The search is on for a new general manager for the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
It was announced during Moose Jaw City Council on Monday night that Ryan MacIvor will be leaving his position this month.
MacIvor was employed by OVG360 (formerly Spectra), the company contracted by the city to manage the facility.
MacIvor was appointed the new general manager on Sept. 23, 2019. He took over during a turbulent time for the facility. The Downtown Facility and Field House board had been disbanded the year before due to a scandal that included the firing of then-general manager Graham Edge.
“I just want to say thank you for all that you have done for the Moose Jaw Events Centre and for our city. You are absolutely leaving the building in a much better place as you leave than when you came,” Coun. Heather Eby told MacIvor during his last visit to council chambers.
During his four years at the Moose Jaw Events Centre, he brought in events such as the World Para Ice Hockey Championship, the 2020 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the 2023 Candian Wheelchair Curling Championships to the Moose Jaw Curling Centre, Stars on Ice, Alice Cooper, Brett Kissel and Shinedown.
MacIvor’s tenure came at a difficult time when we went through the COVID-19 pandemic that hit the entertainment industry hard.
“You brought the Events Centre through a pandemic, which nobody ever anticipated, and you’ve worked so diligently to try to bring us back and build capacity. You leave a really big legacy here and I don’t know where you’re going next, but there are big shoes to fill,” said Coun. Crystal Froese.
Following the pandemic, MacIvor navigated the Ticket Rocket controversy that left ZZ Top and High Valley concertgoers out of money when the concerts were cancelled, and ticket distributor Ticket Rocket went out of business.
The positive that came out of the situation was the partnership between the city and Paciolan to create SaskTix.
Operationally, MacIvor played a role in bringing food services in-house at the events and the opening of the Crown Royal Lounge.
Before coming to Moose Jaw, MacIvor was the former general manager of the Encana Events Centre in Dawson Creek, B.C.