Over his years on Oshawa City Council, he has served as Deputy Mayor and as Chair, a Vice Chair or a member of every committee of City Council. For several years, he has served as the mayor’s alternate for Emergency Management. He was Acting Mayor during the 2013 ice storm.

At the Regional Council, he is currently Chairs the Community Growth and Economic Development Committee.

Bob is a lifelong resident of Oshawa who has lived in Ward 3 for the past 25 plus years. He and Diane have been married for over 50 years and have two grown sons.

In professional life, he served the citizens of Oshawa and Durham as a member of the Durham Regional Police for over 30 years, retiring in July 2010 at the rank of Superintendent. For over 37 years he also served his country as a member of the Canadian Army (both Regular and Reserve components), retiring in November 2007 at the rank of Colonel. Among his proudest accomplishments was serving as Commanding Officer of Oshawa's own Ontario Regiment (RCAC), 1994-1997.

In 2016 the Minister of National Defence appointed Bob as the Regiment’s Honorary Lieutenant Colonel. He served in this role until 2019 and was subsequently appointed by the Minister to serve as Honorary Colonel until 2025.

From 1999-2001, Bob commanded 33 Canadian Brigade Group, then comprised of over 2000 reserve and regular soldiers located in the military district stretching from the National Capital Region, west to Oshawa, and north to Sault Ste. Marie. Bob developed the operations, training and rehearsal plans and commanded his Brigade in Operations Abacus, the Canadian Army's response to Y2K. This experience was part of his success during the 2013 ice storm as reported by Oshawa This Week:

We’ve long talked about the leadership skills this police and military veteran brings to the table and they were certainly on display when Oshawa was hit with the ice storm and he was called on as the mayor’s alternate in an emergency.

Oshawa had an emergency management centre open before any other community in Durham and Coun. Bob Chapman was there and involved in important decision making to help thousands without power.

He was also a voice to the community as the official spokesperson for the City.

In addition to successfully completing numerous police and military executive, leadership and management programs, Bob is a graduate of the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management Police Leadership Program, the Queen’s University School of Business Public Executive Program, Durham College Business Management Skills Program, and the Land Forces Command and Staff College Army Reserve Command and Staff Course. 

In 2006, he was a Visiting Fellow instructing at the Australian Institute of Police Management in Sydney, Australia. He was certified as a Municipal Manager Level III Executive by the Ontario Municipal Management Institute in 2007.

Over the past 10 years, Bob has coordinated and served as the emcee at Oshawa's annual Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph in Memorial Park.

Council Experience

Oshawa City Council

• Deputy Mayor (current; 8 years)
• Vice Chair, Development Services Committee (current)
• Member, Community and Operations Services Committee (current)
• Chair, Community Services (past)
• Member, COVID-19 Pandemic Steering Committee
• Council representative to: Safe City Oshawa; Multicultural Council Oshawa Durham; and, the Robert McLaughlin Gallery Board of Directors

Durham Region Council

• Chair, Health and Social Services Committee (past)
• Chair, Durham Region Local Housing Corporation (current; 12 years)
• Member, Development Charges Complaint Committee (current)
• Vice President, Durham Region Non Profit Housing Corporation (past)
• Chair, Board of Directors, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority
• Chair, Durham Advisory Committee on Homelessness (past)
• Co Chair, Durham Local Immigration Partnership Council (past)
• Chair and Vice Chair, Finance and Administration Committee (past)
• Chair, Affordable and Seniors Housing Task Force (2017)

Voluntary & Community Service

Bob has been heavily involved in the Oshawa and Durham communities through numerous associations, committees, and volunteer work including:

• Driver, Meals on Wheels
• Member, Tribute to Our Troops Dinner Steering Committee
• Member, Special Olympics Ontario 2008 Spring Games Steering Committee
• Participant and Executive Sponsor, Annual Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run
• President, Durham Regional Police Senior Officers Association 2004 to 2010
• Vice President, Ontario Senior Officers’ Police Association 2009 to 2010
• Member, Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police since 2000 – Life Member since 2010
• National President, Royal Canadian Armour Corps (RCAC) Association 2004-07; Past President 2007-09; Vice-President Central (Ontario) 1998-2004
• Trustee,  Armour Branch Trust 2002 to 2007
• Relay Director, Oshawa & District Cancer Society’s Relay for Life 2001 to 2002
• Member, RCAC Association Heritage Committee 1998 to 2001; helped raise over $500,000 to preserve the Armoured Corps' history
• Member, Board of Directors The Ontario Regiment Museum, 1992 to 2000
• Member, The Ontario Regiment Association since 1973. Vice President 2009; President 2010 to 2013
• Speaker at Durham College, local community groups/events, and service clubs such as Rotary Club, Canadian Club, Royal Canadian Legion, and various Cadet Corps
• Supporter of the Optimist Club Easter and Christmas Food Drives
• Co-chair, Police Charity Balls (1982, 1983), raising funds for the Oshawa General Hospital
• Member, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 43
• Honorary member, Korea Veterans Association Unit 11 (Oshawa)

Honours & Awards

• Order of Military Merit as a Member (MMM) in 1989 for meritorious service to the Canadian Forces and personal dedication to The Regiment and community.
• Order of Merit of the Police Forces as a Member (MOM) in 2008 for loyal and meritorious service to law enforcement in Canada and dedication to making his community a safer place.
• Order of St John (OStJ) in 1985 for volunteer work supporting the principles of St John Ambulance and instructing first aid.
• Canada 125th Anniversary Medal, 1993. In recognition of significant contribution to compatriots, community and to Canada. Nominated by Oshawa's MPP.
• Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, 2002. Awarded to persons who have made a significant contribution to Canada, to their community and to fellow Canadians. Nominated by Oshawa’s MPP.
• Canadian Forces Decoration (CD) with three clasps (awarded for 12 years’ service and a clasp is awarded for each additional 10 years).
• Police Exemplary Service Medal in 2000 for 20 years police service.