The City of Quesnel is happy to announce that Mayor and Council have appointed Joel McKay as the new City Manager. McKay has served as the Chief Executive Officer for the past eight years at Northern Development Initiative Trust and is scheduled to start his position as City Manager in January 2025.
The City of Quesnel began the process of recruiting a new City Manager upon the resignation of Byron Johnson, who accepted a position with the District of Clearwater.
“Joel brings a wealth of connected knowledge and ambition to the City of Quesnel, and on behalf of Council, I am pleased to welcome him to his new role,” said Mayor Ron Paull. “His drive and ambition will be a great asset to the community, and we look forward to working with him on projects and initiatives to help further develop our beautiful city.”
“I would like to express my gratitude and excitement as I enter this new role,” said Joel McKay. “It has been a privilege to have had the opportunity to serve as Chief Executive Officer at Northern Development Initiative Trust, and I look forward to utilizing the skillsets that I have developed there to fulfill the role of City Manager for the City of Quesnel. Mayor and Council have provided me with this incredible opportunity to be a part of this exceptional team and community and I look forward to the work ahead of us all.”
Deputy City Manager Kari Bolton will continue to fulfill the role during this transition until Joel McKay starts with the City on January 2, 2025.
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Media Contact
Jennifer Reed, Communications Clerk
City of Quesnel
P: 250-991-7475
E: jreed@quesnel.ca
About Joel McKay:
Joel McKay joins the City of Quesnel from Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT), a regional development corporation focused on stimulating economic growth in Northern British Columbia. Joel joined Northern Development in 2012, where he handled the Trust’s communications marketing and research. Before that, Joel was an assignment editor at Business in Vancouver Newspaper and a journalist specializing in coverage of B.C.’s natural resource industries. Since assuming the role of CEO of NDIT in 2016, the Trust has more than doubled its assets under management to exceed $600 million, modernized its identity, programs, and systems, and positioned itself as a key public sector partner for communities and senior orders of government on important initiatives such as broadband connectivity, ground transportation, agriculture, and community development.
Joel is an award-winning journalist, public relations professional, and author. He currently serves as Chair of the Board of Governors at the University of Northern British Columbia and previously served on the board of Destination BC, where he chaired the finance and audit committee. He was born and raised in the Lower Mainland. While Joel looks forward to his move to Quesnel, he currently calls Prince George home where he lives with his wife and two daughters. He spends his spare time fishing and writing fiction.