New city manager announced
The City of Lethbridge has announced it will be hiring former Canadian Veterans Ombudsman Craig Dalton as its new city manager.
Deputy Mayor Jeffrey Coffman, who chaired the search committee which chose Dalton, said Dalton was “head and shoulders” above the other candidates whom they interviewed for the position.
“We had an incredible list of highly talented, diverse individuals apply for the position and become shortlisted and interviewed. There was one who was certainly head and shoulders above the others in terms of the breadth and the depth of his experience in leadership and in governance, and in government working with organizations such as the City of Lethbridge.”
Col. Dalton (ret.), a former artillery officer and an Afghanistan War veteran, had a distinguished 25year military career before entering public service, and in previous roles led an 1,800-member province-wide organization with a budget of $1.3 billion in New Brunswick which was charged with delivering social services and programming when he was deputy minister for Social Development for that province.
He also served as deputy minister of public safety and CEO for Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, and as a strategic human resources adviser for the Canadian Armed Forces before taking on the role of Veterans Ombudsman for the Government of Canada.
Mayor Chris Spearman, who also sat with Coffman on the search committee alongside Coun. Belinda Crowson and Coun. Joe Mauro, said all of city council had an opportunity to interview Dalton before he was hired, and he was certainly the consensus candidate of choice.
“I am thrilled to have someone of Mr. Dalton’s calibre to be our city manager,” he stated. “Mr. Dalton has phenomenal qualifications and has extensive experience. I think it is an exciting day for the City of Lethbridge.”
Dalton will be moving to Lethbridge from Victoria, Prince Edward Island. He will be officially appointed as city manager at next Tuesday’s council meeting, but was not present in person during Thursday’s announcement.