Calgary city manager Jeff Fielding resigns for gig in Toronto city manager's office

Calgarycity manager Jeff Fielding is resigning, effective April 1.

Fielding has been hired as chief of staff in the office of Toronto's city manager, a newly created position.

He started in Calgary four years ago, after being city manager inBurlington, Ont., and his current contract was set to run until June 2020.

"Getting the city manager's job in Calgary, I actually never dreamed that would happen," said Fielding.

Mayor NaheedNenshi said he couldn't have hoped for a better partner in transforming the citygovernment.

"Jeff is a consummate public servant and a public servant who is deeply dedicated to municipal government," Nenshi said.

He joined the city under challenging circumstances taking over as cleanup from the 2013 floods was underway and during the same year Calgary became the fastest growing city in North America, Fielding said.

The next year, Calgariansfaced the worst economic downturn in decades.

"Being able to respond to that, I think we've done a reasonably good job as an organization to do so, and I'm proud of that," said Fielding.

Coun. Ward Sutherland said Fielding did an exceptional job under difficult circumstances andwas never afraid to speak his mind to council.

"He's really unified the city, and I think one thing that people don't really understand is the 'one Calgary' concept of having all the departments with the one logo and working together is a significant accomplishment, because there were always these silos," Sutherland said.

Cutting city spending

His key accomplishments in the job includecreating a single identity for all city services and he was tasked with cutting city spending during the economic downturn.

Fielding told council in November that he has found more than $600 million in savings through reduced spending and job reductions at city hall.

"I know Jeff would say this is not because of him, but it's because of our remarkable colleagues at the City of Calgary. That is true. But remarkable colleagues need a remarkable leader," Nenshi said.

Fielding said circumstances have changed for his family he's lived apart from them for the past four years and he's excited to have found a new opportunity in Toronto where he can be closer to them.

Search for replacement to startsoon

There have been a few senior employees to leave the City of Calgary in the past few years, but Sutherland said he's not concerned by the turnover.

"Having some changes actually is a very healthy thing, because you need new blood," he said.

Nenshi said that as of Monday, the process will start for hiring a new city manager. That includes setting up a hiring committee with city council and conducting an internal and international search to find the best possible candidate.

The four-year contract is worth $315,000 a year.

Fielding's new position will be a substantial pay cut,with a salary of roughly$196,000 to$221,000.

• MORE CALGARY NEWS |Calgary stomping death caught on video as passersby turn blind eye
• MORE ALBERTANEWS |Lethbridge police officer kills injured deer by driving over it multiple times
• Read more articles byCBC Calgary, like us onFacebookfor updates and subscribe to ourCBC Calgary newsletterfor the day's news at a glance