- Organization: City of Windsor
- Posted: January 27th, 2021
Windsor city council has successfully concluded the recruitment process for the next Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the City of Windsor to replace Onorio Colucci, who has decided to retire after nearly 37 years of continuous service to the city.
Effective April 6, 2021, Jason Reynar will become the head of the professional public service, reporting to council and responsible for leading the municipal corporation. Since 2015, Reynar has served as the CAO to the Town of Innisfil, prior to which he held multiple roles including town solicitor and town clerk in the same community.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to help lead the City of Windsor’s next chapter,” Reynar said. “From economic development to social service provision, I look forward to joining the city’s administration as we work with Mayor Dilkens and council to continue to tangibly improve the lives of Windsorites and help businesses recover from the pandemic and prosper.”
Prior to joining the public sector, Reynar was a litigator in Toronto. Reynar holds a Bachelor of Arts (University of Guelph), Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws (Osgoode Hall Law School) and a Master of Business Administration (Schulich School of Business). He has led such innovations in the municipal sector as a public transit system powered by ride-sharing and the launch of one of the most unique developments in Ontario, The Orbit (www.innisfil.ca/orbit).
Mayor Drew Dilkens said he looks forward to welcoming Reynar to the City of Windsor.
“Throughout the recruitment process, the Interview Committee was consistently impressed with Jason’s strategic thinking, creativity and understanding,” Dilkens said. “It took a lot for us to consider candidates from outside of our region, but his passion, energy and intellect shone through.”
In seeking a new CAO, Windsor city council was keen to seek the very best candidate and undertook a thorough process that initially began in October 2020. Led by Boyden Executive Search, over 175 public sector leaders were targeted as part of the initial recruitment effort; 23 applications were received; and six candidates were assessed and interviewed.
The recommendation to advance Reynar was a unanimous decision of Windsor city council.
While excited to announce Reynar’s appointment, Dilkens also took the opportunity to praise Colucci, who he called “a fixture at city hall” since before he was elected in 2006.
“As Chief Financial Officer, he helped achieve an unprecedented string of fiscally responsible budgets that showed respect for Windsor taxpayers,” Dilkens said.” As Chief Administrative Officer, he’s cemented Windsor’s place as a growing community and, most recently, helped lead the municipal response to COVID-19.”
Colucci has agreed to support the transition process by assuming the role of Senior Special Advisor from April 6 until April 30.
“Windsor welcomed me with open arms as a 12-year old immigrant kid from Italy in 1970, and it has been a wonderful community in which to live and raise my family,” Colucci said. “While it has become rare for someone to spend nearly their entire professional life at one organization, I always found satisfaction in the challenges at city hall and felt that, in some small way, it allowed me to give back to my adopted home. I couldn’t be more grateful to our dedicated employees and to those who have inspired, mentored and supported me during my time with the City of Windsor.”
