For years, Glenn Smith has been deeply involved in sports in Hay River.
And as of May 1, Smith will become even more deeply involved in sports and recreation in the community when he becomes the recreation director for the next year with the Town of Hay River.
Glenn Smith, who will be the town's assistant senior administrative officer as of May 1, will also be recreation director for one year. Smith said the new rec centre played a part in his decision to work for the town.
It's all part of his new job as assistant senior administrative officer with the town.
"I do have to start off with the portfolio overseeing community and recreation services and public works, but the focus will be on occupying the role for recreation director," he said, explaining it's a development position to move into the role of senior administrative officer at some point in the future.
The opportunity to become the temporary rec director is available because Jim Darby left the position on March 27.
"We knew there was a vacancy on the rec director side," said Smith. "I've got some experience on the community side. That's maybe more where my interest is on the recreation side. So an opportunity to move into that role to help with the gap that exists there, but also to learn and develop and get my feet wet as I move into taking on more roles through the position. So it's a first step towards getting comfortable, I think, with the environment."
While Smith will be rec director for a year, he said the plan is to start recruiting a replacement in six months, and he hopes to perhaps be able to help find a community resident to fill the job.
The 41-year-old has been deeply involved in sports, including curling, fastpitch and mixed slo-pitch, and he once served on the Rec Board.
When he assumes his new position, Smith will leave his executive roles with various sports groups – president of men's fastpitch, vice-president of mixed slo-pitch and a director with the curling club.
"I'll certainly play and be involved and look towards providing some knowledge transfer and helping those organizations," he said. "I still have a strong passion to see that the community groups, the recreation groups, are in good shape and healthy."
Smith worked at the Northwest Territories Power Corporation since 2000 and said it will be difficult to leave his role of director of information and operational technologies on April 27.
"It was always a good employer," he said. "It's a professional organization with very diversified types of operations.... We're lucky to have a head office like that in Hay River. I really enjoyed my time there."
However, he believes the Town of Hay River offers a good opportunity and seems like a good fit for him, and he is ready to take on new challenges.
"A lot of good things are going on, I think, with the town right now," he said.
Smith admitted that the brand-new recreation centre also played a part in his decision to work for the town
"It's perfect for me and the next rec director to come into it," he said. "It makes for a nice environment."
Smith, who has lived in Hay River since he was four, said he has always been interested in municipal administration, and he looks forward to helping encourage economic development and promoting the town.
Until Smith starts working with the town, Judy Goucher, the senior administrative officer, will be acting director of recreation and community services.