After months of City Manager Jim Puffalt running things, the Parks and Recreation Department now has a new leader. 

Derek Blais has been appointed to the role of Director of Parks and Recreation and will begin the position in the new year. 

“We are thrilled to locate someone of Mr. Blais’ ability after an extensive and long national search to join our Strategic Leadership Team,” said Jim Puffalt, City Manager for the City of Moose Jaw said in a written release. “The exuberance and excitement that we believe he will bring will be a tremendous addition to an already great team at Parks & Recreation. His experience at a national level with Hockey Canada and the City of Prince Albert shows a proven track record of an ability to work with all stakeholders.”

According to the city, Blais brings many years of experience as he was the manager of the same department in the community of Prince Albert the last four and a half years. He graduated from Mount Royal College in Calgary, with a Bachelor of Applied Business and Entrepreneurship with a Major in Sport and Recreation. Blais has 14 years of combined experience, some of which was spent with Hockey Canada where he was the Coordinator of the Men's National Teams and Manager of Hockey Operations for seven years. 

Blais will be moving to the friendly city in the near future with his wife and growing family before he starts as a Director down at City Hall on January 21st, 2019.