The Town of Smithers is governed by a seven-member Council that is elected every four years. Council appoints the Chief Administrative Officer to manage the operation of the entire Town. Learn more about each department below.
Council appoints the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to manage the operation of the entire organization. Programs and service levels are guided by the Council Strategic Plan, which sets out Council's goals, objectives, and priorities. Administration’s main goals are to manage the Town's infrastructure in a cost-effective and safe manner while diversifying our economy, reducing our carbon footprint, maintaining our high quality of life, and providing excellent service delivery for our citizens.
The Executive Assistant (EA) to the CAO works directly with the CAO to ensure the efficient operation of the CAO's office. The EA coordinates and manages the Corporate Strategic Plan in order to meet the goals, objectives, and priorities in the Council Strategic Plan. The EA also manages all other corporate strategic documents and works with the Town’s directors to ensure goals are met.
Chief Administrative Officer: Dianna Plouffe
Executive Assistant: Kimberly SmithEconomic Development
The Town promotes economic development and tourism both internally and externally through contracts with the Smithers and District Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Smithers.Recreation, Parks, and Culture
Recreation, Parks, and Culture is responsible for the provision of programs, services, and facilities focused on active living, healthy lifestyles, and building community. Facilities managed within this area include the Civic Centre, New Arena, Riverside Municipal Campground and RV Park, Heritage Park Fields, Ranger Park Building, Chandler Park Soccer Fields, Elks Park Ball Diamonds, Bovill Square, and a dozen other developed parks and playgrounds.Transit
Since 1991 the Smithers and District Transit Service, operated by the Smithers Community Services Association, has provided public transportation services through a BC Transit agreement. With a combination of curb-to-curb service and scheduled routes operating between Smithers and the Village of Telkwa, as well as Smithers and Witset, service is provided six days per week. The service is established through a partnership agreement between the Town of Smithers and BC Transit, with funding provided by BC Transit, the Town of Smithers, the Village of Telkwa, the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako and the Witset First Nation.Director of Community Services: Ryan Coltura
Economic Development Officer: Vacant
Recreation Coordinator: Reilly HendersonThe Corporate Services Department is responsible for Human Resources, Labour Relations, Corporate Administration, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy, and Occupational Health and Safety.
Director of Corporate Services: David Schroeter
Corporate Services Clerk: Penny Goodacre
Legislative Clerk: Bev Lynch
Human Resources Assistant: Nicky Thomson-TothThe Development Services Department is responsible for the following functions: Planning and Development, Engineering, including Capital Projects and Asset Management, Building Inspection, Business Licensing, and Cemetery Administration.
Director of Development Services: Mark Allen
Building Inspector: Morgan Widen
Planner: Deepa Chandran
Planning Technician I: Annie Girdler
Senior Engineering Technologist: Ariane Herzog
Engineering Technologist: Trent Schibli
Development Services Clerk: Michan MendelThe Finance Department is responsible for Town financial planning, risk monitoring, and overseeing resources approved for expenditure on service delivery and investment in infrastructure/ equipment. The Town has an annual operating budget of ~ $16 million, an investment in capital assets at historical cost of ~ $130 million, these are supported by a $1 billion property tax roll of properties in the Town.
Finance administers property taxation ($7 million for Town, $5 million for other governments), utilities billings ($2 million), other billings ($4 million), grant funding ($4-$12 million per year), supplier payments ($6 million operating and $4+ million capital projects), and payroll ($6 million). The Department supports the public, Council, and staff across a range of services, projects, and plans.
Finance produces annual public process documents including a Five-Year Financial Plan Bylaw, Tax and Utility Rate Bylaws, Audited Financial Statements, and Statement of Financial Information disclosures.
Director of Finance: William Wallace
Senior Accounting Clerk: Nese Walker
Accounting Clerk - Accounts Receivable: Tammy Overgaard
Accounting Clerk - Accounts Payable: Julia Davies
Accounting Clerk - Payroll: Codie-Ann Huisman
Clerk Typist - Reception: Crystal LedouxSmithers Fire Rescue has consistently retained a volunteer force of 42 firefighters over the years. Organizationally, Smithers Fire Rescue fosters the Town’s commitment to a positive, trusting and collaborative environment.
Firefighters provide services beyond structural firefighting such as: First Responder (pre-hospital care); Highway Rescue; Aircraft Firefighting; Fire Prevention; and Public Fire Safety Education. Fire prevention focuses on areas such as code enforcement and fire inspection services. Public fire safety education provides general information on preventing accidents in the home and workplace through lectures, tours, printed materials, and fire extinguisher demonstrations. We have seen significant success in our education of children in the elementary school setting.
Fire Chief: Kelly Zacharias
Deputy Fire Chief: Alle Jan deVries
Fire Training Officer: Matt Herzog
Clerk Typist - Firehall: Sharon KendallThe Operations Department is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Town's infrastructure. Areas of responsibility include:
Municipal Facilities, Parks, Trail Systems and Cemetery
Operations services and maintains municipal buildings, parks, trail systems and the cemetery.Solid Waste and Recycling
Solid waste services include garbage collection and single family residential curbside recycling collection.Transportation Services
The areas of responsibility include streets and sidewalks; snow removal and sanding; public works yard; and municipal vehicle and equipment fleet.Utility Services
Utility services include the potable water supply and distribution system; sanitary sewer system and sewage treatment plant; and storm water collection and drainage systems.
Operations Direct Line (messages received for after hours): 250-847-1649 or via email at works@smithers.ca
After Hours Water & Sewer Emergency only line: 250-877-1562
Director of Operations: Chris Lawrence
Operations Supervisor: Don Solomon
Utilities Supervisor: Darren Fuerst
Clerk Typist - Works and Operations: Joanne Berarducci