By Helen Hall
Kitchener Citizen​
   What would compel someone to leave what they call “the best job in municipal government” in Kitchener and head down the road to work in Toronto?
   Maple Leaf Gardens.
   Keith Baulk left his job as the Director of Enterprise for the City of Kitchener in January to be the General Manager of the Peter Gilgan Athletic Centre that is currently under construction on the second, third and fourth floors of the Maple Leaf Gardens site. When construction is complete in the early summer of 2012, it will be Ryerson University’s main athletic centre. It will include an ice rink, gyms for basketball and volleyball, and a fitness centre.
   “It is one of Canada’s most recognized and iconic buildings” Baulk said of the Gardens.
   “It will be a challenge and a lot of fun to work in a building that Canadians in general have an affinity for.”
   Maple Leaf Gardens was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1931 to 1999.
Baulk will be responsible for the event programming and day-to-day operations of the athletic centre.
   During his 33 years in Kitchener, Baulk got many big projects off the ground, including the construction of the Activa Sportsplex, Williamsburg Cemetery, and renovations at the Doon Valley Golf Course and the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. He was also the General Manager of the Aud.
   He also worked on a secondment for just under two years as a general manager at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver at the Hockey 2 Venue. He oversaw approximately $47.8 million in renovations, managed an event team of nearly 1,300 staff, security and volunteers, and was responsible for ensuring that all hockey games at the arena ran according to plan.
   Baulk was greeted warmly by a packed house at the Subscriber’s Lounge at the Aud for a surprise farewell party on January 20.
   The room was full of city employees, politicians, athletes and sports volunteers who have worked with Baulk during his career in Kitchener. Even his dog came to the party.
   The event was hosted by Gary Doyle of 570 News, and many people came to the microphone to describe how hard Baulk worked for the city and how much fun he was to work with.
   Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr called Baulk “Mr. Minor Hockey” which stems from his first job as the secretary manager of Kitchener Minor Hockey.
   Zehr praised Baulk as a “trusted, loyal and dedicated professional” who was
​ “valued and appreciated.”
The mayor said what he personally liked about Baulk was that “he has always
​given me the straight goods” in their dealings together.
   “We wish you and Marlene (Baulk’s wife) much success as you move on with the next chapter of your lives,” he said. Zehr presented Baulk with a set of golf clubs.
   Others had fun with some memories of working with Baulk.
   Doyle presented Baulk with a toy tractor, a bag of grass seed, and a package of spaghetti and asked him to explain how these three things fit together.
   Baulk recalled when the city front-line workers went on strike about 10 years ago, and management had to take over their duties. Baulk was put in charge of cutting grass with a tractor mower. He didn’t realize that the sod he was mowing was newly-laid and had not meshed to the ground.
   “It came flying out the other end (of the mower) like spaghetti,” Baulk said with a laugh.
Baulk also recalled his first job with the city - a summer job when he was 15 years old working for the parks department.
   He said he arrived early in the morning for work, was given “a burlap sack and a stick with a nail in it.”
After a summer of picking up garbage, “I’m a bit of an expert on city parks,” he said.
   What will he miss about Kitchener?
   “The most special thing about this city is the people,” he said.
   Baulk was replaced as Director of Enterprise by Kim Kugler, who has worked with him for 17 years.
WORKED 33 YEARS FOR THE CITY OF KITCHENER
Baulk excited to be taking on new challenges at Maple Leaf Gardens site
Kim Kugler, the new Director of Enterprise for the City of Kitchener leads the former Director Keith Baulk into a surprise farewell party at the Subscriber’s Lounge at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on January 20. Photo by Helen Hall