The city opted to forego a formal recruitment and application process and decided instead to name an interim director of economic development due to a “very immediate need to shore up our senior staff,” says Mayor Steve Clarke.
And while some may not like the optics of the process, Clarke said he can’t “imagine any process” that would have netted a better candidate than the man they hired, Richard Bertolo. “He is a perfect fit.”
Bertolo, who retired last year, is a former top-level Hydro One executive who served as the utility’s lead negotiator in its deal with the city that saw them acquire the distribution arm of Orillia Power in return for a promise to purchase most of the 50-acre Horne Business Park, where it will build an integrated systems operation centre, a warehouse and regional operations centre. The deal is pending Ontario Energy Board (OEB) approval.
“We are hoping to hear from the OEB in the next month or two and get approval for Hydro One’s buildout in west Orillia,” said Clarke, who believes the project will attract other industries and businesses. “Who better to look into that potential than someone who was involved in that industry for years?”
It was Bertolo who approached the city and volunteered to temporarily step into the role when Ian Bromley and the city unexpectedly parted company in November; Bromley was in the role less than two years.
Clarke said Bromley’s exit, coupled with the retirement of longtime CAO Bob Ripley, created a void in the senior management team at a time when they couldn’t afford to be short-staffed. “With the number of things we have going on right now, staff and council felt there was an immediate need to shore up our senior staff.”
Clarke said the waterfront redevelopment, the recreation centre project, development of west Orillia and other projects left council unwilling to wait until after an election to fill the role. “I expect he will only be in this role for a matter of months,” said Clarke, who added a process could begin soon to find a permanent replacement. “When we look to find a permanent replacement, that will be a more comprehensive process. We will want to get the word out to as many sources as we can to maximize the field we can draw from to get the best candidate.”
But, for now, Bertolo is at the helm and excited about the opportunity. “I think there is a lot of potential here,” he said, noting he has “an affinity” for Orillia. His mother-in-law has roots in Orillia that date to the 1930s; he has been coming to cottage on Lake Couchiching for 35 years. “This, effectively, was our second home (and) I’m in town a lot because my mother-in-law is here. I’ve seen some really neat things happening here.”
He said he believes the Hydro One project, coupled with the potential of the Horne Business Park and the 33 acres of employment land to the east (purchased from Charter Construction in 2016), is a game-changer. “When I helped structure that whole (Hydro One) transaction, the Horne Business Park, in my mind, was a real gem. It’s very difficult to find serviced land in central Ontario on transportation routes.”
In addition to being at the intersection of highways 11 and 12, the city has a first-rate communication infrastructure. In fact, Bertolo, in a previous role almost 15 years ago, “built most of the fibre network that spans from Montreal to Detroit” and beyond. “Orillia is basically at the intersection point” of the network and that was “part of the reason Orillia was attractive for the advanced technology hub.”
The proximity of Georgian College and Lakehead University is also beneficial, he noted. “Think of those high-tech jobs – you’ve got academia sitting there and part of economic development is to tie them together, to get them to feed each other.” He said the type of industries that will be attracted to the park will be dependent on recent graduates “and there’s nothing better than being across the street,” he said, noting it’s “fertile” ground for co-op partnerships and future employment opportunities.”
Bertolo’s only concern is the park is likely not big enough. While he expects the construction of Hydro One facilities to take five or six years, he believes the city can use that as “marketing material” to help lure other industries. “The challenge – mark my words on this one – years from now is we’re going to look back and say we should have doubled the size” of that park. “I think this park will be transformational for this town.”
While Bertolo expects he “will naturally migrate” to the Horne Park project, he is also responsible to oversee all activities of the economic development department. “There is a renewed emphasis on tourism, for example. From my perspective, I’m amazed at how many legacy and new festivals there are. This is not the Orillia I used to know. People I talk to know about Orillia. That wasn’t always the case.”
He said he believes “new eyes” will help bring new perspective – and help sell Orillia to others. “To me, economic development is making others aware of all the potential that’s there. It’s about painting the picture very clearly.” He said his experience in shaping the Hydro One deal and his past work on the fibre network will help him do that. “I think I can show people the potential that is here.”
While excited about the job that he officially started on Wednesday, he says it’s strictly a short-term gig. “I was not seeking full-time employment and I’m still not seeking full-time employment,” he said.
