Town of Peace River announced its newly appointed Chief Administrative Officer at a special meeting on Aug. 31.
Council officially hired Kayla Parsons as its newest CAO. Mayor Shelly Shannon says the team is happy to move Parsons into this role, noting that she has been a strong member of the administrative team for a number of years.
“Ms. Parsons has been a valued member of our organization for the past four years, bringing with her a strong understanding of both our municipality and the region,” says Mayor Shannon. “During that time, she has continued to grow professionally, earning her CLGM (certified local government manager) designation while serving in Legislative Services.
Parsons was born and raised in Grimshaw, Mayor Shannon says this helps her bring the added advantage being truly rooted in the Peace Region.
“We are very fortunate to have exceptional local talent with the skills, education and regional knowledge needed to help lead our organization forward,” says Shannon. “Her appointment is also a great example of what can happen when we recognize and develop talented people from within our own organization and our own region.”
Parsons says she is excited to take on the new role and is eager to help council forge the path they’ve set.
“Being entrusted with the role of CAO is both an honour and a responsibility that I do not take lightly,” says Parsons. “This position gives me the opportunity to work alongside council and lead our talented staff team as they continue to make a meaningful difference in our community.”
Parsons says she is excited to help keep up the momentum that the Peace River team has built.
“In the last few months, we’ve seen key infrastructure projects completed to improve day-to-day life for residents, like new sidewalks and refreshed paving,” Parsons says. “We’ve also been making improvements behind the scenes to our internal processes to enhance service delivery for residents, and we are proactively planning for 2027 and beyond. My focus will be on continuing that work, supporting council’s priorities, and ensuring the town is well-positioned to capitalize on future economic development opportunities.”
Mayor Shannon says that Parsons has excelled in her role in Legislative Services, giving council extreme confidence in her ability to navigate the Peace River organization and that Parsons demonstrated changes they were seeking.
“Kayla is not afraid to think outside the box,” says Shannon. “She brings a creative, solutions-focused mindset and, rather than accepting no as the immediate answer, she looks for another way forward. Having grown up in this region, she has real skin in the game. This is her community too, and that connection is reflected in the strong sense of accountability and responsibility she brings to her work.”
Parsons officially started her tenure as Chief Administrative Officer on Sept. 1.
Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter