Drumheller RCMP Staff Sergeant Ed Bourque has released the results of the annual policing survey used to identify the detachment’s priorities for the coming year.
The Drumheller Detachment, along with the Town of Drumheller annually put out a policing survey to ask residents where they would like to see enforcement focused in the coming year.
This year there were 191 responses to the online survey, and the number one priority is the
illegal drug trade in the community. This is followed by family violence, property crime, impaired driving, and rounding out the top five is increased focus on repeat and habitual offenders.
“We wish to thank our community members for taking the time to respond to our survey, it is evident many people care about contributing to the goodwill and safety throughout our neighborhoods,” he said.
The survey also allowed residents to write in concerns and suggestions. While focusing on the drug trade, there were concerns that while
the police are making efforts in enforcement, many repeat offenders are receiving minor sentences and ending up back on the streets. There are also concerns about known drug houses.
“Our Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) team is hard at work with our uniformed and other plainclothes members, Bylaw, COP, and Rural Crime Watch identifying local residences where drug trafficking, production, fencing of stolen property, or processing stolen copper is occurring,” he said. “We need the community’s help to be our eyes and ears and report all suspicious activity. Your complaints are vital, and oftentimes we are able to incorporate your information into our grounds added to our Information to Obtain Affidavits to search a person, place, or vehicle.”
While property crime ranked high on the list of priorities, Bourque points out it has indeed been dropping.
“Overall, our 2020, 4th quarter stats show our home and commercial property crime is down 22 per cent from 2019, and we attribute this to the amazing work of our detachment members including our General Duty first responders, (CRU), Municipal Traffic Unit and General Investigation Section (GIS),” he said.
Rounding out the top list of priorities are police visibility, traffic enforcement, and public safety. Bourque says they are making efforts toward community engagement. They have formed partnerships with several agencies and associations to be more engaged.
“We look forward to doing a better job engaging with our community such as, when the Covid restrictions are lifted, working with our local Indigenous Elders and leaders to be involved in upcoming pow wows, building better relationships at the penitentiary staff and inmates, and our schools,” Bourque said. “We also look forward to interacting better with our elderly and working with our ASSET Youth Coalition to support our local youth in curbing potential poor choices. Lastly, we are looking forward to showing up at upcoming Block Party Program events, the Mother’s Day Parade and engage at least one youth representative to come to the table at the Drumheller Community Policing & Advisory Committee.”

The Drumheller and District Solid Waste Management Association (DDSWMA) is facing a new challenge with Household Hazardous Waste (HHW).

DDSWMA manager Tammi Nygaard explained two government departments would pay for the disposal of HHW, Alberta Environment, and Alberta Infrastructure. The Swan Hills Treatment Centre has also decided to stop accepting HHW and focusing on biomedical waste and PCBs. Alberta Infrastructure decided it would no longer fund the program.

This has left waste management associations looking for a place to dispose of HHW, and a way to pay for disposal.

“Alberta Environment is still going to provide funds for the transportation and consolidation, but now the actual disposal will be on the backs of the municipalities and commercial generators,” said Nygaard.

HHW includes items such as pharmaceuticals, farm and garden chemicals, household cleaners, mercury, smoke detectors, adhesive, and solvents. Used oil, paint, and tires have a stewardship program.

“Going into this, I got really concerned because they knew if we stopped this program, it would mean this stuff would end up in our ditches, our waterways, and our municipal water system, and it is going to be very detrimental to the environment,” she said.

Industry associations have been lobbying and are scrambling to find places for this material. There is a plant in Saskatchewan and some in Eastern Canada, but much will end up stateside, which can add cost and logistical concerns. She says disposal costs have increased by 78 per cent.

She said to combat the extra costs, DDSWMA is looking closely at how it manages HHW. This year it held its annual round-up and was able to have it processed before the change came into effect.

“Now we really have to educate our staff and make sure they understand what actually is hazardous waste and what is not,” she said. “There are some things we can solidify like glues and adhesives that are environmentally friendly.

With agricultural waste, they can look at taking advantage of the Clean Farms Waste Round-up, which comes along every three years. This year the round-up is Southern Alberta this fall. She encourages producers to take advantage and dispose of their chemicals and fertilizers at this time.

She says the long-term solution is an extended producers program. This has been introduced in other provinces, and it is where the manufacturer is responsible for the product.

“This is a program where you go back to the industry, and they have to be responsible for disposal. They are responsible for that product and packaging from cradle to grave,” said Nygaard.

She says there is pending legislation expected later this year, however, they are still working out many details, and it will still be a couple of years to have it in place. She is concerned it will only target residential but not commercial, where much of the packaging comes from. She is also concerned it serves rural areas.