Following a 16-year career as York Region’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and nearly 33 years of public service, Bruce Macgregor will step down this fall in what he describes as a “bittersweet moment.”
As CAO, he oversees administration and the senior management team responsible for advising council and/or its boards on programs and services delivered to residents and businesses, including financial, technical, property, legal, people, equity and culture.
Since Macgregor’s appointment to the post in May 2007, the region has grown dramatically. It now provides services to more than 1.2 million residents across nine local municipalities and has a combined annual operating and capital budget of nearly 4 billion. Macgregor leads 5,000 full-time and part-time employees.
“I have had the pleasure of working directly alongside Mr. Macgregor since becoming chairman in 2014 and long before that as a member of council,” says York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson. “It has been an honour to have him in the role of CAO, providing a steady hand and outstanding advice.”
Macgregor has earned a reputation for fostering a “culture of continuous improvement and excellence in public service” and is known for his collaborative skills and solution-based orientation, according to the region.
He’s credited with introducing and sustaining a long-range vision-inspired strategic plan to coincide with successive terms of council; creating and maintaining multi-year budgeting; providing overall direction to inform council decisions on large infrastructure, staffing, budget and policy initiatives; and liaising with provincial ministries, agencies and associations to advance legislative and policy decisions, the region adds.
Macgregor served as the region’s commissioner of Transportation and Works from 2005 to 2007. He was commissioner of Engineering and Public Works at the Town of Richmond Hill from 2000 to 2005 and director of Water and Wastewater at York Region from 1995 to 2000.
“This is a bittersweet moment for me and there is never a right or perfect time to step away from a progressive municipality,” Macgregor says. “It has been a privilege for me to serve council, our staff and the residents of York Region. I’m quite confident York Region’s great reputation will endure well beyond my time as CAO.”
Macgregor’s last day as CAO will be Friday, Sept. 29. The search for his successor is underway.
Photo: York Region CAO Bruce Macgregor retires this fall.
