Drumheller’s sense of community was on display as neighbours worked towards protecting each other’s families and property. After the water subsided, the spirit of giving has continued.
     The high water events in Drumheller and throughout the province have inspired great acts of generosity to help families rebuild and move on.
    NewCap Radio in Alberta didn’t wait for the water to fall. Last Wednesday, it hosted the Alberta Rising Radio-thon. This ran from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to raise funds for the Red Cross to help flood victims in south and central Alberta. The endeavour through all the Alberta New Cap radio stations raised more than $70,000 for flood relief.
    Drum FM also teamed up with local businesses and held a one-day blitz fundraiser on Thursday. Locally it brought in about $25,000 for the local Salvation Army to use for relief.
    “We are blown away with the amount of support over the last week and didn’t think we would raise this much, our original goal was $1,000,” said station manager Ryan Semchuk.
    While these actions were able to draw upon the larger community to make a difference, Mrs. Scott’s Grade 5 class at St. Anthony’s started small, and by the end inspired a community effort.
    Mrs. Scott’s students decided on Wednesday to have a popcorn sale to raise funds for flood relief, as the flood affected two members of their class.
    The students’ efforts were inspiring raising  $500.  This inspired the parents of the students to match the donation, bring their total up to $1,000.
    But it doesn’t stop there, Cam Christianson of Canalta saw the merit of the project and he too matched the donation bringing the total up to $2,000, to go to the local Salvation Army.
    Having arrived in the community hours before to their new posting to replace Lts. Matt and Rachel Sheils, Lts. Laurie and Dusty Sauder of the Salvation Army saw first hand the generosity of the community.
    In the meantime, the staff at St. Anthony have also started to collect some funds. Christ the Redeemer School Division encompasses schools in communities that were devastated by the floods. Our Lady of the Snows in Canmore, as well as Notre Dame Collegiate, Holy Spirit Academy and St. Like Outreach in High River all closed for the year when the flooding hit. A number of students and staff have been evacuated and saw their homes destroyed.
    In all, the staff at St. Anthony’s has collected $1,250, and Canalta again matched the funds bringing the total up to $2,500.
    These funds will be forwarded to Christ the Redeemer Schools Division and the board will hold the funds in trust for regional flood relief.

    Municipal water will soon be flowing to East Coulee.
    At their meeting on July 2, Town Council awarded the contract for the construction of the East Coulee water transmission line. It is estimated the line will be complete by the fall.
    “It will be completed by the Fall. It’s 100 days to finish their contract,” said Mayor Terry Yemen.
    Knibb Development Ltd. was chosen to construct the line for a total cost, including engineering work, of $3,989,593. The vast majority of construction is being covered by a grant from the  province, which was awarded in May 2011. The Town of Drumheller is only responsible for 10 per cent of the cost.

The Town of Drumheller is moving forward with construction on the East Coulee water transmission line. At their meeting on July 2, Council awarded the contract for construction to Knibb Development Ltd. Construction will begin soon with completion in the fall.

    The line will bring municipal water to the western edge of East Coulee where there will be a fill station. The line will help increase the fire protection for the area.
    There are no plans to build distribution lines throughout East Coulee or Lehigh, where residents rely on sandpoint wells for their water.
    “When it’s finished, there will be a fill station in East Coulee and that’s it. If, a few years down the road, they need water, it’s there for them,” said Yemen.
    The process to build the transmission line to East Coulee has been ongoing for years. Late in 2011, Council debated building the transmission line and distribution lines throughout East Coulee and Lehigh. The distribution lines would cost residents in those areas just under $16,000 per household.
    After vehement opposition, plans for the distribution lines were shelved, but considering the $3.4 million grant from the province, it was decided to continue with plans to build the transmission line, with an option for acreages along the way to hook up.
    It is expected construction will start within the next month.