(AGENPARL) – Wed 26 March 2025 City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:
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News Release
March 26, 2025
Toronto City Council appoints new Deputy City Managers for Community Development & Social Services and Community & Emergency Services
Today, Toronto City Council appointed Kate Bassil as Deputy City Manager, Community and Emergency Services, and Denise Andrea Campbell as Deputy City Manager, Community Development and Social Services, following a restructuring of Community and Social Services. These appointments will report to City Manager Paul Johnson, effective Tuesday, April 22.
Dividing up the Community and Social Services area – which currently represents 60 per cent of total staffing positions and more than 60 per cent of the City of Toronto’s gross operating budget – into two distinct service areas will allow for better integration across teams and divisions, and better alignment between key community and emergency services.
As Deputy City Manager, Community and Emergency Services, Kate will lead service areas that include Parks and Recreation, Economic Development & Culture, Toronto Public Health, Toronto Fire Services, Toronto Paramedic Services, Toronto Emergency Management, Toronto Shelter and Support Services, and Finance and Administration.
With more than 20 years of leadership experience in public sector organizations, Kate is currently a member of the City’s Senior Leadership Team. She has worked in the City Manager’s Office for several years, most recently as Chief of Staff where she set and executed the strategic and operational agenda for the City Manager’s Office, helped advance Council priorities, intergovernmental actions and corporate initiatives. Prior to this, Kate was the Associate Director, Strategy and Preventive Health at Toronto Public Health. Kate holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and a Masters of Science (MSc) in Epidemiology from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Biological Sciences (Zoology) from the University of Oxford.
As Deputy City Manager, Community Development and Social Services, Denise Andrea Campbell will lead service areas consisting of Social Development, Senior Services and Long-Term Care, Children’s Services, Indigenous Affairs Office, and Toronto Employment and Social Services.
Having joined the City in 2004, Denise has held a series of progressive leadership roles, serving as the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration since 2019. In this capacity, she provided strategic policy and financial leadership to the management of approximately $2 billion in financial subsidy programs from the federal and provincial governments for cost-shared services and leads transformative change initiatives like the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism, SafeTO, and the TO Supports COVID Equity Plan and Community Vaccine Mobilization. In 2021, Toronto Life named Denise one of Toronto’s 50 Most Influential People for her work developing the Toronto Community Crisis Service. Denise is also the recipient of the 2023 Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Distinction in Public Administration, Ontario’s highest honour for public service. Denise holds a Master of Management degree from McGill University and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science from the University of Ottawa.
Quotes:
“Today’s decision by Toronto City Council is a great step forward for the City of Toronto leadership. I’d like to congratulate Kate and Denise on their appointments, based in large part on their dedication and hard work – all of which have made a meaningful impact. I am confident that in your new roles, you will continue to serve the people of Toronto with even greater distinction.”
– Mayor Olivia Chow
“Congratulations to Kate and Denise – both of whom are exemplary Toronto Public Service leaders – on their appointments today. This change will help ensure our Deputy City Managers remain focused on performance and integration across the organization while putting Torontonians at the forefront of decision-making.”
– Paul Johnson, City Manager
“Today, more than ever, I feel honoured and privileged to be a Toronto public servant. Thanks to City Council for allowing me the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in this new service area, which will be rooted in what is best for Torontonians – especially as these teams touch on many of the tools and services residents and businesses rely on daily.”
– Kate Bassil, Incoming Deputy City Manager, Community and Emergency Services
“Thank you to Toronto City Council for this opportunity to lead the Community Development and Social Services service area. I feel honoured to have the opportunity to work with brilliant, passionate staff and community partners to continue to strengthen Toronto communities and the services they rely on.”
– Denise Andrea Campbell, Incoming Deputy City Manager, Community Development and Social Services