At a Special Council Meeting on Monday, August 18, Council appointed Esther Quiambao as the Town of Drumheller’s next Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), effective August 24, 2025. She will succeed Darryl Drohomerski, who will be retiring from the CAO role after eight years of service.

Since his appointment as CAO in 2017, Drohomerski has guided the Town through one of its most transformative periods. Drawing on his earlier experience as the Town’s Director of Infrastructure, he fostered a collaborative, innovative, and accountable organizational culture. While stepping down as CAO, Drohomerski will continue to contribute to the Drumheller Resiliency and Flood Mitigation Office as a consultant, focusing on administrative work related to land management.

“It has been an honour and privilege to serve the residents of Drumheller and help lead the staff through a period of great change in the organization,” states Drohomerski. “While I am very proud of the improvements we have made to the community, I am most proud of the development and accomplishments of our team over the last nine years and wish them all the success in their future.”

In preparation for the inevitable transition, Esther Quiambao, CLGM, joined the Town as Assistant CAO on January 13, 2025. Over the past seven months, she has worked closely with Drohomerski to ensure a smooth handover for administration, Council, and community stakeholders.

Quiambao brings a broad and diverse background spanning the non-profit sector, oil and gas, engineering, communications and public relations, project management, asset management, and over a decade of progressive municipal leadership experience. She’s lived in Edmonton, Stony Plain, Cold Lake, Bonnyville, and now Drumheller, where she resides with her husband and five children.

Drumheller’s strength lies in its people, as demonstrated by our dedicated volunteers during the recent Valley clean-up initiative this spring and the success of our many local community events, including all the Canada Day festivities. “I am honoured to continue serving our residents,” says Mrs. Quiambao. “Together, we will face new challenges and seize opportunities to continue to make Drumheller a place we’re all proud to call home.”

In addition to her municipal experience, Esther is an active board member of Infrastructure Asset Management Alberta, holds a national certification in Public Administration Law & Ethics from Dalhousie University, and has completed Level 1 and 2 of the National Advanced Certificate in Local Authority Administration (NACLAA). As CAO, she will also serve as Secretary/Treasurer for the Drumheller and District Solid Waste Management Association (DDSWMA) and the Red Deer River Municipal Users Group (RDRMUG).

“Working alongside Darryl for the past two terms has been an honour,” said Mayor Heather Colberg. “His leadership, integrity, and unwavering dedication have helped shape Drumheller into the vibrant community we are today. While we will miss his steady hand as CAO, we are thrilled to welcome Esther into this role. She brings an incredible breadth of experience, a proven track record in municipal leadership, and a genuine passion for making Drumheller the best it can be. I know she is eager to roll up her sleeves and get to work, and with the strong and talented team we have in place, our community is in excellent hands.”

Drumheller residents are invited to meet Esther on September 10 at the Drumheller Recreation, Arts and Wellness Exhibit at the Badlands Community Facility.