Order of Ottawa Recipient and Healthcare Leader Franklin Epape Endorses Rawlson King for Re-Election as City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe

OTTAWA, ON — Franklin Epape, community leader, entrepreneur, Executive Director of the Africa Development Network (ADN), CEO and co-founder of Ben'ss Health Care, and recipient of the 2024 Order of Ottawa, today announced his full endorsement of Rawlson King for re-election as City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward at Ottawa City Council.

"I fully endorse Rawlson King for Municipal Councillor in Ottawa. Over the years, Rawlson has shown up for our community — from advocating for better transit and safer streets, to supporting youth, seniors, and newcomers across Ottawa. He brings people together and focuses on practical solutions, not politics. His commitment to equity, transparency, and resident engagement makes him the right leader for the job. I trust Rawlson to stand for Rideau-Rockcliffe and the City of Ottawa."

— Franklin Epape, Community Leader; CEO and Co-Founder, Ben'ss Health Care; Executive Director, Africa Development Network; Order of Ottawa 2024

Councillor King expressed his gratitude for the endorsement:

"I am deeply honoured to have Franklin's support. He has spent years building institutions that care for our most vulnerable neighbours, from home health care to entrepreneurship programs for newcomers and Black Ottawans. That is exactly the kind of community-centred leadership that I strive to bring to City Council every day. Rideau-Rockcliffe is a ward of extraordinary diversity, and my commitment is to keep working for better transit, safer streets, and a city where every resident, regardless of background, has a real voice and a fair shot."

— Rawlson King, City Councillor, Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward

Mr. Epape is one of Ottawa's most respected community voices. A Cameroonian-Canadian entrepreneur, educator, and advocate, he arrived in Canada in 2009 and has since built institutions that serve some of the city's most vulnerable residents. Under his leadership, Ben'ss Health Care has grown into an international home-care corporation operating in Canada and Cameroon, providing employment for nearly 50 people and delivering essential health services to seniors, newcomers, and marginalized populations. The Africa Development Network, which he leads as Executive Director, supports Black and African entrepreneurs in the Ottawa region through mentorship, pre-incubation programming, and economic development summits.

In November 2024, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe honoured Mr. Epape with the Order of Ottawa, the city's highest civic distinction, recognizing his exceptional contributions to health care and his tireless advocacy for mental health, housing, newcomer support, Indigenous communities, single-parent families, and 2SLGBTQI+ residents. He has also been recognized with the Canadian Excellence Medal and has been featured among the most influential business leaders in Canada.

Rawlson King is Ottawa's first Black City Councillor, first elected in a historic 2019 by-election and re-elected in October 2022. He has served as Deputy Mayor and as Council Liaison for Anti-Racism and Ethnocultural Relations Initiatives. He has been a consistent advocate for equitable transit, safer and more walkable streets, and meaningful engagement with the ward's diverse communities, including youth, seniors, and newcomer populations. Councillor King is known for his transparent, resident-centred approach to local governance.

Mr. Epape's endorsement reflects the broad community confidence in Councillor King's record and his vision for an inclusive, well-served Ottawa.