UPDATED: Vaughan city manager Kanellakos leaving for Ottawa

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 8, 2016
By Adam Martin-Robbins

Vaughan’s top staffer is leaving his post after less than a year to take the helm in his hometown of Ottawa.

City Manager Steve Kanellakos moved into the corner office at Vaughan city hall last May.

He came here after serving for more than a decade with the City of Ottawa in various posts including deputy city manager of operations.

Kanellakos is heading back east to become Ottawa’s city manager, effective May 2.

He is replacing his former boss, Kent Kirkpatrick, who announced his retirement last fall.

Kanellakos could not immediately be reached for comment, but wrote in his resignation letter, obtained by The Vaughan Citizen:

“I never came to Vaughan with the intention to depart at this time. When I left the City of Ottawa in April of 2015, I wanted to lead a dynamic municipality. The opportunity to do so was not available for me in Ottawa, as the current City Manager had renewed his contract. I did not anticipate that the opportunity to return would arise, let alone arise so soon after my departure.”

Kanellakos was born and raised in Ottawa. He holds an undergraduate and a master’s degree in public administration from Carleton University. Prior to serving with the City of Ottawa, he spent 15 years in municipal police services with the Gloucester Police Service and the Ottawa-Carleton Regional Police.

Kanellakos took over the reins in Vaughan from Barbara Cribbett, a former treasurer who retired after serving as Vaughan’s interim city manager for two years following the abrupt departure of Clayton Harris in April 2013.

During his tenure in Vaughan, Kanellakos oversaw a restructuring of the city’s senior management team and the swift completion of the 2016 budget. he implemented a new strategic plan targeting 16 priorities for this term including improving the road network, supporting development of the new hospital, attracting investment and job creation, and establishing a lobbyist registry.

“My quality of work life in Vaughan has been exceptional and I have immensely enjoyed working in this great City alongside so many outstanding people,” Kanellakos, a married father of three, wrote. “My challenge has been a personal one. My family and parents remain in Ottawa. I found it difficult to be without them, however, I was prepared to continue my tenure because I enjoyed the work and the people I worked with so much. It wasn't until the opportunity to return to work in Ottawa arose that these two dimensions in my life converged. It became apparent that an outstanding work life does not outweigh being away from one's family.”

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua was unavailable for comment Monday afternoon, but issued the following statement:

“On behalf of Council, the administration and the citizens of Vaughan, I want to express my sincerest gratitude for all that he has been able to accomplish over the past year. He has made a positive and meaningful contribution to our city,” he wrote. “I wish Steve and his family much success in all their future endeavours. The task of city-building continues in Vaughan and I am confident that we have a bright future to look forward to.”