Partnership

Community Partnerships help the Town work with organizations, businesses and community groups to make better use of municipal assets and create projects that benefit the community.  

Every proposal is different. Some projects may involve a lease, others may involve the sale or redevelopment of a property, while others may create new opportunities for community programs or services.  

The Town evaluates each proposal based on its community benefit, alignment with Council priorities, financial sustainability and long-term value. 

Every Town-owned property is different. Before deciding its future, the Town considers a range of factors, including community needs, market conditions, redevelopment potential and long-term value to the community.  

Depending on the property and the opportunity, the Town may:  

• Continue using the property for municipal purposes.
• Offer it through a Community Partnership.
• Lease the property.
• Market it for sale through Invest Olds.
• Explore other opportunities that support Council's priorities. 

The goal is to find the approach that creates the greatest long-term benefit for the community.  

When the Town's former Fire Hall became vacant, it created an opportunity to give the building a new purpose. Through lease agreements and financial support from the Town, the Mountain View Food Bank and Community Lending Shelf now have larger, more functional spaces to serve residents. The building will also provide space for Christmas Angels, supporting its seasonal work in the community. The partnership has transformed an underused municipal building into a community service hub that supports local non-profit organizations and the people who rely on them. 

Why this building?  

Like several properties in East Olds, the Old Fire Hall is a brownfield site with historical underground contamination. Combined with the long-term vision outlined in the East Olds Area Redevelopment Plan, the property was no longer well suited for many traditional commercial or light industrial uses. Rather than leaving the building underutilized, the Town explored how it could continue serving the community in a different way.  

Creating a community service hub  

Rather than leaving the building empty the Town entered into lease agreements with local non-profit organizations to repurpose the building into a community service hub. The partnership also provided financial supports that helped make the move possible, allowing organizations to relocate into larger, more functional spaces.  

Today, the building is home to Mountain View Food Bank and the Community Lending Shelf to expand their services, giving these organizations the space they need to continue supporting residents.  

Community benefit  

Instead of remaining an underutilized municipal property, the former Fire Hall has been transformed into a community service hub that supports local organizations while making better use of an existing public asset. The partnership preserved a well-known community building, addressed the space needs of local non-profits and ensured the property continues to provide lasting value to the community.  

A former municipal operations building is finding new life as the permanent home of the Men's Shed of Olds. The Men's Shed movement is built around a simple idea: creating welcoming spaces where men can connect, share skills and support one another. As interest in establishing a Men's Shed in Olds grew, volunteers began exploring how the idea could become a reality.  This partnership supports growing community interest in the Men's Shed while giving an existing municipal property a valuable new purpose. 

Building on community interest  

Over several months, community engagement and volunteer coordination confirmed strong local support for the project, with dozens of residents expressing interest in establishing a Men's Shed. Council approved revitalizing the former municipal operations building in December 2024, originally envisioning the space as a Men's Shed and Community Arts Hub.  

Today, volunteers continue transforming the building into the permanent home of the Men's Shed of Olds. While the original vision included a Community Arts Hub, the strong interest and growth of the Men's Shed has led the project to focus on expanding that initiative.  

Why this building?  

Like the Old Fire Hall, the former operations building is a brownfield site located within the East Olds Area Redevelopment Plan. It was no longer well suited for traditional automotive, autobody or light industrial uses, creating an opportunity to match an underutilized municipal property with an identified community need.  

Community benefit  

Rather than remaining underutilized, the former operations building is being transformed into the permanent home of the Men's Shed of Olds. The partnership supports volunteerism, encourages social connection and demonstrates how existing municipal assets can be adapted to meet changing community needs. 

A Challenging Property Becomes An Opportunity For Housing And Investment. 

Not every underutilized property has an obvious solution. Some sites require significant investment before they can support a new purpose, making it important to carefully consider all available options.  

This property, formerly used as a sand and salt storage site by the Town, presented several redevelopment challenges. Demolition, environmental remediation and site preparation would all be required before new construction could begin. At the same time, the East Olds Area Redevelopment Plan identified the site as a future mixed-use location, creating an opportunity to support both new housing and commercial development.  

Community uses explored  

Before considering private redevelopment, the Town explored whether the property could address a community need. Throughout 2023, Administration worked with Olds Minor Ball, Olds Minor Lacrosse and Olds Minor Soccer to explore converting the building into an indoor turf facility. While there was interest in the concept, the project would have required approximately $250,000 in renovations to create a three-season facility, with significant uncertainty around future operating costs. Without a community partner prepared to move the project forward, Council determined this was not the best long-term use of the property.  

