Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board Chief Administrative Officer Dan McCormick, May 2023. Image: Randy Thoms

The Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board is searching for a new Chief Administrative Officer.

Current CAO Dan McCormick has announced he will retire at the end of the year.

“There are lots of things I’d like to continue, but I just think it’s time for a change and time to get out of the race because nothing stops anymore. It used to have breaks for holidays and vacations, and it doesn’t anymore. It’s just constant,” says McCormick.

News of his retirement comes as he was recently recognized for twenty years of service.

He become CAO in 2011 after serving as the Chief of Emergency Services for a decade.

McCormick cites two major accomplishments during his career.

One is the consolidation of the ambulance service into one unified service across the district.

The other was a similar approach to child care.

“Very successful in building new childcare centers, probably close to $15 to $17 million in investment. That was all 100% provincial dollars, so driving up the credentialing for ECE (Eary childhood educator). It’s a professional job, and it’s not a babysitting job,” says McCormick.

The search for his replacement is underway.

The board expects to advertise for the position shortly.

McCormick says the plan is to have a new CAO in place well before he retires to ensure a smooth transition of the job.