By Pepper Parr
May 20th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
There are those people who are good at what they do who just never quit.
Tim Dobbie, probably the most effective city manager Burlington every had took retirement when the incoming Mayor wasn’t quite his cup of tea and went on to create a consulting business that has served more than 100 clients.
Dobbie with another former Burlington city manager Jeff Fielding
Some administrators give it up when they have a street named after them; Dobbie went on to write the strategic plan for Milton and was offered an opportunity by Jeff Fielding to do some work in Calgary. Fielding was a city manager that came after Dobbie. Those guys all hang tight together.
It would be a journalistic coup to hear what Dobbie thinks about the current Burlington 25 year Strategic Plan but Dobbie is too much of a professional to say anything publicly.
While parts of his approach to public service may be old school – Dobbie is still recognized and appreciated by the municipal community to be awarded the Robert Baldwin Award from the Ontario Municipal Administrators’ Association (OMAA).
“Tim exemplifies the professionalism, integrity and innovative spirit that are required by those in administrative leadership roles in municipal government,” said Gary Dyke, president of the OMAA and city manager for the City of Cambridge. “Our association is proud to present this award to Tim as an inspiration to our members.”
Dobbie is well-known throughout the municipal sector, having served the City of Burlington for more than 30 years, including 11 years as city manager. Tim Dobbie Drive in the Alton area of Burlington is named after Dobbie.
Tim Dobbie, recipient of the Robert Baldwin award.
“Tim Dobbie is a deserving recipient of the Robert Baldwin Award. Everywhere you look in our great city, you can find a project he helped bring to fruition,” said Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring. “He is a respected leader and community-builder in the city of Burlington.”
Robert Baldwin, who wrote the first Municipal Act, supported women’s rights and religious tolerance, and was one of the first proponents of a bicultural nation. He added the phrase “Responsible Government” to the lexicon of municipal administrators.
The Robert Baldwin Award is Ontario’s highest award for municipal public service granted by the association. It recognizes a career of achievement and service in the field of municipal administration, significant and lasting contributions to municipal and local government in Ontario and service to the community, the province and Canada by those who work in municipal government.
After retiring from the City of Burlington in 2007, Dobbie launched Tim L. Dobbie Consulting Ltd. His practice includes strategic planning, executive search, organizational reviews, service delivery reviews and mentoring for both private and public organizations.
Burlington Community Foundation chair Tim Dobbie confers with Executive Director Coleen Mulholland before deliver a research report with some stunning data.
Dobbie served as a board member for the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC), is a past president of the Ontario Municipal Administrators’ Association and a former Board member of Burlington Hydro. He is a former chair of the board of directors of the Burlington Community Foundation, a member of the Board of Directors of the Goodwill Amity Group and a member of the board of directors and former president of the Burlington-Hamilton United Way, and a member of the board of the Hamilton-Burlington YMCA.
In October 2006, Dobbie received the Engineer of the Year award from the Hamilton-Halton Professional Engineers Chapter of the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers and the Hamilton Engineering Institute.
I am honoured to receive the award from the award from the Ontario Municipal Administrators Association, and would like to share it with the many people who have made my successes possible,” Dobbie said. “I include in this list my family, the great leaders, staff and City Council at the City of Burlington, many people from many municipalities, and my supportive, dedicated team at Tim L. Dobbie Consulting Ltd.” Sharing the credit – typical of Tim Dobbie
