The Rotary Club of Drumheller made a donation of $860.00 for the purchase of a mobility device called Skoot for two-year-old Nathan Rodgers.
Nathan was diagnosed with Spinal Bifida and is paralyzed from the knees down.
This mobility device allows him to get around by using his hands on the wheels. His mother, Rebecca stated that Nathan will be able to use this Skoot until he is six years old.
California based Beyond Meat announced a multi-year pea protein supply agreement with French-based, Roquette.
The agreement will increase the amount of pea protein being supplied to Beyond Meat over the next few years.
Roquette is building a pea processing facility west of Winnipeg that's expected to be completed towards the end of this year.
Beyond Meat is partly owned by Bill Gates and meat giant, Tyson Foods.
-With files from Dean Thorpe.
A student in Delia is taking things into her own hands for the benefit of Australia.
Grade 9 student Samantha Nelson has started a fundraiser for the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital and Wildlife Victoria after the recent bushfires decimated the country's terrain and wildlife.
"I started this fundraiser because I always thought that if I could help someone I should. I was devastated when I found out Australia had uncontrolled wildfires and it made me even more upset when I found out about the mass amount of animals that have been killed," explained Nelson. "I have also gained a great love for Australia recently. I have family who lives there and I have a goal to live there one day as well. To see the people and the animals in trouble, it made me feel that I had to raise as much money as I could,"
Nelson has set up donation cans at a number of businesses in Delia and has been accepting cheques payable to Delia School. She plans on splitting the proceeds of the fundraiser evenly between the two organizations and hopes to surpass $2,500.
"I want people to donate because I know that if we were going through something like they are right now, we would want them to help us. There are over half a billion animals that have been affected by the wildfires, so even by donating any spare change, you are helping save another animals life," she continued.
While heavy rains have helped put out the many wildfires in Australia, the devastation is still a prevalent issue. Nelson hopes she can make a difference for the animals who did survive and thanks everyone who has already donated to her cause.
She will be accepting donations until February 10.
The Village of Cereal, the village foreman and a campground caretaker have each pleaded guilty to improper application of a pesticide.
The village and village foreman Kenneth William Rude each pleaded guilty to one count involving the improper application of strychnine under the Pesticide Sales, Handling, Use and Application Regulation.
Campground caretaker Darcy Gene Olds pleaded guilty to a different count under the same regulation involving the improper application of Ramex. All other charges against the parties were withdrawn.
The Village of Cereal was penalized $5,000 for its role in the offence, plus an additional $750 victim fine surcharge. Rude and Olds were each penalized $2,500 plus a $375 victim fine surcharge. All three parties have until Feb. 28, 2020, to pay their fines and associated fees.
Travel Alberta, in partnership with the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism, is in the process of developing a 10-Year Tourism Strategy (10YTS) for the province.
The primary goals of the strategy are to grow business and new destinations by attracting more private sector investment to create jobs and contribute to economic growth in the province. As part of the development process, they would like to hear from tourism stakeholders on their views of the challenges and opportunities facing the province's tourism industry.
The organization Keep Alberta Rolling, which promotes film in Alberta, hopes this survey will increase the amount of film in the area. One of the organizations call to actions is "promoting and incentivizing Rural Film Production, attracting visitors to the small towns like Drumheller, Didsbury, High River, Fort Macleod and expanding into new areas around Edmonton and throughout Alberta."
The survey encourages all tourism stakeholders to complete the survey.
If you are interested, you can follow the link here. The survey is open until January 24.
It was a great weekend for the Drumheller Dragons this weekend as they had a home and home series with the Calgary Canucks.
There was a twist as it was classed as the Heritage Series featuring the Calgary Canucks against the Drumheller Falcons. The Dragons honoured the former AJHL team that started in Drumheller back in 1971. On Friday night, over 35 former Falcons players, team staff, announcer, and their families were invited to the Memorial Arena for the game. The Dragons had special jerseys made up for the game in Drumheller Falcons colours, purple and gold. It was the first time that a team has played as the Falcons in the AJHL since the 1980's.
All of the special guests that attended the game were introduced and brought out on the ice for the fans to acknowledge what they had done for our community. The crowning moment was when all of the current players came out to shake the hands of the former players.
As for the game, the "Falcons" had a great start. Special teams were the key as Drumheller would score in the first period on two power play opportunities with goals from Shane Ott (14) and Derrick Budz (14). Drumheller lead 2-0 after one period. In the second, they continued to dominate the hockey game. Goals by Eric Martin (22), Brady Risk (24), and Luke Fennig (5) short-handed, would give Drumheller a 5-0 lead going into the third period. The "Falcons" would score three more in the third by Kobe Mohr (9 & 10) and Kaden Hanas (13) to make the final 8-0. Daniel Allin would stop all 19 shots he faced for his second shut-out in a row.
