A major oilfield company in Drumheller shut its doors on Monday morning leaving some employees out of work.
   Word spread early Monday, April 14, that employees were being sent home and by afternoon, it appeared the company’s yard in the HyGrade Industrial Park was locked and only contained fleet vehicles.

  The Mail received a statement from a Baker Hughes spokesperson that read, “It is never easy to close a facility. We have gone to great lengths to ensure that our parting and retained employees have been treated fair through this process. The change is about consolidating our business to meet the needs of our customers.”

The Drumheller Baker Hughes facility in the Hy-Grade Industrial Park. A spokesperson for Baker Hughes said it is never easy to close a facility, referring to changes to its operations in Drumheller.

 
    At press time, it was not known how many local employees or contractors would be affected. Calls to the local office were met with a busy signal.
    The Mail also learned the company’s Medicine Hat operations were closed on the same day. According to a Medicine Hat News report, about 200 employees were paid a severance or offered a transfer.
    Baker Hughes is an oilfield service company with a 100-year history with operations in more than 80 countries. It is based in Houston.

    Special Olympics coach in Drumheller Martin McSween says a new injection of funding into Special Olympics from the Federal government is welcomed.     
    The federal government’s Economic Action Plan includes an investment of $10.8 million over four years to support the efforts of Special Olympics Canada. Minister of State (Finance) Kevin Sorenson took part in a training exercise at a sports facility in Edmonton to highlight this addition to the 2014 Economic Action plan.
    “It will be a valued contribution from the Feds, added to the regular funding. The federal government and our provincial governments have always been great supporters of our athletes in competition,’ said McSween.
    This new funding is on top of the government’s annual contribution of $1 million, which comes through the Sport Support Program.
    “Sports contribute fundamentally to the development of life skills for our children and youth, and promote healthy, active lifestyles and strong communities,” said Sorenson. “For athletes with an intellectual disability, the impact is even more far-reaching. I am very proud to be able to say that, with Economic Action Plan 2014, our Government is providing significant financial support for Special Olympics Canada in its efforts to provide sport training and competition opportunities for Canadian athletes with an intellectual disability.”
    Special Olympics Canada provides opportunities for about 36,000 athletes to train and  compete, and many athletes have represented Canada internationally.  Volunteers are the backbone of he organization.
    In Drumheller, Special Olympics offer programming in skiing and bowling.
    “The support of our federal government is integral to the ability and success of Special Olympics to positively impact the lives of Canadians with an intellectual disability through sport. We thank them for their support on behalf of our athletes and their families, our volunteers, and our coaches,” said Sharon Bollenbach, 
Chief Executive Officer, Special Olympics Canada.