After just a year in the job, the Municipality of Port Hope’s chief administrative officer Candice White is leaving to become chief executive officer of Skilled Trades Ontario.
The Ontario government announced White’s appointment to the provincial agency on Friday (November 1).
“This next chapter comes sooner than anticipated, but I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to lead the municipality over the past year,” White said in a media release. “Port Hope is a remarkable community, and it has been an honour to serve its residents and businesses alongside the dedicated staff and council. My time here will always hold a special place in my heart.”
An agency of the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, Skills Trade Ontario was established by legislation in 2021 and is responsible for apprenticeship and skilled trades certification in Ontario.
The agency is governed and managed by a board of directors and a chief executive officer, all of whom are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council on the recommendation of the minister.
“I look forward to Candice leveraging her executive experience within public sector organizations to build upon (Skilled Trades Ontario’s) successes as we continue to work together to grow our skilled trades workforce, and develop world-class training and standards,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and Peterborough-Northumberland South MPP, in a media release.
Prior to joining the Municipality of Port Hope last November, White was chief administrative officer and clerk/treasurer of the Township of Asphodel-Norwood in Peterborough County for nine years. She has also served on the board of directors of provincial agencies including the Ontario Clean Water Agency and the York Region Wastewater Advisory Panel.
White is taking over the reins at Skilled Trades Ontario from Melissa Young, who was appointed the agency’s first CEO in January 2022. Young oversaw the launching of standards industry advisory committees, certificates of qualification and wallet cards for skilled trades professionals, and more.
White’s last day at the Municipality of Port Hope will be November 22, and she will begin her new job at Skilled Trades Ontario on November 25. The municipality is developing a recruitment process to appoint a new chief administrative officer.
