Following the catastrophic Bearspaw Feeder Main failure, the City of Calgary has appointed retired utility executive Stephen Stanley, Ph.D., P.Eng., as the inaugural Chair of its newly established Water Utility Oversight Board (WUOB).
The creation of the independent oversight body comes as a direct result of key recommendations issued by the Bearspaw Feeder Main Independent Review Panel. The panel identified urgent systemic needs for objective, expert oversight and strategic guidance to rebuild long-term reliability and public trust in Calgary’s water infrastructure.
Selected through a competitive recruitment process, Stanley brings over 25 years of industry leadership from EPCOR Utilities Inc., where he served 11 years as Senior Vice President of EPCOR Water Canada. In that role, he directed water and wastewater operations across more than 85 communities, serving over 1.5 million residents in the Edmonton area. Importantly, Stanley also served on the Bearspaw Independent Review Panel itself, giving him deep, direct knowledge of Calgary’s utility vulnerabilities.
“Stephen has an impressive background in utility operations, governance and risk management gained over a long career in the sector,” said Councillor Rob Ward, Chair of the WUOB Chair Selection Committee. “The Selection Committee was looking for a candidate with proven leadership, deep utility expertise and the ability to help establish this board from the ground up. Stephen’s experience makes him exceptionally well-suited for that role.”
Designed as an independent advisory body reporting to City Council, the five-member WUOB will not manage daily utility operations. Instead, the board was specifically structured to close past gaps in accountability by supplying Council with non-partisan evaluations of utility finances, long-term planning, risk management, regulatory compliance, and overall performance.
As Chair, Stanley’s immediate mandates include establishing the board’s initial work plan and leading the recruitment drive for its remaining four members. City officials expect the full oversight board to be fully operational by the end of 2026.
“Reliable water service depends on informed, risk-based decision making and a focus on long-term system performance,” Stanley said. “I look forward to helping establish the Board and working with future members, Council and Administration to help shape the future of Calgary’s water utility.”