The Kinsmen Club of Drumheller is making great progress towards one of its most recent projects, and received a great boost in an exciting way.
    The service club in Drumheller has been involved with numerous community ventures. This most recent project is a new playground in the Greentree area.
    On Friday, October 25, it received a great boost from the provincial government in the form of a grant for $40,000. This comes from the Community Enhancement Program.
    What made receiving the grant even more special was that it was delivered by four Alberta Members of the Legislative Assembly.
    Minister of Municipal Affairs Doug Griffiths, along with MLAs Wayne Cao, Steve Young and David Dorward were in Drumheller meeting with town officials and the Drumheller Housing Administration.  They also took the time to deliver a letter and cheque to Ashley Wright of The Kinsmen Club in Drumheller
    Minister Griffith expressed how it is good to get out in the community and see the projects residents are going forward with. MLA Young agreed.
    “Just sending the cheque doesn’t tell the story like coming and getting to see the project,” said Young.
    Ashley Wright of the Drumheller Kinsmen said they have been working hard to raise the funds needed to complete the playground. Along with the Alberta Government a number of other area businesses and organizations have jumped on board. This includes the Town of Drumheller, which contributed a donation of $30,000 worth of labour and machinery in kind. The club continues to look for support.
    The park is planned for what is currently known as Kinsmen Park along Cedar Crescent in the Greentree area. They hope to get to work on the playground this coming spring.

Checking out the site for the new Kinsmen playground are (l-r) Drumheller CAO Ray Romanetz, MLA Wayne Cao, MLA David Doward, Ashley Wright of the Drumheller Kinsmen, Minister of Municipal Affairs Doug Griffiths Mayor Terry Yemen and MLA Steven Young.

    A Drumheller native was recognized for her outstanding commitment to volunteerism.
    Taylor Bertamini, who graduated from St. Anthony’s School in June of this year, was awarded the annual Western Communities Foundation Exceptional Achievement Citation Bursary Award. Bertamini was recognized with 72 other exceptional youth.

Taylor Bertamini, who graduated from St. Anthony’s School in June, was awarded the Western Communities Foundation Exceptional Achievement Bursary Award for her commitment to volunteerism. Bertamini was awarded in recognition of her five years of volunteering at Sunshine Lodge.

    “It was for volunteerism in the community and it was so nice to be recognized,” said Bertamini, who is now in Calgary attending Mount Royal University.
    Over the past five years, Bertamini volunteered at Sunshine Lodge. She also has helped during the Salvation Army Food Drive, on Student Council, and for various causes.
    “I knew (activity coordinator) Marcel (Augey) through guitar lessons, I had a grandparent at the lodge, and it was always a job that interested me, so I went in one afternoon and then just kept going,” said Bertamini.
    “I volunteered in the activities department and did everything from playing games, throwing birthday parties, to serving snacks. It was a really good experience for sure. It was so neat to meet all of them and hear what they had to say. It was a really cool experience.”
    Her help over the years was greatly appreciated.
    “She’s very good with the residents and knows everyone by name. We and the residents  really appreciate her help. She’s a great person to have around,” Karen Lunden, activities coordinator at Sunshine Lodge. “She still stops by occasionally and helps out.”
    The students selected to receive the award are nominated by a member of the school teaching, support, or administrative staff, or a member of the school council.
    In Alberta, students are required to volunteer to obtain their high school diploma. Bertamini, however, kept going back. At Mount Royal, she is doing courses in social work and may pursue a career in the field.
    “Even after I finished the hours, it was something I wanted to keep doing,” said Bertamini. “It’s definitely an option. I would like to pursue something in the filed of geriatric social work.”