After nearly 34 years serving the Town of Niverville as the chief administrative officer, Jim Buys has announced his retirement.

Buys says the population of Niverville has grown from 1,000 to 5,000 thousand since he took the job. He notes this massive growth in population has changed the way the community functions.

"In 1985 Niverville was still one community. For the most part, I knew the vast majority of our residents and they would have known me. Today that is definitely not the case. We have moved into micro-communities, communities within communities. Council has had to kind of change the way that they encourage residents to take ownership of the community."

Buys says they now encourage people to host block parties and get to know their neighbours whereas in 1985 these things might happen spontaneously. He notes in addition to residential growth the town has seen a growth in services including new parks, a golf course, a town water supply, recreational services, and even emergency services.

"One of the big things that we have today is the EMR services and it has served in excess of 150 calls in a year. Speaking of health services, in 1985 we did not have a doctor in the community, we did not have a health clinic and today of course, we not only have a health clinic, we have a primary health care centre, we have the entire heritage centre with the assisted living, the PCH, those are tremendous benefits to the community."

Buys says it has been a pleasure to be part of a winning team, a growing thriving community.

"I think it has been an absolute privileged to have been given the opportunity to work in Niverville, to be able to serve the residents of the community, to impact in a very positive way their quality of life. I am sincerely indebted to council, to the citizens at large for the privilege that it has been to be able to grow. As the town has grown I too have had the opportunity to grow to meet those bigger challenges."

Buys says his replacement, Eric King, is very skilled with a degree in economics as well as being a registered accountant. He notes he is excited to see King take the role and run with it.