Finding the right development partner  

In spring 2024, Council directed Administration to explore a redevelopment partnership. Seven builders active in Olds with experience or interest in multi-family and commercial development were invited to submit letters of interest. Several declined, while others did not respond. Masterbuilt Projects Ltd. was the only developer to pursue the opportunity.  

A Letter of Intent established strict conditions and required extensive due diligence before the partnership could proceed. After reviewing the proposal and confirming the required conditions had been met, Council approved the partnership and the property transfer.  

Looking beyond the sale price  

The property was transferred for a nominal amount, reflecting the significant demolition, environmental remediation and redevelopment costs required to make the site viable. Rather than focusing solely on the sale price, Council considered the long-term community benefit of returning an underutilized municipal property to productive use in a way that aligned with the East Olds Area Redevelopment Plan.  

Today, the site is being redeveloped into a mixed-use building with commercial space at street level and residential units above. The project returns a previously idle municipal property to the tax base, supports additional housing and commercial development, and is expected to generate approximately $15,000 to $20,000 in annual municipal tax revenue while encouraging continued investment in the East Olds mixed-use area. 

At Rotary Athletic Park, the Town provides concession facilities for local service clubs and community organizations to operate during games, tournaments and events. These groups contribute their time and effort to serve athletes, families and visitors while raising funds for their own programs. It's a practical partnership that supports local fundraising and improves the experience at one of Olds' busiest recreation facilities. 

Operating Partnerships That Support Community Organizations. 

Community Partnerships are about more than the sale or redevelopment of municipal property. They also include partnerships that help local organizations make better use of community facilities while enhancing the experience for residents.  

A different kind of partnership  

At Rotary Athletic Park, the Town partners with local service clubs and community organizations to operate concession facilities during tournaments, games and community events. Rather than operating the concessions directly, the Town provides the space while community organizations manage concession operations.  

This approach allows local groups to raise funds in support of their programs while providing an important service to athletes, families and visitors using the park.  

Community benefit  

By sharing the operation of concession facilities with community organizations, the Town strengthens local partnerships, supports volunteer-led fundraising and helps create a vibrant atmosphere at one of Olds' busiest recreation facilities. It demonstrates that Community Partnerships can take many forms, each designed to create lasting value for the community 

When Westview Co-op was seeking a new head office, the Town identified an opportunity that would benefit both organizations. By selling the former Town Office to Westview Co-op and moving municipal staff into the existing Operations Centre, the Town consolidated its operations and reduced the costs of maintaining two administrative facilities. The partnership also helped Westview Co-op keep its head office in Olds and returned the former Town Office property to the municipal tax base. 

Consolidating Municipal Operations While Supporting Local Investment.  

As the Town grew, so did opportunities to rethink how municipal buildings were being used. While the Town Office continued to serve residents, the Operations Centre, built in 2021, included significant undeveloped office space that could accommodate administrative staff in a single location.  

At the same time, Westview Co-op was looking for a new location as its existing lease was nearing its end, creating an opportunity that could benefit both organizations.  

Exploring the opportunity  

The process began in late 2023 when another business approached the Town about purchasing the Town Office. Although that interest did not move forward, Council directed the CAO to explore whether selling the property could provide long-term value.  

Around the same time, Westview Co-op contacted the Town looking for office space as its existing lease was nearing expiry. The Town Office was identified as a potential fit, and discussions began.  

To ensure the sale reflected market value and met the Town's obligations under Section 70 of Alberta's Municipal Government Act, two independent appraisals were completed before an agreement was finalized.  

Why relocate?  

The move allowed the Town to consolidate administrative staff into one building, making better use of the Operations Centre while improving collaboration and reducing the costs associated with operating two administrative facilities.  

The sale also allowed Westview Co-op to keep its head office in Olds, returning the Town Office property to the municipal tax base and creating new long-term tax revenue for the community.  

Municipal services continue to be available from the Town's Municipal Centre, which now serves as the Town's primary administrative office.  

Community benefit  

The sale of the Town Office demonstrates that Community Partnerships are not limited to underutilized land or buildings. By looking at how existing municipal assets could better serve both the community and local businesses, the Town created a solution that improved operational efficiency, supported a major local employer and strengthened the community's long-term tax base.