Mary Deros
Encyclopedia
Mary Deros is a municipal politician in Montreal
, Quebec
, Canada
. She has represented Parc-Extension on the Montreal city council
since 1998 and is a current member of mayor
Gérald Tremblay
's government, serving on the Montreal executive committee
with responsibility for cultural communities and youth. She previously served in the administration of Pierre Bourque
. Originally elected as a member of Vision Montreal
, Deros is now a member of the Union Montreal
party.
to a family of Greek and Armenia
n background. During the Armenian genocide
, her father escaped Turkey
to live on the Greek island of Samos
. She moved with her family to Montreal in 1958, when she was seven years old.
Deros is fluent in Greek, French, and English and was a well-known volunteer in Montreal's Greek community before starting her career as an elected official.
. Vision Montreal
won a majority on council in this election under mayor
Pierre Bourque's leadership, and Deros was appointed to the city's executive committee in November 1998 with responsibility for sports, leisure, social development, and neighbourhoods. She also served on executive committee of the Montreal Regional Health Board. Deros oversaw the conversion of some municipal baseball fields to soccer fields in 2000, saying that soccer was becoming a more popular sport in the city. In 2001, she played a major role in organizing Montreal's Greek Independence Day parade.
In September 2000, Deros was appointed as a city representative on the newly formed Montreal Metropolitan Community regional government. In the same period, she supported Mayor Bourque's campaign to merge all Island of Montreal
communities into a single municipal government.
Deros was re-elected in the 2001 municipal election
, but Vision Montreal was defeated by Gérald Tremblay
's Montreal Island Citizens Union. She stood down from the executive committee when Tremblay took office. Deros was re-elected to a third term in 2005
, and in 2007, led a successful campaign to prevent Montreal's historic Park Avenue from being renamed after former Quebec premier
Robert Bourassa
. In the same period, she campaigned for an indoor soccer venue.
After serving as a Vision Montreal councillor for nine years, Deros joined Mayor Tremblay's renamed Union Montreal party in December 2007. She said that she had considered the move over several months, and that "Ever since Mr. Bourque left [in 2006], the party [Vision Montreal] hasn't been the same." On 28 January 2009, Tremblay re-appointed her to the Montreal executive committee with responsibility for community, social development, and families.
Deros was re-elected to a fourth term on council in the 2009 municipal election
. In November 2009, she was reassigned with responsibility for Montreal's cultural communities on the executive committee. In April 2011, she was given further responsibilities for youth.
. This rumour came to nothing. She sought the Quebec Liberal Party nomination for a by-election in Laurier-Dorion
the following year, but withdrew from the contest before the nomination meeting.
In 2007, Deros sought the Liberal Party of Canada
nomination in Papineau
for the next Canadian federal election
. She finished second against Justin Trudeau
.
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, 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....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. She has represented Parc-Extension on the Montreal city council
Montreal City Council
The Montreal City Council is the governing body of Montreal, Quebec. The head of the city government in Montreal is the mayor, who is first among equals in the City Council. The mayor is Gérald Tremblay, who is a member of the Union des citoyens et des citoyennes de l'Île de Montréal...
since 1998 and is a current member of mayor
Mayor of Montreal
The Mayor of Montreal is head of the executive branch of Montreal City Council.The Mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and provincial laws within Montreal....
Gérald Tremblay
Gérald Tremblay
Gérald Tremblay is a Canadian politician and businessman currently serving his third term as mayor of Montreal and as president of the Montreal Metropolitan Community...
's government, serving on the Montreal executive committee
Montreal Executive Committee
The Montreal Executive Committee is the executive branch of the municipal government of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The committee reports directly to city hall and is responsible for generating documents such as budgets and by-laws, which are then sent to the Montreal city council for approval...
with responsibility for cultural communities and youth. She previously served in the administration of Pierre Bourque
Pierre Bourque
Pierre Bourque, CQ is a businessman and politician in Quebec, Canada. He founded the Vision Montreal political party and served as mayor of Montreal from 1994 to 2001.-Background:...
. Originally elected as a member of Vision Montreal
Vision Montreal
Vision Montreal is a municipal political party in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It has been in existence since 1994 and presently forms the Official opposition on Montreal City Council under leader Louise Harel.-Origins:...
, Deros is now a member of the Union Montreal
Union Montreal
Union Montreal is a municipal political party in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It currently governs Montreal's city government.-Origins:It was established as the Montreal Island Citizens Union in the aftermath of the province-wide municipal merger of 2001 and not long before the municipal election...
party.
Early life and career
Deros was born in GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
to a family of Greek and Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n background. During the Armenian genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
, her father escaped Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
to live on the Greek island of Samos
Samoš
Samoš is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Kovačica municipality, in the South Banat District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 1,247 people .-See also:...
. She moved with her family to Montreal in 1958, when she was seven years old.
