Office of the CAO

In 2017, we took this organization to new heights. By delivering outstanding programs and services, we injected our community with innovative ideas and showcased our dedication to customer service. Learn more in our 2017 Year in Review.

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is the most senior manager at The Regional Municipality of Durham. The CAO reports to Durham Regional Council and works with the elected Regional Chair to carry out Durham Regional Council direction. Elaine Baxter-Trahair is the Regional CAO.

The CAO's role is to:

• Work across departments and agencies to address Regional Council's strategic direction.
• Provide professional advice on policies and plans to guide the Region.
• Liaise with other governments and outside agencies.
• Work with staff to ensure a healthy workplace committed to continuous improvement and excellent customer service.

The CAO makes sure that the Region:

• Acts according to the Region's values.
• Is accountable and transparent to the public.

A team of seven department heads, also known as commissioners, support the CAO. Each is responsible for specific service areas:

• Corporate Services
• Durham Region Transit
• Finance
• Public Health
• Planning and Economic Development
• Social Services
• Works

Three program areas also support the CAO:

• Corporate Communications Office
• Corporate Policy and Strategic Initiatives
• Durham Emergency Management Office

Profile

Elaine Baxter-Trahair joined the Regional Municipality of Durham as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) on December 1, 2018.

Elaine brings over 25 years of municipal and public sector experience to the Region of Durham. Most recently as General Manager-Toronto Children's Services and Interim Deputy City Manager, Elaine's experience is complemented by a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Business Administration. Her extensive experience and reputation with provincial and municipal governments will benefit the Region of Durham moving forward.

Reporting to the Regional Chair and Durham Regional Council, the CAO provides leadership to approximately 5,000 employees who develop and implement goals, objectives, policies and priorities.

Message

The Region of Durham's goal is to meet the needs of our community through leadership, innovation, co-operation and service excellence. We offer a wide range of services from child care to long-term care. We also provide services such as affordable housing and safe drinking water. Our website is a key tool in providing information about all of these services and connecting with you. We want to hear about how we are doing. Let us know how we can serve you better by visiting the Report an Issue page and Your Opinion Counts page.