Council Members

The Town of Olds Elected Officials welcome you to Olds! Town Council members are made up of seven community-minded individuals (one Mayor and six Councilors). Elections are held every four years in October, in accordance with the Municipal Government Act. Please contact any member of Town Council with your compliments or concerns.

Current Seat Vacancy

A by-election to fill one vacant Town Council seat will be held January 20, 2020. Information on nominations, advanced voting dates and candidate packages is available on the Town's Election Page.

Mayor Michael Muzychka

Michael Muzychka was born in Calgary and moved with his family to Olds in 1973. The Muzychka family were very involved in their new community and witnessed the growth and struggles of Olds first hand, especially through the 1980s. Following graduation, Michael moved back to Calgary to continue post-secondary studies. He graduated from SAIT in 1991 with a diploma in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Michael has owned his own restaurant, managed a Re/Max Real Estate Office, managed multiple auto dealerships and has worked in the accounting field since 2004. Following a yearning for small town living, Michael moved his accounting firm to Olds in 2013. Michael has been blessed with three children, Paige, Ethan and Izabella, and of course his partner Lisa Dobush. Michael is excited to bring his extensive and diverse experience in business to the Mayor's office. In 2018-2019, Michael will serve on the following authorities, boards, committees and commissions: Emergency Management/Disaster Services, Inter-Municipal Cooperation Committee (ICC), Municipal Area Partnership (MAP), Olds Institute Technology Committee and will serve as an Alternate for the Mountain View Regional Waste Management Commission (MVRWMC), Municipal Planning Commission (MPC).

mmuzychka@olds.ca

403-438-0229

Councillor Debbie Bennett

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 was elected to council in 2010. Now in her third term, Debbie enjoys 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! In 2018-2019, Debbie will serve on the following authorities, boards, committees and commissions: Emergency Management/Disaster Services, Inter-municipal Cooperation Committee (ICC), Municipal Planning Commission (MPC), Olds Institute for Community & Regional Development (OICRD), Parkland Community Planning Services (PCPS), And will serve as an Alternate for Mountain View Seniors Housing Board (MVSH).

dbennett@olds.ca

403-507-9768

Councillor Wanda Blatz

Wanda Blatz has lived in the community since 1979, having been raised in Sundre. Many will know Wanda from working in the financial banking industry for 30+ years, and at the Town of Olds office for 7 years. She now works part time in an accounting office. Wanda brings a vast amount of experience with her as she served on the Board of Directors for Olds Co-op, 6 years as president. She has volunteered on the following boards: Olds Minor Hockey, Olds Minor Soccer, Olds Gymnastics, Olds Grizzlys, and was Parent Council Chair at the Deer Meadow School. Wanda has volunteered for many community groups and is looking forward to working with our volunteers and stakeholders, who make Olds a great community. Wanda, along with her husband Lyle, have raised their three children, Laural, Greg and Kirsten in Olds, and are now proud grandparents to grandaughters, Aubree and Clara. Wanda is honoured to have been elected to serve the people of Olds for the next 4 years. She looks forward to ensuring Olds is a community that future generations can live and thrive in. In 2018-2019, Wanda will serve on the following authorities, boards, committees and commissions: Community Leaning Campus (CLC), Emergency Management/Disaster Services, Family & Community Support Services (FCSS), Red Deer River Municipal Users Group (RDRMUG), South Red Deer Regional Wastewater Commission (SRDRWC) and will serve as an Alternate for the following: Citizens on Patrol (COP), Olds & District Chamber of Commerce and the Olds Institute for Community & Regional Development (OICRD).

wblatz@olds.ca

403-586-0166

Councillor Mary Jane Harper

Mary Jane is serving her fourth term as Councillor for the Town of Olds having been first acclaimed in 2008. A native of Olds, she has served on various boards and committees over the years including Olds Family and Community Support Services, Olds Institute for Community and Economic Development, Olds 2005 Centennial Homecoming Committee and the Olds Golf Club. She is a founding member and current director of the Olds and District Christmas Angels Society. Her previous political experience includes elected school trustee for the former Mountain View School Board and trustee for the Olds Hospital board. On the provincial scene, Mary Jane served a three year appointment as a public member to the Alberta Press Council and served 12 years on the board of the Alberta Weekly Newspaper Association as a director, president and past president of the 110 member organization. Professionally, Mary Jane has served as editor, staff writer and photojournalist to the third generation family-owned community newspaper "The Olds Gazette". The newspaper was sold in 2005. Mary Jane is currently a licensed realtor for a local real estate brokerage. Mary Jane is proud of our town and our citizens who help make the town a welcoming, vibrant community for all. In 2018-2019, Mary Jane will serve on the following authorities, boards, committees and commissions: Emergency Management/Disaster Services, Inter-municipal Cooperation Committee (ICC), Inter-municipal Planning Commission, Municipal Planning Commission (MPC), Olds & District Chamber of Commerce, and will serve as an Alternate for the following: Mountain View Regional Water Services Commission (MVRWSC), Parkland Community Planning Services (PCPS) and South Red Deer Regional Wastewater Commission (SRDRWC).

