It came as a surprise to everyone involved, including Sue Keenan, but after serving for two years as Parks and Recreation director for the Town of Barrhead, she will be moving on to take on her next challenge.
Keenan submitted her resignation letter to the town earlier this month, effective as of Jan. 8 2016. She submitted her resignation to accept a job as Fort Macleod’s chief administrative officer (CAO).
“By the time I leave just before Christmas, I will have been in Barrhead just short of two years,” she said.
Keenan joined the Town of Barrhead coming from the lower mainland area of B.C. where she was the executive director of BC School Sports (BCSS). A position she held for more than 10 years.
BCSS is the governing body responsible for the delivery of high school sports and programs across the province through its more than 425 member schools.
Keenan has a University of Alberta bachelor degree in physical education. She also obtained a Master of Arts in organizational leadership from Royal Roads University.
From August 1994 to March 2001 she was manager of the Recreation and Parks Department at Parkland County.
She then worked for two years as manager of Program Services at Panorama Recreation Centre in Capital Regional District in Victoria, B.C.
“I wasn’t planning on leaving or changing careers,” she said, adding she was as surprised as anyone when the opportunity came up. “It came out of the blue. I was actually headhunted for the job and when an opportunity, like this comes up you seriously have to consider it.”
However, she said even though the job in Fort Macleod is a great opportunity, when she was offered the position she really had to take time to consider her options.
“It wasn’t an easy decision for me to make,” Keenan said. “I really do love this community and the people and it took me quite awhile to decide what I was going to do.”
In the end, the deciding factor for Keenan was her desire to become a CAO.
“My ambition has always been to become a CAO or a town manager in a smaller community,” she said, adding that after she met with the Fort Macleod town council she knew it was the right decision for her. “The council down there is very progressive, very forward thinking, willing to embrace change. And change is something that has always been part of my life.”
When asked about what some of the highlights were during her tenure in Barrhead, Keenan said first and foremost it is the people she had an opportunity to work with.
“Especially all the volunteers,” she said. “Barrhead is very fortunate to have a very active core group of very progressive people who are willing to give of themselves in all the different community groups I have had the pleasure to work with.”
Another highlight for Keenan is the recreation facilities themselves.
“For a community this size we have some incredible recreation amenities,” she said, adding that they will only get better when the aquatic centre is complete.
Those same recreational facilities also provided Keenan with one of her biggest challenges.
“When I came in I felt it was really important to address some of the maintenance issues that existed with some of our facilities and I think, over the course of my two years here, we have been able to do that,” she said. “I definitely think the recreational facilities are in better shape than when I got here.”
In her remaining few weeks, Keenan’s last day will be on Dec. 22, she said she will be busy putting the finishing touches to a few unfinished projects and completing a review on the Parks and Recreation department.
“I have promised council to provide them with an extensive review of the department, including what I believe needs to happen in the next few years, so that they will have a guide and know how to address things as they come up,” she said.
Keenan said, although she doesn’t know the exact timeline until the town names her replacement, she believes the position will be advertised in the New Year.
Until then Brandy Siegert, of the Parks and Recreation department, will be taking over the bulk of Keenan’s duties, with the help of the town’s CAO Martin Taylor.
And when asked if she would return to Barrhead for the opening of the new aquatic centre, Keenan said she wouldn’t miss it for the world.
