The City of Estevan has moved forward on a couple of fronts regarding economic development initiatives.
The first is the hiring of Dwight Bramble as the new economic development co-ordination. The other is the formation of a new economic development committee.
Bramble brings a diverse background to the economic development post. Originally from the Caribbean nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, he came to the U.S. to attend university on a soccer scholarship. He played soccer for his home country at an international level for many years and worked as an economist. He was also his nation's deputy ambassador to the U.S.
He moved to Canada five years ago to work at the University of Regina as a sectional lecturer in economics.
Bramble has enjoyed living in Saskatchewan.
“It's been a good new home for me,” he told the Mercury. “Canada is a great country. We in the Caribbean, we have a very rich history and relationship with Canada. I remember when I first entered high school, we had a bunch of volunteer teachers from Toronto, and the experience was good. They made us feel like students.”
He admits he still isn't used to the cold winter months experienced in Saskatchewan, but he loves the province.
As the new economic development officer, Bramble will be tasked with researching, analyzing, developing and recommending policies to the economic development committee and city council, so that the Estevan area can grow economically.
He will study current trends to take the city forward.
Promoting the city will also be a big part of his job.
“It doesn't make sense for me to do all this research if the intention is not to promote the city,” said Bramble.
Bramble called the job with the city a great opportunity to make a contribution to the development of a smaller centre, and to bring his skills and expertise to the job.
“If you're looking at economic development, that is a never-ending, ongoing process,” said Bramble. “What I have to do, and my intention in the initial stages of being here, is to do a lot of information gathering and talking to people, and interacting with the community to get a feel of where Estevan is and where Estevan could go.
“Then I will be in a better position to design a more focused approach for how I should do my work, in the confines and the context of my job description.”
Before he moved to Estevan, Bramble said some of his friends questioned his decision. But Bramble has lived in many different communities, and said he feels comfortable in this city, and has no doubt that he will be able to call Estevan home.
“I think that's going to drive me even more to be successful at my job, because if I'm going to be living here, I want to be as responsible as I can in contributing to the development and well-being of the community,” said Bramble.
As for the economic development committee, it is comprised of 11 people, with two each from the City of Estevan, the Rural Municipality of Estevan and the Estevan Chamber of Commerce, and five members at large.
Mayor Roy Ludwig and Coun. Greg Hoffort are the city representatives, Reeve Terry Keating and Coun. Dennis Blackburn are the RM delegates, and president John Williams and past-president Josh LeBlanc are the chamber reps. The members at large are Nathan Wilhelm, Kurt Schmidt, Josh Biggs, Gene Baniulis and Derek Keating.
City manager Jeff Ward, RM of Estevan administrator Grace Potter and chamber executive director Jackie Wall are non-voting advisors.
“It's a very good and diverse group, which is great,” Ward said.
The mandate of the committee is to work with Bramble to provide direction to city council related to community development and bringing in new businesses, including development incentives. It will also improve the economic base and amenities in the Estevan area.
Bramble said he has been able to meet with the new economic development committee, and he is pleased with the people involved.
The city had been without an economic development co-ordinator since Manpreet Sangha stepped down in the summer of 2016. There was some discussion as to whether the city would hire Sangha's replacement, but they ultimately opted to bring in Bramble.
