Clem Aubin

Aubin was the son of Clorinda ({{nee}} Dupont) and Victor Aubin.{{cite news|title=Mrs. Victor Aubin|date=August 6, 1951|page=4|newspaper=Ottawa Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-journal/161862929//|access-date=December 30, 2024}} He was a fourth generation resident of Ottawa's Lowertown neighbourhood, with his ancestors settling there in the 1850s.

Aubin owned a grocery store on Dalhousie Street from about 1940, until he sold it in 1960. The store, which included a chuck wagon, faced Metcalfe Square Park, at the corner of Sussex Drive. The whole area was demolished in the 1960s to make way for the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge.

In 1940, he was elected president of the East Ottawa Young Liberals.{{cite news|title=Clement Aubin, President of E. Ottawa Young Liberals|date=March 4, 1940|page=2|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161836503/|access-date=December 29, 2024}} He had been a member of the local riding association since the early 1930s. He was also a member of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society, the French-Canadian Institute, the Knights of Columbus,{{cite news|title=Candidates|date=November 27, 1956|page=7|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161893606/|access-date=December 30, 2024}} and the French Chamber of Commerce.{{cite news|title=By Ward|date=November 27, 1958|page=9|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161903342/|access-date=December 30, 2024}}

A well known local athlete, he once tried out for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League. He played goaltender for Montagnards and La Salle in the Ottawa City Hockey League.{{cite news|title=Clement Aubin|date=November 29, 1956|page=3|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161892745/|access-date=December 30, 2024}} In 1944, he was named manager of the local Canadiens team in that league.{{cite news|title=Clem Aubin Named Canadiens' Manager|date=November 17, 1944|page=20|newspaper=Ottawa Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-journal/161837742/|access-date=December 29, 2024}} In 1946, he coached the St. Jean Baptiste softball team to an Ottawa and district championship.{{cite news|title=Clem Aubin|date=December 3, 1946|page=17|newspaper=Ottawa Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-journal/161835951/|access-date=December 29, 2024}}

On November 6, 1946, Aubin filed papers to run for a seat on Ottawa City Council in the 1946 municipal election, running in Ottawa Ward.{{cite news|title=For Civic Election.|date=November 6, 1946|page=6|newspaper=Ottawa Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-journal/161889666/|access-date=December 30, 2024}}

Aubin topped the poll in the election, winning 1,675 votes.{{cite news|title=Aldermanic Vote by Wards|date=December 10, 1946|page=2|newspaper=Ottawa Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-journal/161836313/|access-date=December 29, 2024}} Following his election, he was named vice-chairman of the civic parks and trees committee.{{cite news|title=Ald. F. Journeaux Is Chairman Of Parks Committee|date=January 15, 1947|page=12|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/108214470/|access-date=December 30, 2024}} He was also a member of the Firemen's Superannuation, the Tree Committee, and the Smoke Committee.{{cite news|title=Annual Appointments Made By City Council|date=January 3, 1948|page=2|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161861777/|access-date=December 30, 2024}}

Aubin ran for re-election in the 1948 municipal election. He ran on his record of playground projects in the Ste. Anne area (Lowertown East), and on Green Island, and said that "he would be going all out to win friends (on) council".{{cite news|title=All Issues Debated In Lower Town|date=December 3, 1948|page=16|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161862091/|access-date=December 30, 2024}}

In October 1950, his grocery and snack bar on Dalhousie Street suffered "considerable damage" by smoke and fire.{{cite news|title=Aubin Stock-Shed Damaged by Flames|date=October 10, 1950|page=16|newspaper=Ottawa Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-journal/161862528/|access-date=December 30, 2024}}

Aubin was re-elected in the 1950 municipal election, topping the poll in Ottawa Ward with 1,895 votes, more than 400 votes ahead of the third place candidate in the two-seat ward.{{cite news|title=Aldermanic Vote by Wards|date=December 5, 1950|page=17|newspaper=Ottawa Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-journal/161862694/|access-date=December 30, 2024}} At the beginning of the 1951–52 term, Aubin was appointed as one of the city's representatives to the Children's Aid Society.{{cite news|title=Cecil Wight's Appointment Is Confirmed|date=January 16, 1951|page=15|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161862854/|access-date=December 30, 2024}}

