City Appoints Second Interim Planning GM
This is a release from the City of Ottawa:
M E M O / N O T E D E S E R V I C E
To / Destinataire Mayor and Members of Council File/N° de fichier:
From / Expéditeur Wendy Stephanson
City Manager
Subject / Objet Senior Leadership Team Update – Interim General Manager, Planning,
Real Estate and Economic
Development
Date: December 11, 2023
The purpose of this memo is to inform Members of Council that Don Herweyer, Interim General Manager (GM) of Planning, Real Estate and Economic Development (PRED), will be retiring in the spring of 2024.To ensure a seamless leadership transition, Vivi Chi, Director of Transportation Planning, will move into the role of Interim GM of PRED effective January 2, 2024, until a permanent GM is announced.
Don has dedicated 36 years of municipal public service to the City of Ottawa. Since August 2022, he has successfully led the team in PRED to advance transformative files that will shape Ottawa’s future including the Official Plan, the Transportation Master Plan and Climate Change Master Plan. Throughout the past 18 months, Don has brought stability to the department by working closely with his leadership team to navigate multiple provincial legislative announcements that have led to unprecedented changes to how the department functions. Don has successfully led the department through two budgets, further provincial changes to the Official Plan, work on the new Zoning and Development Charges by-law, Lansdowne 2.0 and the Community Improvement Plan review.
Don has made significant and lasting contributions to our great city and will be missed by his team for his supportive leadership style and commitment to building strong and productive relationships with employees, elected officials and community partners. Around the senior leadership team table, Don will be missed for his collaborative nature and in-depth knowledge.
A formal recognition will take place closer to Don’s retirement date. Please join me in thanking Don for his dedication to the City of Ottawa and wishing him well as he prepares for the next chapter.
Effective January 2, Vivi Chi will begin working closely with Don and the departmental leadership team as she transitions into the role of Interim GM of PRED. Vivi is a professional civil engineer with more than 35 years of experience in municipal government, beginning with the former Region of Ottawa-Carleton, then the amalgamated City of Ottawa. Her career started in
1
construction and progressed quickly to planning major transportation projects that improve mobility options for residents.
City Sewage Seeping Into Staff Reports: THE VOTER
Vivi is a seasoned leader within the organization having served in several senior management roles including most recently as Director of Transportation Planning and as Associate General Manager (AGM) of PRED from 2021 to 2022. As AGM, Vivi had the opportunity to strengthen the core leadership skills and competencies required of a GM.
Vivi excels in challenges and has led many high-profile city-building initiatives such as the West Transitway Extension, the O-Train pilot project, the Corktown Bridge, the Laurier Bike Lanes, Churchill Avenue and the City’s first Transportation Master Plan. These projects and others have won several provincial and national awards for innovation and design excellence.
A proven collaborator, coach and mentor, Vivi is committed to providing opportunities for staff to excel, building trust and alliances with external partners, and working collaboratively to deliver on Council’s priorities.
Both Don and Vivi remain committed to the continued success of the PRED team. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly.
Sincerely,
Wendy Stephanson
City Manager
cc: Senior Leadership Team
Extended Senior Leadership Team
Nathalie Gougeon, Auditor General
Sonia Bebbington, Ottawa Public Library
Dr. Vera Etches, Ottawa Public Health
Chief Eric Stubbs, Ottawa Police Services
2
—
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Pollster Asks For Impressions Of OC Transpo
Trillium Line Procurement: Friends Protecting Friends
LRT Project Rapidly Completing: WHOPPER WATCH
The Most Thankless Job In Ottawa Municipal Government
Don’t miss our regular features
Everything Ottawa Full Local Bulldog Canadian
Opinion Comments Breaking News Auto
Ontario World Get Cheap Gas Big Money
Pop Gossip Your Home Relax … Tech
Bulldog Weather Full Local Sports
TV/Movies Travel
Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
– The Bulldog – News Feed Enter 
If you want to read something scary, make sure you read right to the end of the press release where it says: “Both Don and Vivi remain committed to the continued success of the PRED team.” Now that is truly frightening!
I know, Ken, you will have been particularly heartened by the credit given to her for the Laurier bike lanes and the Churchill Avenue revamp among other things. Maybe she’ll bring you more great projects like that!
Another “seasoned leader”, when can we expect some new blood to bring new ideas to all the departments at city hall ?
BT:
I don’t think new ideas is the prime directive.
It’s rather not changing anything because entrenched interests making lots of money don’t want to have the boat rocked.
cheers
kgray