District of Squamish environmental coordinator Fransesca Knight is leaving her position at Municipal Hall in order to return to the private sector.
Better known as Chessy, Knight joined district staff in 2003, and recently resigned her position in order to return to Nautilus Environmental, a consulting firm she has worked with in the past.
"It's like that line in The Godfather, they made me an offer I couldn't refuse," said Knight shortly after the announcement. Knight will continue to reside in Squamish after leaving her position, effective June 15.
Since joining the municipality, Knight has been faced with a number of challenging situations, beginning with a massive flood in the fall of 2003, then the Cheakamus River caustic soda spill of 2005, and one year later, a bunker fuel spill into the Estuary in 2006.
Knight was been heavily involved in dealing with the environmental ramifications of the Westwood Annette oil spill in the Squamish Estuary and the CN derailment in August 2005 that sent caustic soda into the Cheakamus River.
She has also helped pen the district's site alteration bylaw, which saw its first major implementation this past spring following logging a piece of property on the Upper Malamute.
"I will be staying here in Squamish," said Knight, who noted that Nautilus Environmental is operated by friends of hers and she is looking forward to the opportunity of working with them directly.
Nautilus is based out of San Diego, California with offices and toxicology laboratories also located in Burnaby and Tacoma, Washington.
The company also has local ties with senior scientists from the firm acting as advisors on the Cheakamus spill.
"Chessy has been a great asset to the district while she's been there," said Mayor Ian Sutherland Thursday.
