[1][2][3] Holt was involved in many community causes in the city of Peterborough including efforts to support the Second World War through victory bonds and volunteer service groups like the Kinettes.
[3] Holt moved to Peterborough in 1940 with her husband Maurice, after he was offered a position as manager with the local Household Finance office.
[1][2] She took a leadership role in organizing events for the Victory Loan campaign, a fundraising initiative for the Canadian engagement in the War.
At one such evening, local actors performed a radio play called The Temptation of Anthony Blinker by Samuel Marchbanks (alias Robertson Davies).
[1] As historian Elwood Jones notes, "Alene Holt had very quickly become part of the local community, and her active leadership in organizing Beta Phi Sigma and the Victory Loan campaign brought her into contact with many people.
[3] Here she hosted distinguished guests such as prime ministers John Diefenbaker, Lester B. Pearson, and Pierre Trudeau, as well as notable persons such as William Earl Rowe, Robert Stanfield, Pauline Mills McGibbon, and Roland Michener.
[3] Her municipal career began when Gordon Fraser and Senator Iva Fallis approached Holt to see if she was interested in running for a seat on the local Board of Education.
[2] This didn't appeal to Holt[2] but in 1954 she took her first step into municipal politics serving as a member of the city planning board from 1954 to 1960.
[3] This loss didn't set her back far as shortly thereafter Holt was able to commit her attention to a long-running career in municipal politics.
[2] She also served as city council's representative at the Chamber of Commerce, Arts & Water Festival Board, and at the 1975 Trent University Homecoming committee.
"[2] The writer of this article goes on to say, "This is a problem, points out Mrs. Holt, because by the time the children have reached an independent stage, it is probably too late for that woman to seek political office.