-elected in a three way contest with councillors Joan O'Neill and Tim Kehoe.-Mayoral election:-City...

 he was elected to the 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...

 representing the Alta Vista-Canterbury Ward. He was re-elected in the Ottawa municipal election, 1997

Ottawa municipal election, 1997

The 1997 Ottawa municipal election was held on November 10, 1997, in Ottawa, Canada. Capital Ward councillor Jim Watson was easily elected mayor over two lesser known candidates. Mayor Jacquelin Holzman did not run for re-election. This would be the last election for the old city of Ottawa...

 by acclamation and was appointed as Deputy Mayor of Ottawa.

After mayor Jim Watson's resignation in 2000, Higdon became acting mayor of Ottawa. Higdon lost his seat in city council to Regional councillor Peter Hume in the Ottawa municipal election, 2000

Ottawa municipal election, 2000

The 2000 City of Ottawa elections were held on November 13, 2000, in Ottawa, Canada. The elections were held for mayor of Ottawa, Ottawa City Council and a number of school trustees. These elections would mark the first for the newly amalgamated city, which now included 10 new municipalities in...

when the city amalgamated with the regional government.

As councillor, Higdon was a conservative.