Canada Talk » Booming Fort McMurray loses another city manager -

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aus der zeitung von heute - the globe and mail

KATHERINE HARDING

Edmonton -- Fort McMurray's hard-working city manager is fleeing Alberta's booming oil sands for another type of sand.

After only 14 months as the top administrator of one of the country's fast-growing communities, Bill Newell has resigned to take up a similar position in beachfront Sooke, B.C. The community of 10,000 is about 50 kilometres west of Victoria on the southwestern tip of Vancouver Island.

Melissa Blake, mayor of Wood Buffalo (the municipality in which Fort McMurray is located), said she is sad to see Mr. Newell go but the parting is amicable. "He has some different interests in mind."

Mr. Newell is the second city manager in two years to leave the bustling northern Alberta community, which is struggling with massive growth. Its population, which was about 34,00 in 1996, is expected to hit about 100,000 in the next five years.