County announces new Director of Community and Social Services

Northumberland County Building-Courtesy of Northumberland County.

By Cecilia Nasmith

Following a competitive recruitment process, Northumberland County has announced the appointment of Bill Detlor as Director of Community and Social Services as of Aug. 10.

A respected municipal and health-care executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience, Detlor may be familiar to local residents from his 13 years of service with Northumberland County – first as Chief of Northumberland Paramedics, then as Golden Plough Lodge Administrator. In both positions, he led significant service improvements.

These include the implementation of the Community Paramedicine Program, data-driven deployment strategies that enhanced paramedic emergency response, and leadership at the Plough during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Detlor retired in 2023, but returned to public service in a leadership role at Campbellford Memorial Hospital.

Northumberland Chief Administrative Officer Dan Borowec said they are pleased to welcome Detlor back.

“He is a thoughtful, collaborative leader who understands our organization, our community and the importance of building strong partnerships to improve quality of life for residents,” Borowec said in the announcement.

“His experience across municipal government and health care, combined with his commitment to public service and his ability to lead people through change, make him exceptionally well suited to lead Community and Social Services. We look forward to having him return as part of the county's leadership team.”

As Director of Community and Social Services, Detlor will provide strategic leadership for one of the county's largest and most diverse service portfolions – one that includes Ontario Works, Children's Services, Housing and Homelessness, Physician Recruitment, Community Safety and Wellbeing, and related community supports. Detlor will assume responsibility for guiding long-term service planning, fostering partnerships across the health-and-human-services sector, advising council on strategic priorities, and ensuring high-quality fiscally responsible services that respond to the evolving needs of the community.

“It is a privilege to return to an organization that has meant so much to me throughout my career,” Detlor stated.

“The staff of Community and Social Services and the broader county team are committed to delivering compassionate, responsive and high-quality services, and I am excited to work alongside this team and with county council, community partners and residents to advance the programs and supports that help people thrive.”