Gus Michaels named Deputy City Manager of Community Services
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Vaughan Council appoints accomplished longtime public servant
Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua is pleased to announce that Gus Michaels has been appointed as the Deputy City Manager, Community Services effective immediately. Council ratified the decision on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021. He will also continue to serve as Director and Chief Licensing Officer, By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services until further notice.
Mr. Michaels’ career spans more than 32 years in the public sector with 28 years in the field of municipal law enforcement. Since November 2020, Mr. Michaels has served as the Interim Deputy City Manager, Community Services, leading and overseeing the operations of By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services, Recreation Services and Access Vaughan while playing a pivotal role in the City’s response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. He currently serves as Chair of the Region’s COVID-19 Enforcement Task Force, comprised of enforcement departments across the region, including York Regional Police, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and York Region Public Health. Since July 2013, Mr. Michaels has served as Director and Chief Licensing Officer, By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services for the City of Vaughan. Prior to joining the City of Vaughan, Mr. Michaels worked for the City of Toronto as Manager, Investigation Services/Senior Team.
As Deputy City Manager, Community Services, Mr. Michaels will report directly to the City Manager and serve as a member of the corporation’s Senior Leadership Team – Executive and Senior Leadership Team. Mr. Michaels leads a significant portfolio that provides efficient, responsive and innovative programs, services and events to promote healthy, vibrant and safe neighbourhoods while meeting the community’s needs. Vaughan’s Community Services portfolio plays an important role in enabling the City to foster Active, Safe and Diverse Communities – a strategic priority in the 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan.
QUOTES
“I am pleased to offer my sincerest congratulations to Gus Michaels on his appointment as Deputy City Manager, Community Services at the City of Vaughan. Mr. Michaels has led the Community Services portfolio as Interim Deputy City Manager since November 2020, and I am confident he will continue to advance Vaughan’s significant city-building priorities in this position. Mr. Michaels has been at the forefront of our ongoing fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic, and we remain grateful for his dedication to safeguarding the health and well-being of citizens, businesses and the greater community. As we look to 2022, we remain laser-focused on elevating Vaughan’s exceptional standard of living while delivering high quality programs and services that citizens rely on every day. Working together with accomplished public servants like Mr. Michaels, we will press forward to unleash Vaughan’s full potential.”
- Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
“On behalf of the City of Vaughan’s Senior Leadership Team – Executive, I want to congratulate Gus Michaels on his transition to the permanent role of Deputy City Manager, Community Services and temporarily continuing to serve as Director of By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and during his interim time in the Deputy City Manager role, Mr. Michaels has led by-law officers as they patrol and respond to calls on a priority basis. He and his team truly have reflected the City’s priority of public safety and what it means to be agile while facing a global pandemic, demonstrating leadership, teamwork and dedication to offer exceptional customer service. I look forward to continuing to work with Mr. Michaels in his permanent capacity as Deputy City Manager.”
- Nick Spensieri, City Manager
“I am honoured to take on the role of Deputy City Manager, Community Services. After serving in the role in an interim capacity since November 2020, I am proud to be entrusted with this position on a permanent basis. Throughout my more than 32 years of service in municipal government, my mission has been – and continues to be – maintaining the highest level of customer service while continuing to put public safety and well-being at the forefront. I am committed to serving this organization and community and playing a pivotal role in advancing Council’s priorities.”
- Gus Michaels, incoming Deputy City Manager, Community Services
QUICK FACTS
- Active, Safe and Diverse Communities is one of nine Strategic Priorities in the City's 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan. The goal is to “ensure the safety and well-being of citizens, the City will commit to engagement and cohesiveness by supporting and promoting community events, arts, culture, heritage, sports and fire prevention awareness.”
- Active, Safe and Diverse Communities objectives include:
- Enhance community well-being
- Enrich our communities
- Maintain safety in our community
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