Using the three priority areas highlighted in the 2017 Strategic Plan for Economic Development, (in collaboration with representatives from the Economic Development Advisory Committee including the Chamber of Commerce, Community Futures, Travel Drumheller, the Royal Tyrrell Museum and members of Town Council) as a basis for future initiatives, adding secondary street names were identified as a quick and effective way to generate attention and show progress on the Towns commitment to improve community marketing efforts.

Following recommendations in the 2017 Strategic Plan for Economic Development, tourism marketing was identified as a priority for future development of tourism particularly in the downtown area. As a result, Council requested the development of options for additional dinosaur theming throughout Drumheller focusing on one of Drumheller’s greatest marketing assets, its place as The Dinosaur Capital of the World.

In addition to wayfinding signage that was installed earlier in 2017, the addition of secondary street naming (an addition to, and not a replacement of, the legal name) was one idea to meet these goals. It was suggested as a fun way to build the visitor experience for the town of Drumheller.

            “Adding a name plate of a 'Dinosaur Street Name' to the actual street name is a fun and cost effective way to add to the Dinosaur Theming of our town,” said Summer Manca Chair of the Economic Development Advisory Committee. “Families come to Drumheller expecting everything dinosaur, and will remember that they walked down Triceratops Street! The signs are a part of the overall theming vision and will match the way funding signs already in place, to really complete the look,”

The costs of implementing the Secondary Street Naming program is expected to be $145 per sign. These signs will have many years of use. This program is a relatively inexpensive, fun way to encourage people to explore our town when compared to the cost of spending money on advertising of any type.

The scope of the project includes 13 downtown streets and the total cost for the project is estimated to be $11,760. The selection of the dinosaurs considered for the street names came from the Royal Tyrrell Museum and inviting citizens to vote on the dinosaurs that they would like to appear builds on the existing wayfinding program that will include maps and ways to learn about local dinosaurs, while exploring the central business district.

The project also supports priorities that have been identified in previous plans such as the Tourism Master Plan, 2011 for downtown revitalization. We also have future consultation plans in place for other lasting improvements to our community through this and other aspects of revitalizing Drumheller. This exercise is supported through the Alberta government CAREs grant for downtown revitalization that will be taking place this fall.

In addition to creating infrastructure to support the business community, the Advisory Committee is interested in creating programs to support businesses,” said Economic Development and Communications Officer, Julia Fielding. “For example the committee hosted the Roger Brooks sessions earlier this year which highlighted the need to be focused in your efforts, to encourage later opening hours and beautification of store fronts;”

Many strategies are included in the 2017 Economic Development Strategic Plan including storefront improvement grants and putting together a strong business attraction and retention program, which are also planned for completion in 2017. Adding new secondary street signage is a timely and affordable way to show progress while we stay focused on improving the business climate in Drumheller well into the future.

Looking north as you head through Acme on Highway 575, travelers may have noticed a  large prefabricated concrete structure being erected.
    Don’t be alarmed, Acme is just adding a little piece of Italy.
    Sunterra has teamed up with a family owned business in Modena Italy to produce authentic high quality cured Italian pork products, marketed under the label Soleterra d’Italia.
    Dave Price, director at Sunterra explains that international trade discussions between Canada and the European Union spurred them to explore this direction.
    “When the trade agreement with Europe was being negotiated, we started looking for an opportunity to sell some of our fresh pork into Europe in specialized markets, and we connected with an Italian family that produces a lot of prosciutto and salami in Italy, and they were interested in our product,” Price tells the Mail.
    The Simonini family has been producing specialty cured meats since 1927, over four generations. This includes everything from mortadella to pancetta.
    “They came to Canada, had a look at the quality of our meat here. The conversation went from there, they were looking for an opportunity for some investments outside Italy, and we ended up with an arrangement that they would partner with us to produce some Canadian product here,” said Price.
    Last fall they began work on the new facility in Acme. The first phase is approximately 50,000 square feet, with a second phase in the future that could almost double the size. The Simonini family helped to design the layout of the plant and helped to source specialized equipment.
    “There is lot of product that is made faster, and shortening up cure times, but that is the beauty of working with these guys, they will make sure it is done right, here in Canada, and we would expect Canadians and North Americans to enjoy Canadian Based Italian meat products,” said Price.
    The facility is a processing facility. There is no slaughter done on site. Cuts of meat will be taken from Sunterra’s Trochu plant to the new facility where it will go through a natural dry cutting process, that has been perfected over a number of generations.
    The relationship establishes a presence in Canada for the products, and they are also looking forward to a Sunterra presence in Europe.
    “When the trade agreements and regulations are settled and the product can move, we can expect to put some of our product on to them on a competitive basis. In the meantime we are actually importing some of their product to help develop the market ahead of ours being created here,” said Price. “In our stores here are prosciutto and salami products from Italy, and later, of course, it will be a very similar product using Canadian pork.”
    “The quality of their product will be unique in the marketplace.”