Council Members

Grew up on a mixed farm west of Camrose, there I learned a strong work ethic and community spirit from the rural surroundings. 

Attended Olds College for the Agricultural Mechanics Program in 1981 to 1983. After graduation resided in Red Deer to continue my apprenticeship in the Heavy Equipment Technician trade.  

In 1990 began a career at Olds College in the Trades Department. This career spanned a time of 32 years and a number of positions from Instructional Assistant to Dean of the School for the last 12 years of my tender. After my retirement I continued to instruct in a contract as needed capacity. 

After moving to Olds in 1991, I completed extensive volunteering in the community and at the college. This was a very rewarding knowing it was helping the community grow stronger and best place to live. 

My cumulative experience and training in leadership have been a big part of my professional career and personal life. These traits played a huge part in helping myself make the decision to run for a position on Town Council.  

In 2021 I was elected on to the Town of Olds Council where I served the citizens of Olds in a very rewarding capacity of sustaining a future for citizens of Olds. To continue with the role of municipal government, I was honoured to be elected as the Mayor of Olds to continue with leading the town for another four years of governance. 

I was raised near Didsbury and attended Olds High School before being accepted into the United World College USA, where I studied Economics and Chemistry. I continued my education at the University of British Columbia, completing a degree in Medical Biochemistry with a minor in Psychology. In 2017, I returned to Alberta to work as an Area Manager in the auditing industry, gaining valuable leadership and operational experience. 

In 2020, I moved back to Olds and began my career in personal finance. Since then, I have earned my Chartered Financial Planner designation and have had the privilege of helping individuals and families strengthen their financial futures. 

I believe deeply in the potential of our community and want Olds to remain a place where families thrive, businesses grow, and residents feel valued and heard. With experience in finance, leadership, and community service, I am committed to providing thoughtful and transparent representation on town council. 

Mary Anne Overwater was born and raised on a family farm in Peace River, where she learned the values of hard work, resilience, and the importance of community. These early lessons shaped the caring, determined and community-minded person she is today. 

In 1992 Mary Anne moved to Olds with her husband, Ray Stroshin, and their two children, Stephen and Jacqueline. While raising her family she worked in banking, developing strong organizational and people skills, and later in elementary schools where she supported students and staff with patience and compassion. 

Following the death of her husband Ray in 2003, Mary Anne remained involved in the Olds community., she has volunteered with local minor sports, Oldstoberfest Rodeo, Kioti curling event and devoted time to the Hospice Society, always striving to give back to the town she calls home. In 2011 she married Joe Overwater. 

 Mary Anne’s hobbies are reading, travelling, cooking, being with her grandchildren and watching a great series. 

With her common-sense attitude, she knows her dedication, passion, energy and willingness to communicate in an open and honest manner are strong qualities that will benefit her role as a councilor, and any organization she belongs to. 

Born in Edmonton, raised in the Cochrane/Calgary area, I’ve always called Alberta my home. I graduated from Cochrane High, where I met my wife, Kelly. Life circumstances led us down different paths, as I moved to Fort McMurray to frame houses while she moved to Vancouver to study animation.  

Fate drew us back together, and we both discovered we desired a return to the “small town” lifestyle that we grew up with. The obvious choice was Olds, Alberta. Afterall, how could we resist the alure of such a visionary town that had, at the time, the fastest internet in all of Canada? We both found employment in Olds in 2017 and moved up shortly after.  

I established a handyman business in town in 2019 and was immediately humbled by the steady stream of local work and recommendations from pleased clients. I’ve been focusing on servicing the town ever since.