The City of Humboldt has promoted from within for their new Director of Leisure Services, at least for the time being.

Events Manager Mike Ulriksen will be the acting Director until further notice.

He says he is looking forward to the opportunity.

"I'm definitely excited, very excited for the new opportunity and the challenges that are going to come along with it. At the same time it's a little scary obviously when you are moving up to a different position that you are not unfamiliar with. I have been really fortunate to have the work I have been doing with the city for the last eight years."

Ulriksen will take over for Darrell Lessmeister who has accepted a position in Alberta in the same role. He admits he has some big shoes to fill but he feels he is ready for the task.

"Darrell's experience far outweighs what I've got in the recreation industry to date but I think what he has been able to impart on me and he has done an amazing job being able to teach me at the speed I was able to learn. I am really excited to be able to put some of that into practice now directly."

Among the duties are overseeing city facilities such as the Elgar Petersen Arena, the curling rink, the Aquatic Centre, fitness room as well as their parks and green spaces."

He says some aspects of the job coincide with what he is doing now in his position.

"It's going to be doing a lot of the same, working with organizations that I am already currently doing but definitely on a much grander scale. Being able to communicate directly with council and with some of our larger user groups to see the direction of leisure services. I am excited to be part of that."

You can hear more from Ulriksen below in his interview with Bolt FM's Clark Stork.