Executive chef Eric Patenaude has been picked to serve as a board member for the Vanier Business Improvement Area (BIA), also known as the Quartier Vanier.

The BIA notified municipal authorities April 21 that they had chosen Mr. Patenaude as a replacement for the recent resignations of board members Gordon Keith and Hubert Rayne.

"I think it's a good opportunity to be involved, and find out what's going on in my neighbourhood," Mr. Patenaude told the OBJ.

Mr. Patenaude recently moved to McArthur Street, bringing his catering business along with him.

"(Vanier) is what I thought it would be: It's full of life, and it has a great future. That's why we bought the building. We believe in the growth of the area."

Mr. Patenaude's selection must still be formally approved at a meeting of the city's corporate services and economic development committee on Tuesday. If approved, his term will expire Nov. 30, 2010.