by PAUL RAYNER

Although she will miss Boissevain, the Consumers Co-op general manager could not pass up an opportunity to move up the ladder and return home at the same time.

Karen Harilstad will be leaving the GM position at Boissevain she has held for six years in mid-January. She will be taking over the position of Saskatoon Region Finance and Control Manager, working out of the head Federated Co-op office in the northern Saskatchewan city.

“I will be working with 72 retailers to help them with budgets, feasibility and equity questions,” Harilstad explained. “They phoned me and asked if I was interested in applying.”

She did her interview on the morning of Friday, December 5 and decided shortly thereafter she would accept the position if offered, which was done the following Monday. She said part of the decision was made due to the familiarity she has with the type of work, dealing closely with people in the same position in the Winnipeg office. Also, it was a good move for her and husband David Thieme.

“It was good for me personally. We will be closer to home and with aging parents that is important. We are from the Saskatoon area, so we are going home. It is an excellent opportunity.”

Harilstad arrived in her position in Boissevain in August 2002. She has been with the Co-op family for 25 years, serving in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba. She said she was happy with the work done over the years she has been in Boissevain. For one thing, the Boissevain Co-op has done important renovations to the home centre and grocery store, as well as keeping the gas bar up to date. As well, they have developed a strong team to keep the local organization running smoothly.

“We have a very stable management team,” she stated, “a very talented management team. As well, in Boissevain the board is known for careful planning. They do not make decisions off the cuff, which bodes well for the co-op.”

Board president Matt Heide said the board has mixed feelings about the development.

“We know the promotion will be good for Karen,” Heide said. “It means she will be moving back home. But it will be sad for us, because it is a loss, losing someone who has taken the co-op forward in the last six years. She has done some great work. She’s a financier. She’s done great work in accounts receivable, the things that are not terribly exciting but are very important. She also did great work bringing up the management team. She allowed them to do the job and she deserves a lot of credit for that.”

As well as her work in the Consumers Co-op, Harilstad also was known for her community involvement. The UCT, Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, Health Advisory Committee and Library Board are a few of the organizations she worked with. One highlight for her was helping establish Farm Focus and keep it growing. She said community involvement was important to the board, which she feels her successor will continue.

The hunt for a replacement has already begun. Heide said they have been in touch with Federated in Winnipeg to put out the job call. He hopes they can short list candidates by early in the New Year, hold the interviews and have the successful candidate in place by February, with that management team holding the fort in the short interim. He does not feel it should be too difficult to find interested people.

“Boissevain is attractive to a lot of people,” Heide said, “the community as well as the Co-op. We have three locations, and there are lots of opportunities. They should be able to move in and be excited to take over a $16 million Co-op.”

Harilstad admitted it would be difficult to say goodbye.

“We will absolutely miss it,” she said. “We’ve really enjoyed our time here. It will be a very tough place to leave.”