The world was shocked by the tragedy that unfolded at the Boston Marathon.
    Though Drumheller is not nearly the same size, inSide Drumheller spoke with emergency services in Drumheller to learn what plans are in place should something similar befall our quiet, rural town.

Fire Chief Bill Bachynski

    “There are many different scenarios and circumstances that could arise. Every community has to be prepared,” said Bill Bachynski, Drumheller Fire Chief and chair of the disaster services committee. “You would get the same reaction you’re seeing in Boston right now, just on a smaller scale. If needed, we would bring in people from as far away as we have to.”
    Various scenarios are outlined in the Town’s Municipal Emergency Plan, which are updated on a regular basis and the risk associated with each evaluated on a continuing basis.
    “They’re all rated and plans made appropriate to that risk. There is a plan in for the community, and that is to practice on a regular basis,” said Bachynski.
    Although many scenarios are discussed, emergency services emphasizes the ones that are most likely to occur.

Staff Sergeant Art Hopkins

    “Within the RCMP there are plans in place for various eventualities, but you have to plan for what is a reasonable likelihood in your community. We do have contingency plans in place for explosions, not necessarily associated to a terrorist organization. Overall, the plan is very similar, no matter what happens,” said Staff Sergeant Art Hopkins.
    “When police and emergency personnel move in, the first priority is to preserve life and then protect property. For example, let’s say a fertilizer storage tank exploded, we wouldn’t treat that any different initially than if someone dropped off a bomb at the BCF. Ultimately, it’s about saving lives and helping the people who are injured.”
    Afterwards, after the injured were aided, the investigation would begin.
    “The investigation after the fact is done differently. Depending on what happened, different agencies and organizations will be mobilized throughout the province to deal with the issues that come to light,” said Hopkins.
    The Royal Tyrrell Museum, which sees hundreds of thousands of tourists each year, also prepares should the worst happen.
    “We have developed, and continue to update, an emergency response plan. It is mainly designed for fire, severe weather, bomb threat, robbery, or any other similar emergency. I have thought before that if a threat were to occur in this community it could very likely be here, given the large numbers of people we sometimes have on site,” said Andrew Neuman, Executive Director of the Tyrrell Museum.
    Staff at the Tyrrell are trained to handle a variety of situations. Their primary goal is to ensure guests are evacuated from the building safely.
    “We have staff who have security and safety as a major part of their job. These individuals have some training in crisis management. One of the first things we do if there is any threat is to evacuate people from the threatened area and call emergency services. It is important to refer these emergencies to the proper trained authorities. One direction our staff are given is: should you notice a suspicious object or package, contact police. Under no circumstances should you tamper with or move the object,” said Neuman.
    In the end though, like with disaster services, the museum focuses on the most likely disasters that could befall the town.
    “We focus on the most likely threats like fire and severe weather, but our response to a bomb would be very similar,” said Neuman.

    Drumheller has an entrepreneurial spirit, with small and medium businesses not only surviving, but thriving, never missing an opportunity to grow.
    Some of these opportunities may be outside the valley, the province, or even the country.
    Next Thursday, May 2, the Honourable Cal Dallas, Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations will be in Drumheller to discuss the potential of looking beyond the valley walls for opportunity.
    “It is an opportunity to discuss what we do in International and Intergovernmental Relations and how that can be directly positive for businesses throughout Alberta, to talk a little bit about these opportunities to engage internationally, and what export can do for a business and the community,” Dallas told inSide Drumheller.
    International opportunities, he says, come in a variety of ways beyond simply exporting a product. There are myriad ways to build international relationships, including through tourism.

The Honourable Cal Dallas…
Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations

    “We are going to have people along who have specific tourism expertise, we are going to have agricultural expertise,” said Dallas. “We have six international offices in Asia. These offices are working to strike relationships, surface opportunities, and analyse the market and be able to interact directly with businesses throughout Alberta.”
    International relationship can help unlock business potential.
    “Your region is achieving great things on the tourism side, but it also has enormous untapped potential. We are able to talk about what some of that looks like, from Asia, or Europe, he said. “I know there will be lots of agricultural related interest from this region and my sense is there are some businesses that are developing and manufacturing some very unique products that probably have value elsewhere in the world, and what these opportunities look like.”
    It has been a year since the election and Drumheller, despite not having an MLA as part of the governing party, is seeing a number of ministers coming through the valley. Finance Minster Doug Horner was in Drumheller before the budget came down, and Culture Minister Heather Klimchuk was through last week.
    “That is what we were elected to do, govern for all Albertans. What you are seeing is our commitment,” said Dallas. “We are going around the province and working really hard. We know the success of these communities is based on a lot of factors, but seeing small business succeed is critical to the sustainability of our communities.”
    Manager of the Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce Heather Bitz says Drumheller was selected to host one of 10 of these conversations throughout the province.
    “It is definitely going to be interesting,” said Bitz. “We look at it as a positive opportunity to bring something else to our community and an opportunity for business owners to get involved and have a conversation with the minister.”
    The meeting is slated for Thursday, May 2 from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. at the Badlands Community Facility.
    Bitz asks those interested in attending to RSVP by email to h.bitz@drumhellerchamber.com or call 403-823-8100.