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, AB where she met her husband Randy. Agriculture proves a priority for Judy and Randy as past owner/operators of a farm homestead in Cleardale, AB 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 in Office of the CAO 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 on October 25, 2004; Re-elected for a second term on October 15, 2007 and "Acclaimed" for a third term on October 22, 2010. Judy knows that success involves "all people" CommUNITY as one and when we build strong partnerships and share our strengths/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 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 Murray Ball
mball@olds.ca
403.507.8641
Elected to Town Council in the 2010 civic election, Murray has broad experience in a wide-range of professional and volunteer endeavors, both in the public and private sector. In the public sector, he served as Director of Communications and Corporate Services for the Calgary Board of Education from 1998 to 2002. In that role he was frequently the chief media spokesperson for the board, both in telling the stories of the CBE's successes and in dealing with difficult and highly emotional traumas. Prior to joining the CBE, he had a lengthy career in journalism, much of it at the Calgary Herald where he held executive positions as Manager of Business Services, Director of Strategic Planning and Vice-President of Internal Operations. Prior to moving to the executive wing his editorial department postings included city editor, news editor, weekend editor and assistant managing editor. He won the prestigious Southam Fellowship for Journalists in 1979/80 and studied post-confederation history and media development at the University of Toronto. He also was chairman of the Canadian Press news study committee for three years and conducted seminars at various newspapers and the Canadian Association of Newspaper Publishers on copy editing and headline writing. At the provincial level, Murray served six years on the Alberta Health Disciplines Board (five as chair) and has been a member of the Alberta Transportation Safety Board for nine years. Since retiring to Olds in 2003 he has been extremely active in this community. Besides council duties, he is currently a member of the Church Council at Olds United Church and the board of the Olds Historical Society. He has also served as executive director of the Mountain View Community Literacy Society, and chair of the Mountain View Life Long Learning Society. He is a member of the Olds Golf Club, Olds Curling Club and Olds Legion. Murray and his wife Bev (now deceased) have three children and seven grandchildren.
 Councillor Debbie Bennett Dubak
dbennett@olds.ca
403.507.9768
Debbie grew up in Edmonton, Alberta. She has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta and is an EMR – Emergency Medical Responder. Debbie has two sons, Brook and Parker. Debbie and her husband, Cor de Jonge, own Guardian Emergency Inc. an industrial medical standby and safety services company. Debbie moved to Olds in 2001 and loves this prairie town. The first thing she noticed was the large number of devoted volunteers, and the amazing projects that are undertaken! Volunteers are the soul of a town. Debbie is appointed to the Mountain View Senior Housing Board, Central Alberta Economic Partnership Board and the Subdivision Appeal Board. Debbie looks forward to the challenges and rewards of being a Councillor. Olds continues to flourish – partnering with surrounding communities, providing citizens with a safe and welcoming community, and continuing to make improvements for the benefit of residents well into the future. Yes, it is easy to brag about Olds, Alberta!
 Councillor Wade Bearchell
wbearchell@olds.ca
403.556.1548
Wade was elected to Town Council for the first time in the 2010 Civic Election. Previously he served for 2 years as the President of Olds Minor Hockey. He graduated in 1991 with a Commerce Degree from the University of Alberta. For the last 16 years Wade has been a Member of the Canadian Professional Golfers Association and has been the Pro Manager at the Olds Golf Club. Together with his Wife Sandy and sons Spencer and Adam they can be found at the arena in the winter months and participating in all manner of summer activities including skateboarding, baseball, lacrosse and golf. Olds has a tremendous culture of community service and Wade and his family have worked hard to contribute and participate in activities that contribute to our great Town. In 2011 Wade will serve on the boards of the Municipal Planning Commission and the Community Learning Campus.
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