A long-time municipal clerk and civil law expert with nearly 30 years of experience, Dean Iorfida is a veteran public servant with a deep knowledge of municipal law, public policy, legislation, governance and government relations. Having honed his knowledge through years of firsthand experience with municipal law and public administration, Iorfida now applies his extensive experience to assist clients in achieving positive solutions as a senior associate with Armstrong Strategy Group.
For 15 years, Iorfida served as City Clerk and Director of Council Services for the City of Niagara Falls. His achievements include authorship of a key report which resulted in major changes to Niagara Falls's electoral system, reducing the size of council and adjusting to an at-large system. Iorfida's report won the support of council, and he participated in successfully defending the case to the Ontario Municipal Board.
Iorfida's work as City Clerk ranged from developing robust new procedures for closed meetings, resolving disputes with local Business Improvement Areas, overhauling City Council's committee and appointment structure and developing administrative procedures for a licensing appeals tribunal. He also managed the City's purchasing and by-law sections while serving as staff liaison on accessibility issues. A multitude of bylaws and city projects bear the hallmarks of Iorfida's input and effort.
Prior to being Clerk, Iorfida served as Executive Assistant to the Mayor of Niagara Falls, where he developed a broad slate of skills in political diplomacy, consensus-building, issue mediation and public policy. Dealing with constituents, councillors, community groups and stakeholders, Iorfida managed the Mayor's affairs throughout this period, including drafting issue briefs, speeches, advertisements and correspondence.
Iorfida holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta and an honours BA in Political Science from Wilfrid Laurier University.