City announces pick for chief construction officer

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This article was published 21/01/2025 (316 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A man who’s led major construction and infrastructure projects in cities across Canada has been recommended by a city council committee to become Winnipeg’s first chief construction officer.

Tom Sparrow, who has more than 35 years of experience in the public and private sectors, has been selected to provide expert guidance on infrastructure and construction policy.

The move seeks to fulfil a campaign pledge by Mayor Scott Gillingham.

“We want to take a look of the City of Winnipeg contracts, for example, making sure that they are the best in class,” he told reporters Tuesday.

“I want us to get to a place where, when the city is purchasing services, that we don’t just have one bid on items, we want competitive bids, and we want to make sure that the city is setting itself up so that we are getting good value for money.”

Sparrow has led major construction projects on hospitals, schools and airports in B.C. and Yukon. He worked as the director of Public Works and Government Services Canada and advised the federal auditor general on infrastructure issues from 2015 to 2018.

The Winnipeg Construction Association applauded the appointment.

“Hiring a chief construction officer will help make sure the projects our members build will get done on time and on budget – which is something both contractors and the City of Winnipeg want to achieve,” said president Ron Hambley. “It should help the industry be more efficient.”

Gillingham said Sparrow’s first item of business will be to review the audit of the north end sewage treatment plant mega-project.

Gillingham said there were 44 applicants for the position.

“It’s a unique opportunity at a time when all cities are facing similar challenges, where the costs of our project continue to rise related to construction, inflation, material costs, labour costs,” he said.

“Tackling and managing big, comprehensive, complex infrastructure projects is really important work.”

The search committee’s recommendation will be voted on by city council on Jan. 30. If approved, Sparrow would begin around April 1.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca