Victoria, BC– The Capital Regional District (CRD) Board has announced that Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Robert Lapham will retire from the CRD this fall. Mr. Lapham has been CAO at the CRD since February 2013 and oversees all CRD operations as well as the Capital Regional Hospital District and Capital Region Housing Corporation.
“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Mr. Lapham for his tremendous leadership and dedication in this challenging and critically important role,” said CRD Board Chair Colin Plant. “He has been instrumental in supporting Board priorities and driving the CRD forward during a period of significant growth and at a time when the CRD has been advancing a large capital program, making key investments in infrastructure and expanding its operations to serve the needs of the region. During his time as CAO he also made a significant contribution to the success of the Core Area Wastewater Project as a member of the Project Board. His commitment to local government service for thirty five years has been marked by his success and accomplishments in a number of key senior leadership roles and we wish him all the best in the future.”
Mr. Lapham joined the CRD in 2006 as General Manager, Planning and Protective Services. In this role, he led a number of key development initiatives for the Capital Region Housing Corporation and Capital Regional Hospital District and the preparation of key regional plans and strategies for the CRD such as the Regional Growth Strategy, Regional Transportation Plan and Board Strategic Plan. As CAO, Mr. Lapham reports to a 24 member Board and has overall administrative responsibility for the CRD’s more than 200 regional, sub-regional and local services with an overall budget of $611M and more than $2.5B of tangible assets under management.
During his tenure as CAO, Mr. Lapham brought a higher profile and clarity to the CRD’s role as a regional leader. One of his key areas of focus was to enhance the strategic and corporate planning process for the organization and to improve the reporting systems to the CRD Board and more than 70 Committees and Commissions. His efforts to build organizational resilience by aligning business processes and increasing the level of accountability and transparency of CRD management responsibilities has been effective achieving a high standard of operational performance while continuing to advance Board priorities. He also oversaw the completion of major capital projects and key service enhancements including a large expansion of the regional affordable housing portfolio, land assembly and construction of hospital facilities such as the Mount View Heights and the Summit at Quadra Village, ongoing additions to the Regional Park system, Emergency Management systems, as well numerous infrastructure projects including the $775-million Wastewater Treatment Project.
The CRD Board has appointed a selection committee to begin the recruitment process for a new CAO. Mr. Lapham will continue in his role until the new CAO is in place which is expected to be this fall.
Proud to be recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers and Canada’s Greenest Employers, the CRD delivers regional, sub-regional and local services to 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Governed by a 24-member Board of Directors, the CRD works collaboratively with First Nations and all levels of government to enable sustainable growth, foster community well-being, and develop cost-effective infrastructure while continuing to provide core services to residents throughout the region. Visit us online at www.crd.bc.ca.
-30-
For media inquiries, please contact:
Andy Orr, Senior Manager
CRD Corporate Communications
Tel: 250.360.3229
Cell: 250.216.5492
Photo caption: Mr. Lapham participating in a staff event raising funds for the United Way.