The City of Weyburn has welcomed a new face to their team this week. Jennifer Wilkinson is the new Director of Engineering.

As the new Director of Engineering, Jennifer Wilkinson will oversee management of the City's engineering and public works departments.

"I am really excited to join the City of Weyburn," said Wilkinson. "The City has so many interesting and dynamic opportunities to be a part of. I look forward to continuing to develop and strategically grow the City of Weyburn."

Wilkinson holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering and holds her Professional Engineering Designation (APEGS). She has been employed in the field of engineering with the oil and gas industry for over 10 years, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience in Project Management to the City.

She said she was born and raised in Saskatchewan, and she and her husband moved to the Weyburn area about eight years ago.

"We live north of Yellow Grass, and we have two kids and five pets, and my husband is a full time farmer," she shared."We've been involved in the Weyburn community for a long time. My kids play sports here and we get all our groceries here and everything so we've been in the community for quite a while."

Wilkinson said they have lived in larger communities than Weyburn, including Saskatoon, Regina Calgary, but size, of course, isn't everything.

"We have been in the bigger centres, but I think I just love the feel of a small town community. It feels more like home and you get to know a lot more people and be invested in it. So, I think this truly fits our lifestyle, my husband and I," she expressed.

As for her background in oil and gas, Wilkinson said she has been very much focused on facilities.

"That's why I kind of felt the fit, I know a lot about piping and running plants, so I felt that could transition into the municipal environment," she explained. "I have been mainly oil and gas focused, up to this point, so I worked multiple different areas in Saskatchewan, worked in the refinery environment, and then most recently for Cenovus and Whitecap [Resoures] out there, so very much oil and gas related, but a lot of project management, which I think fits with this role."

She said the City Hall staff and management have been very welcoming.

"This is my first week here, but everybody has been so welcoming and so great," she shared. "There's a real team environment, and you can just see that everybody is so passionate about their jobs and the City, which is just fantastic."

"There's so much new information to everything, but I've just been so excited this week, like, I go home and I feel energized," she added.

"We are happy to have Jennifer join our Senior Management Team. Her education and past employment experiences will help to enhance our engineering and public works department by providing leadership and future planning that will improve the community," commented Mathew Warren, City Manager.