mjharper@olds.ca

403-556-0964

Councillor Mary Anne Overwater

Mary Anne Overwater is going into her second term as councillor for the Town of Olds. Mary Anne was born and raised in Peace River, Alberta and moved to Olds in 1992 with her husband Ray Stroshin and their two children Stephen and Jacqueline. Mary Anne's husband, Ray, passed away from cancer in 2003. Mary Anne married Joe Overwater in 2011 and between them they have four children and seven grandchildren. When Mary Anne and her family moved to Olds she worked at the Horizon School, the Olds (Ecole) Elementary School as a teacher's assistant, and the Bank of Montreal for 14 years retiring in 2012. While raising their children Mary Anne volunteered for Olds Minor Hockey, Olds Figure Skating and Olds Minor Ball, and at the schools their children attended. Mary Anne enjoys curling, deep water aqua size, reading, and especially her time with all of her family and friends. In 2013, Mary Anne was able to fulfill a passion and follow in her father's footsteps by entering Municipal Politics. Mary Anne enjoys serving the residents of Olds and is looking forward to promoting the Town of Olds over the next four years. In 2018-2019, Mary Anne will serve on the following authorities, boards, committees and commissions: Central Alberta Economic Partnership (CAEP), Emergency Management/Disaster Services, Mountain View Regional Waste Management Commission (MVRWMC), the Olds & District Community Policing Society – Police Advisory Board (PAS), and will serve as an Alternate for the Community Leaning Campus (CLC) and the Southern Alberta Energy from Waste Association (SAEWA).

maoverwater@olds.ca

403-556-5229

Councillor Heather Ryan

Heather Ryan moved to Olds with her husband from Calgary in April 2014, and felt the best way to get to know the community was to get involved. She joined the Olds Municipal Planning Commission and was on the board for three years before being elected to town council on Oct. 16, 2017. Heather has been a journalist for more than 30 years starting as a reporter and editor on weekly newspapers before moving to daily newspapers - the Calgary Sun and Calgary Herald as a copy editor. She is currently a website designer and freelance writer with clients in Canada and the U.S. As well, Heather runs a small home-based dog boarding/sitting business in the Town of Olds. Her previous community involvement includes being a member of two separate Parks and Recreation committees and, while on one, she was awarded the Celebration '88 Certificate of Merit for contributions to the community by the Government of Canada. Heather was also honoured with the Canada 125 Medal presented by the Government of Canada for volunteerism while a member of a West Edmonton community association. Heather feels Olds is great community to live, work and play and looks forward to helping shape its future as a member of Olds Town Council. In 2018-2019, she will serve on the following authorities, boards, committees and commissions: Citizens on Patrol (COP), Emergency Management/Disaster Services, Inter-municipal Subdivision & Development Appeal Board, Mountain View Seniors Housing Board (MVSH), Olds and District Library Board, Parkland Regional Library Board (PRL), and she will serve as an Alternate for the Olds & District Community Policing Society – Police Advisory Board (PAS). With the recent changes to the Subdivision & Development Appeal Board (SDAB), and the Town choosing to join a Regional Subdivision & Development Appeal Board (RSDAB), Heather submitted a regional board member application and was appointed for a three year term.

hryan@olds.ca

403-819-6028

Councillor Mitch Thomson

Mitch Thomson was born and raised in Lethbridge. He married Jennifer, his high school sweetheart, and they moved their family to Olds in 2009. Mitch and Jennifer have four forever children and have raised and loved many foster children. Mitch’s values have always informed his career, and he has lived his life committed to being of service to others. He is a life-long volunteer and community builder and has served in many capacities across a variety of community initiatives, including as President of: Alberta Funeral Service Association, Red Deer Chamber of Commerce, Innisfail Chamber of Commerce and Red Deer Hospice Society; Director for: Westerner Park Exposition Association, Red Deer Crime Prevention through Policing Advisory Committee and Red Deer Airport Authority. Mitch has been an active Rotarian for 19 years and is currently the chairman of the Mountain View Child Care Society board of directors. He is the Executive Director of the Olds Institute for Community and Regional Development where he is actively involved with the people of our thriving community and develops and maintains programs that support local entrepreneurs and volunteer initiatives. Mitch has a community economic development certificate, accreditations in funeral service and over 20 years of business ownership and management experience. He is passionate about community development and loves the life he and his family have created in Olds. Mitch secured a seat on council in the January 2020 byelection.

mthomson@olds.ca

403-559-4900