Skip to content

New West resident to take helm of Metro Vancouver

Longtime New Westminster resident Jerry Dobrovolny is taking the helm of Metro Vancouver this fall.
Jerry Dobrovolny
New West resident and former New Westminster city councillor Jerry Dobrovoly will become the new CAO/commissioner of Metro Vancouver this fall.

Longtime New Westminster resident Jerry Dobrovolny is taking the helm of Metro Vancouver this fall.

Metro Vancouver has announced that Dobrovolny was appointed by its board of directors to serve as the regional district’s new chief administrative officer and commissioner, effective Nov. 2. Dobrovolny, who manages a team of more than 2,100 staff and combined annual budgets of more than $800 million in his current role as city engineer – general manager of engineering services at the City  of Vancouver, was selected following a six-month recruitment process and a North American-wide search.

“I am elated to accept the positon of Metro Vancouver’s commissioner/CAO, which is both an awesome responsibility and opportunity to help shape the future of this truly spectacular region that we love,” he said in a press release. “As the key contact with the board, members and other orders of government, I look forward to working with staff and elected officials to enhance the quality of life in one of the world’s most livable regions.”

Dobrovolny, who was raised in New West, served as a councillor in New Westminster from 1996 to 2005. His educational background includes a bachelor of applied science – civil engineering from the University of British Columbia, a professional engineering designation, and a master of business administration from Simon Fraser University.

“After a robust executive recruiting process, Jerry clearly demonstrated that he is uniquely capable of effectively managing a complex array of essential public utilities and services for more than 2.5 million people in the region, while juggling competing demands with ease and enthusiasm,” said Sav Dhaliwal, Metro Vancouver board chair.

In early October, Dobrovolny will begin working at Metro Vancouver with current commissioner/CAO Carol Mason to facilitate knowledge transfer and a smooth transition.

When he assumes his new role, Dobrovolny will be reporting to the 40 elected officials who make up Metro Vancouver’s board of directors and will guide about 1,500 employees who provide services to the region’s 23 member jurisdictions.

Metro Vancouver, which is a federation of 21 municipalities, one electoral area and one treaty First Nation, plans for and delivers regional services such as drinking water, wastewater treatment and solid waste management. It also regulates air quality, plans for urban growth, manages a regional parks system and provides affordable housing.