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Collingwood Announces New CAO

Laura Hampshire
Oct 21, 2020 | 7:19 AM
Last Updated: Oct 21, 2020 | 7:19 AM

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Collingwood Announces New CAO


The Town of Collingwood has announced the appointment of Sonya Skinner as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).

Mrs Skinner has served as Acting CAO since April 27, 2020, after joining the Town of Collingwood in August of 2019 as the Executive Director of Customer and Corporate Service. Skinner is an experienced leader and was the Chief Administrative Officer at Grey Sauble Conservation Authority for three years before joining the Town. She has brought valuable skills and experience to Collingwood, including her past leadership of:

  • Service delivery transformations as the Director of Compliance Modernization at the Ministry of the Environment,
  • About $300M of Maintenance Contracting for all of Ontario highways, and
  • Better decision-making across five ministries, including the Ministry of Education, by integrating and developing insights from large amounts of government data.

Mrs Skinner’s direction has strengthened our community and even through COVID has modelled leading-edge public service transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability including:

  • An update of the Community-based Strategic Plan 2020-2023 in June 2020
  • A community input and council decision to move forward with proposals for the waterfront Grain Terminals
  • Hosting the United Nations Habitat in Towns Collingwood World Summit
  • Strengthening the Town’s customer service
  • Implementing an Information Technology steering committee, and
  • Proposing actions to address Council’s climate change emergency declaration and reduce of the Town’s carbon footprint.

Mayor Brian Saunderson says, “On behalf of Council and the residents of Collingwood, I would like to congratulate Sonya Skinner on her appointment as the Town of Collingwood’s new Chief Administrative Officer. Sonya brings a breadth of experience in the public sector and has demonstrated a leadership style that is collaborative, thorough and results-driven. I know under CAO Skinner`s tenure, Collingwood will continue its trajectory as a municipal leader and a Town that is progressive, innovative, inclusive, and forward-thinking. Council and I look forward to working with Sonya.”

“Thank you for this appointment to serve the Town of Collingwood,” says CAO Skinner. “I look forward to working with Council and staff to listen to our community, and to further build a community where people thrive.”

Mrs Skinner is a Professional Engineer with a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering and is recognized internationally as a collaborative leader, speaker, and writer, with a demonstrated commitment to proactive communication.

CAO Sonya Skinner can be reached at sskinner@collingwood.ca or 705-445-1030 ext. 3277.

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