Their eagerness and enthusiasm are clearly evident as they talk about giving back to the community they have always called home.
The two women who are making a return to Sackville to take on key roles with the municipality after more than 20 years away say they are excited about the opportunity.
“I love Sackville,” says Sandra Kent, the town’s new director of community development and programming. “Growing up here made me realize what my abilities were . . . and to be able to give back to the community that gave me so much is truly a privilege.”
Kent, who spent a decade in Toronto working in film and television before moving into the non-profit sector in Cumberland County and then Saint John with the YMCA and Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, took on her post with the town on May 25.
The new director of economic development Bonnie Swift will begin her duties in September.
“My goal is to make Sackville the best little place to do business,” says Swift, who spoke to the Tribune-Post last week during a visit to the area.
Swift, a Dorchester native who headed to Calgary after high school graduation nearly 30 years ago with only a few hundred bucks in her back pocket, says her hope is to improve upon Sackville’s economic development growth so residents don’t feel the need to leave their community.
“Kids shouldn’t have to move away from family and friends. Why can’t we create opportunities here so that they can stay?”
An environmental engineer with an MBA in executive management, as well as degrees in civil engineering and in chemical engineering technology, Swift worked for AMEC and Stantec before becoming a founding member in her own engineering/geophysical services company.
Several years ago, Swift sold her shares in the company, moving on to a vice-president position at Focus Corporation – a firm that provides a range of engineering, geomatics, planning and project management services to clients involved in oil and gas, oil sands, infrastructure, land development and environmental projects.
Swift also runs her own business consulting company called Swift Group Inc., which helps small businesses get off the ground.
“My role was to coach them to get where they needed to go,” she says, noting she provided businesses with information on how to access grant funding, how to take advantage of information technology, and to understand the importance of marketing globally.
Swift says her main focus will be on business development in her new role and knows it will likely take several years to see a noticeable difference.
“It’s not going to happen overnight . . . but the community can only develop with business growth.”
Swift also hopes Sackville will take advantage of an emerging energy market.
“There will be opportunities there,” she says. “And if we want to create it, we can.”
Both women say a return to the area was inevitable.
“The big trees, the safe neighbourhoods, the friendly people. . . I came back for the culture and the beauty and the warmth of the small town,” says Swift.
Kent says she couldn’t agree more.
“I had such an idyllic childhood here. I swung my first bat at the ball fields down on Lorne Street, I had my first swimming lesson at the pool, I took my first piano lessons at the conservatory, I shot my first basket at the middle school . . . this will always be home for me. I want that for my son, and I also hope to provide that for other families here.”
The two appointments, which are entirely new roles that were created amidst a number of recent restructuring changes within the town, were approved during a special council meeting last month.
The new director of economic development, among other things, will lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive economic development strategy for the community. She will market and promote Sackville as a competitive area for new businesses in investment and development, while also helping existing businesses in their quest for long-term sustainability.
The director of community development and programming will be responsible for the promotion, management and development of recreational programs, leisure activities, special events as well as the management and implementation of arts, culture and heritage initiatives.
