This position requires an ambitious and organized individual, who is motivated and has a sincere interest in this field of work. The candidate must demonstrate leadership skills, and have the ability to foster effective working relationships.

 The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate high level of organization and time management skills; possess problem solving ability and public relations skills; possess strong interpersonal skills to effectively interact with various levels of staff, the public and external agencies. This position requires post secondary education with a strong knowledge of aquatic facility programming and other facility related programming with a suitable combination of education and experience including, but not limited to: 5+ years experience in management in a recreational facility (multi‐use would be an asset) and 3+ years experience in senior supervisory role, with proven experience in budget and controls, financial management or equivalent. Experience in strategic planning and program development, and the ability to multi task and handle competing priorities and strict deadlines. Any or all of the following would be considered an asset: Water Safety Instructor Trainer/Instructor Trainer; Life Saving Instructor; NLS Lifeguard/Instructor/Examiner; Life Saving Society Examiners Certificate; First Aid/CPR Instructor; Certified Pool Operators Course; Operational knowledge of a swimming pool facility, including water balancing and operational controls.

The salary for this position will be depended strictly upon qualifications. Based on that, this position will be evaluated on the ability of the successful candidate. We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Further details about the position can be obtained by contacting Jim Lambert, General Manager at jlambert@colchester.ca . Applicants are invited to submit a covering letter and resume by May 25, 2012 to:

CNSCC RFP – Arena Tables & Chairs

 It was recently announced that when the Centre’s aquatic centre opens, the Nova Scotia Community College Centennial Pool will close its doors.  In the initial planning stages for the Civic Centre, much time and effort was directed to research in determining the community’s needs and in particular, if a new pool was warranted.  It was concluded that it was more feasible to incorporate an aquatic centre in the Civic Centre than to make the necessary improvements to the existing pool. 

 Concerns have been expressed from existing members of the NSCC Sport and Wellness Centre and Centennial Pool in regards to the cost of memberships and programming in the new Centre.  The Civic Centre team is currently working with officials from the Nova Scotia Community College to ensure a smooth transition between the two facilities.  General Manager, Jim Lambert has met with the college and is confident that a transfer of memberships with a pro-rated value is a definite possibility.  “Officials are eager to ensure its patrons are a priority” says Lambert.  “Logistics will be worked out over the coming months and will be shared with the community” adds Lambert.  With the new centre just around the corner, many existing organizations have communicated their interest in partnerships and have met with the Civic Centre’s team to discuss these possibilities.

Construction on Abenaki Road continues to create excitement in the community as each week great strides take place on the site.  Structural Steel is now complete and mechanical, electrical and plumbing are well underway.  Work on the exterior glazing and siding carries on and is expected to be complete by mid May.  The cement structure for the competitive pool is complete and they are now working on the pool deck.  The Arena will be ready by the end of May for the installation of the dasher boards and the refrigeration system.  Painting of the steel in the arena has begun with workers working three – eight hour shifts to improve efficiencies. 

 Another very important part of the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre Project is the Ignite the Spirit Campaign.  The campaign team continues to strive to meet its final goal of $5 million dollars.  As part of the effort to raise funds, a charity golf tournament will be held at the Truro Golf Club.  Each year applications are received by the Club from local not-for-profit organizations applying for the opportunity to host a “charity” event.  The tournament is expected to attract over 100 golfers, who will enjoy 18 holes of fun and competition.  “The Ignite the Spirit team is always looking for creative ways for the community to participate in our ongoing fundraising activities” says Jon Stanfield, Chair of the Campaign.   “A golf tournament is an enjoyable and active way to help support a great cause. We look forward to providing our guests with a fun filled golf day, and we are thankful the Truro Golf Club provided our campaign with this opportunity” adds Stanfield.   Please continue to visit the campaign’s website www.ignitethespirit.ca for further event details.

 The Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre Project Team is committed to the community to make the best decisions possible for the operations of the facility and for all those who will benefit from programming and services offered.  I believe the day the Centre opens for business all those coming in the doors will be pleased with what they see and experience.

 The Operating Board will be a “not-for-profit” body comprised of two Council appointments each from the Town of Truro and the Municipality of Colchester along with the selected community members.  The Operating Board will work closely with General Manager, Jim Lambert, in strategic planning and policy direction for the new health and wellness centre.

