Debra Hamilton

Title: Acting General Manager, Planning & Development Services

Areas of focus: Deb oversees employees across five business units – City & Regional Planning, Climate & Environment, Community Planning, Development, Business & Building Services, and Downtown Strategy.

Planning & Development Services is foundational in imagining and planning our future city. The team is critical in driving policies that guide long-term planning, setting parameters for land development processes, integrating strategies and actions to grow a resilient and sustainable city, and ensuring Calgary’s buildings are safe to occupy.

Career history: Deb‘s career spans over 25 years in municipal government settings in both Canada and the USA including 10 years in management positions with The City of Calgary. Since 2018, Deb has been the Director of Community Planning leading an amazing team of city-building professionals who focus on achieving quality planning outcomes supported by innovative engineering solutions through local area plans and planning applications.

A career highlight for Deb has been the creation of and success of the Local Area Planning program. To date, the Council has approved three Local Area Plans resulting in modern growth plans for over 30 communities and industrial areas! She has also been successful in bringing together the engineering and planning functions under the Development Applications Review Team.

Deb is a Registered Professional Planner (RPP) and a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners (MCIP). She has a Master of Environmental Design (Planning) from The University of Calgary and a Bachelor of Arts (Geography) from The University of Windsor.

Leadership philosophy: Deb is a strategic leader whose strength is in collaborating and building relationships. She believes in understanding and considering diverse perspectives, continuous improvement, and accountability. Her commitment in supporting her team is evident through her employee engagement and outreach efforts. Deb is a leader who inspires and supports diversity and inclusion amongst her team, and in how they plan the city - fostering welcoming, inclusive, and vibrant communities for all Calgarians.