Former city CAO takes old job in Grande Prairie

By COLLIN GALLANT on February 17, 2022.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

Bob Nicolay will become the interim city manager in the City of Grande Prairie, roughly one month after he announced his retirement from the City of Medicine Hat.

The job is a second return trip for the Nicolay, who was hired away from the northern Alberta city in 2018 when he rejoined local city hall as top administrator.

That term ended months ahead of schedule in January when Nicolay told the News of his long-set plan to retire in 2022, and after the current year’s budget passed, he was stepping away to give a largely new council a chance to set planning and priorities under a new administration.

Attempts to reach him on Wednesday were unsuccessful.

A release from Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton on Tuesday night states Nicolay will resume the post he held in 2017 and 2018 until the end of this year, in part to aid in the hiring of a permanent replacement.

“We are pleased to see Bob return to Grande Prairie in this role. His extensive experience with the energy sector, business development and municipal government will be very beneficial for the city during this time of transition,” said Clayton.

“We are looking forward to tapping into his knowledge and expertise as council builds out our 2022-25 strategic plan and searches for a permanent city manager.”

The position in Grande Prairie begins March 14.

Other senior managers in Medicine Hat are now assuming acting city manager duties on a rotating basis. His last working day in Medicine Hat was Jan. 31, but his last official day is in July considering accumulated vacation, sick and overtime is calculated.

In Medicine Hat, statements from both Nicolay and elected officials described an amicable parting of ways. Nicolay had an original three-year contract that would have expired near last fall’s municipal election extended by one year by the previous council.

Nicolay was also CAO in Medicine Hat up to 1999 when he left to join City of Calgary-controlled utility company Enmax.

In a statement announcing his local retirement on Jan. 21, he was thanked for nearly 40 years of total service to the city of Medicine Hat.