On Saturday, the "Falcons" would give Daniel Allin the night off and invite Garrett Fuller from the Airdrie UFA Bisions up for the game to face the Canucks in Calgary. Calgary had a better start on Saturday but could not score in the first period. Drumheller would open the scoring on a goal by Kobe Mohr (11) on a great set up by Eric Martin. Drumheller would add another just over a minute later when Kaden Hanas (14) would find the back of the net to give the "Falcons" a 2-0 lead after the first period. Drumheller would add more in the second with goals by Peyton McKenzie, his first as a Dragons, and another by Kobe Mohr (12). The Dragons also invited Tyson Gross from the Calgary AAA Flames up for the game and he would score his first as a Dragon to make it 5-0 Drumheller. The Canucks would add one after Fuller made two saves, just couldn't get to the third shot by Christiano Aiello on the man advantage.
With the two wins this weekend, the Dragons remain in third place in the AJHL South Division with an eight point lead over the Camrose Kodiaks with both teams having 16 games left in the year. The next game for Drumheller is on Tuesday as they travel to Olds to face the 7th place Olds Grizzlys. Game time is at 7:00 pm.
The Canadian Produce Marketing Association is urging the federal government to quickly ratify the new NAFTA.
The plea comes after the new deal was passed by the US Senate on Thursday. It's already been approved by Mexico.
The association says that since the first NAFTA came online in 1994, Canadian fresh fruit and vegetable exports to Mexico and the US increased by nearly 400 per cent. It says this growth is indicative of the importance of tariff-free trade and the integration of the Canadian marketplace within North America.
-With files from Dean Thorpe.
Last week, the Drumheller Valley seemed to be one of the coldest places in the world.
Many of us are grateful cars started this morning as opposed to last week. For those whose cars didn't start, Western GM in Drumheller was there as a saving grace. According to the company, they responded to dozens of calls a day, giving out rides to those who needed them. They drove people to work, to school, and even to the hospital for tests.
Almost all busses for rural schools around the area were not running for three days. Trochu, Morrin, Delia, and Three Hills all had bus cancellations due to the cold weather.
It seemed the be the coldest winter weather we have had in a long time, but did it break any records?
According to Dan Kulak, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, the answer is no.
"Last week there were a number of cold weather temperature records set across Alberta, but none in the Drumheller area interestingly enough. Some of the records that were set were down in the -40s. The cold spot last weekend was in Dapp, Alberta, which is about 100 kilometres northwest from Edmonton where they had a couple of overnight lows of -47 and that is the air temperature and not with a windchill," he explained.
Thankfully, he went on to say that highs in our area are to be forecasted around the freezing mark this week.
The Drumheller Dragons were busy once again this week with two games this past weekend against Calgary.
On Friday the Dragons paid tribute to the first team from Drumheller that played in the AJHL in the 1970's and 80's. Jason Blanke spoke with Dragons coach and GM Kevin Hasselberg about all the festivities at this week's edition of Coffee With The Coach @ Tim Hortons.
The Town of Drumheller council passed the Land Acquisition policy for the Drumheller Resiliency and Flood Mitigation Program.
This policy provides a fair and objective process for selecting and acquiring properties needed for the Drumheller Resiliency and Flood Mitigation Program. The policy needs to be reviewed by the provincial and federal governments before any acquisitions can begin.
A Town-owned company 878947 Alberta Ltd. will be the land purchaser. The Chief Resiliency and Flood Mitigation Officer – Darwin Durnie will be the manager of 878947 Alberta Ltd. and will be authorized to execute purchase agreements.
“Parcels for acquisition have not yet been selected. I am committed to a respectful and confidential process to assist residents to relocate in Drumheller," explained Durnie.
Scott Land and Lease is the land agent for the program. They will undertake initial contact with owners, conduct negotiations and secure signed purchase agreements. Each acquisition will be determined on an individual basis.
“We are encouraged the town council has adopted this proactive and transparent policy for land acquisitions. We have close to 30 years of experience as land agents and are dedicated to a fair process," continued Greg Meidinger, Senior VP & Project Manager Scott Land & Lease.
Land acquisitions will be based on fair market value. To determine fair market value, the Drumheller Resiliency and Flood Mitigation Office will engage independent appraisers. The purchase price will be either the fair market value or the 2014 tax assessment value for the property, whichever is greater.
“I’m delighted to see this policy adopted. As a flood community, it is critical to have our processes in place. Once we get the green light from our federal and provincial partners, we can start resolving issues for residents that have been patiently waiting years for action," commented Mayor Heather Colberg.
Frequently Asked Questions – Land Acquisition Policy
What is the land acquisition policy?
It is the policy that provides a fair and objective process for selecting properties that will be required for the resiliency and flood mitigation program.
