​Community Development Office successfully supporting key initiatives for Bruce County

Bruce County council has approved the permanency of the Community Development Office as part of an organizational restructuring to support the work required to meet council’s strategic goals to foster responsible growth.

The development office manages several large-scale and complex projects emerging within Bruce County that require co-ordinated, strategic leadership and focused resources. In the two years since its creation as a pilot initiative, it has proven to be an effective approach in action on housing, advancing work on community readiness for the proposed Bruce “C” project and other energy projects, as well as supporting growth of the medical isotope sector, and building stronger partnerships with municipalities and community partners.

“We are very pleased with how this capacity is helping us to address the housing and development needs of Bruce County communities,” said warden Luke Charbonneau. “Through this approach, we are seeing results that impact quality of life, growth and the economy of the county.”

Claire Dodds (above, left), who has led the pilot initiative since its launch in 2023, will remain as commissioner of community development. In this role she will continue to lead these key projects and oversee the community development serving departments, including human services, transportation and environmental services, and planning and development.

Dodds joined the county in September, 2022, as the director of planning and development before moving into the commissioner role. Her more than 20 years of experience and her Master’s Degree in Rural and Regional Planning will continue to serve her well leading the cross-functional, multi-disciplinary team advancing the alignment of services and strategy in the development office.

Additionally, Jack Van Dorp (above, right) will remain as the director of planning and development, a role he stepped into with the launch of the development office pilot. He will continue to lead the team of planners, application technicians and GIS professionals providing the region with land-use planning that supports responsible growth.

Van Dorp started as a planner with the county in 2009 and he holds a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning. His collaborative style fosters innovative solutions to policies guiding responsible growth and development across the region. Van Dorp’s experience and leadership will support his team as they continue to strengthen the services offered by the planning and development department.

“Congratulations to both Claire Dodds and Jack Van Dorp on their respective appointments,” said Charbonneau. “Their experience and leadership will continue to ensure that Bruce County is innovating, collaborating, and thriving for years to come.”