The Village of Rockyford is on the lookout for a new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) after Elaine Macdonald recently tendered her resignation.
Although Ms. Macdonald will be leaving her position in Rockyford, she is moving on to fill the CAO role in the Village of Big Valley in mid-April.
“We were going to look at a property in Big Valley and, after booking the appointment, I discovered they had an ad for a CAO and applied,” she told the Mail. She added it was “crazy serendipity” to have both the offer on the home and the job application approved.
Ms. Macdonald has worked for the Village of Rockyford for the last five years, though has had many years of experience within other municipalities.
Big Valley Mayor Dan Houle says, “She will be a great fit for our community. We welcome her experience; she has a wealth of knowledge.”
He adds having the village’s CAO living within the community will also be a bonus.
And as Big Valley’s search ends, Rockyford’s is just beginning.
“We are saddened and will miss her expertise,” Rockyford Mayor Darcy Burke says, adding the village is also looking forward to some of the changes and new initiatives and insights a new CAO could bring to the table.

A Report a Poacher tip has led to a Linden man pleading guilty to charges of hunting without a license under the Fish and Wildlife Act.
The accused, William Clare of Linden, appeared via telephone in provincial court in Drumheller on Friday, March 18 facing charges stemming from a November 2021 incident.
The court heard how on November 20, 2021, Drumheller Fish and Wildlife Officer Joa Markotic received a report of two men trespassing while hunting in the area of Linden and Three Hills.
Two men in a black Nisson Frontier were spotted shooting from the road toward a herd of mule deer. The tipster heard a total of four gunshots and reported seeing several mule deer running following the shots; an older male was seen walking onto a property adjacent to the road, belonging to the tipster’s grandmother.
Officer Markotic ran the license plate of the Frontier and discovered Mr. Clare was the registered owner of the vehicle.
He indicated to Officer Markotic a total of three shots were fired from the middle of the road into a group of mule deer from a .308 Winchester rifle, which he presented to Officer Markotic, and a single shot was fired at an antlered mule deer.
The casings matching the rifle were recovered from the area Mr. Clare indicated.
During his appearance, the court heard how Mr. Clare was new to hunting and had a tag for whitetail deer. He took a shot at the mule deer on behalf of his hunting partner, the older gentleman at the scene, and was unaware this was against the law.
The Honourable Judge J. Shriar noted, whether new to hunting or not, it was Mr. Clare’s responsibility to educate himself.
Mr. Clare’s guilty plea to hunting without a license was accepted. The Crown sought a fine of $900 and withdrew all other charges.