Rawlson King is Ottawa’s first black City Councillor who represents Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward. He was initially elected in a historic by-election held April 2019 and was re-elected in October 2022.
During the 2018-2022 Council Term, Rawlson was appointed Council Liaison for Anti-Racism and Ethnocultural Relations Initiatives and was responsible for the creation of the City’s anti-racism office and strategy. During that term, he was Chair of the Built Heritage Sub-Committee and was also appointed to the Standing Committee on Environmental Protection, Water and Waste Management and to the Information Technology Sub-Committee. He also served on the boards of the Ottawa Police Service, Crime Prevention Ottawa, Ottawa Community Housing Corporation, Ottawa Public Library, Ottawa Community Lands Development Corporation and the Quartier Vanier BIA.
Before his election to public office, he was an entrepreneur and communication professional with over 20 years of private sector experience in high-technology market research.