Update at 3:15 p.m. Dec. 8:
Since this story was originally published this afternoon, Sudbury.com received a tip that Greater Sudbury Fire Services Deputy Chief Jesse Oshell was not the only city manager to lose their job this week.
City communications staff declined to confirm anything, and sent Sudbury.com the following written statement attributable to city CAO Shari Lichterman:
“The city is undergoing a period of organizational change. As part of this work, staffing decisions are being made to support the city’s renewed strategic direction. While privacy prevents the city from discussing specific personnel matters, what we can say is this restructuring is intended to help accelerate the change, ensuring value for taxpayers.”
It's unclear what is preventing the city from sharing which city managers have lost their jobs.
When the city revoked the employment contract with newly hired CFO Hailey Pinksen in late 2022, Mayor Paul Lefebvre hosted a media conference to announce their decision.
Sudbury.com has requested a phone interview for Friday to seek further clarification on what transpired at city hall.
It’s been a time of significant change for City of Greater Sudbury management, starting with city council’s decision in late 2024 to dismiss then-CAO Ed Archer after eight years with the city.
Lichterman was hired to fill the CAO position in early 2025, which was followed by a series of management changes as the city rejigged its manager positions.
Greater Sudbury Fire and Paramedic Services Chief Joseph Nicholls retired and was replaced by Rob Grimwood, formerly deputy chief of the City of Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services as Fire Services chief and longtime paramedic and city director Aaron Archibald as Paramedic Services chief.
Various other notable hires and promotions took place during the year, including Strategic Initiatives and Communications director Brigitte Pilon, Planning Services director Melissa Riou, Community Services general manager Ken Stuebing, city Finance executive director and CFO Margaret Karpenko, Community Infrastructure general manager Antti Vikko, Community Well-Being general manager Tyler Campbell and Planning and Growth general manager Kris Longston.
Earlier this week, a city media release announced that city council voted in closed session last month to close the Office of the Auditor General.
Original story:
An anonymous tipster has told Sudbury.com that Greater Sudbury Fire Services Deputy Chief Jesse Oshell is no longer employed by the city.
“You might want to look into the recent firing of Jesse Oshell from Fire Services,” the tipster said in a phone message requesting anonymity and that we not call the back.
They reported receiving an email which announced Oshell was no longer a city employee.
Sudbury.com reached out to Chief Rob Grimwood for comment, but he declined until such time as the city has issued a statement.
He also declined to confirm the validity of the tip regarding Oshell’s employment until such time as the city’s statement has been issued.
According to his LinkedIn account, Oshell has been a City of Greater Sudbury employee since 2015, starting out as assistant deputy fire chief before serving a 2019-20 stint as acting deputy fire chief before becoming a deputy fire chief in April 2020.