Eddie Robar became city manager of Edmonton

After filling the position that was unexpectedly vacant for eight months, Eddie Robar has been named Edmonton city manager.

“I am truly humbled by the support I have received during my first eight months here,” Robar said during a press conference Thursday morning.

“That support put me in a place where I knew this was something I wanted to explore and pursue further. And I’m excited about it. I’m excited about the opportunity that lies ahead. I’m not naive to the challenges that that brings, but I’m really looking forward to achieving the council’s goals and trying to get to a better place for the people of Edmonton.”

Robar became interim city manager in the spring as a three-year former city manager Andre Corbould left the post.

Edmonton City Council says it underwent a rigorous search and hiring process for Corbould’s replacement, while Robar helped with budget deliberations, oversaw the Jasper wildfire evacuation center in Edmonton and worked to build Edmonton’s reputation as a city ​​worth investing in.

He received unanimous support from the city council.

“We all know that we are facing serious financial problems in our city,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.

“Eddie’s understanding of those challenges, and how reports are coming to us with very robust, accurate information in a way that we can really dig deeper into those challenges… I think that speaks to Eddie’s strong leadership,” Sohi said.

The mayor added: ‘I still believe that we are very rigid in the decision-making process, and quite bureaucratic in the decision-making process, and Eddie has shown through his past experiences, but also over the last seven months, that there is a lot room for innovation and a new way of doing things and to make our organization more agile and responsive.”

Robar said his priorities were to further reduce Edmonton’s roughly $20 million deficit, which previously stood at $48 million; explore options to take with you a potential 8.1 percent increase in property taxes lower; and improving the city’s workplace culture.

Robar will become Edmonton’s fifth city manager in ten years.

When asked Thursday for details on how Robar would be compensated if he left the post early, Sohi said: “Eddie is staying for the long term. He has no intention of leaving.”

Robar added, “My intention is to be here for a long time. … My plan is to spend the rest of my career here.”

Robar has spent his entire professional career in municipal government, leading the transportation systems of both Edmonton and Halifax. In the most recent of his nine years with the City of Edmonton, he served as Deputy City Manager of City Operations.