Powell River Regional District board has appointed a new chief administrative officer. Mac Fraser will start in his new position on April 1, 2011. Frances Ladret, regional district administrator, will retire on April 30.
The board announced the appointment at a special board meeting on Thursday, February 10.
"The board was impressed by Mac's combined managerial and practical experience and by some of the innovative ideas he has implemented in his past employment," said Colin Palmer, board chair, in a statement. "We consider Mac an excellent fit for this regional district's small but diverse operation."
Fraser is the director of local planning services for the Islands Trust. Previously he was the chief administrative officer for the Village of Cumberland. Prior to embarking on a career in local government, Fraser worked for several years in the Canadian Forces and held the position of base engineer at CFB Comox.
According to the statement, Fraser has a diversity of experience in several areas related to local government services, including administration, finance, planning, infrastructure and emergency services. He played a leadership role in founding and chairing the Saving Small Towns conference, an annual event that focused on the protection and enhancement of the environmental, social and economic features that keep rural communities strong.
"I am honoured to have been selected as the new CAO of the Powell River Regional District, and appreciate the warm welcome of the board and Frances Ladret," Fraser said in the statement. "The regional district is an exciting jurisdiction with a strong team and I intend to work hard in joining that team. I look forward to working cooperatively with everyone in the region and serving the board and residents to the best of my abilities."
