Joseph-Balsora Turgeon (1810 – July 17, 1897) was the first French-Canadian mayor of Bytown, Canada. He was born in Terrebonne, Quebec in 1810 and came to Bytown in around 1836. He was elected to the town council in 1848, 1849, 1851 and 1852. In 1852, he became a school trustee and also founded L'Institut canadien-français d'Ottawa. He became mayor of Bytown in 1853. Turgeon proposed the establishment of a Separate School system in Bytown and also lobbied for more French-speaking teachers. He also suggested a new name rich in history, Ottawa, for the town. He died in Hull, Quebec in 1897 and buried at Notre Dame Cemetery. References External links Biography Bibliography 1810 births 1897 deaths Mayors of Bytown French Quebecers People from Terrebonne, Quebec