A luncheon and official opening is scheduled for the beautiful new multi-purpose courts at Drumheller Valley Secondary School.
    The lunch is a thank-you to all the donors, and anyone who contributed in any way, and will be held Friday, October 3, at 1 p.m. at the school to officially launch the new RCAF Athletic Park.
    The signs should be installed within the next week and finishing touches on the site are underway.
    “It’s total is $300,000 plus,” said  Barb Travis, Friends of DVSS, said of the project total.
    Travis said the Town of Drumheller and staff contributed more than $100,000 as an in-kind donation of work, equipment and labour.
    Travis said without the partnership of the town, the Friends Society would have had to raise the additional funds.
    “It started by Friends of DVSS, but we couldn’t have done it without all the support we received,” said Travis.
    The multi-purpose courts started off as a basketball court initiative at the high school, but the end result is much more - the ability to provide a place to play for basketball, tennis, and pickleball.
    “We’re satisfied with what we have,” said Travis, “and we think it should last a full ten years.”
    Travis said the courts are being locked, and opened when they need to, partly due to vandalism concerns after the Titans football area at the school was vandalized Sunday.
    Friends of DVSS began in 2003, said Travis, as a way to assist the school with programs and funding for projects such as the weight room and folding bleachers at the school.
    Travis said the group does a casino every two and-a-half years to help with the funding of the projects they select.

Support for Drumheller Community Football continues and was on full display last Friday night as the Senior Titans took on Medicine Hat in league play.

Despite the lop-sided loss on the scoreboard, the atmosphere was optimistic as the community came out to support their home team.

            “From being a former player and one that went through what some of us call the ‘Dark Ages,’ to now, and how much support the community gives us, it is a good feeling,” said coach Ken Fournier. “Football in this community is very much alive and people value the sport and the opportunities it gives kids to compete.”

All week donations had been rolling into the organization in wake of the vandalism to its locker rooms and offices. That support came to a head with a barbecue, put on by Drum FM, Freson Bros, Double D Catering and A&W. It was announced at the game they raised almost $4,500 at the sale.  This was matched by Canalta, making a total donation of $8,732.

            “There are not very many places that have this kind of support,” said Fournier. “Medicine Hat was happy to come and see it and be part of it. They were very impressed with the crowd out there. They come from a big city and our crowd rivals what theif turnout.”

             This was just the tip of the iceberg. Throughout the night, as the team played, thousands of dollars more in donations were announced, totaling well over $20,000. The Mail reported earlier this week that the Airdrie Raiders also stepped up to lend the team equipment so the Titans could get back on the field.

            “Airdrie brought us helmets, shoulder pads, jerseys and pants, they are great,” said Coach Fournier. ‘The assessment is still going on with a lot of stuff. So far stuff like cleats and helmets will be need to be replaced."