WESTLOCK — After serving on the organization’s board for roughly seven years, Westlock County chief administrative officer Tony Kulbisky has now ascended to the role of president of the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA).
The CAMA is a non-profit organization open to all senior managers “dedicated to improving municipalities across Canada," according to the association’s website.
Kulbisky’s appointment as president was formalized during a CAMA board meeting on Feb. 15 in Ottawa, Ont.
Kulbisky first joined the CAMA board in 2017, assuming the role as Alberta’s representative, according to a news release. He became the organization’s treasurer in 2021 before being appointed as second vice president in 2022 and first vice president in 2023.
In addition to serving as president, he will continue to act as Alberta’s representative on the board, as well as chair of the 2024 Conference and Professional Development Committee.
Kulbisky succeeds Bev Hendry, who recently retired from her position as chief administrative officer (CAO) for the Township of West Lincoln, Ont., and subsequently resigned as CAMA president.
The Westlock News reached out to Kulbisky via e-mail last week to ask how his new position might benefit Westlock County, where he has served as CAO since August 2022.
"As CAMA president, my primary objective is to champion the interests of municipalities throughout Canada. While my role within CAMA my not inherently provide direct advantages to any specific municipalities, it provides a platform for initiatives that benefit municipalities of all sizes and backgrounds," he said.
Kulbisky added that through his position, he gains access to valuable networking opportunities, information sharing platforms and collaborative efforts, which can significantly contribute to the ongoing growth and prosperity of Westlock County as a community.
"Engaging with counterparts from diverse municipalities enables me to share best practices, stay abreast of emerging trends and confront governance challenges, thereby bringing back invaluable insights and knowledge to our council and staff," he said.
"Furthermore, serving as CAMA president empowers me to ensure that the voices of municipalities like ours are heard in discussions and decision-making processes that impact local government nationwide."
In the CAMA release, Westlock County Reeve Christine Wiese congratulated Kulbisky on his new role.
“Westlock County is blessed to have you as our CAO and we are excited for all Canadian Municipalities to benefit from your strong leadership,” she said.
Including his time at Westlock County, Kulbisky has more than 25 years of experience in various senior management roles.
He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alberta and has earned several professional certifications, including a Municipal Management and Leadership Certificate from the U of A’s School of Business and a National Advanced Certificate in Local Authority Administration with Distinction.
Kulbisky was honoured with the prestigious 2016 Award of Excellence by the Society of Local Government Managers of Alberta and was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.
