Rob Simonds joins Town of Wolfville as interim CAO

WOLFVILLE, N.S. — The Town of Wolfville has chosen Rob Simonds to serve as interim chief administrative officer, pulling him out of recent retirement.

Simonds will take over from long-serving CAO Erin Beaudin, who is starting a new role as vice president of administration and finance and chief financial officer at Acadia University.

Before he retired from a municipal position in Colchester County, Simonds was a former director for the Association of Municipal Administrators of Nova Scotia, former fire chief in Hamilton, Ont., and past president of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs. He also teaches at Dalhousie University.

Mayor Wendy Donovan was pleased to welcome Simonds to the town.

“It was hard to say ‘goodbye’ to Erin, our amazing CAO, and we wish her all the best in her new role, just down the street,” Donovan said. “Rob has wonderful experience, and he will be a great resource in the town as we start the search for our next CAO.”

Council will now begin the search for a permanent replacement.