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Bowen Island's CAO goes on leave

Dennis Back is taking over from Kathy Lalonde as CAO for the next two months.
Muni

Bowen’s chief administrative officer Kathy Lalonde has taken a personal leave as of Oct. 22.

A Bowen Island Municipality news release Monday afternoon said that BIM is appointing Dennis Back as interim CAO in Lalonde’s absence.

Though the release doesn’t go why Lalonde is taking leave, in a letter to the community last week, Lalonde said that her husband is very ill. In the same letter Lalonde described being on the receiving end of personalized harassment during the firefighters’ dispute.

Mayor Gary Ander wouldn’t get into why Lalonde is taking a leave, only saying that it was her decision. “There’s just a lot of stuff going on in her world,” said Ander. “That’s all.”

While chief financial officer Raj Hayre usually acts as CAO while Lalonde is away, Ander said that for Lalonde’s prolonged absence, council felt it necessary to hire someone for that position. “It probably is the most important job as far as the administration is concerned,” said Ander.

Back, who has a long history in municipal administration, started as interim CAO at the municipality Oct. 22.  

“We’re extremely happy to have him and we’re very fortunate because he’s a very talented individual,” said Ander. 

Since 2009 Back has worked all over B.C. as an independent contractor, frequently filling in as CAO for municipalities and temporarily taking responsibility for day-to-day operations.  

Before his contracting days, Back worked for the District of North Vancouver for more than a decade, including a stint as its CAO, and in Vancouver, Powell River, Penticton and Oliver municipalities. 

Only a couple of days into his new role, Back says that he’s glad to be able to come over and offer his assistance to the municipality and that it seems like a great place so far. 

The release says that Lalonde intends to return to work Jan. 6, 2020.