Derek Blais Takes Charge as New Facilities Superintendent in Sask Rivers

Derek Blais officially assumed the role of Superintendent of Facilities for the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division on September 15, 2023. He takes over from Mike Hurd, who retired after a long tenure in the position. Blais brings over 11 years of experience in municipal administration and public infrastructure management, which he plans to leverage in his new role.

Blais, who grew up in Debden and has strong ties to the region, previously served as a recreation manager for the City of Prince Albert from 2014 to 2019. He also held a managerial position with Hockey Canada, overseeing the Men’s national teams. Most recently, Blais worked in Moose Jaw, where he expanded his responsibilities to include parks, recreation, community services, and facilities management.

Focus on Learning and Continuity

In his new position, Blais acknowledges a learning curve associated with school facilities management. He noted, “There are definitely some different needs between a public recreation venue and a school, but there are a lot of things that are the same.” Blais highlighted that both types of facilities share similar construction elements, such as HVAC systems and roofing.

During a recent tour of rural schools within the division, Blais expressed appreciation for the quality of maintenance and caretaking evident in the facilities. He said, “It’s clear that there’s a great team in place here. Mike’s done some amazing work on the capital planning side.” He emphasized that the systems established by Hurd for managing service requests and capital planning are commendable, positioning the division as a leader in facilities management.

Blais’s approach is not one of immediate change but rather focused on understanding the existing systems and priorities. He remarked, “The big thing for me is just to learn right now and to understand how things work.” He aims to assess the condition of current facilities and identify renewal and maintenance priorities over the coming year.

Adapting to a Broader Scope

With responsibility for a total of 32 schools across the City of Prince Albert and surrounding communities, including St. Louis, Shellbrook, and Kinistino, Blais acknowledges the challenge of managing a larger number of facilities compared to his previous role in Moose Jaw, which encompassed 10 major facilities.

Blais stated, “I have to go through a full cycle of all four seasons to really understand my role and what’s needed.” He plans to leverage the accountability reports generated by Hurd to gain insights into operational priorities and departmental structure.

As he embarks on this new chapter, Blais expressed gratitude for the opportunity and enthusiasm for building on the solid foundation established by Hurd and the facilities team. “I’m excited to really get my feet wet,” he said, signaling his commitment to fostering a positive direction for the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division’s facilities management.

In summary, Derek Blais steps into a crucial role that combines his extensive background in facilities management with a dedication to understanding and enhancing the educational environment within the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division.