The Uptowne Olds committee has hired a new coordinator to replace Debbie Ohlhausen, who is moving to Prince Edward Island this spring.
Dalaura Glubrecht, currently an assistant to Ohlhausen at her Different Strokes art gallery, will officially become the new Uptowne Olds coordinator on April 1. She hopes to also take over the art gallery from Ohlhausen. Work on that front has begun.
Glubrecht's job is a part-time contract position, which expires at the end of 2017, if she passes the three-month probationary period. Between now and April 1, Ohlhausen will train her.
She will be the sole Uptowne coordinator. Last year, Ohlhausen and Carla Victor served as co-coordinators.
However, Victor resigned in November or December. At that time, Ohlhausen brought Glubrecht on to help her do various aspects of the job, like working on Facebook, so she's familiar with that part of the position.
Glubrecht says she's looking forward to her new role "because of all the advancements in Olds and how close-knit of a community I guess you could say it is."
The Uptowne executive interviewed Glubrecht and recommended she be hired. The committee ratified that decision during its Jan. 11 meeting.
Glubrecht attended that meeting and got a first-hand feel for the job.
"I think the more I get into it the better it will go," she says.
Uptowne committee chair Leon Durand is sad that Ohlhausen is leaving the post and the community, but excited to have Glubrecht replacing her.
"We're happy for her; sad to see her go, but happy for her," Durand says. "It's a new experience for her and - but it's sad to see somebody go when they've been doing the job for us and being an ambassador for Olds in her job."
He notes one of the changes Ohlhausen helped bring about was the decision to bring in buskers and set up a road hockey tournament during the 2016 Summer Oldstice. The committee was looking for something to help draw crowds after car show organizers decided to take their show to the airport.
"She took that bull by the horns and ran with it, along with some volunteers, like April (Jemieff) over at Suzanne's and Jenny's and then some others. They came up with a new plan of action and implemented it," he says.
Durand notes Ohlhausen is leaving for family reasons. Her husband is being transferred to P.E.I. Her 90-year-old mom and her teenage son are also making the move.
Durand is hopeful Glubrecht will indeed be able to take over Different Strokes.
"She (Ohlhausen) really wanted to see the gallery continue and we do too. It's a good addition to the community," he says.
He notes later this year, offices for Uptowne Olds, the Olds & District Chamber of Commerce, and the Olds Institute, as well as a visitor information centre will all be in one building.
"I think with all being in one (location) with the visitor information centre is going to be a wonderful opportunity for our community to grow again," Durand says.
Ohlhausen could not be reached for comment at the time this story was written. At that time, she was in P.E.I. looking for property.
"It's sad to see somebody go when they've been doing the job for us and being an ambassador for Olds in her job."LEON DURANDCHAIR UPTOWNE OLDS COMMITTEE
