Toronto Council Appoints Two New Deputy City Managers Following Major Restructuring of Social Services
TORONTO — Toronto City Council has approved the appointment of two new Deputy City Managers as part of a significant restructuring of its Community and Social Services portfolio — an area that represents over 60 per cent of the City’s gross operating budget and total staff positions.
Effective April 22, Kate Bassil will take on the role of Deputy City Manager, Community and Emergency Services, while Denise Andrea Campbell has been named Deputy City Manager, Community Development and Social Services. Both will report to City Manager Paul Johnson.
The split of the Community and Social Services division into two distinct branches is aimed at improving integration and coordination across essential services. The realignment is expected to enhance the City’s ability to meet growing community needs and better coordinate emergency and support services.
Kate Bassil will oversee a broad portfolio that includes Parks and Recreation, Economic Development and Culture, Toronto Public Health, Fire Services, Paramedic Services, Emergency Management, Shelter and Support Services, and related finance and administration functions. A long-standing member of the City’s Senior Leadership Team, Bassil brings over two decades of experience, including recent service as Chief of Staff in the City Manager’s Office. She holds a PhD and MSc in Epidemiology from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, and a BA in Biological Sciences from the University of Oxford.
Denise Andrea Campbell, appointed to lead Community Development and Social Services, brings more than 20 years of public service experience to her new role. She will manage Social Development, Senior Services and Long-Term Care, Children’s Services, the Indigenous Affairs Office, and Toronto Employment and Social Services. Campbell is known for spearheading high-profile equity and inclusion initiatives such as the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism and SafeTO. In 2021, she was recognized as one of Toronto Life’s 50 Most Influential People and received Ontario’s top honour in public administration, the Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Distinction, in 2023.
Mayor Olivia Chow praised the appointments, calling them “a great step forward for the City of Toronto leadership,” and expressed confidence in their continued impact in serving the city’s residents.
Both appointments reflect Council’s commitment to strengthening social infrastructure and leadership capacity in Canada’s largest city.
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