New CAO for Shelburne

Darren Shupe embraces his new position

The Town of Shelburne has appointed Darren Shupe as its new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).

“We’ve been very impressed with Darren’s performance over the past several years and we’re confident that he has the orientation and capabilities the council is looking for to support and lead our excellent staff team,”

— Mayor Karen Mattatall

Shupe, who has worked as the town’s manager of Community and Economic Development for the past three and a half years, assumed the role of acting CAO on Aug. 13, following the departure of CAO Dylan Heide, who had held the position for six years before leaving to Shelburne Town Council pose with their new CAO. From left, councillors Sheldon Rapp, Nolan Young and Harold Locke, CAO Darren Shupe, Mayor Karen Mattatall and Rick Davis. work as the CAO in his hometown of Mahone Bay.

The town has been searching for a new CAO for the past several months.

“It was a very competitive process,” said Mayor Karen Mattatall in a press release. “We had more than 30 applicants from across the country, including a number with very strong qualifications.”

Town council made the deci- sion on Aug. 22 to elevate Shupe to the CAO role rather than bringing someone in from outside.

“We’ve been very impressed with Darren’s performance over the past several years and we’re confident that he has the orientation and capabilities the council is looking for to support and lead our excellent staff team,” said Mattatall. “Darren knows the community and is well-versed in council’s priorities; he’s ready to hit the ground running.”

The appointment is effective immediately. As for finding a replacement for Shupe’s former position as manager of Community and Economic Development, town council will be considering an in-house report in September that will recommend “a way forward with staffing to ensure that council’s strategic goals are able to be advanced,” said Shupe.

The town’s tourism and marketing co-ordinator, Chris Abbott, is also leaving to take a position with Yarmouth and Acadian Shores Tourism Association.