In an annual tradition, the Mail reached out to Drumheller Mayor Heather Colberg for a year-end question and answer about the accomplishments as well as issues facing the community going into 2025.
The next municipal election will be held in October 2025. As we enter into the final year of this four-year term of council and you reflect back on this term, what are some things that you have been proud to have accomplished with council? Were there any areas where you wish you could have improved upon? What was the highlight for you this council term?
I take great pride in the achievements we’ve made. One of our key initiatives has been the ongoing cleanup of our town. This includes the removal of several old structures, such as the hospital, consortium, Nacmine bar, Elk’s building, and the curling rink, along with various smaller projects that will pave the way for future developments.
The Rails to Trails committee have also played a vital role by fundraising to establish a trail system that will be enjoyed by residents and visitors for years to come. We have significantly enhanced our valley’s protection by building additional berms, ensuring the safety and integrity of our landscape. Furthermore, we’ve updated almost 200 bylaws and policies, streamlining processes to better serve our businesses and residents, ultimately raising the standard of our community in the past 2 terms.
As we work closely with builders, we aim to address the increasing demand for housing. While we have exhausted our current inventory, this is a positive issue that highlights our community’s growth, though it has contributed to a housing shortage.
Projects focused on recreation and revitalizing our downtown area are also ongoing and will continue in the coming years. While I would love to see even more progress, we must work within our budget constraints. I take pride in the successful implementation of our parking program, which has generated significant funds for our town.
Over the past eight years, we’ve secured approximately $80 million in grants, a testament to our commitment to improving our community. Although some residents express frustration with our major bridge, I’m pleased that Alberta Transportation has chosen to address this vital connection to our valley. With thousands of bridges across Alberta, it’s encouraging to know ours will be repaired within the next year, a project worth $10 million that will not only enhance stability for the future but will also drive economic growth and provide employment opportunities for local residents.
Some ongoing projects include flood mitigation. How far into the project are we? What is left?
The Town has two remaining berms to construct, specifically in Nacmine and Rosedale, both of which are anticipated to be completed by 2025. We are currently in the tendering phase for these projects, with results expected to be presented to Council in January.
In addition, we have made significant progress in the cleanup of the lands in Lehigh, which are now in the process of being transformed into an environmental reserve, along with certain properties in Rosedale. The berms that were constructed in 2023 and 2024 still have active warranty periods on their landscaping before we officially turn them over to the town.
The final component of this initiative involves settling claims related to land expropriation for the project. Given the complexity of the number of expropriations and the associated legal proceedings, we anticipate that this process may take a few years to fully resolve. We remain committed to seeing this project through to completion for the benefit of our community. It’s very unfortunate that taxpayers will be responsible for these expropriation costs, however we continue do our best to get them resolved as quickly as possible to keep costs reasonable.
Council passed its 2025 budget. What are some of the budget pressure and how does the town continue provide services and benefits for ratepayers while keeping taxes to a minimum?
We are fortunate to have strong leadership dedicated to maximizing cost efficiency in our operations. Our team is continually encouraged to be innovative, and we have already seen significant savings as a result of their efforts.
As you know, our primary source of revenue is generated from taxes, which is why we decided to implement the parking program. I firmly believe that if we could collect just one dollar from every visitor who comes to our valley, it would translate to an additional million dollars to benefit our residents.
We value your input, so if you have any ideas on how we can enhance our revenue or improve our services, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of your councillors. We are always open to new suggestions and look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Downtown revitalization is also a topic bandied about. Are we getting close to looking at ways to improve the core? Vacancies in the core appear to be at an all-time low. Are the ways to accommodate more in our commercial core?
We are excited to share the progress we've made on the Downtown Area Revitalization Plan (DARP) over the past two years. When we were elected in 2017 our downtown faced an overwhelming vacancy rate of around 30 per cent.
I'm pleased to report that, thanks to our team's hard work and community support, most buildings are now occupied or actively being filled.
I encourage all residents to explore the various aspects of the DARP program detailed at https://downtown.drumheller.ca/about-the-project
Key features of the plan include:
upgrading Centennial Park,
repurposing the old curling rink area,
establishing downtown public restrooms,
creating seasonal patios,
enhancing storefronts,
and introducing building incentives.
Additionally, we've focused on increasing activities in the plaza to promote community engagement.
Looking ahead to 2025, we plan to improve traffic flow by connecting the Canadian Tire intersection to the former 7-11 site, which we anticipate will attract even more visitors to our downtown. This construction initiative, along with finishing the west side of the Gordon Taylor Bridge and building two major berms, will significantly enhance the infrastructure in our valley.
Council is committed to the ongoing design and development of downtown.
In 2026 and 2027, our efforts will concentrate on replacing sidewalks, upgrading lighting, improving mobility, providing accessible seating, and enhancing wayfinding throughout the area. The integration of the Rails to Trails with the plaza will create a vibrant and welcoming center for our valley, making it an inviting place for both residents and visitors alike.
Housing still seems to be an issue, what is the municipality’s role in creating opportunities for development? What efforts have been made?
We have focused on creating space for future housing development, recognizing the critical need for affordable and diverse housing options in our community. A couple of key sites we've targeted for this initiative include the old hospital site and the former consortium location. These areas present an excellent opportunity to develop new residential projects that can meet the growing demand for housing in our Valley.
