Cape Breton names longtime solicitor as new CAO

Cape Breton Regional Municipality council is pictured. (Ryan MacDonald/CTV Atlantic)

Demetri Kachafanas has worked for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) for nearly 30 years and now he has a new job title: chief administrative officer.

Kachafanas, who has served as the municipality’s solicitor for 27 years, was officially appointed to the role of CAO on Tuesday, according to a news release from the CBRM. He had been serving in the position on an interim basis since November.

“Demetri’s wealth of experience, both in law and municipal governance, will be invaluable as CBRM continues to evolve and thrive,” said Mayor Cecil Clarke in the release. “His leadership will help us navigate the opportunities and challenges of a period of exciting growth and development for our municipality.”

Kachafanas stepped into the interim CAO position when Marie Walsh retired from the role. Her retirement package included two years’ salary – which is more than $220,000 per year – and benefits.

Kachafanas earned a Bachelor of Laws at Dalhousie University before attaining a Master of Laws from York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School.

In 2017 he was awarded the Municipal Law Fellow designation for his work in local government and in 2023 he received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.

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