Creation of the Real Property & Assets Directorate

Dear colleagues,

In August 2022, I announced our intention to establish a new directorate to strengthen and modernize the ongoing management of the extensive real property and asset portfolio under Parks Canada. As the largest federal administrator of Crown lands and one of the largest custodians of federal assets, Parks Canada must be a leader in real property and asset management.

Today, I am pleased to officially announce the launch of the Real Property & Assets Directorate (RPA). The new directorate brings together many of Parks Canada’s realty, materiel (including fleet and equipment) and built asset functions with a view to reinforce and modernize real property and asset management within Parks Canada, consistent with Government of Canada priorities. Congratulations to all team members whose hard work and dedication were key to creating RPA expeditiously.

The establishment of this new directorate requires some organizational and personnel changes to ensure dedicated executive leadership and oversight for our real property and asset portfolios.

I am pleased to announce the following movements within Parks Canada’s executive cadre, effective as of April 1, 2023:

• David Millar is appointed Vice President, Real Property and Assets;
• Kerry Buckley is deployed as Executive Director, Real Property and Asset Portfolio Management; and
• Diane Wilson is acting Executive Director, Real Property and Asset Program Management, while an advertised selection process is being conducted. 

Biographical information of our colleagues follows, below. Please join me in wishing each of them every success. 

In addition to this appointment and deployment, several other executives and teams are moving into the new directorate via changes of reporting relationships, including Ed Jager, Director, Real Property and Asset Service Management. Additional details can be found on the new RPA pages on ParksNet. I also encourage you to watch for virtual information sessions that RPA will be scheduling soon.

David Millar appointed Vice President, Real Property and Assets 

David brings to this role significant executive experience and in-depth knowledge of asset management, project management, real property management and cabinet affairs. He joined Parks Canada in 2016, as the Executive Director, Atlantic, and more recently, he led the team responsible for developing Parks Canada Long-term Asset Sustainability Strategy.

David’s work culminated in the successful development of a strategy for sustaining the organization’s large and complex asset portfolio that was presented to and endorsed by Cabinet. In collaboration with colleagues from across the organization, he played a key role in leading the design of the new Real Property and Assets Directorate that will help shape the future of how we steward contemporary and heritage assets across Parks Canada places.

David holds a Bachelor degree in International Development, from Dalhousie University, and a Master’s degree in Environment, Development and Policy, from the University of Sussex in England.

Kerry Buckley deployed as Executive Director, Real Property and Asset Portfolio Management

Kerry joined Parks Canada in 2015, as Chief Engineer, Highway Engineering Services, where she led the creation of the National Highway Engineering Services team. In October 2021, she became Executive Director, Investment Management, within the Strategic Policy and Planning Directorate. Prior to joining Parks Canada, Kerry professionally evolved within the Transportation Infrastructure Programs at Transport Canada where, among other things, she was responsible for the oversight of federal funding for significant transportation infrastructure projects in Eastern Canada.

Kerry holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Civil) from the University of New Brunswick and she is a registered Professional Engineer (Ontario).

Diane Wilson acting Executive Director, Real Property and Asset Program Management

Diane started her Public Service career at Parks Canada in 2004, as a Planner for the Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site as well as the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. She became an executive in 2012 when she was appointed Field Unit Superintendent, Western Arctic. Since 2016, Diane has been the Field Unit Superintendent, Yukon. In August 2021, she accepted new a leadership role under the Long Term Asset Sustainability initiative which led to the creation of this new directorate.

Diane holds a Bachelor of Commerce, with specialization in marketing and economics, from the University of British Columbia, as well as Master of Resource Management from the Simon Fraser University.

Please join me in wishing David, Kerry, Diane and all of the team members joining the new directorate every success.

Ron Hallman

President & Chief Executive Officer

#StrongerTogether #ParksCanadaProud

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