With the growth of pickleball in the community, fans of the game have organized and formed a new Drumheller Pickleball Club.
About 19 people came out to its formation meeting on Wednesday, September 18. They are now in the process of registering as a non-profit society. Wayne Powell was selected as president. He said the club will be a welcoming, inclusive voice of pickleball in the valley, supporting all levels of play and creating community connection and friendship.
“The time was right that we organized for a voice for pickleball in the Drumheller Valley and represent all the players,” said Powell. “We were a loosely organized group of people that had a lot of fun together, and it was time to organize, we felt we could take this further out into the community and have some fun and roll some other people into the game.”
He says they envision organizing some leagues and competitions for the recreational players as well as the competitive side. In fact, last summer they held a couple of tournaments for local players, attracting about 30 players.
“That was great, and we want more now, and that takes a little bit of organization and maybe start taking a little bit of money,” he said.
They are also looking at more training and educational programs to teach people the game. This could be fundamentals for new players, as well as skill development for advanced players.
He says the community is well suited right now for the demand facility-wise. The courts at DVSS have recently been resurfaced and are in great shape. There is also the development of courts at the new Midlandvale Rink as well as at Newcastle Beach.
“Outdoors we are a little rich, and we might want to keep them maintained because in this weather, things do tend to break down in the winter time,” he said. “In the wintertime, we are a little tighter. Right now, I think we are being served at the BCF. As we get more growth or get into competition, we might need some more time, and time might be a premium. Being an organization can have a useful dialogue with BCF. How can we work together so we can keep pickleball growing?”
Part of the growth of pickleball is bucking the stereotype that it is only for senior players.
“That is the fundamental change in the game. About five or six years ago, it was still known as a seniors game. That has radically changed. There is now a professional pickleball league in the States, there is explosive growth in the clubs we have seen in Alberta, and a lot of them are younger people,” said Powell.
They see players in their 20s, as well as other players coming from different racquet sports, taking on the game.
Other members of the executive include Duane Bolin as vice president, treasurer Jim Pask, secretary Dan Hird and directors at large are Irv Gerling and Don Rosgen.
For more information or to get involved email drumhellerpickleballclub@gmail.com.

The Mayor of Delia issued a letter to residents of the village hoping to clarify some allegations that were shared on social media regarding property taxes.
A post was created on a local Facebook page alleging the village has covertly granted a tax reduction for property in the community, based on a resident’s medical condition.
“I take personal exception to the fact that this was all handled allegedly underneath the table to appease aggressive loud individuals. What is given to one in a democracy must be offered to others,” noted the post.
Mayor Jordan Elliott issued a letter that has been posted on social media, noting the post published some “very inaccurate information.”
“Property Assessments are based entirely on the market value of the property and not influenced at all by the medical condition of the property owner. The assessor is audited every year by the Provincial Government and must be within 95% and 105% of the actual value of the property. As with any auditor, adjustments to the norm are highly reviewed and questioned. If the assessor lowered the assessment of a property because the owner was "not feeling well", the assessment would be corrected, and the assessor would fail his audit,” said Elliott in the letter.
It also goes on to note that water consumption is audited the same way, as are penalties.
It does note however the village has had to write off a few utility bills in 2024.
“By order of the Alberta Utility Commission, a few write-offs were made to the utility system. Part of the current definition of "customer" is that the property must be able to use that utility. If a vacant building is no longer connected to the municipal system and the property is in such a condition that the utility cannot be protected or utilized, that building cannot be a "customer". Resulting from this order, the billings for base charges were discontinued and refunded back to the property owner,” the letter stated.
“In 2024 there were a few additional write-offs of utility billings, which were entirely delinquent renters who had left the area and could not be located. This covered a period of a few years.”