June Creelman
Community Pillars
June Creelman is a passionate civic leader, educator, and community builder whose career and volunteer work have consistently strengthened democratic engagement and cultural understanding across Canada. With over 25 years of volunteer service and a distinguished professional background, June has made enduring contributions to public life at both the local and national levels.
A long-time resident of the Glebe, June has served on the board of the Glebe Community Association since 1998, including terms as President and Vice-President. She has led critical efforts to preserve and enhance civic institutions such as the Glebe Community Centre and Sunnyside Library and helped guide major projects like the reconstruction of Bank Street. She has also helped raise nearly $150,000 through community concerts with Underground Sound, later supporting beautification efforts on Bank Street. Whether chairing public meetings, organizing candidate debates, or leading the Association’s 50th anniversary celebrations, June’s inclusive leadership style has fostered stronger community engagement and participatory democracy. Her contributions have been recognized with the City of Ottawa’s Whitton Award for Civic Leadership.
June’s advocacy work extends beyond her neighbourhood. As founding President of Friends of Lansdowne, she led a city-wide coalition to protect the public interest in the redevelopment of Lansdowne Park, raising over $330,000, organizing outreach campaigns, and advocating for transparency and accountability in civic planning.
She has served on parent councils at Mutchmor, Glashan and Glebe Collegiate, worked to protect French immersion programs, and helped save a local school from closure.
June has been and columnist for the Glebe Report for over two decades and has also served on its board.
Professionally, June’s career spans leadership roles in civic education, cultural institutions, and international representation. As Senior Director at Elections Canada (2016–2020), she oversaw a national civic education program that reached over one million students and was recognized with the Chief Electoral Officer Award of Merit. She was a founding leader at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, where she directed interpretive planning, built a team of 50, and forged partnerships with Indigenous communities.
Earlier in her career, she was a partner at Apropos Planning, completing over 150 projects in museums, heritage sites, and democratic institutions across Canada and internationally. Her consulting work included initiatives for the Canadian War Museum, Parliament Hill, Parks Canada, Pier 21, and multiple international expositions.
Whether organizing a mayoral debate involving 20 community associations or writing an editorial on civic participation, June Creelman brings people together, empowers communities, and helps shape a more inclusive and informed society.
