In representing the Drumheller-Stettler Constituency, MLA-elect Nathan Horner will need some bigger shoes, because of the bigger footprint of the riding.
    Prior to the election, the Electoral Boundaries     Commission redistributed electoral ridings to bring them inline population wise. What this means is the Drumheller-Stettler riding encompasses 36,584 square kilometres. This is more than half the size of New Brunswick.
    Horner understands the challenges of distance.
    “I think it might be one of the worst ridings in Alberta for getting around,” he tells the Mail. “It has some common themes throughout, but actual travel is going to be horrendous.”
    He said the MLA orientation begins on April 24, and he will be learning more about how to represent the riding, but he says they are looking at better ways to locate staff offices that will help have a presence in more communities.
    “We are probably going to have to tweak the structure from what it is now, as far as physical offices or if we are going to have a travelling set up for office space, a little more flexible with a little less overhead,” he said.

       While it makes travel more time consuming, it is also a reality of living in rural Alberta.
        “Where we grew up it was always an hour to anything in any direction, that part hasn’t changed,” he said. “It’s part of it, but I know it is something we need to keep the Electoral Boundary Commission aware of, that we do have to be mindful of the footprint too, not just the population.”
    Outgoing MLA Rick Strankman knows all too well the distances. Even before the redistribution, Drumheller-Stettler was vast.
        ‘It’s like Belgium,” he said.
    “With the inclusion of the MD of Provost, driving from Drumheller to Provost is three hours one way,” he said.
    Strankman said in his experience the legislature usually sat about 75 days a year. While this left time to work within the constituency, it is still difficult to be everywhere.
    “A lot of people just don’t understand the distances. I would get frustrated when people would say I don’t show up at the counties or the towns. That is why I would have our weekly commentaries, and at the bottom of each one of those is contact information to at least try and have some communication,” he said
    He is concerned that with the decline of population, ridings are going to keep growing. That is why he feels growing the population through economic development is important.

    There is always something new and exciting at the Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce’s Spring Expo and after five years organizers say they have an eclectic mix of offerings, with something for everyone.
    The Expo is this Friday, April 26 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., and on Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at its new location at the Badlands Community Facility Field House. They have over 60 exhibitors, everything from lawn care to furniture to business networking opportunities.
    “We have always had a variety of exhibitors in, but this year appears to be the best variety in terms of products and services for people to come see,” said Marley Henneigh, office and Chamber services coordinator. “We have different local businesses and also out of town businesses with all sorts of different products.”
    Look for more information in this feature for exhibitors, including non-profits. There will also be an entertainment stage with all kinds of performances for attendees.
    Make sure you show up early because the first 75 people in the door each day are free thanks to sponsorship from Total Control Security and ProPlan Financial Group.
    Don’t have lunch before you attend as there will be plenty to taste at the Expo. Dobre Food and Catering, specializing in Ukranian cuisine, will be providing a concession, and The Stuffed Kilt food truck will be onsite. The Black Oak Eatery in the BCF kiosk will be offering their menu throughout the day.  
    When arriving make sure to get your passport to the Spring Expo. Simply bring your passport to 10 booths and have it verified with a stamp or initials, and you can enter for some great door prizes, including a framed collection of restored Downtown Drumheller photographs by Natural Light Images, and many more.
    This is the fifth annual Spring Expo.
    “The whole idea of the trade show and why our board and staff decided to do it was just to provide an opportunity for our local businesses and businesses outside of Drumheller to have an event where they can come and grow their business, get some exposure, make some sales, meet some clients,” said Henneigh.