City of Merritt Welcomes New CAO
The City of Merritt is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Cynthia White to the position of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).
“We are thrilled to have Cynthia join us,” says Mayor Michael Goetz. “We are impressed with her diverse background in municipal operations, community health and wellness, infrastructure development, and community safety and security.”
Coming from the Northwest Territories, Ms. White is no stranger to the dynamics of small towns, hailing from a small community of 2500 people near the Northern Alberta border. Leading the municipality of Fort Smith as the Senior Administrative Officer, Ms. White had the benefit of working in many different aspects of municipal operations. In addition to overall business planning, fund development, and operations management, Ms. White’s purview covered housing, climate, community facilities, economic development, recreation programs, roads, water, sewer, infrastructure, and bylaw.
“Ms. White accomplished a lot in her tenure at Fort Smith,” says City of Merritt Director of Human Resources, Christine Carlson. “Her impressive track record of accomplishments, leadership, and dedication to community engagement made her the perfect fit for the city.”
Ms. White earned the respect of her peers through her dedication to her team and her unwavering commitment to community welfare. “Cynthia’s devotion to the community is evident,” adds Mayor Goetz. “Her leadership will undoubtedly drive numerous projects and steer the City of Merritt toward a productive and progressive future.”
Ms. White’s diverse background also includes serving as a Constable with the RCMP, where she had extensive experience in emergency services and enforcement. Her dedication to community health and wellness, along with her experience as a sports coach, motivated her to pursue two master’s degrees: one in occupational therapy and the other in rehabilitation science. She parlayed that education into a role overseeing community wellness, recreation, and economic development as Fort Smith’s Director of Community Services before migrating to the Senior Administrative Officer position. Ms. White also holds certifications in Public Sector Procurement, Asset Management Planning, and Leadership.
“I am very much looking forward to working with the City of Merritt,” says incoming City of Merritt CAO, Cynthia White. “It looks to be a great community with a great team, with abundant amenities and expansive outdoor opportunities.” Ms. White is looking forward to tackling a range of projects spanning different domains, with an initial focus on infrastructure, such as the Middlesboro Bridge reconstruction, as well as social issues, from housing to health and wellness. She is equally passionate about driving economic development, building innovative sectors, improving amenities, and making the city of Merritt the ideal hub to live, play, and do business.
With family ties on Vancouver Island, Ms. White looks forward to relocating to a more central location, offering convenient access to both the coast and the interior. While her official start date was set for September 4, 2023, her residence in the Northwest Territories remains under evacuation order. As such, she has joined the City this week, effective August 29, 2023.
Mayor Goetz concludes, “Let us extend a warm welcome to Cynthia as she joins our community, and let’s collectively support her in achieving the success we all seek.”