Golden Hills School Division is very excited with today’s announcement from Premier Redford and Minister of Education, Jeff Johnson. Today, Minister Johnson announced two new schools for Golden Hills!

Over the past number of years, the communities in East Wheatland of Hussar, Standard, Rockyford and Gleichen have been experiencing challenges with respect to shifting student populations and quality of school facilities.

Last year, in order to provide solutions to this problem, a working group of parents representing each of those four school communities was formed to explore possible solutions for education in the area. After an involved process of collaboration and consultation that extended broadly to all four communities, this Working Group proposed closure of those four community schools and consolidation of all the students in the area to one K‐12 centralized school.

The GHSD Board of Trustees endorsed this proposal and with this announcement, the province has made the decision to support this area and these four communities with a new consolidated school to support all the students in East Wheatland.

Superintendent Bevan Daverne commented, “We are very excited with today’s announcements. I can’t say enough about the Working Group and the excellent job they have done in moving this whole situation forward. Truly, this is a solution that not only is good for students, but is also a model for rural sustainability. For the province to recognize that work and support all the communities in East Wheatland with a consolidated solution and to fund a state of the art facility where all our East Wheatland staff and students are able to work and learn together is fantastic news for all of us!”

The second school announcement impacts the community of Three Hills, where, for the past eight years, the Prairie Christian Academy’s campus has been split between multiple campuses in a variety of leased space. This announcement provides funding to take the elementary campus and right‐size it for the entire K‐12 student population.

The addition of teaching spaces would include support for high school program courses as well as a new gymnasium suitable for senior high athletics. This announcement will mean that all PCA students and staff will be able to learn and work together in a modern board‐owned facility.

Board Chair, Dave Price, stated, “This is a wonderful announcement today for the community of Three Hills and parents, staff and students at PCA. From an educational and financial perspective – for the culture of that school community, this is an excellent solution and we are very appreciative of the support we have received from the province on this situation.”

The projects are part of Premier Alison Redford’s promised investment in education infrastructure and the second major capital announcement this week.

“We made a commitment to build new schools and we’re doing just that,” said Premier Redford. “This is about more than bricks and mortar — it’s about building strong communities so all our kids get the best possible start in life. By investing in schools today, we are investing in ourselves, and our province.”

    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.