Vaughan’s deputy city manager for community services retires

The City's new manager is Jim Harnum, who is also the Acting Deputy City Manager of Planning and Growth Management

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 18, 2020
Dina Al-Shibeeb

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua has wished on Sep. 9, Mary Reali, Deputy City Manager, Community Services, well in her retirement from the City of Vaughan.

The Acting Deputy City Manager of Community Services is now Sunny Bains.

“Today, Mary Reali, Deputy City Manager, Community Services, starts to write the next chapter of her life as she retires from the City of Vaughan after 35 years of service,” Bevilacqua said in a statement published online.

The mayor dubbed Reali’s service either through “words” or “deeds” as “genuine, authentic and effective.”

In early 2020, Vaughan’s Council decided that the role of Acting City Manager was going to be held on a rotating basis beginning with Reali, who was the deputy city manager, community services.

There were some shuffles before Reali's retirement.

In July, Jim Harnum was announced as the new City Manager. He is also the Acting Deputy City Manager of Planning and Growth Management.

In February, Yorkregion.com reported that Jason Schmidt-Shoukri, the deputy city manager, planning and growth management, was on temporary leave and that Bill Kiru was serving his role. But Schmidt-Shoukri is no longer at the City of Vaughan, and Kiru has retired.

After “extensive public recruitment process” Harnum started his first day on Aug. 17.

When asking Bevilacqua during an interview why Harnum was holding two positions, the mayor said, “We are very fortunate to have him join our team because he's an individual with a lot of experience and leadership skills that are required.”

“He understands the city from the bottom up,” Bevilacqua added.

Vaughan has witnessed a high-turnover when it comes to filling its top managerial staff positions.

“It's very interesting that people may focus on the turnover rate, but the reality is that the city prior to COVID-19, the employment growth was still 5.6 per cent. The economic growth was 4 per cent, and the unemployment rate is 4.2 per cent,” Bevilacqua said. “The city is doing exceptionally well.”

The mayor explained that the change in “team structure” is part of the “parcel” of a “dynamic energy” since he described people in Vaughan. “We’re pushing way above our weight.”

He said that Vaughan, which has so far produced “outstanding results,” requires “great leadership skills.”

Bevilacqua said Harnum is capable in handling these two positions, and “he (Harnum) will decide to hire a deputy city manager for planning, but he certainly knows how to organize the city’s administration.”

“I have been impressed by his principles and manners,” he added, describing Harnum.

According to the City of Vaughan, Harnum has 30 years of experience in municipal government, consulting and contracting, including 15 years within a senior level. He has held positions with large urban municipalities such as Hamilton and Toronto.