Owen Francis retires after 31 years!

04 Jul Owen Francis retires after 31 years!

Staff and well-wishers gathered at the Bar Nun Saloon on June 7 to help celebrate Owen Francis’s retirement from the Special Areas. The crowd enjoyed some cool refreshments while taking time to wish Owen well as he moves into the next phase after 31 years at Special Areas.

As a part of the retirement celebration, Jordon Christianson presented Owen with a Special Areas brand to help recognize his contributions to the region over his career.

“Owen is a strong mentor and leader and a huge part of Special Areas success. I always appreciated your willingness to take risks and try new things, and I could count on there always being a well thought out plan and reason. We will miss you and your leadership, but we are excited for you as you enter into this next chapter of your life.” 

Shaune Kovitch presented Owen with the first ever Special Areas Board Challenge Coin. Challenge coins can be found throughout emergency services and first responders. They bear an organization’s insignia or emblem and are carried by the organization’s members. Historically, challenge coins were presented in recognition of special achievement by a member of the unit.

“Thank you for all the years working alongside with you – very privileged to work with you. Your common-sense approach, especially when things were going extremely sideways, your ability to bring calm and put things in perspective, are things you taught me that I will take forward.”

Owen was also presented with the Alberta Emergency Services Medal and bar that recognized Owen’s more than 22 years of service in Emergency Services here at Special Areas.

Owen first began his career in 1992 at Special Areas working in the Ag. Services department as a summer job. He held many different roles throughout his career including Oil & Gas Administrator, Area Administrator (SA2), Development Officer, GIS Tech, Director of Emergency Managment and Director of Municipal Services. After all the presentations were finished, Owen took some time to share some of his reflections on his 31 year career.

Owen thanked everyone for attending and for all the accolades, but cautioned everyone to take all the nice things being said with a grain of salt. He thanked the many different people he had the opportunity to work with throughout his career, highlighting how a 31 year career doesn’t happen without a lot of talent supporting you, and how the Special Areas is full of talent! Owen closed by sharing that he has been truly blessed with the career that he’s had here at Special Areas and is looking forward to his new career back on the farm.

Please help us congratulate Owen on his retirement, and to thank him for his 31 years of service to the Special Areas!