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Vancouver deputy city manager David McLellan to retire

October 2nd, 2012 · 44 Comments

Mayor Gregor Robertson made an announcement this morning at council about Dave’s retirement (and the whole room stood up to applaud Dave in the middle of the meeting) and the following note also went out from city manager Penny Ballem.

(As an aside, I think there’s a sense that it’s safe for Dave to retire now that Brian Jackson is running the planning department. As Vision Vancouver was preparing the ground for terminating former city planner Brent Toderian, some of the key decisions were shifted over to Dave. Dave, who is a tirelessly nice person, will say I am just being mean to write that, but it’s unfortunately true.)

Anyway, here’s Penny’s note and, with it, may I also express my own regret at seeing Dave go. He takes enormous pleasure in crafting some piece of policy that he thinks will make the city better. It’s fun to see his delight when he talks about it.

Nearly a year ago, I announced that David McLellan had agreed to come
and work as the Deputy City Manager with responsibility for Housing
and Strategic Public Amenities.  Over this last year, Dave has done a
remarkable job working across the organization and with many external


partners to transform our approach to housing affordability and to
find innovative ways to address some of the challenging issues that
our city and many others across Canada are facing in this area. I
think all of us have been amazed at what he has accomplished in such a
short time. Today, David presented the work of the Mayor’s Task Force
on Housing Affordability to Council, tabling for Council’s approval an
ambitious action plan for staff to advance the recommendations of the
Task Force.

Last week Dave shared with me his intention to take his well-deserved
retirement effective November 30.  Dave has worked 37 years in
municipal government, and his legacies for citizens in a number of
municipalities are numerous. David joined the City of Vancouver in
2006 and served as the GM of Community Services providing strategic
leadership over a number of years across a broad array of program
areas including planning and development services, inspections and
licenses, social planning, culture and others.

I think we all feel the same way about losing David from the senior
leadership of the City. He has made many significant contributions,
and this last year of his remarkable work has definitely put us on a
new more innovative track in our affordable housing work. I know you
will all join me in congratulating David on his accomplishments and in
wishing him well in retirement. He will be missed by all and he
definitely leaves big shoes to fill (actually – HUGE!). We will be
arranging an appropriate celebration of his achievements and will have
additional information available shortly.

Dave, thank you so much.

Penny Ballem

City Manager

 

 

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