When Ottawa's city council was reduced in size for the 1952 municipal election, Aubin announced in mid-November that he was running in the new Ward 2, which covered his former Ottawa Ward, neighbouring By Ward and part of St. George's Ward.{{cite news|title=Ald. Aubin In Contest Again|date=November 17, 1952|page=12|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161863293/|access-date=December 30, 2024}} In the election, he topped the poll in the two-seat ward, winning 2,642 votes, fewer than 400 more than the third place candidate.{{cite news|title=Aldermanic Vote By Wards|date=December 6, 1952|page=18|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161863566/|access-date=December 30, 2024}}

In January 1953, Aubin helped an off-duty officer to capture a 32 year old labourer who was suspected of indecent assault on one of Aubin's grocery store employees.{{cite news|title=Alderman As Detective Nails Attack Suspect|date=January 23, 1953|page=1|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161886551/|access-date=December 30, 2024}}

Aubin endorsed E. A. Bourque's unsuccessful candidacy for mayor of Ottawa in the 1954 mayoral election.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/137737566/|title =Ex-Mayor Bourque Opens Campaign In Lower Town|date=November 17, 1954|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|access-date=December 31, 2023}} Aubin ran for re-election in the same election, this time finishing second in Ward 2. As a result, Aubin was elected to the ward's second seat, over 600 votes ahead of the third place candidate, Henri Rheaume.{{cite news|title=Aldermanic Vote By Wards|date=December 7, 1954|page=5|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161889082/|access-date=December 30, 2024}} For the 1955–56 council, Aubin sat on the city's traffic, transportation, and tree committees, and in 1956 he sat on the city's special housing committee.{{cite news|title=Boards, Committees, Commissions Set Up At Caucus Of City Council|date=December 30, 1955|page=3|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161890917/|access-date=December 30, 2024}} He was also appointed to the new Noise Abatement Committee for 1956.{{cite news|title=Names Replace Numbers|date=December 30, 1955|page=1|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161891232/|access-date=December 30, 2024}} As a member of the city's traffic committee, he called on the implementation of bilingual traffic signs in Lowertown, where there were many French-speaking residents.{{cite news|title=Ask Bilingual Traffic Signs|date=March 10, 1956|page=7|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161893076/|access-date=December 30, 2024}}

In 1955, following rumours that Ottawa East MP Jean-Thomas Richard would be appointed to the Senate, Aubin was seen as a possible candidate for the Liberals to replace him.{{cite news|title=Four Mentioned For House Seat|date=January 13, 1955|page=20|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161890166/|access-date=December 30, 2024}}

Aubin ran for re-election in the 1956 municipal elections in the newly named By Ward. He placed second again, winning 2,206 votes, 290 votes ahead of the third place candidate, Paul Emile Morin, thus getting elected to the ward's second seat.{{cite news|title=Aldermen by Wards|date=December 4, 1956|page=18|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/137739087/|access-date=December 30, 2024}} At the beginning of 1958, Aubin was appointed to the revived Smoke Abatement Committee to deal with the increase of black smog emanating from the city's chimneys.{{cite news|title=Anti-Smoke Committee Revived|date=January 8, 1958|page=3|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161903537/|access-date=December 30, 2024}} He was also a member of the Civic Traffic Committee from the 1957–58 term.{{cite news|title=Stop Signs Urged At RR Crossings|date=January 10, 1958|page=4|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161903688/|access-date=December 30, 2024}}

Aubin ran for re-election again in the 1958 municipal elections, promising that all traffic signs in the ward would be bilingual within a year, and that King Edward Avenue would become a "beautiful boulevard".{{cite news|title=Civic Campaign Warms Up|date=November 28, 1958|page=31|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161904179/|access-date=December 30, 2024}} On election day, he placed second once again, winning 2,155 votes, nearly 1,000 more than the third place candidate, Paul-Emile Morin. As a result, Aubin was re-elected to the two-seat ward.{{cite news|title=Aldermanic Vote|date=December 2, 1958|page=1|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161904434/|access-date=December 30, 2024}} Following his election, he was named as a member of the city's air pollution committee.{{cite news|title=Wall Remains On Pollution Committee|date=March 3, 1959|page=3|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161904839/|access-date=December 30, 2024}} For 1960, he was also a member of the housing Committee, and traffic committee.{{cite news|title=New Civic Appointments Made At Council Caucus|date=December 29, 1959|page=3|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161905479/|access-date=December 30, 2024}}

