This year’s annual awards luncheon was for both the 2020 and 2021 honourees. It was held on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Mosaic Place.
Mayor Clive Tolley thanked everyone who worked for the city, especially those who have spent long careers as employees. He wished the retirees all the best and expressed his wish that every city employee would continue to find their employment enjoyable.
“For all of you who have dedicated your work life to the city of Moose Jaw, thank you so much,” city councillor Heather Eby said during her words of reflection. “The experience you have is invaluable and it cannot be replaced.”
“For those of you who are retiring,” Eby continued, “I pray that retirement is everything that you’ve dreamed it would be.”
*asterisk denotes absence from luncheon
15 years of service
- *Chris Mealing (fire department, 2020)
- Bret Rowlinson (information technology, 2020)
- *Denise Cook (parks & recreation, 2020)
- Michelle Sanson (planning & development, 2020)
- *Darryl Howse (transit, 2020)
- Sandy Campbell (finance, 2021)
- Robin Mitchell (finance, 2021)
- Devin Foster (public works & utilities, 2021)
- Melanie Patoine (public works & utilities, 2021)
- Chris Heisler (parks & recreation, 2021)
- *Jason Zerr (parks & recreation, 2021)
20 years of service
- Brenda Hendrickson (finance, 2020)
- *Jeff Calvert (fire department, 2020)
- *Ian Clark (fire department, 2020)
- *Richelle Grocott (fire department, 2020)
- *Jae Unser (fire department, 2020)
- *Daily Lennox (parks & recreation, 2020)
- *Dale Free (transit, 2020)
- *Rod Klippenstein (fire department, 2021)
25 years of service
- Brad Nyhagen (finance, 2020)
- Les Coghlin (public works & utilities, 2020)
- Brian Usher (public works & utilities, 2020)
- Staci Dobrescu (public works & utilities, 2021)
30 years of service
- *Nathan Justason (public works & utilities, 2020)
- Shelly Howe (parks & recreation, 2020)
- Brian Acker (finance, 2021)
35 years of service
- Greg Abell (public works & utilities, 2020)
40 years of service
- Wes MacDonald (public works & utilities, 2020)
- Rod Stapleton (fire department, 2020)
- Greg Stewart (public works & utilities, 2021)
45 years of service
- *Rich Miller (public works & utilities, 2020)
- *Paul Therens (public works & utilities, 2020)
- Randy Sutcliffe (public works & utilities, 2021)
Retirees
- *Monty Davis (public works & utilities, 2020)
- Wes MacDonald (public works & utilities, 2020)
- *Paul Therens (public works & utilities, 2020)
- *Randy Toni (public works & utilities, 2020)
- *Laurie Evans (fire department, 2020)
- *Brock Knipfel (fire department, 2020)
- *Dale Free (transit, 2020)
- *Pearl Anderson (city clerk/solicitor’s office, 2021)
- Myron Gulka-Tiechko (city clerk/solicitor’s office, 2021)
- Rod Stapleton (fire department, 2021)
- Al Bromley (human resource services, 2021)
- *Juliette Mitchell (parks & recreation, 2021)
- *Scott Ward (parks & recreation, 2021)
- *Roy Bodie (public works & utilities, 2021)
- *Rich Miller (public works & utilities, 2021)
- *Shel North (public works & utilities, 2021)
- *Les Rigden (public works & utilities, 2021)
- *Kevin Wilson (public works & utilities, 2021)
Special achievement awards
- Bret Rowlinson (2020, honoured for his implementation of geographic information systems in the city, including his design and implementation of the Santa Claus tracker used by families in Moose Jaw to participate in the Santa Claus parade for the last two years)
- Mark Caringal (2021, honoured for the work done with his team at engineering services in moving multiple important projects along quickly and seamlessly, including the Buffalo Pound transmission line and the new high service pump house)
City manager Jim Puffalt said that “having long-term employees… is an absolute critical success factor for our organization. Along with their corporate knowledge, long-term employees provide stability, support systems, training… without them, it’s tough sledding.” Puffalt added another thank you to the city’s long-term employees and reiterated that “We can’t do the work that we do without you.”
