The community of Arcola is welcoming a new municipal administrator to the town, Lisa Hrappstead.
Hrappstead, whose roots come from Swan River, MB, is moving to the community from her previous place of residence in Red Deer, AB.
"The job posting for the position was pointed out to me by my sister-in-law," Hrappstead said. "It was on Saskjobs.ca, and she forwarded me the blurb from there."
Hrappstead, who has a degree in administration, had initially hoped to find work in a medical office following her graduation.
As fickle as fortune can be though, an opportunity of sorts appeared, and led Hrappstead in a different career direction.
"There was a placement available for a law office, to be a personal assistant to a lawyer," Hrappstead said. "It didn't pay anything, but the opportunity seemed good, so I took the position."
Hrappstead worked there until she decided it was time to head further west.
"After working in the law office, I got a job with Scott Builders in Red Deer," Hrappstead said. "I didn't have any experience in the construction industry, but they took me anyway, and off I went."
While being green in the construction industry, Hrappstead was in the end able to grow into her new position as a project assistant.
She stayed on the job for four years.
"I guess it was partly to move back closer to home that prompted me to start looking for other work," Hrappstead said. "When this position showed up, I decided it was time to take a shot."
In Saskatchewan, there is a degree course that is offered for municipal administrators.
"I have a lot of experience in the different areas I have to look after here, but I'm a little light on some of the others," Hrappstead said. "Assuming I'm here at the three month mark, I'll start taking the courses for the administrator's degree."
Hrappstead admits that the learning curve with her new position, ". . . has been steep." However, she is enjoying the work so far, and the people she deals with.
"The people in the community have been just wonderful with me," Hrappstead said. "And the town staff have been really good too."
"I guess one of the strange things I've had to deal with is working alone in the office," Hrappstead said. "I always worked in offices with other people milling around, so it is a little strange to be the only one."
"I'm really glad that this happened, and I got this job," Hrappstead said. "I hope everything works out, as I said it is a huge learning curve right now."
"But I'm closer to home now, and the people have been great, so I feel really lucky," Hrappstead said. "I'm sure it won't be hard to make this place home."
Hrappstead and her husband currently live with her in-laws in Carlyle while they look for accommodations in Arcola.
