Mayor & Council Announce New City Manager

Brandon City Council is pleased to announce Mr. Dave Wardrop as the successful candidate for our next City Manager. Council’s Personnel Committee started with an applicant pool of 35 candidates. The finalists were interviewed by the entire Brandon City Council.

Mr. Wardrop brings over 30 years of municipal leadership experience as both a professional engineer and a chartered professional accountant. He has developed extensive experience as a Chief Administrative Officer and by overseeing numerous high- profile projects, operations, and organizations.

Some of his notable projects include leading field operations during Winnipeg’s Flood of the Century in 1997 and overseeing the on-time and under-budget delivery of the Southwest Transitway Project as the Director of Winnipeg Transit. During his tenure as the City of Winnipeg’s Chief Transportation and Utilities Officer, he provided leadership to a team of over 5,000 employees, managing Winnipeg’s Water and Waste, Public Works, and Transit Departments, as well as its Fleet and Parking Services agencies. Most recently, Mr. Wardrop served as the Chief Administrative Officer for the community of West St. Paul.

Incoming City Manager Dave Wardrop will start by Mon, Mar. 17, 2025. Acting City Manager Terry Parlow will continue in his role until Mr. Wardrop’s arrival, at which point Chief Parlow will continue in his position as the Chief of Emergency Services.

“We are very pleased to have Dave Wardrop join our team as the new City Manager,” said Mayor Fawcett. “His extensive experience and dedication to municipal leadership in Manitoba will be invaluable as we continue to grow and enhance the services we provide to the community. We are confident that his strategic focus and commitment to excellence will be a great asset to our team.”

“I am excited to join the City of Brandon as the next City Manager,” said Dave Wardrop. “I look forward to working with Mayor Fawcett and Brandon City Council, along with the outstanding team at the City of Brandon. I am eager to serve the City of Brandon and partner with what is a strong and growing community.”

The City Manager is the chief administrative officer (CAO) for the City of Brandon Corporation and reports directly to City Council. The City Manager maintains strong ties with local business, community organizations, and the community at large and seeks feedback to ensure the City of Brandon is providing relevant, efficient, and effective services.

“On behalf of City Council, I would like to sincerely thank and commend Mr. Terry Parlow for serving in the Acting City Manager capacity for the past number of months,” said Mayor Fawcett. “We appreciate all the effort, care, and consideration for staff that he has put in over the last few months. His interim leadership greatly helped us during this transition period. We are pleased that he will continue in his role as the Chief of Emergency Services.”

Mr. Wardrop has a strong sense of community and has dedicated his time to serving numerous organizations through various boards and volunteer roles. A lifelong resident of Manitoba, he enjoys downhill skiing in the winter and camping during the summer.