The City of Kamloops wishes to inform the public that David Trawin is no longer an employee of the City of Kamloops, effective June 30, 2025, following a lengthy leave of absence.
David was a dedicated employee at the City, serving as the Director of Development and Engineering Services (as it was then known) from 2003 until he was appointed to Chief Administrative Officer in May 2012. David led the organization through many challenging situations, including COVID-19, and continuously supported and encouraged staff to make Kamloops shine through exceptional service delivery. He led the development of the organization’s first corporate strategic plan, advanced important initiatives like Truth and Reconciliation and equity, diversity, and inclusion, and led the charge on prioritizing and de-stigmatizing employee mental health.
David took leave from the organization in March 2024. The reason for ending his employment with the City is the fact that Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson:
- made his continued employment with the City unsustainable and untenable; and
- negatively or adversely impacted him on both a professional and personal level.
The City wishes David all the best in his future. To respect his privacy, no further information will be released about this decision. Byron McCorkell will continue in the Chief Administrative Officer role and we are grateful to Byron for his commitment and good work to date.
Protecting Staff
The City of Kamloops remains committed to ensuring that all individuals in its employ are treated with dignity and respect and are free from bullying and harassment and other unlawful behaviour.
In response to Mayor Hamer-Jackson’s ongoing mistreatment of City staff, Council has implemented a series of measures over the past two years to allow Council and the City to continue to function effectively, including specific measures to protect staff well-being. Council has introduced and extended various safeguards to protect City staff and shield them from harmful interactions with Mayor Hamer-Jackson. This includes, without limitation, protocols that limit direct interactions between the Mayor and specified staff as well as protocols that protect staff from certain retaliatory behaviour by the Mayor and allow them to disengage from abusive and disrespectful communications from him. In addition, Council relocated the Mayor’s office to protect staff from unescorted interactions with him.
It is imperative that all City employees feel valued, safe, and empowered to carry out their duties without fear of bullying, harassment, reprisal, or other inappropriate or improper treatment. By implementing protective measures, Council is demonstrating a commitment to fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, and respect within the municipal workforce.
