MARTENSVILLE — Growing up in and around Kindersley, he spent summers working on his family's ranch and feedlot and winters playing hockey. Both experiences taught him the value of hard work and teamwork.
After high school, Watts moved to Saskatoon from Medicine Hat, Alta. and worked a few odd jobs before starting as a plumbing apprentice, adding new skills to his toolkit. Later, he enrolled in Saskatchewan Polytechnic's Recreation and Tourism Management diploma program, where he discovered his passion.
Today, all those experiences come together in his role as operations manager at the Martensville Recreation Centre.
"I'd like to think I'm a jack of all trades," Watts says. "If there's a way to fix it, I'll fix it. If I have the tools to do it, I'll do it myself."
It's a mindset that serves him well as he oversees one of Saskatchewan's newest recreation facilities. But his path to the recreation industry wasn't exactly direct.
Watts completed his plumbing apprenticeship training at Sask Polytech and worked as a plumber for eight years. While the work provided stability, it wasn't where he saw himself long term.
"I never really wanted to be a plumber," he says. "I just did it. It paid the bills until I found my path."
When layoffs hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, Watts found himself at a crossroads. Instead of searching for another job in the trades, he took time to reflect on what he really wanted for his career.
"I spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted to do in the recreation world because that's where my heart was," he says. "I spent a lot of time at the rink growing up, and that was a big influence on my decision to go back to Sask Polytech."
At 29, he enrolled in the Recreation and Tourism Management diploma program.
"University wasn't for me," he says. "I was familiar with Sask Polytech, and this program aligned with my future career goals. It was everything I wanted."
Returning to school after more than a decade wasn't easy. But as a mature student, Watts found his life experience became an asset.
"You can apply a lot of life experience to the program," he says. "My previous work and life experience were definitely an asset."
The program's hands-on approach also appealed to him. "We were learning one-on-one, hands-on and getting lots of experience out in the industry," he says. "I made lots of great connections. It was right up my alley."
During his studies, Watts completed a practicum with Beardy's and Okemasis’ Cree Nation and was hired as a tourism and community development project officer after graduation.
Meanwhile, another opportunity was taking shape right before his eyes. Every day during his commute from Warman to Saskatoon, he watched the Martensville Recreation Centre being built. When the operations manager position opened, he sent in his application and became the facility's first operations manager.
The recreation centre, which opened in phases beginning in October 2024, features an arena, leisure mini rink, field house, batting cages, climbing wall, golf simulator and many multi-purpose rental rooms. Watts has played a key role in shaping the facility from the ground up.
"It's pretty rewarding to put your fingerprints on it," he says. “It’s my dream job and I hope to be here for a long time.”
Looking back, Watts can connect the dots from his rural upbringing, hockey background, trades experience and time as a mature student to the career he has today. “The Recreation and Tourism program gave me the leadership skills and industry knowledge to bring it all together.”
The variety is what he enjoys most about his role at the Martensville Recreation Centre. "Honestly, it's something different every day," he says. "Different people, different goals, different objectives.”
“Taylor’s role as the operations manager for the Martensville Recreation Centre is just one example of what graduates can do with a Recreation and Tourism Management diploma,” says Josh Davidson, program head. “This diploma opens the door to diverse careers in recreation, tourism, facility management, community development and event planning, giving graduates the skills to pursue a wide range of opportunities.”
Learn more about Sask Polytech’s Recreation and Tourism Management diploma program.
— Submitted by Saskatchewan Polytechnic Media Relations
