Police board to elect new chair as incumbent leaves
Pat Mandy says her request to extend provincial appointment wasn’t granted
Hamilton’s police services board will soon have a new face at the helm.
In an abrupt announcement Thursday, incumbent chair Pat Mandy told board members she would leave her post April 1, marking an end to her six years on the oversight body. The news, which wasn’t included in meeting agenda materials, comes about two months after a city councillor’s attempt to bring new leadership to the board instead ended with Mandy’s now short-lived re-election.
Coun. Cameron Kroetsch — who’s since been suspended from the board amid a provincial investigation into alleged breaches of conduct — made his case to unseat Mandy at a meeting Jan. 25, arguing his governance experience would result in a more accountable, betterrun board. He also took aim at Mandy’s long stay as chair and noted her provincial appointment was due to soon expire.
Ultimately, after informing members she had applied to extend her appointment, Mandy was re-elected by a vote of 5-2.
But that extension request was only met with a “thank you for your service” response from the province, Mandy told The Spectator on Thursday, adding she wasn’t surprised as six years is usually how long a provincial appointment lasts.
“I want to thank my board colleagues for their support and confidence in me,” Mandy said at the meeting. “It’s been an honour and privilege to serve in this capacity.”
A well-known health-care leader from the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Mandy was appointed to the board by the province in 2018 before taking over as chair in late 2021 when former mayor Fred Eisenberger left the post.
With her departure, recently elected vice-chair Fred Bennink will now step into the role of acting interim chair. Mandy said the board will vote on a new permanent chair at its next meeting April 25.
Several board members took time at the end of Thursday’s meeting to commend and thank Mandy, who was described as a compassionate, tenacious chair.