A familiar face around the southwest announced during Monday night's city council that she is retiring.

Swift Current's Cultural Festival Coordinator Shann Gowan is calling it a career after 15 years in the business.

"Well I guess I've had a really great job, one that I really loved, and one that was a lot of work," she said. "It was fairly rewarding, so it's been a good run. I have done stuff I am proud of and stuff that has been a lot of fun."

Gowan was an integral part of starting the Blenders Concert Series in 2002, that originally started at the Art Gallery of Swift Current before shifting to the Lyric Theatre. She said even though maximum capacity is only 180, the concerts give Swift Current residents some unique entertainment.

"It provides lots of fun for people to come and hear music they wouldn't otherwise hear, so it serves a purpose here," she said.

The next project Gowan helped start was the Long Day's Night Music Festival in the summer of 2003, eventually paving the way lfor popular SaskPower Windscape Kite Festival to begin in 2005.

"The kite festival has the capacity to get bigger and bigger," she said. "It is a great tourism event. It has the ability to grow as sponsorship in the community grows and as the marketing grows."

"I love all of those things (events), so I will attend Blenders events and sit and enjoy them."

Gowan added that she will forever volunteer at the kite festival.

With the retirement, she is looking forward to travelling more while also "a little bit more fun and a little less work."

She will be finished in her current role this Saturday when she will present the Blenders Concert Series for the last time.

Sherri Folrizone from Regina will be taking over Gowan's position.