Nicole Hartman has the right attitude for her job.
The City of Flin Flon’s new recreation manager enters her position with a healthy respect for what leisure activities mean to a community.
“That’s what keeps people in the community, I think,” says Hartman. “You have your services that are needed, but recreation is what people with families [want]. If you don’t have that, then people aren’t going to stay. It’s important to keep everybody busy and happy.”
Hartman, who took over the job on Monday, brings years of experience as recreation director in her hometown of Eatonia, Saskatchewan.
With fewer than 600 people, Eatonia presented an interesting opportunity as she ran hockey, skating, swimming, soccer and other rec programs.
“In a small town you kind of do it all,” says Hartman, a married mother of two, with a laugh. “You have to run the programs, run the facilities.”
Prior to becoming rec director in Eatonia, Hartman worked as a hairdresser, but she was a long-time (and very active) member of the local recreation board.
“My kids were involved in sports and I kind of just got involved in it,” she says.
When Eatonia needed a new rec director, officials decided to train Hartman. She kept the job for 14 years.
Hartman and her husband then opted to move to Flin Flon, where he is from. In a welcome coincidence, the city happened to be looking for a recreation manager following the resignation of Mike Dubreuil.
She got the job, and spent her first day Monday meeting colleagues and touring facilities.
“I’m very excited about it and looking forward to getting going on things,” says Hartman.
Hartman knew Flin Flon somewhat well from visiting over the years, and has fallen in love with the community.
“The trees, the lakes – the city itself is just quite unique with the rocks,” she says.
“It’s quite different from southern Saskatchewan to come up here.”
