This coming week, students in Drumheller and surrounding schools will be treated to presentations by working writers and illustrators.
    The Young Alberta Book Society and Cenovus Energy are giving the gift of literary adventure to area schools this spring. The week of April 4-9, 2016, the Cenovus Wordpower program will bring eight literary artists to local schools including Drumheller and Hussar.
    Wordpower is brought to the region thanks to the generous support of Cenovus.
    “At Cenovus, we believe supporting programs like the Young Alberta Book Society’s Wordpower tour contributes to life-long learning and helps create a vibrant future for youth in our communities,” says Leanne Courchesne, Group Lead - Community Affairs. “Engaging students by having authors and illustrators come into their schools provides a unique educational experience for those living in the communities where we operate.”
    The presenters will share their skills and experience through in-classroom sessions that promote literacy and a love of reading while educating students on topics such as folklore, history, and illustration. The program will reach 35 schools and involve students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. The artists are all from Alberta and are published children’s authors, illustrators or professional storytellers.
    On Monday, April 4,  writers Karen Bass and  Lorna Schulz Nicholson will be at St. Anthony’s School to present to students, and on Tuesday they will be at Hussar School.
 Also on Monday morning, Greentree School will be visited by Mary Hays and Sigmund Brouwer.

    Five local businesses have been approved for grant funding in order to give the exterior of their shops a makeover.
    The Drumheller Storefront Improvement Grant, provided by the Economic Development Advisory Board, awarded five businesses with a 50 per cent matching grant up to $5,000 to assist in refurbishing their storefronts, in an initiative the EDA hopes will enhance the exterior appearance of publicly visible spaces in Drumheller.
    The businesses awarded so far include Spoolz, Sunrise Auto, Century 21, Bryant’s Autobody, and the Anderson building.
 “We thought it was a great way to provide financial support to businesses who are looking to improve the appearance and safety of their stores,” said Summer Manca, Chair of the EDAC.  She added that while these improvements help business owners complete projects, the grant also helps encourage renovations that improve the general appearance of the town for the benefit of all passersby.
    The program was launched on December 1 of this year and will be open to applications until December 31, 2016. The budget available for the year is $30,000. Manca said aspects of consideration in reviewing grant applications include the business’ location, such as being in a high-traffic area, improving general aesthetics, and improvements that enhance safety and accessibility.
    “The more detailed the plan and information, including quotes, provided in the application the better,” Manca said. Applications may be picked up at the Town of Drumheller offices.
    Bev Schinnour of Sunrise Auto, who plans to improve signage and Sunrise’s frontdoor with the grant money, said she will contract renovations locally, providing another indirect benefit to the town economy.
    Greg Morrow, owner of the Anderson Building, plans on giving the exterior a facelift with paint and masonry work, in the hopes of attracting a tenant to the building.
    “I think this is an incredible initiative by the town,” said Morrow. “In these times now, money like this is getting harder to come by, so when I heard of the program I quickly went on top of it and was thrilled to be selected.”
    The future of the iconic Anderson Drug mural which faces the alleyway is uncertain now, but Morrow expressed interest in possibly offering the mural to another party for posterity’s sake if it will be removed.