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Village’s second-in-command calls it quits

Warren Leigh taking on job with Arctic mining company
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Warren Leigh, director of operations for the Village of Nakusp, talks about water filtration in this file photo. Leigh will be joining a mining company working north of the Arctic Circle in Nunavut next month. (Photo by Jillian Trainor)

The Village of Nakusp is losing its second-highest ranking official.

Public Works Director of Operations Warren Leigh handed in his resignation in January to take a new job working in the High Arctic.

“I’ll be working 500 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle in Nunavut, running a water treatment and wastewater treatment plant for a mining company,” says Leigh, who has never been to the Arctic before.

Leigh’s worked for the Village for eight years, starting in the arena, then moving to public works a little over three years ago. He’s overseen the replacement of much of the village’s water mains during his tenure and the commissioning of a new water filtration plant. In October he was made deputy chief adminstration officer, the second-in-command for the administration.

He says he’s enjoyed his time in local government.

“It’s been a learning experience, I can definitely say that,” he says. “Both on an operational level, and an interpersonal-relationship level.”

Although he’s leaving the village government, Leigh plans to remain in Nakusp, and fly in and out of his new job.

“I fly Kelowna to Vancouver to Montreal to Nunavut, then return every two weeks,” he says. “It’s going to be a heck of a commute.”

Leigh’s last day with the municipal government is February 22. The Village has begun the job search for his replacement.