Jim Toye (Left) with Mayor Greg Dionne (Right). (Jaryn Vecchio/paNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Big Loss

P.A. city manager planning to retire in coming months

Jan 31, 2022 | 4:00 PM

The city manager for Prince Albert is planning to leave at the end of March.

Jim Toye announced his retirement on Monday, marking just over eight years as the city’s top employee.

Before working in P.A., he had served as North Battleford’s city manager for 13 years.

Toye, who was originally planning to retire at the end of the year, said his personal life drove him to want to settle down a bit earlier.

“With my wife’s retirement same time as me in March, we have three wonderful daughters and 10 grandchildren, and we need to spend some time with them.”

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During his announcement, Toye outlined several projects he was proud to oversee.

This includes the proposed aquatic and arena centre, Oriented Strand Board (OSB) plant, the planned restart of the P.A. pulp mill, and the manufacturing facility planned for north of the city.

“Things are going really well with the city right now, I believe… I think I’ve taken the city to a level where you can look at the highs and it can look very, very positive.”

His official last day will be March 31. The plan is to move near Saskatoon where he and his wife have been creating a home.

Impossible To Replace

Toye’s announcement is leaving Mayor Greg Dionne with mixed feelings.

He said he’s excited his friend will get to spend more time with his family, however, he added it will be a big loss for the city.

He believes it will be nearly impossible to find someone who can replace him.

“We sort of gelled together because I was sort of the over-aggressor and he was sort of the passive one, but at the end of the day we got things done.”

Dionne also outlined three accomplishments during Toye’s time with P.A.

The creation of the current administration team, his handling of the 2016 water crisis that forced families to find ways to conserve water after the city’s supply was polluted by an oil spill, and his ability to receive funding from both the provincial and federal governments.

“It’s over $150 million… that’s money, we as taxpayers, didn’t have to pay.”

Dionne added there won’t be a rush to replace Toye, meaning they’ll most likely have to name an acting city manager once he officially leaves.

—

Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow