Former Olds town councillor Harvey Walsh is disappointed he didn't get re-elected during the Oct. 16 civic election, but he says he'll continue to be involved in the community.
Walsh was running for a sixth term. He has served on council for 16 years.
When asked if he will run for a council seat in the next election, Walsh is unsure. He notes he's currently 63 years old.
"I don't know. I'll take that, one point at a time. Four years is hard to predict what you're going to be and what you're going to do," Walsh says.
However, it looks like he'll remain busy.
Walsh has just been elected to the Olds and District Hospice Society board of directors and he's been asked to consider serving on other boards as well.
"Nobody wants you to be idle, I guess," he says with a laugh.
Meanwhile, the local photographer has also been very busy taking school pictures.
"I'm still involved in the community in lots of things. That will be the norm for me I think; even over the next four years ñ involvement in the community. Still doing the same thing, but not on council ñ let's put it that way."
Looking back, Walsh is proud of his time on council and the changes in the community that occurred during that time.
Those changes or developments include the Community Learning Campus and ONET. He was also a founding member of the Olds Institute, even before his time on council, although Walsh notes development of that organization continued during his time as a councillor.
"It's been a pleasure serving the community on council -- I have to say that," Walsh says.
"My biggest takeway is the people who help make things happen in this community. Council can sometimes take credit, but it's the people in this community who make it what it is," Walsh says. "Even recent things, like the Splash Park, it's citizens' initiatives that come to council."
Walsh says he's looking forward to seeing how the new council shapes Olds in the coming years.
"It's going to be an interesting time, I think," he says. "I think Olds will be moving forward as a progressive community, like it has always been. I think we're surpassing a lot of communities within the central region."
"I'm still involved in the community in lots of things. That will be the norm for me I think; even over the next four years ñ involvement in the community. Still doing the same thing, but not on council ñ let's put it that way."HARVEY WALSHFORMER TOWN COUNCILLOR
