Since April, Trent Lakes has had a new CAO at the helm after the retirement of Donna Teggart.
Mayor Terry Lambshead welcomed Michelle Wilson as the new CAO of the Municipality of Trent Lakes.
“I am pleased to welcome Michelle to the Municipality of Trent Lakes,” said Lambshead. “I believe her wealth of experience will be a perfect fit with our existing team of amazing professionals. Her skill set combined with her enthusiasm will be a fantastic asset to accomplish the many aspects of this role. I look forward to building Trent Lakes into the future with her as CAO.”
So starts a new chapter in Wilson’s career. Wilson, who has spent more than 20 years in public leadership, said she has spent a great deal of that time in smaller communities.
“I’ve always felt more at home in rural towns versus big cities. Being able to work in a community I care about is truly rewarding, and I am excited to play a key role in making this municipality a great place to live, work and visit.”
The people of Trent Lakes are waiting for you.
What are the responsibilities of a CAO?
It is a loaded position. It is not an elected position. This person oversees the day-to-day operations and general management of all municipal departments and services. The CAO provides objective, professional, and expert advice to the mayor and councillors to help them make informed policy decisions. The CAO ensures that the policies, bylaws, and approved budgets set by the council are properly and efficiently executed by staff. There is more — the CAO directs, supervises, and manages municipal employees, typically acting as the primary (and often only) direct employee managed directly by the council. And the person acts as the main communication channel between the working municipal administration and the elected officials.
When Wilson was asked what she saw as the most challenging of all of those responsibilities, she said the most challenging aspect is finding balance. There are many projects needed to keep a community thriving, and tenacity is required to identify the priorities while remaining fiscally responsible. She has an educational background in finance and business administration. She is a chartered professional accountant and holds a master of arts degree in economics from the University of Waterloo.
Before joining Trent Lakes, Wilson was the CAO of the Township of Brock. Prior to stepping into the municipal world, she served as the director of housing, finance and the chief financial officer for the community housing corporation of York Region. She held leadership roles at several Ontario universities at the beginning of her career.
Wilson was born in Alberta after her parents immigrated to Canada from Switzerland, and moved to Ontario when she was young. She raised her family in Port Perry and now lives in this area. When asked what she does with her free time when she isn’t working on finding that balance for the community, she said that she and her husband, Dallas, enjoy working on their house with their two children, Gabriel and Ella. She loves living in the area year round, exploring and getting to know where she lives and works.
Welcome Michelle!
Fall Dinner Theatre
It is what everyone in Buckhorn waits for spring and fall — dinner theatre. Is it the great food or the great acting and loads of laughter? Well, you decide. Tickets are on sale now. You will find everything that you need, including dates and prices at www.buckhorncommunitycentre.com/events/dinner-theatre.