Deros is fluent in Greek, French, and English and was a well-known volunteer in Montreal's Greek community before starting her career as an elected official.
Municipal politics
Deros was first elected to Montreal city council for Parc-Extension in the 1998 municipal electionMontreal municipal election, 1998
The city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada held municipal elections on November 1, 1998, to elect a mayor and city councillors. Pierre Bourque was returned to a second term as mayor against a divided opposition....
. Vision Montreal
Vision Montreal
Vision Montreal is a municipal political party in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It has been in existence since 1994 and presently forms the Official opposition on Montreal City Council under leader Louise Harel.-Origins:...
won a majority on council in this election under mayor
Mayor of Montreal
The Mayor of Montreal is head of the executive branch of Montreal City Council.The Mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and provincial laws within Montreal....
Pierre Bourque's leadership, and Deros was appointed to the city's executive committee in November 1998 with responsibility for sports, leisure, social development, and neighbourhoods. She also served on executive committee of the Montreal Regional Health Board. Deros oversaw the conversion of some municipal baseball fields to soccer fields in 2000, saying that soccer was becoming a more popular sport in the city. In 2001, she played a major role in organizing Montreal's Greek Independence Day parade.
In September 2000, Deros was appointed as a city representative on the newly formed Montreal Metropolitan Community regional government. In the same period, she supported Mayor Bourque's campaign to merge all Island of Montreal
Island of Montreal
The Island of Montreal , in extreme southwestern Quebec, Canada, is located at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers. It is separated from Île Jésus by the Rivière des Prairies....
communities into a single municipal government.
Deros was re-elected in the 2001 municipal election
Montreal municipal election, 2001
The 2001 Montreal municipal election took place on November 4, 2001, to elect a mayor and city councillors in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Gérald Tremblay defeated incumbent Pierre Bourque to become mayor of the newly amalgamated city....
, but Vision Montreal was defeated by Gérald Tremblay
Gérald Tremblay
Gérald Tremblay is a Canadian politician and businessman currently serving his third term as mayor of Montreal and as president of the Montreal Metropolitan Community...
's Montreal Island Citizens Union. She stood down from the executive committee when Tremblay took office. Deros was re-elected to a third term in 2005
Montreal municipal election, 2005
The 2005 Montreal municipal election was held on November 6, 2005, to elect a city mayor, borough mayors, city councillors, and borough councillors in Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
, and in 2007, led a successful campaign to prevent Montreal's historic Park Avenue from being renamed after former Quebec premier
Premier of Quebec
The Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
Robert Bourassa
Robert Bourassa
Jean-Robert Bourassa, was a politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as the 22nd Premier of Quebec in two different mandates, first from May 12, 1970, to November 25, 1976, and then from December 12, 1985, to January 11, 1994, serving a total of just under 15 years as Provincial Premier.-Early...
. In the same period, she campaigned for an indoor soccer venue.
After serving as a Vision Montreal councillor for nine years, Deros joined Mayor Tremblay's renamed Union Montreal party in December 2007. She said that she had considered the move over several months, and that "Ever since Mr. Bourque left [in 2006], the party [Vision Montreal] hasn't been the same." On 28 January 2009, Tremblay re-appointed her to the Montreal executive committee with responsibility for community, social development, and families.
Deros was re-elected to a fourth term on council in the 2009 municipal election
Montreal municipal election, 2009
The city of Montreal, Quebec, held a municipal election at the same time as numerous other municipalities in Quebec, on November 1, 2009. Voters elected the Mayor of Montreal, Montreal City Council, and the mayors and councils of each of the city's boroughs....
. In November 2009, she was reassigned with responsibility for Montreal's cultural communities on the executive committee. In April 2011, she was given further responsibilities for youth.
Federal and provincial politics
The Montreal Gazette reported in February 2003 that Deros was considering a candidacy for the provincial Action démocratique du QuébecAction démocratique du Québec
The Action démocratique du Québec, commonly referred to as the ADQ is a centre-right political party in Quebec, Canada. On the sovereignty question, it defines itself as autonomist, and has support from both soft nationalists and federalists....
. This rumour came to nothing. She sought the Quebec Liberal Party nomination for a by-election in Laurier-Dorion
Laurier-Dorion
Laurier-Dorion is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec. The district is located in Montreal and includes the neighbourhoods of Villeray and Parc-Extension...
the following year, but withdrew from the contest before the nomination meeting.
In 2007, Deros sought 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...
nomination in Papineau
Papineau (electoral district)
Papineau is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1948 to 1988 and since 2004. Its population in 2006 was 101,019....
for the next Canadian federal election
Canadian federal election, 2008
The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
. She finished second against Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau
Justin Pierre James Trudeau, MP is a Canadian politician. He has represented the Montreal electoral division of Papineau in the Canadian House of Commons since 2008 as a member of the Liberal Party and currently serves as the party's critic for youth, post-secondary education, and amateur...
.