Town of Olds chief administrative officer (CAO) Norm McInnis is about to become the CAO in Fernie, B.C.
McInnis has held the top position in the town's public service for eight years. His last day on the job will be Oct. 28. The town announced his resignation last week.
Speaking with the Albertan, McInnis said he had spent some time in Fernie, where his oldest son Bill works as a tree planter, and "fell in love with the community."
According to a post on the city's website, council interviewed just three candidates from a short list of nine people compiled by search consultants, previously narrowed down from 58 "serious resumes."
Once there, McInnis expects to work on the city's annexation of West Fernie.
"Fernie's a unique place. It's not just a ski hill. They've got fly fishing and mountain biking is a huge thing there now. Whitewater rafting, a lot of outdoorsy type of things there. I think there's a real opportunity to take full advantage of being a place people want to go and spend some time," he said.
It will be up to council to determine how to find his successor. McInnis said the town is in good shape: well-positioned to attract investment because of its reputation of being friendly to enterprise.
"There's an extremely strong group of people there who are extremely passionate about this community and providing the public service that is required to support the quality of life that we've been building."
McInnis grew up in town, graduating from high school in 1982, a time when he "quite frankly, couldn't wait to get out of Olds." He spent a year at Mount Royal College, then transferred to the University of Calgary, taking religious studies. It was in the city that he was introduced to the West Hillhurst Community Association.
"That's where I really became passionate about this idea of community development at the neighbourhood level," he said.
He later became executive director of the association. But after living more than a decade in Calgary, McInnis was ready to come home and started commuting from Olds.
At that time, Garry Gelech was Olds' CAO and suggested that McInnis pursue a career in local government.
He took Gelech's advice and became a certified local government manager through the University of Alberta. His first CAO gig came in the Town of Picture Butte.
But, "ever since that cup of coffee with Garry Gelech back in the day, it was always my goal to make it to Olds as the CAO. And it's been absolutely amazing and rewarding, fulfilling on so many fronts the last few years here."
That goal was met in 2008. Mayor Judy Dahl said McInnis brought new ideas and a willingness to continue learning.
"He certainly had the ambition and the will and the passion. Let's face it, Norm was born and raised in Olds and he had the passion and knew the community. And his will was, he wanted to go out and build this community. He had an excellent ability to be able to build partnerships," Dahl said.
Municipal politics is difficult because people work in an environment where people hold different values, which often leads to conflict, McInnis said. He said his approach was to help people use the energy they bring into conflict, productively.
"You play a special role bridging that gap between lots of different parts within democracy. I love that role. I love the role of being a facilitator and an enabler. I think that's where I'm going to stay and finish my career there," he said.
McInnis names supporting volunteerism, community development through the Olds Institute and internal organizational restructuring within the Town of Olds among his most rewarding work as CAO.
Outside of work, McInnis participated in activities such as refereeing minor hockey and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle.
He was also a member of the Rotary Club, serving as president. In the past four years, the club has spent more than $300,000 in the community, on projects like playgrounds, renovations to the cadet hall and contributing to the Special Olympics.
Council also suggested he teach aspiring government managers as a way to stay fresh and current on the job. He is about to start his second semester as a public engagement instructor in Dalhousie University's local administration program.
"I get to hear these incredible things that are going on in communities all across the country, and to me, I think engagement is the secret to success in local government."
"There's an extremely strong group of people there who are extremely passionate about this community and providing the public service that is required to support the quality of life that we've been building." NORM MCINNIS, CAO