Why will lands be acquired by the Town?
There are several circumstances that may result in the acquisition of land for the resiliency and flood mitigation program.
They include:
What lands will be required?
The number of properties is still undetermined and no parcels have yet been selected for purchase. The properties to be required will be based on an individual risk assessment considering the following factors: people, property, environment and economy. These will be weighed against the frequency and impact of potential flooding.
Who will purchase the lands?
A Town-owned company (878947 Alberta Ltd.) will be the land purchaser. The Chief Resiliency and Flood Mitigation Officer – Darwin Durnie will be the manager of the Land Corporation and will be authorized to execute purchase agreements.
How does the land acquisition process work?
Land acquisitions will be based on fair market value. To determine fair market value, the Drumheller Resiliency and Flood Mitigation Office (DRFMO) will engage an independent appraiser to establish a fair market value. The purchase price will be either the fair market value or the 2014 tax assessment value for the property, whichever is greater. Scott Land and Lease will be the land agent. They will undertake initial contact with owners, conduct negotiations and secure signed purchase agreements. Each acquisition will be determined on an individual basis.
When will acquisition begin?
This policy must be deemed acceptable by the provincial and federal governments before any acquisitions can begin. Parcels for acquisition have not yet been selected. The grant funding guidelines also indicate that before any land purchases can commence, a greenhouse gas emission assessment, a climate impact assessment and indigenous consultation must be completed. It is anticipated these will be finished by late spring.
How much money is being spent on land acquisitions?
While it is difficult to determine the amount, it’s important to note that each acquisition will be determined individually based on fair market value.
What do I do if I’m a homeowner who thinks their property will be acquired?
At this time, no action is required. Parcels have not yet been selected for purchase. Once the process commences, a Scott Land & Lease representative will contact affected homeowners.
The Drumheller Dragons ditched the black and orange for the purple and gold last weekend to pay homage to the first Alberta Junior Hockey League team in Drumheller.
The Dragons took on the name Falcons for the two games against a fellow original team, the Calgary Canucks. In addition to the uniform and name changes, the team also hosted an alumni night with the original team members of the team. It was a night to not be taken lightly as over 30 members of Drumheller's original.
"It is unbelievable. They have come along way with two different eras," explained alumni Falcon member, Myles Severn. "I have seen a lot of guys here tonight that I haven't seen in 40 years."
Also among the alumni was Reno Contenti, who played for the Falcons from 1979- 1982.
"I think it is awesome to come down because since I am from Drumheller, it is great to see the fans and friends that you don't get to see all the time. I love this rink, we had a big team, we maybe weren't the best team but other teams did not like playing here."
Contenti went on to give a wise word to the current Drumheller Dragons. He said that playing junior hockey is not a right, it is a privilege.
"Every day that I played hockey, I felt grateful that I was able to play junior hockey. I was able to translate that to go to college and play college hockey, and as well get an education. That is so important nowadays to do."
Agriculture Canada is going to start re-branding itself.
The aim is to give Canadians a better idea of where their food comes and as a result, convince consumers to buy more Canadian products.
The "Buy Canadian" campaign will begin sometime this summer, with the Federal government intending to spend 25 million dollars over five years to promote Canadian food products and instil pride in consumers for what our country can bring to the table.
For the 4th time this season, the Dragons have earned Player of the Week honours in the AJHL.
Drumheller Dragons goaltender Daniel Allin is the Alberta Ford Dealers AJHL Defensive Player of the Week. The 19-year-old returned to the Dragons and posted two back to back shutouts last week.
Daniel Allin (Edmonton, AB) turned away 33 shots on goal to blank the Canmore Eagled 5-0 on Tuesday, January 14th. He followed up his performance with an 8-0 shutout and 19 saves on Friday night versus the Calgary Canucks. Allin was awarded as the Viterra AJHL Star of the Game in both wins.
Allin is committed to the University of Alaska-Fairbanks and started the 2019-20 season with the Tr-City Storm of the USHL. He played in 20 games for the Drumheller Dragons in the 2018-19 season.
The Dragons are enjoying a five-game win streak and hold the third spot in the Viterra AJHL South Division with a record of 16-15-3.
This month, IKEA Canada announced, it's achieved its goal of reducing food waste in its kitchens by more than 30 per cent in only one year.
The company says the program is part of a larger global ambition to cut food waste in all IKEA stores by 50 per cent before the end of 2020.
More than 94 thousand kilograms of food waste has been saved since the program started in Canada which is equal to about 200 thousand meals.
IKEA Edmonton has led the way by reducing overall food waste by 40 per cent in one year.
-With files from Dean Thorpe
A GoFundMe page has been set up for a local family who has lost one of their own.
