The transition of operations from the Badlands Ambulance Society to Alberta Health Services is going smoothly and they are looking at it being complete this coming March.
    inSide Drumheller reported in the October 5 edition that following an emergency meeting, Badlands Ambulance would be divesting its operation of ambulance service in Drumheller and area.
    Then Chair of the Badlands Ambulance Services Society, Ben Armstrong expressed that budgetary restrictions were the main consideration in voting to end its operation of ambulance services. While the society announced they would part ways, they said they were committed to making sure there was no disruption of service during the transition.
    Councillor Doug Stanford said they have been having meaningful meetings with Alberta Health Services to implement the transition and so far it is going very smoothly.
    He explained at the meeting they brought in most former committee members at the meeting and were assured that in all likelihood there will be very little change.
    “We are going to be holding another meeting in January and our date for transition is March 1,” said Stanford.

    If all goes well, a new playground will be springing up in the Kinsmen Park in Greentree next year.
    The Drumheller Kinsmen Club has begun the process after residents of the area contacted them about the possibility of building a new playground for children in the community.
    “It was a Kinsemen Park previously, but the equipment got old and it was taken out. I was approached by a community member asking us to redo the park,” said Drumheller Kinsmen Club president, Ashley Wright.
    At the moment, the Kinsmen are collecting funds and grants and determining what equipment they will need for the playground. The cost for new equipment can be high, with a swing set costing $7,000 for example.
    “We’re in the preliminary stages of what the cost will be. We’ve set aside some of our funds, had a pretty generous donation from Cenovus, and we’re in the process of applying for matching grants from the province. We’re hoping to get construction going next year,” said Wright. “You could spend anywhere between $70,000 to $100,000 quite easily.”
    Should everything come together, it is hoped the playground will be complete next summer.
    “This is what the Kinsmen Club has always been about,” said Kinsemen. “We want to make it a great playground once again.”
    To get involved or donate, contact Wright at 403-823-1870.