Joseph-Balsora Turgeon (1810 – July 17, 1897) was the first French-Canadian mayor of Bytown, Canada.

In 1852, he became a school trustee and also founded L'Institut canadien-français d'Ottawa.

[1] 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.