Shanna Culhane

Provide executive leadership for a 100+ person division and administer a $60M annual community funding framework, directing housing, homelessness, children’s services and policy implementation aligned with council priorities.

Led a city-wide service area of 40+ staff with a $35M budget to implement Anti-Racism, Women & Gender Equity, and Indigenous Reconciliation strategies and advised Council on equity-based policy and program design.

Managed a strategic business support team of 45 for a 2,000+ employee department, led the hybrid work transition and launched a Leadership Excellence Program to build management capacity.

Led HR business partners delivering full-cycle strategic HR to a large unionized department and directed an HR transformation to a client-centric service delivery model.

Provided crisis leadership to a large HR unit during COVID-19, maintaining essential HR services and guiding remote work transitions and emergency policy implementation for 2,000+ employees.

Served as a strategic HR advisor on organizational design, workforce transformation and large-scale workforce adjustments while championing diversity and inclusion initiatives across the corporation.

Managed operations and a $22M budget for the city's emergency shelter system, leading 60+ unionized staff, negotiating staffing models and delivering $1.3M in annual operational savings.

Progressed through supervisory and frontline roles administering Ontario Works benefits, chaired the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee, and implemented process improvements to enhance client service.

Enrolled in the SHRM-SCP Certification Exam preparation with exam tentatively scheduled for May 2026.

Scheduled to sit the SHRM-SCP certification exam in May 2026.

Completed the Administrator Leadership Program at York University in 2025 to enhance executive leadership and public sector administration skills.

Completed the Advantage Ontario Administrator Leadership Program administration in 2025.

Completed a Master’s Certificate in Municipal Leadership at Algonquin College in 2002 with a focus on municipal governance and leadership.

Earned a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Law & Psychology, completing undergraduate studies in 1999.

Completed the Administrator Leadership Program Master’s Certificate in Municipal Leadership focused on municipal leadership and administration.

Completed a Social Services Worker Intensive Diploma in 2002 focused on social services practice.

Completed the Social Services Worker Intensive Diploma with training in social services delivery and client support.