Stephen Stanley named Chair of Calgary’s Water Utility Oversight Board
Stephen Stanley has been named the inaugural Chair of the Water Utility Oversight Board (WUOB), a new independent body being formed to strengthen oversight of Calgary's water utility.
The appointment marks an important step in implementing recommendations from the Bearspaw Independent Review Panel, which identified the need for independent oversight and the Chair position as a critical leadership role.
Stanley’s appointment follows a competitive recruitment and selection process created specifically for selecting the WUOB Chair.
Stanley is a retired utility executive with more than 25 years of experience at EPCOR Utilities Inc., including 11 years as Senior Vice President of EPCOR Water Canada, where he was responsible for providing water and wastewater services to more than 85 communities, including over 1.5 million people in the Edmonton region.
He also served on the boards of the Canadian Water Network and Global Water Futures Observatories.
Most recently, Stanley sat on the Bearspaw Feeder Main Independent Review Panel and Advisory Group, where he gained direct insight into Calgary's water utility and the challenges facing the system.
"Stephen has an impressive background in utility operations, governance and risk management gained over a long career in the sector," said Councillor Rob Ward, Chair of the WUOB Chair Selection Committee. "The Selection Committee was looking for a candidate with proven leadership, deep utility expertise and the ability to help establish this board from the ground up. Stephen's experience makes him exceptionally well-suited for that role."
As Chair, his immediate priorities will be recruiting additional board members and developing the WUOB’s initial work plan. The full WUOB is expected to be in place by the end of 2026.
“Reliable water service depends on informed, risk-based decision making and a focus on long-term system performance," said Stanley. "I look forward to helping establish the Board and working with future members, Council and Administration to help shape the future of Calgary's water utility.”
Background
The establishment of the Water Utility Oversight Board (WUOB) was directed by Council in response to recommendations from the Independent Review Panel, following the Bearspaw Feeder Main failures.
The WUOB will provide Council with independent oversight, expertise and advice on utility performance, finances, long-term planning, risk management and compliance with regulations and policies.
The WUOB will consist of one Chair and four members and will serve as an independent committee of Council. The WUOB's role is advisory and will not make operational decisions.
Appointments to the WUOB are made by Council through the Nominations Committee. For the inaugural Chair position, Council approved a dedicated recruitment and selection process that included support from an independent search firm and a Council-appointed Selection Committee.
Stephen Stanley, Ph.D, P.Eng
Stephen Stanley is a retired executive with over 25 years of experience at EPCOR Utilities Inc. This included roles such as Senior Vice President Commercial Service where he was responsible for EPCOR’s business development activities as well as EPCOR’s operations of water, natural gas and electricity utilities in Ontario. He also spent 11 years as the Senior Vice President of EPCOR Water Canada, responsible for providing water and wastewater treatment services to more than 85 communities, including over 1.5 million people in the Edmonton region.
Stephen was a member of the Independent Review Panel for the City of Calgary Water Utility, member of the Board for the Canadian Water Network and Chair of the Board for Global Water Futures Observatories.
Stephen holds a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, a M.Sc. in Water Resources Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering, all from the University of Alberta. He is also a graduate of the Executive Program at Queen's University. Prior to joining EPCOR, Stephen was a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alberta.