Changes in city leadership as manager Duckworth and COO leaving administration

City of Calgary chief administrative officer (CAO) David Duckworth and chief operating officer (COO) Stuart Dalgleish are leaving their roles in 2026.

CAO Duckworth’s last day will be Dec. 1, 2026, while COO Dalgleish has announced his retirement, with his final day on June 12, 2026. 

Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas made the announcement at a news conference at city hall Wednesday.

“This is a steady and planned transition,” he said.

“Stuart and David have both made important contributions to this organization and to the city. I want to thank them for their leadership during a period of significant work and change,” he said.

While the mayor and council are presenting a united front, saying the decision on Duckworth’s departure is mutual, there has been some drama this year with questions on whether the city manager was ultimately at fault for failures that led to the Bearspaw South Feeder Main debacle.

Councillor Mike Jamieson told reporters after the presser that Calgarians voted for change in the last election, so it makes sense for this departure to happen now.

“Calgarians showed that, hey, we want something different, so we’re going to vote on something different. And now it’s on us, the new people that got elected, to deliver on that,” he said.

Farkas says city services will continue without disruption as a clear interim leadership structure is in place to ensure continuity. 

Meanwhile, Duckworth spoke on supporting a smooth transition in an advisory capacity and reflected on his service, saying he takes great pride in being a civil servant.

“Public service has been central to my career, and it has been an honour to serve Calgarians and work alongside Calgary’s dedicated public servants,” the CAO said.

Dalgleish, on the other hand, caps a career spanning nearly four decades.

“My 37 years at the city have been more than a career – they’ve reflected a personal calling and proud commitment to public service,” said Dalgleish. “I’m confident our city team is well-positioned to work towards an always bright and better future for Calgary.”

Farkas says this transition comes at a time of significant progress across the city.

“There is a great deal of important work underway across the city, from advancing the new feeder main and strengthening our water system, to managing complex challenges and continuing to deliver central services.”

Calgary is approaching a milestone of two million residents and is entering a new four-year council term.

The city will undertake a comprehensive recruitment process for the next CAO, and further updates will be provided as the recruitment process progresses.