Council Profiles
The Town of Olds Elected Officials welcome you to Olds! Town Council is made up of seven community-minded individuals (one Mayor and six Councilors). Elections are held every three years in October, in accordance with the Municipal Government Act.
Please contact any member of Town Council with your compliments or concerns.
 Mayor Judy Dahl
mayor@olds.ca
403-507-4114 res
Judy was born in Calgary, Alberta where she met her husband Randy. Agriculture proves a priority for Judy and Randy as past owners/operators of a farm homestead in Cleardale, Alberta where they began to raise their three sons. Judy started her community work employed as a teacher’s aide at Menno Simons Community School and later continued at the Pines Community School in Red Deer. Relocating with her family to Olds in 1986, Judy took on work at the Olds Auction Mart, Olds College, and with Mobil Oil Canada. It was made clear that the heart of Olds beat strongly through its dedicated volunteers and Randy and Judy gained their family strength by joining forces in volunteerism in areas involving their children and community. Judy ultimately fulfilled her commitment to be with the public settling in with the Town of Olds in 1990; employed as Administrative Support to three preceding Mayors and working through five terms or 15 years with Elected Officials and Chief Administrative Officers. Judy resigned her position as a long-term Town employee in May of 2004 and was sworn in as Mayor for the Town of Olds on October 25th, 2004. Judy was re-elected for a second term on October 15th, 2007 and knows that success depends on "all of us" CommUNITY as one and when we build strong partnerships and share our strengths and ideas we achieve common ground in the end.
 Councillor Arvin Bull
abull@olds.ca
403-556-2765
After graduating from Olds College, Arvin and his wife Audrey farmed at Calgary until moving to Olds in 1974. Along with daughters Sydney and Kelly they lived on a farm just east of Olds. During 1979 and 1980 Arvin was president of the Olds Agricultural Society. In 1980 the Bulls moved into Olds and after a short retirement became owners of the Realty World - Amigo Real Estate office. After selling the office, Arvin continued as Arvin Bull Real Estate Appraisal & Consulting until December 1995. He was president of the Realtors Land Institute (a division of the Canadian Real Estate Association) in 1989 and is a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Olds. Arvin served previously on Olds Town Council from 1995 to 2001. He enjoys participating in the Alberta Seniors Games, wood carving, playing Bridge and traveling with an Airstream trailer. Olds has a terrific future to look forward to, and Arvin is pleased and honoured to be on the current Town Council.
 Councillor Mary Jane Harper
mjharper@olds.ca
403-556-8556
Mary Jane was acclaimed to Olds Town Council in October 2007 as a first time Councillor. A native of Olds, she has served over the years as a volunteer on a number of local boards and organizations including the Olds Family & Community Support Services Board, Olds Institute for Regional and Economic Development Marketing Committee, Olds & District Christmas Angels Society, and the 2005 Olds Homecoming Committee. Mary Jane’s previous political experience includes Olds School trustee to the Mountain View County Board of Education for six years, and trustee to the Olds & District Hospital Board for one term. On the provincial scene she served as director of the Alberta Weekly Newspaper Association for a period of 12 years. She was elected president of the association in 2001. In 2007 she was selected as the public member representing the community newspaper readership area to the Alberta Press Council. Mary Jane is a former co-owner of the local community newspaper, the Olds Gazette. She served as editor, news reporter and photojournalist for 15 years prior to the sale of the company to a major corporation in 2005. In 2006 Mary Jane began a new career as a realtor for a local real estate brokerage firm, Royal LePage Wildrose Real Estate, a career that she finds both challenging and rewarding. Spending time with her family of three married children and six grandchildren is a priority when she is not busy as a realtor or Town Councillor. In the summer months you will find Mary Jane on the links of the local golf course. Mary Jane is looking forward to the many challenges Town Council, staff and the community face in the next three years as the town continues to grow and prosper.
 Councillor Warren Smith
wsmith@olds.ca
403-556-8664 res
Warren was elected to Town Council in October 2001. A retired educator, Warren attended Camrose Lutheran College, the University of Calgary, and the University of Oregon. In 1968, Warren married his wife Barb and raised two daughters, one to become a nurse in Calgary, and the other lives in Austria. Warren enjoys travel, reading, cross-country skiing, canoeing and hiking. His community service over the past years includes coaching a variety of school and community sports teams, Chair of the Olds & District Recreation Board, the Summer Games Legacy Foundation, Hartman Green Development Committee, and the Olds & District Pool 2000 Committee.
 Councillor Harvey Walsh
hwalsh@olds.ca
403-556-8525 res
Elected to Town Council in 2001, Harvey is married and enjoys spending time with his daughter, hiking and woodworking. After earning a degree in Environmental and Resource Economics from the University of Alberta, Harvey settled in Olds to own and operate his own business, Harvey Walsh Photography. Harvey is very involved in the community, as he is past President of the Olds Co-op, past Chair of the Public Advisory Committee (PAC) on Economic Services for the Town of Olds, is the Town of Olds Business Representative on the Central Alberta Economic Partnership, is a founding member and past President of the Olds & District Chamber of Commerce, and actively supports St. John’s Anglican church.
 Councillor Lesley Winfield
lwinfield@olds.ca
403-556-7695 res
403-438-0454 cell
Lesley moved to the Olds area in 2000. She worked for Chinook's Edge School Division for two years before moving to the Olds Municipal Library. She has been the library manager at the public library for the past four years and involved in many boards and committees centered around youth and child care in our community. Lesley hopes to inspire a younger generation to be involved in the community and be their voice in important decisions. The important goals that Lesley hopes are realized in her time on council is to provide a solution to the housing issues in Olds. Likewise she hopes that council will view every decision through the lens of sustainability and that the community will embrace this concept as well. She feels it is important to never lose sight of the changing demographics of the community. Town council needs to be aware of new people moving into the community from other countries, provinces, and communities, and take an active role in ensuring that the community is supporting people who wish to call Olds home. Her interests include writing, reading, and art during the winter and hiking, and camping during the warmer months.
|
