RESPONSIBLE. FORWARD. CORE ESSENTIAL BASICS
RE-ELECT PROVEN LEADERSHIP
About Me.
My wife Mary and I relocated to Olds in 2000 with two daughters. I hold a degree in Accounting/Finance from the University of Manitoba and spent 31 years in various managerial roles at Shell Canada Ltd, working in district offices, corporate, and gas processing plants. Our daughters graduated from the local school system, and as a family, we were deeply involved in sports, particularly hockey, where I coached at different levels and Mary served on the Olds Minor Hockey board for several years. We remain active supporters of our community, with Mary coordinating the local pickleball league; while we frequently attend local athletic events, including Olds College Broncos; high school, youth sports as well as supporting local events and our volunteer organizations. Since 2020, I have volunteered with the Olds Health Care Fundraising Committee. I provide part-time office management support to the Olds & District Chamber of Commerce.
During my term on council, I have been a
member of the following Boards and Commissions:
Community Futures Central Alberta (Your Rural Business Development Partner | Community Futures Central Alberta)
Chair – Community Futures Central Alberta Audit / Finance Committee
Mounain View Regional Water Services Commission
Chair and council representative on O-NET
Inter-Municipal Cooperation Committee – Town of Olds & Mountain View County
Olds Chamber of Commerce
Mountain View Seniors’ Housing
Parkland Regional Library Board
Municipal planning commission
What can residents expect if I'm re-elected?
Hindsight : if re-elected to Council, I will use my learnings and experience as a foundation for: engaged, strong leadership, advocacy and critical thinking to seek the best outcomes for our community
Oversight: fiscal responsibility and ethical decision-making always in the best interests of the greater community. Two essential questions in the decision-making process are: How does this enhance our residents' quality of life, and what are the cost and tax implications. Ultimately, I want to ensure municipal operations are efficient, responsible and aligned with resident needs and regulatory requirements such as the Municipal Government Act.
Foresight: Continuing the focus on stability while positioning the Town for growth and opportunity for the future
Insight: Use my private sector, Council/Board experience and my community involvement to assist administration and council with well-informed decisions
THE NEXT FOUR YEARS
DARREN’S PRIORITIES:
QUICK. NIMBLE. AGILE
RESPONSIBLE. Financial Discipline and responsible debt management. Delivering essential, core services to the residents of Olds in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Striving to achieve a balance between service levels and cost to maintain and improve quality of life for residents of Olds.
FORWARD. Stability Now; Growth and opportunity for the future. Economic Development: supporting current businesses and attracting new industries to promote growth, enhance our tax revenue base, and alleviate the tax burden on existing residential and non-residential taxpayers.
CORE ESSENTIAL BASICS. Preserving our aging infrastructure, including roads, facilities and pathways, while continuing to address water loss and inflow/infiltration issues, which currently result in significant financial loss for the Town. The next 4 years will be about prioritizing needs; focusing on the fundamentals and less on the discretionary spend.
Whether it is in decision making or work execution, Council and Administration must strive for efficiency (doing things right) and effective (doing the right things) while being able to respond quickly to changes, challenges and opportunities.
LATEST UPDATES
CONNECT WITH DARREN WILSON
