Mayor Naheed Nenshi said Tuesday he was sad to announce that city manager Jeff Fielding has submitted his resignation, effective April 1.
Fielding has accepted a position as chief of staff at the City of Toronto.
Nenshi said Fielding was selected in 2014 from an international slate of candidates.
“Jeff is a consummate public servant, and a public servant who is deeply dedicated to municipal government – the order of government that makes the biggest difference to people,” said the mayor.
Nenshi said he could not have hoped for a better partner. Fielding arrived in Calgary not long after the 2013 flood. He oversaw a change in philosophy at the city that made customer service for citizens the priority for city employees.
Fielding thanked the mayor for giving him the chance to help manage the city for nearly five years.
“I love this city,” said Fielding. “I love this province. It was a dream come true. It was the best job I ever had.”
He said he had been apart from his family while working in Calgary, and that circumstances have now changed that require him to return to them. He said his latest contract term had been until June 2020.
“It’s with great sadness that I’ll be leaving Calgary because I love this city with all my heart,” said Fielding.
Nenshi said council will strike a three-member committee, which he will serve on, to search for the next city manager. That process will likely begin in earnest Monday, at the next council meeting.
He promised an international search, but noted that there are potential candidates currently working at the city, and he hopes they put their names forward.
Nenshi does not expect the search to be complete before Fielding leaves at the end of February.
“We will probably have an acting city manager for a while,” said the mayor.
