Many communities in Western Canada, including the Town of Olds, are remembering a dedicated public servant.
The District of Sooke, British Columbia made the announcement last week that Norm McInnis had passed away on July 30th. During his professional career, McInnis served as the Chief Administrative Officer for municipalities including the Towns of Westlock and Olds in Alberta along with the District of Sooke and the City of Fernie in B.C.
Olds Mayor Judy Dahl believes Norm’s tenure with the Town of Olds as CAO from 2008 to 2016 did him proud. She says “he really build a great strategic direction. We had a strategic plan from 2013-2017 that was all about learning and communication for the future. Of course, it did involve – again – the strategic plan for the Town of Olds that was build with over 200 citizens collaboratively and the staff. I knew that wherever he’d go he would continue that passion for sure.”
McInnis was born and raised in Olds, and Mayor Dahl called him a real leader. She says “he had such a gentle sole and he was always so calm. So his approach to anybody he ever approached, whether it was myself as a Mayor or his staff, touched everyone because he was very quiet and gentile. It took a lot for him to push his leadership in directions that he new he had to do some hard work and build some relationships. I’m sure he did it everywhere he went, when he left here and went to Fernie and moved on.”
Mayor Dahl adds, McInnis was very committed to the communities he worked in. She says “he just loved community service. He was a great leader. He loved sports. He refereed hockey. Very passionate volunteer as a Rotarian and extremely proactive with building the Olds strategic sustainability plan. It was one of his goals to try and save the future, leave the world in a better place for (future) generations and we got on a very good working mission with Mountain View County with that. He was very proactive in everything he did, for sure.”
The District of Sooke, B.C. had previously announced in March of 2023 that Norm McInnis was undergoing cancer treatment and was stepping away from his role as CAO there.
According to Mayor Dahl, McInnis’ family including his wife Corey, his children, and his granddaughter have all supported each other so lovingly. She says “I’ll never forget him saying that he was coming back home when we hired him. So that was good to have him back in his home community. Very engaged in communication and dedicated and helpful with a lot of his staff because of knowing the area so well. Just very inspired. He loved to ride his motorbikes. Just be involved with people. Just community as a whole.” McInnis arrived back in his hometown when Olds hired him as CAO from Westlock in 2008.
She adds, Norm McInnis will be sadly missed.
