Skip to content

Russell promoted to planning director

City of Parksville promotes Blaine Russell to fill vacant post

The City of Parksville has promoted Blaine Russell to director of community planning.

Chief administrative officer Fred Manson announced the promotion Wednesday, a week after the surprise announcement that Gayle Jackson had retired as of Jan. 6.

Russell has more than nine years planning experience in both urban and rural environments, including the last six with the City of Parksville.

Before that he was with the Regional District of Nanaimo.

He has been Parksville’s manager of current planning since 2006 and has a masters of city planning from the University of Manitoba.

“Blaine brings a comprehensive understanding and practical approach to municipal planning and policy issues,” Manson said in a news release. “He appreciates the value of teamwork when dealing with staff, the city’s external stakeholders and the public. Blaine has a good grasp of the complexities of municipal planning.”

The planning department’s mandate is to manage all land use and building matters, guide city growth and engage all stakeholders in the development process.