The following column is from Sheryl Flannagan, who is the interim chief administrative officer (CAO) with the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority.
Our last CAO, Doug Hevenor, retired in December, and I am honoured that the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) board of directors appointed me as interim CAO until a new leader comes on board.
I want to take this time to share how I intend to approach this new role.
The Nottawasaga watershed is growing at an unprecedented pace. We must continue to work with our municipalities, funders, landowners, volunteers and community groups to keep our watershed safe, healthy and beautiful.
In 2024, our team restored rivers and grasslands, created wetlands, and planted forests. Their dedication made our conservation areas safer and more enjoyable. They started new initiatives, such as assessing whether our development and wetland policies are working, as well as establishing a climate change monitoring strategy for the watershed.
Our team connected students with nature and helped them understand water-quality issues and Indigenous communities.
The watershed is safer because of our team. They implemented new provincial regulations, including permitting timelines and plan review changes, to protect against natural hazards such as flooding and erosion.
Our drinking water is clean and safe thanks to their hard work.
Though my tenure as interim CAO will only be a few months, I intend to lead the team to embrace our culture of excellence and continuous improvement by striving for better customer service and continuing to reduce our plan-review timelines. In the coming months, we must build a foundation of trust and collaboration with our municipalities and partners and be an organization that they can trust and rely upon.
As we approach our annual general meeting later this month, I know 2025 will be a transformative year for NVCA, and I am pleased to start it off with the support of the board of directors and a fantastic and dedicated team.
As the new CAO comes on board, I am committed to a seamless transition to continue this transformation. During this time, I look forward to working with our partners to find solutions, improve customer service and explore new ways to exceed expectations.
