Breaking News – Northumberland County Announces Departure of Acting Chief Administrative Officer Glenn Dees

Pete Fisher
15 seconds ago
• Categories: City Hall, Local

Northumberland County is announcing today that Acting Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Glenn Dees will be concluding his role with the organization after 17 years of distinguished public service.

Mr. Dees will be pursuing a new professional opportunity; his final day with the County will be March 13, 2026.

Mr. Dees joined Northumberland County in May 2009 in the Finance Department.

During this period, he has held several progressive leadership roles, becoming Director of Finance/Treasurer in January 2016.

In that capacity, he strengthened the County’s long-term financial planning framework, and advanced strategic fiscal policies.

This included overseeing the development and implementation of the County’s first comprehensive Development Charge – positioning the organization to sustainably manage growth and invest in critical infrastructure.

In September 2023, Mr. Dees took on the new role of Director of Health and Human Services, where he has since provided executive leadership for the County’s Long-term Care and Social Services portfolios.

In this role, he has overseen extensive transition planning for the County’s Golden Plough Lodge long-term care home, including up-staffing, coordination with provincial ministries, compliance with evolving legislative requirements, and ongoing support for staff and residents as plans advance to relocate to a new, larger facility in the first half of 2026.

His leadership has also extended beyond traditional municipal service delivery.

At the direction of County Council, and in collaboration with the Mayor of the Municipality of Port Hope and the Community Health Centres of Northumberland, Mr. Dees led the establishment of a new Medical Walk-In Clinic in Port Hope in August 2024—expanding access to primary care for hundreds of unattached patients in the community.

In September 2025, he further advanced plans for expanded local health care access through the launch of the County’s Physician Recruitment Initiative, a two-year, County-led pilot project designed to improve access to primary health care for residents across Northumberland.

The Community & Social Services team also continued to advance critical community supports under Mr. Dees’ leadership, across Early Years, Ontario Works, housing, and homelessness programs. Most notably, he supported the establishment of an overnight warming room at County Headquarters for the 2025/26 winter season, providing a safe refuge for individuals experiencing homelessness. As well, he supported the response to the recent fire at an NCHC apartment complex that displaced 20 residents—working closely with staff as they confirmed accommodation plans for all residents within two weeks of the incident.

In October 2025, Mr. Dees also assumed the role of Acting CAO.

In this capacity, he has led the County’s Senior Leadership Team in advancing organizational priorities, strengthening fiscal sustainability, and supporting service delivery excellence.

He has also worked closely with County Council to advance strategic planning initiatives and uphold transparent, informed decision-making processes.

Throughout his tenure with the County, Mr. Dees has been recognized as a kind, fair, and empathetic leader with a strong people-first philosophy.

He is respected for his analytical strength, strategic planning expertise, and his ability to handle complex situations with a calm and measured approach—ensuring decisions are informed, balanced, and in the best interest of the broader community.

He has consistently fostered a high-performing, team-oriented environment focused on accountability and service excellence.

“On behalf of County Council and the residents we serve, I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Glenn for his 17 years of outstanding service to Northumberland County,” states Warden Bob Crate.

“From strengthening our financial foundations, to guiding critical health and human services initiatives, to leading the organization as Acting CAO, Glenn has made a lasting and meaningful impact on our organization and our community.

He is a thoughtful, steady, and compassionate leader who has always placed people at the centre of his work.

While we are sorry to see him go, we congratulate him on the new opportunities he will be pursuing, and we wish him every success in the future.”

The County will provide further information regarding interim leadership arrangements and the recruitment process for the Chief Administrative Officer position in the coming weeks.