Former military police officer to be the top dog at city hall; served as a deputy city manager in Vancouver as well.

By Pepper Parr

February 13, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

So who is this James Ridge who got himself appointed to the job of city manager for Burlington?

The former Deputy City Manager with the City of Vancouver and Chief Administrative Officer with the District of North Vancouver will take up his newest job City Manager of Burlington effective March 23.

This is a scene Burlington does not want to see – a senior municipal bureaucrat quitting his job. James Ridge, on the right announcing that he is quitting his job in Vancouver.

Ridge is currently the Principal and Chief Executive Officer of the University of British Columbia’s Vantage College, previously serving as an Associate Vice-president with UBC.

UBC Vantage College is an alternative first year pathway to UBC for people who do not have strong English language skills. The program allows high school students who typically come from secondary school systems that are delivered in other languages and don’t engage the students in the same way as the North American model.

Ridge was CAO for the District of North Vancouver and then Deputy City Manager for the City of Vancouver between 2003 and 2009. Previously Ridge held leadership positions with the City of Toronto between 2000 and 2003, as Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services and as CIO/Executive Director of Information and Technology.

Ridge began his career with the Canadian Armed Forces, where he worked as a military policeman, rising to the rank of major before entering the municipal sector. He holds a graduate degree in public administration from Queen’s University, a master’s degree from the University of Manitoba and a certificate in corporate finance from the London School of Economics (LSE).

Ridge, commenting on his LSE experience said it was one of the hardest courses he’d ever taken. “I wasn’t sure I was going to get through – there were many 1 am nights on that course but it was a great experience.”

James Ridge, described as “probably one of the most capable senior public servants in this province, bar none”, will become Burlington third city manager in four years.

A local media in Vancouver had this to say about Ridge: “It’s official, the City of Vancouver is now looking for a new Deputy City Manager. James Ridge has just tendered his resignation and is heading off to a new position at UBC as Assistant Vice President & Registrar.

Ridge was described a “not part of the ‘’old guard’. – he has only worked with the City for about a couple of years. He was hired after former Deputy City Manager Brent MacGregor retired.

Given the turnover of city managers in Burlington – his departure after just a few years might be seen as troublesome. Ridge was described as “probably one of the most capable senior public servants in this province, bar none. You need only ask his former employer Mayor Richard Walton in North Vancouver to validate this statement. I’ve heard from multiple sources Mayor Walton felt that Vancouver really snagged a big fish when they lured Ridge over to the City.
Ridge comes across as modest – he and his wife will be driving from Vancouver to Burlington – just the two of them – they are empty-nesters who will be bringing their four pets with them.

Ridge wasn’t prepared to comment on what he sees happening in Burlington other than to say that eastern Canada seems to spend more on culture than western Canada.

His departure from the city of Vancouver put him in play. The move to UBC appear to have been a place to roost until the next opportunity arose. Ridge did say that he had a number of calls from head hunters and that there were cities he would never go near.

He sees Burlington’s Council as a “collegial group” – he obviously has not seen the December 18th Council meeting.
Ridge was raised in Oshawa and attended McMaster University but was quick to say that he really didn’t know much about the city but he was looking forward to getting into the job.

Ridge didn’t know Jeff Fielding – the man he replaces, other than by reputation.

Ridge will have the same five year contract city managers are offered. Hopefully there is some kind of rider that keeps his feet glued to his office floor – men who take up the job of city manager don’t seem to last all that long.

His army experience as a military police officer suggests this guy is going to bring some discipline to the job. He will need a few months to get the lay of the land and then decide where the bench strength is and then begin building a team.

At this point the city has just the one city manager, Scott Stewart, who had hoped he would be city council’s pick. Stewart has been carrying the operation ever since Fielding left.

Stewart and Ridge have had a conversation; Ridge says Stewart put the call into him.

A quick take on the man: he has never been the top dog at a municipality – it is a lot different than running a department or reporting to someone who does set the tone.  Ridge will have to get a sense of Burlington and what there is in the way of a management team and at the same time get the feel of being the top dog.  He has some mistakes to make.

Burlington’s city council  doesn’t have a great record in choosing the person they want to run the city.  Council will be close to having determined what the budget is going to be for 2015; Ridge will have to manage a budget he played no part in creating.  The city does have a top notch Director of Finance to help him on the numbers side.

Wait until he gets a clear view of the infrastructure deficit and blinks when Taylor and Dennison explain how the “pave and shave” program is going to solve that problem.

It will take some time to figure out where Ridge stands on environmental issues and get his take on cultural planning.