THUNDER BAY – The longtime head of the Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board is calling it a career.
On Thursday, Bill Bradica announced his plans to retire at the end of 2024, saying it’s time for a new vision at the top after 12 years at the helm, and 23 years with the organization.
There’s been significant change in program delivery since he took over the role in 2012, and Bradica said there are more changes on the way.
That’s going to be the biggest challenge facing his replacement, whomever that might be, he said.
“We have been sort of in the throes of what’s called social assistance modernization. That’s been discussed starting around 2016. What that looks like in the end is still not fully determined from the province,” said Bradica, who is the chief administrative officer.
“Working through that is going to be difficult, in terms of a new way of delivering services. Also there’s the challenges we’ve had for a number of years with homelessness and the level of funding that is needed to build more housing, more community housing and more supportive housing.”
Bradica said he’s confident he and his staff, along with the TBDSSAB’s board of directors, have helped make progress on a lot of fronts, adding he’s proud of the work they’ve been able to accomplish since he first joined the organization in 2001.
“The board has done a really good job of advocating, especially to the provincial government over the last few years, and that did result in a significant increase in our homelessness prevention funding,” Bradica said.
“It’s triple what it was a few years ago. That was a direct result of the advocacy work done by the board and supported by good evidence from our people here who work on that.”
Bradica may be leaving, but there are still a few things he’d like to wrap up before taking a few months off to spend with family to start 2025. He plans to head overseas at some point later in the year if the timing works out and to spend time watching his grandchildren in all their extra-curricular activities.
The most recent strategic plan, which is still a work in progress, will include a request to the province to have an Indigenous representative sit at the board table.
“We will be working on that this year and in addition, something that’s in the board’s control and they’ve agreed to, is to add an Indigenous advisory table or council. Those are two things that I’d like to see completed before my time is over.”
Bradica started as the DSSAB’s finance manager and was promoted to director of corporate services before taking over. He was acting chief administrative officer in 2012 when the organization moved into its new $13.4-million building on South May Street.
A hiring committee has been established by the board to seek out the next CAO.
