This young lady spent most of her government life in Edmonton but she is a farm girl from Wainwright and that is very evident when you meet her.

Shona Schleppe, 52, married, no children, lives in Okanagan Falls – just hired as Rural Service Manager for Area D RDOS (Apex, Twin Lakes, Upper Carmi, Kaleden, Heritage Hills, Skaha Estates and yes Okanagan Falls.

The word Olympian will be dealt with at the end of this story. Look her up on Google.

Shona was hired during the summer and started recently at the former Economic Development office in the only mall at the Falls near the Bridge.

Ms. Schleppe wears the name of her father proudly. She served as director of Alberta Sports for 20 years before seeking a new place in time – here in the Okanagan. She served in government service and says working with people in small rural communities is something she really looks forward to. Her first priority: getting to know the diverse nature of the area she will help to administer.

She will be responsible for reporting to Tom Siddon, area director on a complex set of issues ranging from forestry/tree cutting at Apex, incorporation in Ok Falls, a sewer in Kaleden, subdivisions and land matters throughout the area and the current hot potato – Regional Governance within Area D.

OK ladies (young and old) Shona is a star – field hockey player and yes she has met former National Team member Lesley Magnus of Oliver (2004 Pan American – 2nd to Argentina) and….yes I hope that relationship can grow with the development of new skills in SD #53 women’s field hockey programme.

Shona was on the Canadian Olympic team 1988 – she also was on the third place finish team at 1987 Pan Am Games.