Norm Gale knows it’s now time to step away as the city manager for Thunder Bay, stating that he made up his mind over the holiday season.
“This really came together in December, and was cemented over the holidays,” Gale said after announcing his plans to retire on Monday.
“I am so grateful to have the full support of my family, who are eager to see us through the next phase of our lives.”
Gale began his working days as an army communicator in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve, and would eventually retire honourably after 23 years of service. From there he became a front-line paramedic and would eventually be selected as the chief of Superior North EMS with the city and district of Thunder Bay, a position he held for seven years.
Gale is grateful for the opportunities and the calibre of people that he’s had the opportunity to work beside.
“I sure do enjoy spending time with the leaders in the corporation - and that includes elected officials,” he said.
“It includes the leaders of the executive management team and other leaders in the corporation. I am proud to have worked alongside professionals who deliver programs and services that people rely on, that they demand and they need. This is really important work.”
Gale noted that he will not be moving on to another job after June, but will look to contribute to the community in other ways while trying to do "some good things and some fun things."
He noted that he doesn't want to play a role in recruiting the next city manager.
“Working with people, investing time in my relationships with elected officials and with members of administration, city employees and stakeholders has been satisfying,” Gale said.
He became the full-time city manager on January 11, 2016, filling in on an interim basis when Tim Commisso stepped down in October 2015. Commisso went on to work for the city of Burlington from 2019 to 2023.
