For Canada’s 150th birthday, there is a challenge for Drumheller residents to get active.
    The community is tackling the ParticipACTION 150 Playlist. Rose Poulson, seniors coordinator for Town of Drumheller, explains that ParticipACTION has compiled a list of 150 activities to have an active 150th birthday year for Canada. There is everything from canoeing to hiking. In Drumheller, they are hoping to tackle a number of these activities to celebrate Canada 150 and also be a vibrant active community.
    To kick off the playlist, Drumheller is once again participating in Winter Walk Day. This is the 10th anniversary of the event and Drumheller is getting ready to show its spirit.
    This year, Winter Walk Day is set to go on Wednesday, February 1. This is a province-wide event that encourages Albertans to participate in at least 15 minutes of outdoor activity. Poulson is helping to organize locally and says the town has participated for the last six years.
    She already is working with a number of groups and schools to get the community out for Winter Walk Day.
    She is inviting seniors to come to the Badlands Community Facility to walk on the track at 10 a.m., along with the Drumheller Dragons. Then at 12:15 p.m., the community walk will depart from the Badlands Community Facility. She is hoping for 150 participants.
    She is also inviting schools in the area, as well as other groups to participate. They are issuing a workplace challenge and asking businesses to participate for bragging rights as the most active workplace in the community.
    This year she says the community is challenging the Town of Fort MacLeod to see who can have the best participation in Winter Walk Day. She encourages those who are interested in participating to go to www.shapeab.com and register for winter walk day to have your steps counted, or email your number of participants and minutes walked to rpoulson@dinosaurvalley.com
    They are in the planning process for even more activities to cross off the playlist. On Friday, February 10, the Drumheller Curling Club is joining by offering a Friday Fun Drop-in Curling Night at 7 p.m. This is open to novice and experienced players alike. Members will be on hand to share tips on how to play, and there will be equipment available.
    The playlist challenge continues on Thursday, February 16 as the pickleball group will be hosting a demonstration where people can come and try out the sport and have some fun.
    Look for more Canada 150 activities coming up throughout the year.

    On Friday, January 20, the Badlands Community Facility became recognized as a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) certified facility.
    “We are very proud that the Badlands Community Facility was built to meet the LEED silver Design.” Mayor Terry Yemen said, “The BCF is now recognized internationally as a green building because it meets the criteria of being energy efficient and environmentally friendly.”
    The BCF was designed to be LEED certified before its construction but because of the lengthy verification process the BCF only received accreditation now. A building must have reduced energy consumption and waste to be LEED certified.
    “The LEED award scheme is an in depth analysis of all aspects of the building from design to operations and the impact they have on energy conservation,” said Julia Fielding Economic Development and Communications Officer. “LEED supports the development of sustainable buildings to create a healthier environment for visitors as well as reducing energy consumption and reducing waste.”
    According to Mayor Yemen, “The BCF has a 47 percent stake energy cost reduction over a standard building. The primary energy efficiency measure include: the installation of condensing boilers; heat recovery ventilation air, heavier insulation in the roof and walls, an efficient lighting design with the use of windows and the use of occupancy sensors, and the installation of demand controlled ventilation on outdoor air. The BCF has an operational and maintenance plan that avoids the use of chemicals for interior and exterior cleaning, avoids the use of salt for removal of snow, ice, and pesticides for landscaping. The BCF has a water system that uses efficient-technology to reduce typical water use; a landscape waste program that diverts waste by mulching and composting, bike racks for employee and visitor use, showers and change rooms, priority parking for carpooling. These are all measures that earned significant points to achieve our silver LEED designation.”
    Drumheller’s BCF joined only 2,800 other buildings which have gained this award since the program was introduced in 2004. The BCF is the first in Drumheller to be LEED certified.
    Mayor Yemen said, “The Town of Drumheller identifies the BCF as the community’s social and cultural hub, where an incredible range of activities take place. Drumheller residents can be proud that we own a building at the silver level.”