City of St. Thomas Appoints New Director of Human Resources
The City of St. Thomas is pleased to announce the appointment of Ashley Gaudon as Director of Human Resources (HR).
Gaudon, a proud St. Thomas resident, joins the City from the Municipality of Chatham‑Kent where she most recently served as Manager, Total Rewards, bringing a decade of progressive human resources leadership in the public sector.
Gaudon holds a Master of Arts in Work, Organizations & Leadership (Adult Education), a Post‑Graduate Diploma in Human Resources, and a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Labour Studies and Sociology. Her academic training complements a broad set of professional certifications, including Certified HR Leader, Certified HR Professional, Group Benefits, Workplace Investigations, Employment Law, and Mental Health Law.
At the Municipality of Chatham‑Kent, Gaudon led compensation, benefits, performance management, workplace investigations, disability management, and employee engagement for both unionized and non‑unionized groups. She provided strategic leadership for organization‑wide People & Culture, Mental Health & Wellbeing, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice strategies, and oversaw municipal pay equity and job evaluation processes. Her professional experience also includes negotiating benefit carrier and consultant contracts, managing complex long‑term disability claims, and leading performance management and leadership development initiatives.
Mayor Joe Preston welcomed the appointment, saying, “We are very pleased to welcome Ashley to the City of St. Thomas. Her extensive municipal HR experience, her people-first leadership style, and her commitment to building a strong, healthy workplace make her an excellent addition to our team. We look forward to the positive impact she will have on our organization and our community.”
“I am honoured to join the City of St. Thomas as Director of Human Resources,” said Gaudon. “I look forward to supporting our talented employees and helping to build a workplace culture that attracts, develops, and retains the people who make this city an exceptional place to live and work. I am also looking forward to working closely with Council and staff to understand their needs, strengthen our partnerships, and ensure Human Resources continues to serve as a strategic partner in achieving our community and organizational goals."
Gaudon will begin her role on April 20, 2026.
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