MOOSE JAW — Recognition was the day’s theme as the City of Moose Jaw honoured dozens of employees with service awards and thanked several who are retiring.
The municipality held a luncheon on Dec. 4 at the Events Centre to recognize 33 people — with 803 years of combined employment — including 28 employees for years of service, five for retirement and one for a special achievement award.
Event MC Craig Hemingway, acting director of strategic growth, joked that since the program acknowledged employees with 15 to 40 years of experience, the day should be called — in honour of musician Taylor Swift — “The Eras Tour, the City of Moose Jaw edition.”
Keeping the levity going, Hemingway said that he used an artificial intelligence (AI) program to write a joke that honoured long-serving employees.
“And so Google Gemini spit out, ‘What do you call a municipal employee who’s worked for the city for 40 years? A walking city ordinance,’” he said.
This prompted a few laughs and one hearty “boo!” from operations director Bevan Harlton, who offered his best comedic talents during the luncheon by joking that none of the long-serving finance staff was — or has — ever recognized.
Fire Chief Rod Montgomery also expressed some levity while presenting a retirement award, saying that he, too, attempted to have AI create a joke but learned that Hemingway had used up the program’s joke-making abilities.
Greetings from council
Deputy Mayor Coun. Jamey Logan spoke on behalf of council, saying when he was first elected in 2020, what he only knew about the municipality was that it was “a large machine with many moving parts.” Moreover, he never understood its complexities until he received a behind-the-scenes glimpse.
“What that look afforded me was the opportunity to see how critical each and every one of you are to the success of the team, their shift, their department and the city as a whole,” he said.
Furthermore, Logan noticed that most employees were already working while many residents were “hunkered down” inside. He has also seen how staff work overtime when required and “answer the call” to address issues like the budget, broken infrastructure or blizzards.
Some employees are doing jobs they love, while others are performing work that they “may not find the most glamorous,” the deputy mayor added. Yet, he knew they would remain dedicated, would perform those tasks with pride, and would realize how integral they are to the city’s operations.
Greetings from the mayor
Mayor James Murdock commended the employees for their decades of service and thought that that was an achievement to celebrate.
“Essentially, we are nothing without you, and you are greatly needed and greatly respected,” he said, while he also lauded their families for sticking with them.
Meanwhile, he congratulated the retirees, including his assistant, Caroline Dreger, who was leaving after 43 years, and said he would persevere after she departed.
15 years
Staff whom the city recognized for their 15 years include Heather St. Dennis in the city manager’s office; Sue Brabant and Aimee Bulwer (absent from the luncheon) from community services; Paul Busse (absent) with the fire department; Diane Campbell (absent) in human resources; and Jason Casemore, Winston Ennis, Shannon McConnell (absent) and Chris Rosso (absent) with operations.
20 years
Staff whom the city recognized for their 20 years included Paul Patterson (absent) in community services; Matthew Crocker with the fire department; Melanie Padfield and Jamie Tatum in operations; and Gary Couzens in transit.
25 years
Staff whom the city recognized for their 25 years included Karla Terry (absent) from community services; Carla Wallace (absent) from finance; Rob Halsall (absent), Chris Luiten (absent) and Ryan Hopkinson with the fire department; Chasidy Guy in human resources; Kelly Anakaer in operations; and Bob Gagnon in transit.
35 years
Staff whom the city recognized for their 35 years included Tracey Cook in community services; and Kate Goudie, Bill Howes and Montgomery with the fire department.
40 years
Staff whom the city recognized for their 40 years included Rick Folster (absent) and Kurtis Klemenz (absent) from operations.
Retirements
Retiring staff whom the city recognized included Howes, with 35 years; Dreger, with 43 years; Rhonda Penner, with 25 years, and Randy Sutcliffe (absent), with 48 years, in operations; and Couzens, with 33 total years during two stints with the city.
Special achievement award
The city recognized Bob Gagnon with the special achievement award.
This award honours an employee who has contributed to the City of Moose Jaw or the community. The employee is to have provided exemplary service and dedication to the municipality or have extensive community involvement as a volunteer.
Speaking briefly, Gagnon said he was shocked to receive the award but nevertheless appreciated the recognition.
