News | DrumhellerMail - Page #2905
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Last updateFri, 11 Oct 2024 4pm

Town starts moving into Badlands Community Facility February 6

    The moment valley residents have been waiting for is a little closer. The Town of Drumheller will start moving into the field house and fitness centre of the Badlands Community Facility on February 6.
    Dawson Wallace, the contractors, are tantalizingly close to completing, cleaning, and vacating the field house and fitness areas. Afterwards, the town and contractors will have joint occupancy and the town can start moving in.
    The senior staff of the facility will bring over equipment and furniture that has been in storage at public works. Everything will be inventoried, assembled, and organized.
    The contractors will still be in other parts of the building. As areas are completed, the facility staff will move everything in.
    “On the sixth of February we get the field house and fitness centre. The next two areas that will probably be done  are the lobby and the library. After that, the meeting rooms and dining hall. The kitchen is going to be the last thing finished,” said Guy Latour, Business Manager of the facility.
    The week after the joint occupancy date, the remaining staff arrive and begin training.
    “There’s a lot of training to do because we’re all new to it,” said Latour.
    Prior to opening, the staff must be well versed in customer service, point of sale, fitness and sporting equipment, emergency procedures, and the particulars of each area of the diverse building.
    Apple Fitness will return later in February to set up the fitness equipment.
    As opening day draws near, plans are being made to showcase what the facility can offer. Ideas being considered are offering tours to sports leagues who have expressed interest in using the field house and having an open house, complete with activities and tours. A volunteer program is in the works as well.
    More information about the facility events and programs will be released in February.
    The news of joint occupancy  comes as a relief, because of the Sports Recreation and Arts Expo and Canadian Badlands conference planned at the facility in March. It is expected that at the current pace the events will continue in the facility as planned.
    The news generates the same excitement and anticipation a new homeowner feels when awaiting their possession date.
    “The joint occupancy was a big thing for us, because it’s indicating that we’re close,” said Latour. “It’s got me super excited. I’m ready to move everything over there myself!”


Drumheller Institution locked down

At approximately 11:44 a.m. on January 28, 2012, Drumheller Institution, a medium security federal penitentiary was placed on lockdown to facilitate the search of the institution as a result of inmate assaults.

The search is being conducted to ensure the ongoing safety and security of the institution, its staff and the inmates. The institution will re-open as soon as the search is complete and it is determined safe to do so.

Visits will be suspended until the search has been completed.

In order to improve its practices to prevent and reduce future incidents, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) will continue to work in an effort to review the circumstances surrounding the incident and take action where necessary.

Music Festival approaches this March

    The date is set, registrations have closed, and venues have been booked. In less than two months the valley will be filled with music.
    This will be the 72nd year for the Drumheller and District Music Festival. The event runs from March 12 in venues throughout the valley, and concludes with its final concert on March 23 at Greentree School.
    The festival showcases a wide array of disciplines including piano, band, instrumental, dance, musical theater, vocal, choir and speech.    
    Thousands of young Drumhellerites have participated in the music festival over its illustrious history, and many have gone on to successful careers in their disciplines.        Names such as Jaydee Bixby, David Schumacher and Rob Shapiro come to mind as examples of past performers who have gone on to success in the music industry. The next crop of performers may have that same talent and drive to succeed.
    Registrations closed on January 12, and the committee has already confirmed a talented slate of adjudicators who will encourage and mentor each performer in their craft. Performers are rewarded with trophies, scholarships and the opportunity to go on to provincial music festival competitions.
    Doug Wade of the organizing committee says they could always use more volunteers, both on the committee and during the festival to manage venues. The committee meets the second Tuesday of the month at the Civic Centre.
    For more information, contact President Lynn Edwards at 403-823-7483.


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