A visit from College of the Rockies recruitment team at a post-secondary fair at her high school in Airdrie, Alberta turned out to be a catalyst for a career in community building for Tracy Simpson.
At the time, there were a limited number of tourism programs in Alberta, and Tracy was looking for a little adventure. A Tourism Management program in the Kootenay Rockies seemed like the perfect fit, and she soon realized she was correct.
“The program was a mix of traditional learning and guidance from real world practitioners,” she said. “The opportunity to engage directly with operators and community leaders sparked my interest in community-level work.”
That interest was further stoked at Vancouver Island University where she completed her Bachelor of Tourism Management and led to her earning a master’s certificate in Municipal Leadership.
Tracy is now the Executive Manager of Community Development Services for the City of Lloydminster, AB|SK – Canada’s Border City, overseeing leisure services, social programs and services, building services, and public safety departments.
Her leisure services team operates and maintains two aquatic facilities, five indoor ice arenas, two field-houses, a museum, a golf and curling centre, library, and community theatre. They also deliver direct recreation, culture programming, and special events to the community. Currently Tracy is the project lead on a 90-million-dollar event centre that will bring two new ice arenas with 2,500 seat capacity to the community in 2025.
“This project is extremely exciting to be part of as it will be the single largest recreation enhancement in our community, providing premium player experience for our five elite hockey teams,” she said. “It is also the first fully accessible facility in our community, capable of comfortably hosting para-hockey events. This facility is intended to serve as an event destination with the goal of hosting national-level sporting events.”
Over seven days in the summer of 2024, Lloydminster hosted the Saskatchewan Summer Games with over 1,800 athletes competing in 14 sports, bringing with them over $500,000 in infrastructure investment. In spring 2025, the community will host the Esso Cup under-18 Women’s Hockey Championship.
Looking for adventure in a Tourism Management program in the Kootenay Rockies has certainly paid off for Tracy. The College planted a seed which Tracy has nurtured and helped grow into a rewarding career.
“My time at College of the Rockies left a lasting impression on me about the importance of community collaboration and investment,” she said. “I never saw myself in municipal government before, but through my time at the College and then university, I found a passion for community work that still drives me today. Even as an executive leader who is a bit further from the front lines, I am guided by a community-first mindset.”
Getting her post-secondary start at College of the Rockies, combined with her personal drive, helped set Tracy up for success in her career.