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Marcel Michaels

Chief Administrative Officer
  • Organization: Town of Fort Frances
  • Posted: May 28th, 2024

The Town of Fort Frances has announced the appointment of Marcel Michaels as the new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), effective May 28.

“On behalf of council, I would like to welcome Marcel Michaels and his family to Fort Frances,” said Mayor Andrew Hallikas. “Marcel comes highly recommended, and I and all of council are looking forward to working with him, to move Fort Frances forward.”

Michaels comes to Fort Frances from Consort, Alta., and will be joined by his family at the end of the current school year. Michaels was CAO in this community and served for the last year; prior to this he was Mayor of Hinton, Alta., from 2017-2023, and has served on council since 2013.

Transformative Incrementalism: A journey to sustainability

Michaels is no stranger to Ontario. He was born and raised in Hamilton, has extended family throughout the province including Northern Ontario, and is a graduate of McMaster University where he achieved a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.

“Public service is in my DNA. I’ve had a deep passion for community and politics from an early age, and I’m driven by finding solutions to problems that have people in mind” Michaels said. “I’m an avid volunteer, most notably 10 years as a United Way board member. A dedicated focus on relationships, whether industrial, commercial, Indigenous, user groups, and all others are imperative to a strong and thriving community.”

Aside from being closer to family, Michaels said boating, camping, and enjoying the outdoors are some of what drew him and his family to Fort Frances.

Recruitment of the CAO position has been ongoing since it became vacant in March 2023. Travis Rob has been working in the capacity of Interim CAO and will be returning to his position of Operations and Facilities Manager.

“I would also like to thank Travis Rob for the outstanding job he did for the Town of Fort Frances during his time as Interim CAO,” Hallikas said. “Travis stepped up when council needed him and continued to provide stability, leadership, and expertise during the lengthy search for a new CAO.”