Maryse Carmichael, the first female pilot with 431 Air Demonstration Squadron (Snowbirds), is now the City of Moose Jaw’s new — and first female — city manager, replacing the outgoing Jim Puffalt.
Members of city council and city administration gathered at city hall on May 3 to hear Mayor Clive Tolley make the announcement. Council ratified Carmichael’s hiring during a personnel committee meeting earlier that morning.
Her first day is Tuesday, May 16.
Originally from Québec City, Carmichael is a long-time Moose Javian and member of the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame. A former flying instructor at CFB (now 15 Wing) Moose Jaw, in 2000, she became the first female pilot with the Canadian Armed Forces’ Snowbirds.
In 2010, Carmichael became the commanding officer of the squadron, and after retiring in 2013, she held multiple leadership roles with CAE, a Canadian manufacturer of simulation technologies and operator of the NATO Flying Training in Canada program at 15 Wing.
“It’s an exciting day here at the City of Moose Jaw,” Tolley said.
Council wanted someone who could enhance the city’s customer service culture and had strengths that aligned with the values of residents and employees, he continued. The ideal candidate had to be positive, open to new ideas, take responsibility, be a team leader, have business experience and help others succeed.
“We need a person who has the courage to do the right thing. A manager with successful experience building and changing organizational culture … ,” he said. “After searching the country, low and behold, we found our new city manager right here in the City of Moose Jaw.”
Carmichael has excelled at every level, from air cadets to the Snowbirds to CAE, while she recently completed an MBA, Tolley continued. Her time with CAE gave her responsibility in business development, community relations, management and advisory roles, while her government experience has made her a proven leader.
“Simply put, Ms. Carmichael is the best candidate for city manager at this time,” he added.
Carmichael thanked the mayor and council for trusting her. She looked forward to meeting city employees and residents, helping the city grow, maintaining a quality of life and making Moose Jaw a desirable tourist destination.
“I’m ready to learn. And to learn, we have to be able to listen, so I will do a lot of listening over the next few days and weeks and see the important projects (and hear what city council, employees and citizens have to say),” she continued.
Carmichael considered herself a proven leader because she was in air cadets and worked for the military for 22 years. Her early experiences gave her discipline, leadership and responsibility, while she later developed a service-oriented mindset with the military.
The city manager’s role is similar to being in the military since it focuses on serving the community, she noted.
“What better example of teamwork than the Snowbirds. That’s what I want to bring here … (and) to achieve our objectives for the city,” Carmichael said, adding her main priority is to be a good co-worker.
Although she has no experience with municipalities, Carmichael said her experiences in the public sector, with the government and the military are comparable. While public administration work will be new, she knows she can learn quickly — as she’s proven elsewhere.
Carmichael has lived in Moose Jaw for a total of 19 years. She believes that has given her an understanding of the issues affecting residents. She added that she wants to make the city a good place for new business to be, people to live, and for children — including her two daughters — to grow up.
The city manager is responsible for the daily administration of programs and services within the municipality and reports to city council and is council’s only employee.
