The City of Port Alberni announced on Thursday the hiring of Katelyn McDougall as the new manager of planning.
McDougall holds a Master of Urban Studies with Simon Fraser University and has an extensive background in public engagement as the principal managing director with OfCity Consulting and more recently as the public engagement specialist with the City of New Westminster.
“With her expertise in planning and public engagement, Ms. McDougall is ideally suited for this position,” said City CAO Tim Pley. “We are seeing a tremendous spike in interest among developers and investors for our region and Ms. McDougall’s background in public engagement, land use planning and regional planning will serve this community well as we look to support responsible and responsive community developments.”
In this role, McDougall will direct the operations and programs of the planning department, including land use planning, land development and building code regulation.
“I am excited to be joining the city’s planning department,” said McDougall. “I look forward to working with the community to ensure Port Alberni continues to be an attractive and liveable city.”
McDougall was born and raised on Vancouver Island and has already spent time in Port Alberni visiting her partner’s family. “This is a great opportunity for me to work for a community that I already call home,” she added.
McDougall will begin her work with the city in January, taking over from director of development services Scott Smith, who left his position in September. Joe Calenda has been serving as a consulting city planner in the meantime.