In 1960, he became the owner of Latourelle Lodge on Long Lake in Blue Sea, Quebec.{{cite news|title='Cross Town with Austin Cross|date=June 2, 1960|page=2|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161906081/|access-date=December 30, 2024}} He also sold his grocery, and went to work in the stationary branch of the House of Commons.{{cite news|title=By|date=November 26, 1960|page=35|newspaper=Ottawa Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-journal/161906994/|access-date=December 30, 2024}}

Aubin was re-elected in the 1960 municipal election, winning 2,425 votes, getting the second seat. He won nearly 500 votes more than the third place candidate, Lucien Vincent.{{cite news|title=Here's The Final Count In The Council Race|date=December 6, 1960|page=1|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen-civic-election-result/43741209/|access-date=December 30, 2024}} Following his election, he was appointed to the city's traffic and air pollution control committees.{{cite news|title=Civic Posts Filled|date=January 11, 1961|page=7|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91568833/the-ottawa-citizen/|access-date=December 31, 2021}} He was also named to the board of directors of the Central Canada Exhibition Association.{{cite news|title=Osgoode Man Election Exhibition President|date=January 19, 1961|page=3|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161907500/|access-date=December 30, 2024}}

On November 6, 1962, Aubin announced his intention to run for re-election in the 1962 municipal election.{{cite news|title=Clem Aubin stands again|date=November 7, 1962|page=20|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161919925/|access-date=December 30, 2024}} On election day, Aubin lost his seat to Ralph Brunet, his brother-in-law.{{cite news|title=Four New Aldermen Aboard City Hall Ship|date=December 4, 1962|page=19|newspaper=Ottawa Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-journal/161650465/|access-date=December 30, 2024}} He won 2,236 votes, over 700 behind Brunet who won the second seat.{{cite news|title=The Vote For the Aldermen|date=December 4, 1962|page=1|newspaper=Ottawa Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-journal/161650987/|access-date=December 27, 2024}} Aubin blamed his loss on "[b]etter organization" by Brunet.{{cite news|title=No bitterness among others|date=December 4, 1962|page=3|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161650739/|access-date=December 27, 2024}} It was the first electoral loss for Aubin, who ended his term as the second longest sitting member on council, behind his seatmate Jules Morin.{{cite news|title=Aubin Again Running in By Ward|date=November 7, 1962|page=46|newspaper=Ottawa Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-journal/161920862/|access-date=December 27, 2024}} Following his loss, he announced his retirement from municipal politics.

When Aubin's old seatmate Jules Morin was appointed to the city's Board of Control in 1963, Aubin was considered by council as a possible replacement to take Morin's seat. He won the endorsement of the French Canadian Chamber of Commerce in his bid.{{cite news|title=Close Race For Vacant Council Seat|date=May 31, 1963|page=3|newspaper=Ottawa Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-journal/161923258/|access-date=December 30, 2024}} When it came a to a council a vote, he lost to former alderman Cecile O'Regan on the first ballot.{{cite news|title=O'Regan In; Henry Dean of Council|date=June 4, 1963|page=1|newspaper=Ottawa Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91327640/the-ottawa-journal/|access-date=December 28, 2021}}

In mid-November 1964, Aubin announced he would be running to get his old seat back in the 1964 municipal election.{{cite news|title=Clem Aubin aldermanic candidate in By Ward|date=November 19, 1964|page=16|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161923481/|access-date=December 30, 2024}} In the election, he came out in favour of Sunday sport, which was one of the referendum questions put up to voters, stating "I'd rather see a father take his sons to a baseball game than to a beach where they might see topless bathing suits".{{cite news|title=Charlotte booed over 'oiled up' remark|date=December 2, 1964|page=49|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161923818/|access-date=December 30, 2024}} He also ran on a new coliseum, and a skating arena for the ward. He claimed that the ward's councillors 'hardly did anything' in the previous term.{{cite news|title=By Ward|date=December 4, 1964|page=21|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161654337/|access-date=December 27, 2024}} On election day, Aubin won 1,920 votes, nearly 2,000 votes behind Ralph Brunet, who was re-elected to the ward's second seat.{{cite news|title=How they finished in Ottawa's election race|date=December 8, 1964|page=1|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91330084/the-ottawa-citizen/|access-date=December 28, 2021}}

There were rumours he would run in the 1966 election in Rideau Ward,{{cite news|title=Tear for a washroom set|date=August 26, 1966|page=22|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/161924484/|access-date=December 30, 2021}} but he ultimately did not do so.

He died in 1968, and was interred at Notre Dame Cemetery.

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