Many people might be surprised to learn that former Ottawa mayor Jackie Holzman is now 90 years old. If not for yesterday’s birthday cookies, revealing her age in icing, she could easily pass for a spry septuagenarian.

“What’s not surprising is knowing that she’s still going strong,” remarked her son, Mark Holzman, at an afternoon celebration for Jackie, held in the social room of Temple Israel on Prince of Wales Drive.

Many of her friends from over the years were there — including her oldest, er, longest friend, Riva Heft, whom Jackie has known since she was 17. That the RSVP party list reached 170 was a testament to just how social and popular Jackie is.

“Jackie was doing networking before networking was a thing,” said Mark Holzman. “And she’s still doing it.”

Mark Holzman with his mother, Jackie Holzman, at a reception held at Temple Israel on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 to celebrate her 90th birthday. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Jackie Holzman with granddaughters Rebecca Leikin (left) and Sara Holzman at a reception held at Temple Israel on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 to celebrate her 90th birthday. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Jackie was elected to Ottawa City Council from 1982 to 1997, serving as mayor for the last six. She was the first Jewish woman and third woman to become Ottawa’s mayor.

More recently, she’s been an active volunteer, supporting The Ottawa Hospital’s $500-million community campaign to build its modern, state-of-the-art campus.

She’s also honourary director of Compassionate Ottawa and board president of not-for-profit retirement complex Unitarian House. There’s a bridge named after Jackie, a symbol of how she’s always tried to connect communities and people. She prefers the honour to an eponymous street, where “everyone can walk all over you,” she joked.

It wasn’t lost on Jackie that she’s survived longer than either of her parents. According to her, one in three women make it to 90. For men, she added, the number is cut in half.

Jackie spoke about the importance of making every day meaningful, sharing a quote from a Peanuts cartoon in which Charlie Brown says to Snoopy, “Someday, we will all die, Snoopy.” To which Snoopy replies, “True, but on all the other days, we will not.”

She also referred to the “no man (or woman) is an island” metaphor, which suggests we need others for support and connection. She spoke about the deep roots that she has in Ottawa, where she was born, raised and educated.

Jackie Holzman – mayor of Ottawa from 1991 to 1997 — connects with Jim Durrell, who was the mayor of Ottawa from 1985 to 1991. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Jackie is a proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She’s been married twice “to my two wonderful Johns”. With her first John, they raised their four “incredible” kids. She met her second husband, John Rutherford, more than 40 years ago through volunteer work that led to the creation of Unitarian House, where they now reside.

From the political world, attendees included former Tory Senate leader Marjory LeBreton, former Ottawa mayor Jim Durrell, current Ottawa Centre Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi and Mac Harb, who served on city council before getting into federal politics.

Dr. Duncan Stewart, who retired last year as head of research at The Ottawa Hospital, was there. So was Dr. Chris Carruthers who has chaired numerous boards and is a former chief of staff at The Ottawa Hospital. Also from the hospital was Tim Kluke, the president and CEO of its foundation.

Jackie Holzman, Rosemary Dunne, Dr. Duncan Stewart and John Rutherford at a reception held at Temple Israel on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 to celebrate Jackie’s 90th birthday. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Dr. Ian Arnold, retired orthopedic surgeon Chris Carruthers and Jim Durrell at a reception held at Temple Israel on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 to celebrate Jackie Holzman’s 90th birthday. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Jackie Holzman, Wayne French at a reception held at Temple Israel on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 to celebrate Jackie’s 90th birthday. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Sam Laprade, host of An Hour to Give on Rogers TV, with her 17-year-old daughter, Avery Laprade at a reception held at Temple Israel on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 to celebrate Jackie Holzman’s 90th birthday. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Riva Heft, Jackie Holzman at a reception held at Temple Israel on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 to celebrate Jackie’s 90th birthday. Photo by Caroline Phillips

As well, guests included Russell Mills, a former publisher of the Ottawa Citizen back in its day, prominent architect Ritchard Brisbin and arts patron Glenn McInnes. His late wife, Barb McInnes (Ottawa Community Foundation), had been one of Jackie’s role models. So, too, were Jackie’s mother, and the late Jean Pigott, who’d been a local MP before serving as chair of the National Capital Commission in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.

During the party, an impressive slideshow of photos from Jackie’s life, political career and volunteer work was on display, as well as a large cardboard cutout of Jackie from her campaign days. Retired RCMP member Garth Hampson led the crowd in a rousing round of For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow.

Jackie thanked her guests for the supporting role that each has played in her life, her voice tinged with emotion as she recited what turned out to be the chorus from the song You Raise Me Up. She had many people to recognize, but I personally love that not she not only mentioned her doctor but also her hairstylist.

Debra Davis, Jackie Holzman, Marjory LeBreton and Kay Stanley at a reception held at Temple Israel on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 to celebrate Jackie Holzman’s 90th birthday. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Russell Mills and Judy Mills at a reception held at Temple Israel on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 to celebrate Jackie’s 90th birthday. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Jackie Holzman with Jim Durrell and his daughter, Melissa Durrell, CEO of Durrell Communications at a reception held at Temple Israel on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 to celebrate Jackie’s 90th birthday. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Jackie Holzman, Glenn McInnes at a reception held at Temple Israel on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 to celebrate Jackie Holzman’s 90th birthday. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Yasir Naqvi, Ritchard Brisbin, Sheefra Brisbin, Robert Tennant and Trina Morissette at a reception held at Temple Israel on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 to celebrate Jackie Holzman’s 90th birthday. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Garth Hampson, Jackie Holzman and Mark Holzman, during a round of For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow. Photo by Caroline Phillips