 The three volunteer citizens selected to represent the Town of Truro are Jamie Muir, Farida Gabbani and Karen McNeil.  Jamie Muir is a well-known retired educator and political representative for the Region who will bring much experience and expertise to the Board;   Farida Gabbani is the Senior Director for Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation for the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness and has extensive experience in recreation facilities that are concerned with the health and wellness of the community and Karen McNeil is a licensed physiotherapist who brings a background in health and fitness and has experience serving as a member on a not-for-profit board.

 The County of Colchester is pleased to have selected Nevin Jackson, John Kelderman and Brad Ritcey as their citizen representatives.  Nevin Jackson has been employed with the local school board for the past 25 years and is currently the Principal of South Colchester Academy in Brookfield; John Kelderman has been a local business man in the community for 26 years and is currently Owner of Kwik Kopy Design and Print Centre and Brad Ritcey has a financial background and currently works for a local CA firm – WBLI Chartered Accountants.

 Councils for the County of Colchester and the Town of Truro are extremely pleased to welcome their respective members of the community to the project team.  Jim Lambert, along with the entire Board, has many challenges to face in the coming months with the Centre’s opening day just six months away.  “Although the responsibilities associated with opening a facility of this magnitude may seem great, we have a very dedicated team, which now includes these six members of the community, working towards a common goal” says Bob Taylor, Mayor of Colchester County and Project Co-Chair.  “Since day one, we knew the decision to build this facility would take cooperation from all aspects of the Region to give the community a place to gather, play and thrive” adds Taylor.

This position requires an ambitious and organized individual, who is motivated and has a sincere interest in this field of work. The candidate must demonstrate leadership skills, and have the ability to foster effective working relationships. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate high level of organization and time management skills; possess problem solving ability and public relations skills; possess strong interpersonal skills to effectively interact with various levels of staff, the public and external agencies. 2+ years Post Secondary education, preferred, with 7+ years relevant experience in facilities maintenance management or equivalent. Possess knowledge in the operations of Aquatic, Arena, Fitness and Special Events. Considered an asset to have certifications in a combination of Pool Operator, Levels 1 and 2 RFANS Arena Operator, Class 2 Refrigeration, or Class 4 Power Engineer, and experience in ice maintenance. A current Criminal Reference Check will be required as a condition of employment.

The salary range for this position is $56,217 ‐ $65,195

We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Further details about the position can be obtained by contacting Jim Lambert, General Manager at jlambert@colchester.ca . Applicants are invited to submit a covering letter and resume by April 30, 2012 to:

This position requires a highly motivated and resourceful individual with strong written and verbal communication skills with a sincere interest in this field of work. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate high level of organization and time management skills; possess problem solving ability and public relations skills; possess strong interpersonal skills to effectively interact with various levels of staff, the Board, public and external agencies. Applicants must have knowledge and experience working in an office environment. Post Secondary education in office administration preferred, and be proficient in the use of computer software such as Microsoft Word and Excel. A current Criminal Reference Check will be required as a condition of employment.

The salary range for this position is $34,328 ‐ $39,810

We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Further details about the position can be obtained by contacting Jim Lambert, General Manager at jlambert@colchester.ca . Applicants are invited to submit a covering letter and resume by April 30, 2012 to:

For the chance to win a FREE annual membership to the Centre, click on the contest logo “Become the First Member” and fill out the form to enter your name prior to August 31, 2012.  By entering the contest you will also be eligible to receive regular updates regarding facility memberships, events and other opportunities that will be available when the Civic Centre opens in September.

From seniors to youths, the 150,000 square foot Centre will have something for everyone.  Facility memberships can include usage of the 3 lane walking/jogging track, 8 lane competitive pool, leisure pool, fitness centre, skating rink, rock climbing wall and other applicable fitness programs offered. “The new Centre is a multi-purpose facility that will be accessible to everyone” says Jim Lambert, General Manager.   “A priority of the project team from the design stages was to build a centre where every community member is welcome to visit and take advantage of all the opportunities the Centre will offer”.

February and March were busy months for the Interim Operating Board with the appointment of Jim Lambert as General Manager of the new facility, as well as the request to the community for six citizen members to hold positions on the Operating Board – three from the Town of Truro and three from the Municipality of Colchester.  Once the Operating Board members are in place, the Board will work closely with Mr. Lambert to establish such things as job descriptions and roles within the facility.  “My main focus is to bring together a strong management team, along with support staff, to oversee the daily functionality of the facility” says Lambert.  “A great facility must have a dedicated and committed team”.  If you are interested in being a part of the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre team, you are encouraged to continue to visit this website (Ignite the Spirit) and both the municipal websites, www.truro.ca and www.colchester.ca .

