City Manager Murray Totland to Retire from City at Year's End

After a distinguished career of nearly 36 years, City Manager Murray Totland will retire on December 31, 2017. 

“After serving five Mayors, 11 City Councils, and the people of Saskatoon since the early 1980s, it’s time for me to move on to the next chapter,” says Totland. “I have been fortunate to have had the solid support of both Mayor Atchison and now Mayor Clark.  Managing Canada’s fastest growing city for nearly a decade has been extremely rewarding.” 

Totland thanks his staff for all of their support over the years. “Any success I have enjoyed as City Manager is largely due to having 3,600 dedicated colleagues here at the City who work tirelessly to deliver the great civic services our citizens and visitors depend upon.”

"Mr. Totland has navigated this city through many big changes and unprecedented growth over the last decade,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “His steady leadership has been instrumental in bringing innovation and new approaches to City Hall to improve how we deliver important civic services. I have seen the dedication Mr. Totland has to the success of the City and I am grateful for his many decades of service."

Both Totland and Mayor Clark note Totland’s trusted relationship with the current and previous City Councils.

“It’s been my pleasure and privilege to serve three City Councils in this role,” Totland says. “Their support of my continuous improvement efforts over the years has been critical in our City’s pursuit to become the best-managed city in Canada.”

“Mr. Totland has built a strong relationship with every City Council I have seen him work with.”  Mayor Clark adds “I am grateful for these months we have worked together in my role as Mayor. His reassuring presence will be a challenge to replace”.

Murray joined the City in 1982, and has held increasingly senior positions within the corporation.  In 2004, he was selected as General Manager of the Utility Services Department, where one of his goals was to change the organizational culture to be more accountable, responsive, and adaptive.

In 2006, he was appointed General Manager of the Infrastructure Services Department where he adapted the change strategy to meet the requirements of this large, diverse department.  

In January 2009, Murray was appointed to the position of City Manager. 

In these capacities, Murray was responsible for delivering critical, multi‑million dollar infrastructure projects, including the $300 million Circle Drive South project, and the City’s Civic Operations Centre being delivered as Saskatchewan’s first P3 project.

“I am confident that City Council’s goal of providing our citizens with a high quality of life, and our position as an economic and cultural leader, will be in good hands with whomever City Council chooses as my successor.”

City Council will launch the recruitment process for a new City Manager in the coming weeks.