Who is she?
Renée Amilcar, the general manager of Transit Services at OC Transpo, has more than two decades in the transit industry.
What is her background?
Born in Haiti, Amilcar moved to Montreal at age 11. Her mother instilled a deep appreciation for education in Renée and her sister, inspiring her to pursue higher learning. Amilcar earned an industrial engineering degree from École Polytechnique in Montreal and later completed her MBA at Université de Sherbrooke.
What is she known for in Ottawa?
Amilcar has become the face of OC Transpo as the system navigates a series of problems. She is currently focussed on finishing the delayed LRT Phase 2 and Trillium line expansions, which still lack confirmed opening dates. She has faced pressure over LRT shutdowns and bus service issues underlined by River Ward Coun. Riley Brockington during a recent city hall meeting. “Service reliability continues to be that major issue in my ward and across the city,” he said.
What do people say about her?
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe praised her in a recent CBC article, stating “We are building a public transit system for the next 25 years.” Despite public disapproval of the transit system, including from OC Transpo union representatives delivered at Ottawa’s latest transit committee meeting, Amilcar says she prioritizes the long-term sustainability of the transit system.
What’s something people don’t know about her?
When first offered the role of general manager at OC Transpo, Amilcar turned it down. However, her interest in Ottawa’s transit system grew. Following the LRT derailment near Tremblay station in September 2019, she accepted the position, eager to tackle the challenge. She was elected as president of the Bus Committee by the International Association of Public Transport in June 2023. Amilcar is no stranger to overcoming obstacles; she even completed her MBA while on maternity leave.
