There is a new face at the Town of Drumheller as they have hired an Assistant CAO for our community.
Earlier this month, the Town of Drumheller officially welcomed Esther Quiambao as the new Assistant CAO. Quiambao shares that she’s had an extensive career in different industries. “My entire career, I’ve actually been in multiple sectors. Started off in non-profit, switched over to oil and gas, then engineering, and now municipal government. Throughout all of that, my big focus has always been and I’ve gotten the most personally out of my career from, is public service. Where best to do services for the public than in municipal government. It’s that level of government that is the most one on one with people.”
When the opportunity came up in Drumheller, Quiambao thought it would be a great place for her and her family. “I’ve been in municipal management for about 10 years and the draw here was the unique mentorship, that hand over process of six months or so with the current CAO Darryl (Drohomerski). I can understand why Council and himself have decided to do a six month transition because there is all this wisdom and experience in his head and having that opportunity to download that.” Drohomerski had announced at the Committee of The Whole meeting earlier this month that he is planning on retiring from the CAO position this year and the plan is to have Quiambao move into the CAO position at that time.
As Drumheller prepares for an upcoming municipal election later this fall, Quiambao understands that this will be a big focus for her. “I’ve been a returning officer for the last couple of elections (with the MD of Bonnyville, where she was previously employed). I have a strong background inn everything to do with council, legislation, and communications. The election is number one because council is the ‘powerhouse’ behind the administration. We’re the doers as administration, but they’re the leaders, they’re the ones that point us in the direction and set policy. Allowing the community to choose (councillors) as transparent and thoroughly as possible. Have all the information out there, make sure the process is followed correctly, that’s my number one goal.” Quiambao is also quite passionate about asset management, how the municipality deals with the bridges, infrastructure, buildings, roads, and how we deal with the aging out of those assets.
Quiambao has a family of five children and making the move to Drumheller was a large endeavour. She wanted to make sure this is a community that works for her family. “Having a friendly community and having a family friendly community is very important. I’ve lived in Edmonton for 14 years, and then in Cold Lake / Bonnyville for 16 years, so I tend to stick around when I go places. The very first time I came down here for exploring, everybody I talked to, whichever store I went into, whichever person here I talked to, so, so friendly. Not only just to me but my husband as well. He felt it, I felt it, and it felt right.” Quiambao also appreciates the uniqueness of the Drumheller Valley and living in “the Dinosaur Capital of The World”.
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