The Village of New Denver is excited to welcome Cari Lynn Gawletz as our new Chief Administrative Officer and Corporate Officer. Having grown up in the Kootenays, Cari says they will always feel like home. And as far as a community as small and rural as New Denver? Cari shared, “I’m really excited to step into this role. Rural communities get overlooked too often, yet they’re full of brilliant, hardworking people who make their towns so much more than the sum of their parts. New Denver is absolutely one of those places, and I can’t wait to be part of it.“
Cari comes to the Village after ten years as Library Director in Grand Forks, where she managed budgets, staffing, and long-range planning while leading several technology, accessibility, and building upgrades. She has worked closely with local governments and provincial partners and is known for her steady communication and practical, resource-savvy approach. Managing a diverse staff and clientele, building partnerships, working with varied stakeholders, and finding practical solutions when resources are limited are all familiar territory.
Although CAO/CO role is new for Cari, the world of local government is not. As she puts it, “Don’t let the librarian background fool you—I’ve been running a complex public organisation for over a decade. Library work teaches you how to juggle a dozen things at once, deal with the unexpected, and make things happen on very limited resources.” Well known as a champion for libraries, Cari has also served as Chair of the Association of BC Public Library Directors, a role that had her regularly collaborating with councils, MLAs, and ministry staff to advocate for libraries and ensure the needs of small communities were heard.
We’re delighted to welcome Cari to New Denver and look forward to the experience and enthusiasm she brings to the role.
