Partnership

Giving A Community Landmark A New Purpose 

When the Town's fire services moved to a new facility, the Old Fire Hall sat vacant. At the same time, several local non-profit organizations were looking for larger, more functional space to support their growing programs and better serve the community. 

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. 

The Men's Shed movement is built around a simple idea: creating welcoming spaces where people 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. 

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. 

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. 

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.