The Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce welcomed new directors at its Annual General Meeting on March 26. They are (l-r) Brock Harrington, Landon Bosch, Darcy Thompson, Nathan Fleming and Sylvia Adams, Missing is Shelley Rymal.

The Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce welcomed four new directors to its board.
    The Chamber held its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, March 26 at the Badlands Community Facility.
    The Chamber had six spots on its board to fill after the departure of Linda Digby and Joanne Contenti. Elaine Piwin and Barry Fullerton also saw their terms expire. Shelley Rymal and Landon Bosch’s terms expired, however each let their names stand for another term.
    They join Brock Harrington, Sylvia Adams, Darcy Thompson and Nathan Fleming on the board.
    The Chamber of Commerce has a lot to celebrate looking back on 2013. In her General Manager’s Report, Heather Bitz recounted some of these events including the Chamber successfully hosting the Provincial Chamber of Commerce Conference and Policy Session and being presented the Alberta Chamber of the Year for Memberships between 100 and 300 members.
    Last year saw the valley bombarded with national and international media, including placement in Maclean’s Magazine, the Amazing Race, the Marilyn Denis Show and the Tour of Alberta.
    The Chamber also did a great job of hosting its annual events, including its member appreciation barbecues, mixers, its annual golf tournament and its Business Excellence Awards.
    It remained active with the provincial and national Chambers of Commerce. Last year it co-sponsored five policy resolutions.
    President John Shoff looked forward in his report to the chamber.
    “We have some very big news in terms of events that will bring literally thousands of potential customers into our valley,” he said in his report.  “Existing events like the Dinosaur Marathon are expanding and growing. The momentum from last year’s many major television focuses on Drumheller is also going to create a lift in visitors this year.”
    One of these events is the Tough Mudder event has been confirmed for September 6 and 7.
     Ryan Semchuk of the Drumheller Festival Committee, which is taking a lead in the event, completed a presentation on Tough Mudder and the opportunities it could bring to businesses throughout the valley, and the importance of the town putting its best foot forward and working together.

The RCMP Musical Ride shown performing a formation maneuver on the beach in Port Hardy, British Columbia. The Musical Ride will perform for Drumheller residents July 29, 2014. The last time the Musical Ride visited Drumheller was in summer of 2010.

Drumheller RCMP Staff Sergeant Art Hopkins has confirmed the RCMP’s Musical Ride is visiting Drumheller this summer.
    The Staff Sergeant met with ride planners Thursday, March 20, and two ride performances  are set for Tuesday, July 29 of this year up at the Drumheller Stampede grounds.
    The ride will also hold a “meet and greet” up at the grounds the late afternoon/early evening of the 28th.
    Visitors will be able to walk through the corrals, pet the horses, and speak with members of the Musical Ride.
    The ride partners with local non-profit groups, and the money raised stays in the community, said the Staff Sergeant.
    For Drumheller those partners are Big Country Victim Services and the Drumheller Stampede and Agricultural Society.
    The ride host pays the costs of stabling and feeding the horses, but are not charged other costs to bring the ride in.
    The Rotary Club attended yesterday’s meeting and will be volunteering at the grounds for the Musical Ride’s visit.
    Further volunteers will be needed, and Hopkins said after their meeting in April, organizers will have a better idea of what those requirements are.
    The Musical Ride last visited Drumheller in 2010.
    Visit the RCMP Musical Ride online at www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/mr-ce/index-eng.htm.