The movie "The Perfect Storm"; (2000) recounts what happened to the Andrea Gail, a sword fishing boat. The film details the loss of ship and crew in a north Atlantic anomaly, when a subtropical storm met a tropical storm. Author Sebastian Junger says about the title: 'I use perfect in the meteorological sense: A storm that could not possibly have been worse".

"Today, there is a Municipal Perfect Storm brewing in towns and cities all across Canada"

Like it's meteorological cousin, the "Municipal Perfect Storm™" contains all the ingredients needed to be one "that could not possibly be worse."

Storm clouds have already started to gather momentum. In fact, the key component of the Municipal Perfect Storm™ began to develop between 1946 and 1964 when the Baby Boomer generation was born.

Further high pressure elements of the Municipal Perfect Storm™ are building right now. As municipal leaders at every level in every town and in every city, search for workable succession plans.

A tidal wave of retirement statistics forecast:
"...every 75 seconds for the next 18 years another Boomer will be turning 60."*

* Financial Post April 03, 2008 Wealthy Boomer

Every 75 seconds a boomer turns 60!

More Boomers will reach age 57 in 2010 than in any other year up to then or after.

The rolling thunder of municipal elections is yet another ingredient of the Municipal Perfect Storm™. Elections will take place in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario in 2010 with most of the rest of the provinces following suit in 2011 or soon after.

Political elections mean a turnover in senior municipal staff.

What can YOU do?

Finalize your Succession Plan today!
Sit down with your management team and formulate a plan. At a minimum, determine which positions in your organization, if not successfully filled, expose your municipality to an unacceptable level of risk. (We can help you with a template.)

Use your HR department wisely!
HR people are skilled in negotiation, benefits and staffing. However the job of Ethical Head-Hunting™ is not, and should not, be their mandate. (This is where we come in.)

Recognize advertising for what it is!
Newspaper advertising is an increasingly expensive
way to guarantee you will hire the absolute best of the unhappy and unemployed. (Ask for our shocking advertising exposé.)

Understand the "real" world of search!
Recognize that some recruiters will actually recruit from their clients ...even after you have paid them to help you find someone. Always ask your recruiter how they will protect you from this kind of unethical activity... before engaging them. (Ask us how Ravenhill Group works in a uniquely Canadian way.)

Find a good Search firm and stick with it!
Develop a comfortable, long-term relationship with an Ethical Head-Hunter™ that specializes in municipal search. Then work with them consistently.
(Ask for our Briefing explaining ethical head-hunting™.)

"With baby boomers set to retire over the next five years, companies are becoming more innovative with how they attract & retain new workers; the public sector is no exception". - Lisa Williams, “Public Works Canada Launches Recruitment Campaign
to Bridge Baby Boomer Gap InterGovWorld.com

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Please contact Ravenhill Group executive search and recruitment firm for more information.