The GoFundMe account, created by Connie Stacey, reads:
"It is the heaviest heart that we share the news that Daniel Bzdel died in a car accident on the evening of Sunday, January 5th. Daniel's daughter Aura was also in the car and was seriously injured. Aura is in serious condition at the children's hospital in Calgary, where Daniel's wife Judy is caring for her and their other three children."
"Daniel was a beloved husband, father, brother, son, and friend. Daniel's kindness, humour, and quick wit will be missed by all who knew him. His casual demeanour understated his deep love and devotion for his beloved family."
"His quirky and unconventional ways and his easy smile brightened every room he entered. The void he has left behind will be felt deeply and with the greatest sorrow by his family, close friends, and all of the lives he touched in his community.
"Aura's injuries are extensive. With the love and support of her mother, siblings, and close family we pray that she will make a full recovery. Many people have asked how they can assist in this difficult time. The next few months, in particular, will be a challenge for Judy and the children as they assist in Aura's recovery and adjust to their new life."
"For those who wish to assist we have created this campaign. All funds raised will be used to cover the expenses associated with Aura's recovery and Daniel's service. Our deepest thanks for your kind support at this difficult time."
If you wish to donate to the cause, you can find the page here. Over $3,000 has already been raised for the family since January 11.
Swalwell was a happening place this past weekend. A unique Broomball tournament was being held and it was a well-attended event.
Edmonton took home first in the A event, and the RDC Kings took second.
The B event had Camrose in first place and the Rowbottom team took second.
The C event had the Swalwell Mudens in first and the Penner team in second.
A total of 14 teams participated.
The Drumheller Dragons are thrilled to announce that Tye Pedersen has signed a Letter of Intent for the 2020/2021 season.
Pedersen, who hails from St. Albert, AB, currently plays with the St. Albert Raiders Midget AAA club of the AMHL.
The 6'2" right-shot defenseman has 4 goals-16 assists-20 points in 24 games with his St.Albert squad this season.
"It's a really exciting feeling," says Tye. "But you still have to keep working hard all summer long. I want to get bigger and stronger".
The entire Dragons organization is excited to welcome Tye & the Pedersen family to our program.
Alberta's Justice Minister focused on rural crime when he met with his provincial counterparts in Victoria on Wednesday.
Jeff Schweitzer says there is a skyrocketing crime rate in many of Alberta's rural communities.
Last fall, the UCP government unveiled a rural crime strategy that includes hiring hundreds more police officers to patrol rural areas and respond more quickly to complaints.
The minister also attended several town hall meetings last fall to hear first hand from rural property owners about what they're facing. The minister says he's urging the federal government to make amendments to the criminal code.
"We simply have to make sure that the criminal justice system works in rural Alberta. We want to cut down on response time, provide enhanced powers to our sheriffs and Fish and Wildlife Officers, who are very well trained, and can help us respond more urgently to crises across rural communities."
"We also have to make sure we start changing judicial precedence in Alberta and across Canada. That is why we have brought in community impact. So the judiciary can understand the full impact that rural crime has on communities. The mental health issue that it is causing. People are constantly living in fear for their neighbours. The courts need to hear this and look at it as just a battery theft or a copper wire theft and looking at it as an isolated case. They need to look at the impact it is having across rural Alberta," continued Schweitzer.
The 14th annual Knee Hockey Day with the Dragons had kids screaming with joy on Wednesday afternoon at Greentree School.
The annual day is looked forward every year by the Grade Sixers of surrounding schools but also educates the students on the effects of tobacco.
The day prevents awareness about tobacco usage and has adapted to include electronic smoking devices as well.
According to Martin McSween, an Alberta Health Services Addictions Counselor, the event really speaks to kids about the effects of smoking especially when playing sports.
"I always bring up chew because chew is often linked to hockey, baseball and rodeo. It was a great partnership with the Drumheller Dragons. One of the players actually talked yesterday about how tobacco and sport don't mix. It is a neat win-win opportunity to talk about that."
Drumheller Dragon Kadan Hanas spoke this year to the students on the topic.
McSween went on to say that the day is linked with National Quit Smoking Week and that the kids have come to expect this well-loved event.
Sometime overnight on Jan. 20, 2020, a vehicle was broken into in the parking lot of the Canalta Hotel in Hanna, Alta.
The following items were stolen from the vehicle: fuel pump pressure testing kit, Hilti impact gun, dash camera, miscellaneous hand tools and a credit card. 
Second suspect RCMP are trying to identify.
On Jan. 21, 2020, the credit card was used to buy fuel at the Husky Gas Station in Hanna, Alta. Video surveillance photos of two suspects and suspect vehicles are attached.
Hanna RCMP are asking for the public's assistance in identifying the suspects and vehicles involved in these incidents. If you have any information, please contact Hanna RCMP at 403-854-3393 or your local police.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the "P3 Tips" app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.
