Edmonton has a new city manager.
Eddie Robar has been selected for the role, taking over the job seven months after previous Edmonton city manager Andre Corbould stepped down.
Robar has served as interim city manager since April and has worked at city hall for more than eight years.
His appointment was announced by Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi in a news release late Wednesday.
Sohi said Robar was selected after an intensive search and has already shown his commitment to the job.
“On behalf of city council, I would like to thank Eddie for stepping up in this important role,” Sohi said in Wednesday’s statement.
“He has demonstrated his ability and commitment to Edmontonians, and I have faith he will continue to serve Edmontonians to the highest standard.”
During his tenure as interim manager this summer, Robar helped the city navigate budget cuts and helped the city deliver aid to evacuees of the wildfires in Jasper.
‘Proud to lead’
Prior to his promotion, Robar was the deputy city manager of city operations — the department responsible for parks, roads, transit, waste, fleet and facility programs.
He oversaw the redesign of the city’s transit network, introduced adjustments to snow and ice programs, and expanded Edmonton’s organics waste program.
He has spent his entire career in municipal government and has led transit systems in Edmonton and Halifax.
City managers act as a critical link between council and administration, acting as a leader for the day-to-day operations of the municipality.
In his new role, Robar will be responsible for leading more than 11,000 employees in delivering hundreds of city programs and services across more than 70 departments and services.
In Wednesday’s statement, Robar said he looks forward to the opportunity to serve the city in a new way.
“I am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead. I am proud to lead a city workforce that makes our community better every single day. “
Corbould stepped away from the role suddenly this spring after more than three years on the job.
He took over the role from former city manager Linda Cochrane, who retired at the end of December 2019. The role was temporarily filled by longtime city employee Adam Laughlin.