Vaughan welcomes James Harnum as new City Manager

July 21, 2020 1:30 p.m.
​Experienced municipal leader chosen to oversee the corporation

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua is pleased to announce the appointment of James (Jim) Harnum, CET, MBA, as Vaughan’s new City Manager. This news comes following an extensive public recruitment process.
 
Mr. Harnum has 30 years of experience in municipal government, consulting and contracting, including 15 years  within  a senior level. He has held positions with large urban municipalities, including Hamilton and Toronto, and is currently the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer and Commissioner of Public Works with the Regional Municipality of Halton. In this role, Mr. Harnum leads a team of 700 individuals and manages an annual operating and capital budget of nearly $1 billion. As the Commissioner of Public Works, he is responsible for critical city-building, engineering and construction, infrastructure planning, transportation, solid waste, as well as water and wastewater services. As the Deputy CAO, he is responsible for the Region’s digital transformation, including information technology, business transformation as well as corporate and strategic communications. He is also leading Halton Region’s climate change response.
 
Mr. Harnum’s first day with the City is Monday, Aug. 17. He succeeds Mary Reali, Acting City Manager and Deputy City Manager, Community Services, who is retiring from the City after more than 34 years of distinguished service to Council, her colleagues and the entire community. Ms. Reali has been instrumental in guiding the administration’s response efforts throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
The City Manager is appointed by Vaughan Council to ensure their decisions and policy direction are effectively implemented to support building a City that promotes diversity, innovation and equal opportunities for all citizens. The City Manager is supported by the corporation’s Senior Leadership Team – Executive. Mr. Harnum will be instrumental in overseeing the 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan.
 
QUOTES
“I want to warmly welcome James Harnum to the City of Vaughan and congratulate him on being appointed as the new City Manager. Mr. Harnum brings a wealth of experience that will be an asset to our administration and our citizens. He will play a leading role in guiding our staff in every department, to ensure we continue advancing Vaughan’s city-building agenda. He is a trusted, experienced and transformative leader. On behalf of Members of Council, I look forward to working with him to take the City of Vaughan to new heights. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Acting City Manager Mary Reali for her strong leadership. She has led our administration through unprecedented times with unwavering commitment and dedication. Mary is a shining example of an individual who is in public service for all the right reasons and she has indeed made a lasting impact on this organization and the entire community.”
-Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
 
“I am honoured and thrilled to be given the opportunity to lead the City of Vaughan’s administration as the new City Manager. I look forward to working closely with Mayor Bevilacqua and Members of Council as well as the Senior Leadership Team - Executive and the entire administration, to further the strategic priorities in the 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan. I take great pride in knowing that I am joining a team of dedicated and hard-working professionals who remain wholeheartedly committed to the important task of city-building.”
-Jim Harnum, City Manager-designate 
 
QUICK FACTS
 
LEARN MORE
 
  • Office of the City Manager website
  • Senior Leadership Team – Executive website

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