For almost nine years, I served as City Manager of Thunder Bay, overseeing an annual budget exceeding $500 million, with ~2700 employees delivering a myriad of programs and services.

We balanced the needs of citizens, stakeholders, and elected officials in one of Canada’s most dynamic political environments. I worked with three successive city councils to create and implement strategic plans, aligning priorities to drive real change for the community. My work didn’t stop at the city level. As Chair of the Ontario Big City Mayors’ Emergency Services Steering Committee, I spent seven years advocating for better emergency services across Ontario’s largest municipalities. These experiences taught me how to drive progress in highly complex, multi-stakeholder environments.​

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The COVID-19 pandemic tested every leader’s resolve. As City Manager and Incident Commander, I was at the forefront of the City of Thunder Bay’s response. Facing uncertainty, political scrutiny, and legislative requirements, my top leadership team and I made decisions that balanced public health, economic stability, and community well-being. It was one of the most challenging periods of my career, and it reinforced my belief in the power of thoughtful, decisive leadership during times of crisis.

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Photo Credit: TBNewswatch

Before becoming City Manager, I served as Thunder Bay’s Chief of EMS, leading an emergency service whose paramedics responded to more than 25,000 9-1-1 annual calls across both urban and rural areas. I’ve held leadership roles at every level of emergency services, starting as a front-line paramedic. As President of the Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs, I worked with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Province of Ontario, more than 50 Ontario paramedic services, and allied agencies to enhance emergency services on a provincial scale. These experiences gave me a deep understanding of operations, strategy, and the human side of emergency services.

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Photo Credit: CBC Thunder Bay