By Geoff Smith (@GeoffSmithLNN on Twitter)

New city manager has federal, provincial experience

Jul 16, 2018 | 1:07 PM

LETHBRIDGE – The new city manager says there won’t be a “big bang” in the first one or two months, as he does a lot of listening and orients himself to the job ahead.

Bramwell Strain was introduced at a special city council meeting Monday, July 16. Strain comes to Lethbridge from Winnipeg, where since 2016 he has served as a deputy minister in the Manitoba government. Portfolios included infrastructure, education, training and immigration.

Prior to that he was assistant deputy minister for Western Economic Diversification, responsible for the Manitoba/Saskatchewan region, and has also been a regional director-general for the federal department of citizenship and immigration.

His resume also includes senior roles with Service Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, and Human Resources Development Canada. As well, he’s no stranger to Lethbridge, having lived in the city from 1996-98.

“I am, let’s call it a participative leader, so very much from the bottom up,” Strain told reporters. “I believe that people that do the work know how to make things better. That said, I’m also very much a listener. I understand the role of the citizens, politicians, in a democracy obviously, I have a great respect for that. So, very much responsive, nimble, and quick on my feet. Hopefully, you’ll see that very quickly.”

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Strain explained he’s a believer in innovation and creativity. He likens himself to an “entrepreneur in a government role.”

Mayor Chris Spearman said all of council is excited about the choice, citing Strain’s experience, and his connections with the senior levels of government.

“The airport’s important to us,” Spearman said as he went through a list of priorities. “Supportive social housing is important to us. Dealing with the opioid issue and the collateral impact on the community’s important to us. We have about 13 capital projects, infrastructure capital projects, and we need to be ready for each and every provincial and federal partnering opportunity for those.”

The mayor added Strain will bring an understanding of how decisions are made in Ottawa and Edmonton as well.

More than 100 candidates applied for the position. A four-member council committee worked with an executive recruiting firm, and eventually, a shortlist of five was created. They were interviewed by the committee, which advanced the top two candidates to the full council.

Spearman said it wasn’t an easy choice, but it was a unanimous one. For his part, Strain hopes to work closely with council.

“I have a great respect for democracy,” he said. “These are people that put their time and energy and effort forward, they put their names forward to stand to represent citizens. So, I have a great respect for that, first and foremost. And they were elected on platforms to do things.

“That said, it’s my job to help with that policy development, to make sure we’re going in the right directions, find the best way to move the civil service forward along with the political will.”