DNSSAB CAO going to Parry Sound

The CAO of the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board is going to Parry Sound.

Joseph Bradbury begins his new role as CAO of the Parry Sound Districts Social Services Administration Board in July, but will remain here for a limited time to help with the transition to new leadership.

DSSAB officials say there are many highlights from Bradbury’s tenure here, including new housing on Lakeshore, the creation of the first Urban Indigenous Hub in the province, the largest expansion of childcare in the district to address wait times and much more.

“On behalf of the Board, I’d like to extend our very best wishes to Mr. Bradbury, and thank him for the tremendous work he has done for the District of Nipissing and for the Board,” says DNSSAB Chair Mark King. “Mr. Bradbury moved this organization ahead, far beyond where it was when he first began as CAO nearly five years ago.”

King adds, “Mr. Bradbury was instrumental in establishing an industry best practice to improve the employment outcomes of the DNSSAB, effectively reducing the caseload and improving employment outcomes by 1.5 times the provincial average. The dramatic decrease in the social assistance caseload is reflective of the Board’s efforts and commitment to improve poverty outcomes in the District. This will be a significant loss for the DNSSAB but a gain for Parry Sound,” said King.

During his tenure as CAO, Bradbury has proven to be innovative and dedicated to improvements.

He spearheaded the development of new housing on Lakeshore Drive and additional units at the Seniors Villa in East Ferris, and seized upon opportunities to redevelop surplus schools, including the redevelopment of Marshall Park Public School, the creation of the first-in-the-province Urban Indigenous Hub, currently under construction at the former Dr. MacDougall Public School, and the South Algonquin Community Hub at the former Whitney Public School.

Bradbury was also at the helm when the new EMS station in North Bay was built to replace two older, decaying facilities, and an online registry for child care.

He worked with Canadore College to develop the Nipissing Poverty Reduction through Education Program (N-PREP), the first of its kind in the province, to break down barriers and enable social assistance recipients to return to school so that they could create a better life for themselves, as well as the development of the Nipissing Career Hub to assist recipients with finding employment.

Last year, Bradbury brought the Nipissing District Housing Corporation under the DNSSAB umbrella to obtain better social supports for vulnerable clients.

Under his leadership, the Board also engaged in the largest expansion of childcare in the district to help address the growing waitlist.

Officials also say he has been a strong advocate for the disadvantaged and marginalized in the community, working tirelessly to improve mental health and addictions services in the District.