Another priority will be to establish membership types, pricing and affordability at the Centre.  We have been thrilled with the early interest in facility memberships and to add to the excitement, there will be an opportunity for a community member to win a free annual membership and be the “first” member of the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre! The countdown to opening day is on – only 6 months to go!

These are just a couple of the challenges that lay ahead for Mr. Lambert and the Operating Board.  While it may seem like a big hill to climb, the entire project team is committed to working together to ensure the facility is ready for opening day – both inside and out.

The progress taking place on the construction site each week is very impressive.  Visible from the outside is structural steel on the aquatic and fitness side of the facility. The interior concrete structure for the 8 lane competitive pool was completed the end of February.  Recently the Truro Police Service asked the public for help when a small quantity of lumber was stolen from the site and in response to the theft extra security measures have been put in place on site.  Project Manager, Paul Smith expressed disappointment with the incident and remains hopeful the material will be recovered to avoid replacement costs and delays.  “The stolen lumber was milled for the ceiling in the aquatic centre and is readily identified by its non-standard size (3” by 6”) with a double tongue and groove” says Smith. 

The next few months will continue to be a busy but exciting time for the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre Project.  We encourage you to continue to visit our website for updated photos, information regarding our upcoming contest and the latest news regarding the Ignite the Spirit Campaign and the construction project.  If you have any questions, please phone the campaign/project office at (902) 893-9706 or email ignitethespirit@colchester.ca.

Now with the countdown on to September 2012, a whole new effort has begun as we broaden our focus to now begin preparing for the operating phase.   An Interim Operating Board was formed in the fall of 2011 to begin exploring two very important elements in this regard; first, the formation of the full Operating Board and laying out the framework for its creation, role, and management and second, the selection of a General Manager for the facility.

The Operating Board will be a “not-for -profit” body comprised of two appointments each from the Town of Truro and Municipality of Colchester as well as six citizen members from the Region.  Although the Town and Municipality will retain ownership of the building, the Operating Board will be responsible for its day-to-day management and programming once opened.  Advertising and recruitment for the six community members to the Operating Board began in early February and Councils are expected to make three appointments each in early March.  Once constituted, the Board will begin a multitude of tasks which include strategic, business and program planning, develop community partnerships, and plan for the many organizational needs for staffing and general operations.  Their focus will primarily be to set policy direction for the vision, integration, and overall financial management of the civic centre in relation to the community it serves.

General Manager Jim Lambert (left) and Project Manager Paul Smith toured the site recently

On another equally important front, the Interim Operating Board also began recruiting for a General Manager in December 2011 and is pleased to welcome Jim Lambert to this important position.  Jim brings more than 20 years experience from both the public and private sectors with an extensive background in municipal recreation facility management.  This combined with his energy, enthusiasm, and understanding of community based recreational programming establishes a solid foundation from which the civic centre operations will be launched.   Collectively, both Jim and the Operating Board will become responsible for the overall management, function and integration of this tremendous asset with the community it is intended to serve.

The next several months will be busy for the Operating Board and General Manager since they will need to ensure the facility is completely functional with a variety of activities and events when its doors open in September.     While the challenges will be many and we have a big hill to climb between now and September, the entire project team is committed to put forth its best efforts to deliver a functional facility that addresses the needs of our Region. 

If you have any questions or comments that you would like to share, we can be reached by email at ignitethespirit@colchester.ca or phone at 902.893.9706.

“Jim’s background and enthusiasm is key to the long term success of our civic centre says Greg MacArthur Co-Chair of the project and Councillor for the Town of Truro.  “He is passionate about recreation and community wellness which will only build upon the many ideals we have set out to accomplish” adds MacArthur.

“The recruitment process for a General Manager produced many fine candidates.  We were immediately drawn to Jim’s understanding of our needs, his grassroots approach, and his commitment to serve the best interests of our community,” says County Mayor and Interim Operating Board Member Bob Taylor. “Having worked in both the private and public sectors, Jim recognizes the value of community partnerships and this, combined with his entrepreneurial spirit, well positions us to achieve many great things” notes Taylor. 

The Interim Operating Board is presently recruiting citizen representatives from the Truro and Colchester area to fill six remaining vacancies on the Operating Board.  Three citizens each from the Town of Truro and Municipality of Colchester will be considered through an application process which closes on February 24.  The Board and General Manager will both play key roles in providing operational leadership, integrity, and responsible management for the facility when it opens in September.   Jim Lambert will assume his duties as General Manager on February 27.