Here at the LGMA we are proud to highlight our members and their many achievements in BC local government! This week, we asked Wallace Mah, Chief Administrative Officer at District of Kent and long-time member and supporter of the LGMA, about his accomplished career and LGMA membership experience!
Wallace prides himself in mentoring staff, encouraging leadership, and always improving on administrative efficiencies. With more than 43 years in local government, Wallace started in recreation as a summer student in 1979 with Fraser Fort George Regional District. In 1980, Wallace moved to the Peace River Regional District where he worked full-time in the recreation department before he quickly advanced into public administration. In 1990 Wallace was recruited to become the CAO for the District of Ucluelet to address the sensitive logging issues surrounding the Clayoquot Sound. Staying there until 1996, Wallace moved to the Town of Smithers as CAO for close to 12 years before heading south to the District of Kent in 2007.
Wallace has been involved with the LGMA since the beginning of his career in the early 80’s and has continued to be a strong supporter and advocate. From 1991 to 1996, he served as the director at large and vice president for the Vancouver Island chapter of the LGMA (then, the Municipal Officer’s Association). From 2003 to 2007 he served in various capacities, including chapter representative, for the North Central LGMA chapter. Then, from 2015 to 2020, Wallace served as a director at large, vice president, and chapter president for the Lower Mainland LGMA Chapter.
Some of Wallace’s many career highlights include being instrumental in negotiating 8.1 million dollars in 2002 for Highway 16 traffic calming improvements that allowed for increased traffic flow through the Town of Smithers. This included additional amenities which improved safety, reducing accidents, and enhancing attractiveness with improved intersections, wheelchair accessible pedestrian crossings and landscaping.
Another challenging project that was tasked to Wallace was to address the Breakwater repair project at Harrison Lake. The structure was in disrepair, which became a major liability for the District of Kent. The repairs to improve the breakwater was estimated at approximately 2 million dollars, exceeding the divestiture funds originally provided from Transport Canada to the municipality. In 2010 Wallace provided leadership in meeting with marine contractors to review the breakwater and financial options with local rock quarry owners to determine alternative opportunities for rock supply. With Wallace's coordination with Harrison Hot Springs, they were successful in completing the work for approximately $750,000.
In 2011, Wallace developed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation and Communication with Cheam First Nation, Sq'éwlets First Nation, Seabird Island, Stó꞉lō Tribal Council, Sts'ailes First Nation, and the Village of Harrison Hot Springs. The aim was to work together to promote cooperative relationships between the parties. This included hosting community-to-community forums on a regular basis and having meaningful dialogue on mutual interests in economic development, tourism, and entering into service agreements that benefit both parties.
Wallace says a big part of his success in local government is due to the LGMA. The LGMA is positioned to provide diverse education, workshops, conferences, examine policy, provide mentorship, coaching, and a lot of housekeeping in maintaining current education and legal programs for all departments in local government. Wallace is very proud to be able to give back to LGMA over the years by being an active board member. He says that it has been a privilege to have worked and served the LGMA in the numerous chapters throughout B.C.