Additionally, we are pleased to announce we have successfully sold the Elgin Hill property and the old Elks site, both of which are slated for housing projects. These sales reflect our commitment to revitalizing these spaces and transforming them into vibrant neighborhoods that foster community living.
We currently have four builders active in the valley again:
Stevenson Homes,
Canalta,
Bohemia Developments Inc.,
Green Castle
If you know of other builders, please have them contact our Economic Development manager so we can share the properties and incentives we have available.
Communities all over the province are looking at an infrastructure deficit. Pipes and roads are aging, and we saw a catastrophic issue in Calgary last summer with its waterworks. At the same time financing these projects could eat up reserves, add to property tax or add debt. What is the best way to tackle making sure services are maintained?
I am collaborating with a coalition of municipalities similar to ours, known as the “Mid-Size Towns Caucus”. Together, we are advocating for the province's support in addressing our infrastructure needs, akin to what larger cities receive. As well we are continually exploring additional revenue avenues like we have with the parking program.
Every summer seems to keep getting busier and busier. How do we keep up with the visitation in the community and offer them an experience without saddling the community with cost?
We continue to engage with both Provincial and Federal governments, highlighting the unique challenges faced by municipalities like ours, including Banff, Jasper, Sylvan Lake, and Canmore, which experience significant traffic surges due to tourism. Unlike places such as Innisfail or Stettler, which maintain stable populations, we see our resident numbers grow from around 8,500 to nearly 1 million visitors in just a few short months. This influx is undoubtedly beneficial for our local businesses, and we are genuinely appreciative of the economic boost it provides. However, we also recognize the pressures this surge places on our infrastructure and community resources. Our primary goal is to alleviate some of the burden on our residents while still supporting our thriving tourism sector.
We believe community input is vital in finding the best solutions. Therefore, we are actively inviting ideas and suggestions from the residents of the Valley. Your insights are invaluable, and we are and always have been committed to listening and collaborating with you to enhance our community's quality of life while accommodating the unique dynamics of tourism. Together, we can create a balanced approach that benefits both residents and visitors alike.
Paid parking was rolled out over the summer and was a controversial issue when first introduced. After one year, what lessons are we taking from it?
What I have learned is with any new program, is we need to continue to develop ways to promote and educate our residents.
What do you identify as issues moving forward for the next council?
We have identified three major projects that will be our focus in the coming months, each aimed at enhancing our community and addressing key challenges:
Completion of the Downtown & Area Revitalization Project
We are committed to finishing the Downtown and Area Revitalization project, which is essential for fostering a vibrant and inviting atmosphere in our community. This initiative not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of our downtown area but also supports local businesses and encourages community engagement.
We will ensure the final phases of this project include input from residents to create spaces that reflect our community's needs and desires. With any major project, there are costs, timelines, and service interruptions that we will be working hard to mitigate.
This plan will likely be rolled out one street at a time to save on costs and ease the impact to our downtown businesses. It is said if your downtown is strong and inviting, it helps make your community a vibrant place to live.
Collaboration with Developers to Tackle Housing Shortages
Addressing the housing shortage is a priority, and we will actively collaborate with developers to create more housing options that are both affordable and accessible. By working together, we aim to implement innovative housing solutions that meet the needs of our growing population, for families, seniors and individuals who wish to call our community home.
We will also explore incentives for sustainable development that aligns with our community values. We would love to find a builder that is also interested in all the small pockets of lots the town owns, as well as addressing the larger sites.
Advocacy for Federal and Provincial Funding for Recreation Facilities
We recognize the importance of recreational facilities in promoting the health and well-being of our residents. Therefore, we will engage in lobbying efforts aimed at securing funding from both the federal and provincial governments to support the development of new recreational amenities, including a much-needed community aquatic centre and second ice.
By concentrating our efforts on these three projects, we aim to create a more resilient, inclusive, and vibrant community that meets the needs of both current residents and future generations. Drumheller’s support and involvement are crucial as we move forward with these initiatives together.
What advice would you offer to someone who is thinking about running for council or Mayor in the next municipal election? Are there things that came as a surprise to you during your first term that you could maybe better prepare a potential candidate for?
When I made the decision to run for Mayor in 2017, I dedicated myself fully to the process. I reached out to eight mayors across Alberta to seek their guidance, insights, and suggestions. Experience was invaluable in preparing me for the responsibilities that lay ahead if elected.
In addition, I watched numerous council meetings online and even attended some in person to gain a deeper understanding of the process.
For anyone considering running for office, I highly recommend doing thorough research and investing time in understanding the intricacies of local governance. There’s a lot to learn about how the process works.
It's also crucial to understand that as a Council, we have one employee: our Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). Many people mistakenly believe council members can direct the town staff; however, that is not the case.
I encourage potential candidates to familiarize themselves with all the committees and their functions to fully grasp the responsibilities and expectations of council members. Being well-informed will not only benefit your candidacy, but also enhance the effectiveness of the council as a whole.
Being Mayor for the last two terms in the community I love so deeply has been nothing shy of incredibly rewarding. It has been an honour serving this community and I always say I have the best job in the Valley.
I encourage anyone who is interested to contact me or anyone of the Councillors and we would be more than happy to discuss how to get involved.
