Stock photo courtesy of the City of West Kelowna

By Liam Verster

40 Years Experience

Interim CAO appointed in West Kelowna

Feb 13, 2024 | 2:00 PM

The City of West Kelowna has appointed an interim Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) as the search for someone to permanently fill the role continues.

At the regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 13, Ron Mattiussi was named the interim CAO, replacing Paul Gipps who left the role officially Friday, Feb. 9.

Mattiussi, of R.L. Mattiussi Advisory Services Inc., takes over the position immediately and will serve through mid-May of 2024.

“With over 40 years’ experience in public service, 28 at a senior level, our council is delighted to welcome Mr. Mattiussi to West Kelowna as our Interim CAO,” Mayor Gord Milsom, said.

“Ron brings significant planning and operational experience that will benefit our growing city. We recently retained him to lead the city’s McDougall Creek Wildfire recovery efforts and our council and citizens were extremely grateful. Council has full confidence in Mr. Mattiussi’s leadership and expertise, and we look forward to working with him in the months ahead.”

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Mattiussi has been a professional planner for decades, working first in Ontario before joining the Edmonton Metropolitan Regional Planning Commission. He served in that role from 1980 to 1990, at which point he became executive director (CAO) in Edmonton.

In 1995, he went on to become the director of planning and development services for the City of Kelowna, and was appointed city manager (CAO) in 2006, a position which he held through 2018.

Mattiussi had also served as interim CAO for Summerland, Revelstoke and Grand Forks, and assisted with planning work in Lake Country.

He also has much experience in emergency planning, having led over 10 incidents with the Central Okanagan’s Emergency Operations Centre, advised the Alberta Government during the Wood Buffalo wildfire, and was retained to help with the rebuilding of Lytton after the fire there.

Though Mattiussi brings a wealth of knowledge to the role, the City of West Kelowna continues to search for someone who could take over the position permanently.