There are a myriad of groups and organizations providing various leisure services to Humboldt and area, but there’s only one person helping to co-ordinate everything to make sure everyone gets the space and time they need: Michelle Smith, recreation programs co-ordinator.
“We find within the city there’s a lot of programs for everyone … so we just try to help people find the programs and work with the other groups who are putting the programs on,” Smith said.
While she does occasionally organize things (the Volunteer Appreciation Barbecue, summer sport camps, citywide registration, and more) her role is primarily organizational.
“The majority of my position I find is helping groups that are trying to run programs or are already running programs to keep their programs running successfully,” she said. “I may not necessarily participate in the program or have much to do outside helping them find a space to run their program, but I’m kind of involved on the outside.”
Smith added that they would like to get to the point where they are planning their own programs, but right now the main constraints are budget and a dedicated space for programming.
Smith has a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and majored in recreation and sports administration. Before taking the position in Humboldt, she was the recreation director in Lanigan. However, she felt like there wasn’t enough distance between her and the job, so she started looking elsewhere.
“It was hard to get away from work,” she said. “It was like you were on call 24 hours a day. So I was looking for a little bit of separation without leaving my field and I don’t plan on leaving the area, so this was a good step. The 30-minute drive isn’t the end of the world.”
The programs don’t just benefit people in Humboldt – they draw from around the region, including Middle Lake, Lake Lenore, Muenster, and more. While Humboldt may be small, Smith thinks it’s important to have a variety of activities for people.
“We have a higher senior population, we have a lot of new young families, we have an immigrant population, your empty nesters, your baby boomers,” she said. “We have a very good cross section of society in Humboldt, so I think you have to give them all the options.”
Right now, Smith said that there is no new programming organized by her on the table, and that council has directed the department to work with what they have. However, that doesn’t mean new programming is totally off the table.
Smith is starting to think about organizing the summer sport camps, though she has to wait a bit before it’s possible. This year, the camps will be combined with the summer fun program. She’s hoping to have some new sports (possibly canoe/kayak), but also bring back the ones that were a big hit last summer, like fencing.
“My favourite part is just watching the kids try something new and doing something they’ve never seen, and have them start out maybe not so good at it but by the end of the three or four hours they’ve picked it up and they want to keep doing it,” Smith said.
Her next big project is a new combined citywide registration and volunteer appreciation barbecue. She said the citywide registration, which is always crowded in the spring, is outgrowing Jubilee Hall and is being moved to the curling rink. With the expanded space, they are also able to accommodate citywide registration.
With all her different duties, her favourite part of the job is just helping people have fun.
“It’s what people look for to have fun,” she said. “It’s the relaxing part of people’s lives, for the most part. It’s not legal or banking or something that you have to do, it’s something that you choose to do. You get to help people have fun and do what they want to do, not what they have to do.”
