Utility Newsletter Insert - January 2026

2025 Year In Review

Mayor’s Message

This has been a year of steady, often challenging, but important work in Olds. Together, we have focused on rebuilding our financial health, planning for responsible growth, and taking care of the services and spaces the public rely on every day.

This year also marked an important shift in how the Town plans and delivers its work. Council’s Strategic Plan sets the long-term direction, while the Corporate Plan turns that direction into action. Together, they guide decisions, align resources, and keep the Town focused on what matters most to the people of Olds.

Sincerely,
Mayor Dan Daley & the Town Council of Olds

Read the Full 2025 Year in Review.

Looking Forward to 2026

This has been a year of hard work and honest conversations. We have not shied away from the difficult realities we face — from aging infrastructure and past financial decisions to growth pressures and changing community needs. At the same time, we have seen clear signs of progress: new housing projects, a stronger retail outlook, positive safety trends, renewed facilities, and deep community investment through programs like Mountain View Power.

On behalf of Council, thank you for your patience, your feedback, and your continued belief in Olds. We will keep listening, planning, and acting with care, so that our community remains a place where people of all ages can live, work, learn, and belong.

Key Highlights of 2025

Stronger planning and better decisions.

We’re using more data and solid information to plan and make better decisions and share those decisions in reports, plans and strategies. This gives the community clearer priorities, better accountability, and more consistent use of public dollars.

A more stable financial foundation

The Town continued to address financial pressures and is making steady progress. Council stayed focused on careful spending, transparency, and long-term stability rather than short-term fixes. It’s not always easy but it’s important for our community.

Measurable progress on core infrastructure.

Behind the scenes, the Town made real gains in water and wastewater systems. Water loss dropped significantly, and sewer infiltration and inflow continued to decline. Infrastructure is the foundation for all that we do and how we grow. We are working on improving the structure and reducing the cost on taxpayers.

The Town approved its first Housing Strategy.

This strategy is backed by third-party research and local participation. Olds set records for housing starts in both 2024 and 2025. Multiple new housing developments are underway (rental, mixed-use, and diverse housing).

Economic development had real impact.

Olds strengthened its economic future by listening to business owners through the BREWD program, showcasing our potential in the Retail Gap Analysis, and supporting local businesses through the Regional Business Support Network. Together, this work confirmed Olds’ role as strong a regional business hub, poised for growth.

Investment in community spaces and quality of life.

Olds made better use of existing assets by relocating the Town Office, repurposing former facilities for community use, advancing housing projects, supporting local health care expansion, and reinvesting locally through Mountain View Power. These steps strengthen services, partnerships, and everyday life in Olds.