Smith retiring as executive director of Nord-Bridge

DAVID NG TO TAKE OVER ROLE AT SENIORS’ ASSOCIATION

After 20 years of growth, the Nord-Bridge Senior Citizens Association is saluting executive director Randy Smith on his retirement.

“These have been 20 remarkable years,” says president Bob Tarleck in a news release.

“Randy’s principal focus has been on working with presidents, boards of directors and staff members to create a caring, supportive seniors centre,” he says.

But Smith also helped develop the organization’s business and building acquisition plan, approved by city council in 2000. That allowed Nord-Bridge to buy the former Chinook Mall and move into it in 2001.

“With a capital investment of nearly $5 million over a 17-year span, Nord-Bridge is believed to be the only member-owned seniors centre in the province,” Tarleck says.

In the years since, Smith has also managed leases with a number of commercial tenants in the centre.

Succeeding him will be David Ng, currently the centre’s programming director.

“Nord-Bridge requires a resourceful, strategic leader who is passionate about working with people to promote recreation and leisure activities related to a healthy and balanced life,” Tarleck says.

During more than 10 years at the centre, Tarleck notes, Ng has utilized “a diverse range of experiences related to health, recreation, finance and education programming.”

A management graduate from the University of Lethbridge, he also studied recreation management at Mount Royal College and has more recently served on provincial committees and provided liaison for the Alberta 55 Plus Games held three years ago in Lethbridge.