Clean water is a basic necessity of life and the Wheatland Regional Corporation announces the launch of the potable regional water supply line project.
    The Villages of Hussar, Rockyford, Standard, and Wheatland County had initially created a regional partnership (Wheatland Regional Water Partnership {WRWP}) to investigate the options of developing a reliable and cost effective potable water supply to service these municipalities and the hamlets of Gleichen and Rosebud.
    WRWP has elected to proceed with the establishment of the Wheatland Regional Corporation(WRC) that is under review by Alberta Municipal Affairs to provide a municipal regional water system.
    Village of Rockyford  Mayor and Chairman of the Corporation, Darcy J. Burke said, “The Village proudly supports the WRC initiative. In the near future the WRC will be supplying potable water to communities and individuals on the eastern side of Wheatland County. What I believe is paramount about this project is the desire of the Villages of Hussar, Standard, Rockyford and Wheatland County to work collaboratively designing and building the largest infrastructure project in recent history for our residents and ensuring a basic necessity of life. This project clearly demonstrates what can be achieved when strong partnerships have a dream and work hard together to bring that dream to reality.”
    WRC stated in their news release: “WRC is thrilled to announce the new regional facility and the potable water supply line to Gleichen, beginning with the detail design and construction in 2016, that will provide a water system consisting of the following components: raw water intake and two raw water reservoirs, raw water pump station, raw water pipeline, water treatment plant and potable water pump stations and  potable water supply pipelines.”
    WRC board vice chairman and Wheatland County councillor Rex Harwood wrote,  “I am proud to be a part of a project that is solving a huge problem for many communities in Wheatland County. Given its legs, I believe the project will go many miles”.
    Village of Hussar Mayor Tim Frank  and a board member stated, “The Village of Hussar strongly supports WRC. Everything we can do to help our neighbors and fellow communities, we will do. Our hope is for good clean drinking water for everyone and our wish is to create something special that encourages growth, cooperation and opportunities for all.”
    Village of Standard councillor and WRC board member, Martin Gauthier said, “The Village of Standard is excited to be working with our neighboring municipalities in our newly formed partnership, the WRC. We recognize the benefits of regional water in this area and are looking forward to what the future holds for all of us.”
    Phase one of the project includes the construction of a new raw water reservoir, pipeline from the reservoir to the treatment plant and pipeline from the treatment plant at the Village of Standard to the hamlet of Gleichen.
    The project cost estimate for providing water to villages of Standard, Rockyford, Hussar and the hamlets of Gleichen and Rosebud is $51,000,000 distributed over multiple phases. Phase one is approximately $22,000,000 among which the Government of Alberta will contribute $20,000,000 over five years through the Water for Life program. The Water for Life program is based on a funding split of 90% paid by the Province and the remaining paid by the partnering municipalities. WRC has contracted MPE Engineering Ltd to begin the detailed design of the project.
    Reeve of Wheatland County Glenn Koester and board member stated, “I am proud, as the Reeve of Wheatland County, to be part of this water project the county recognizes the importance of water but more important the need to be there for all the citizens of the area.”
    WRC is planning to conduct Town hall meetings in all the communities where services will be provided in coordination with Wheatland County and the villages of Hussar, Standard and Rockyford.  

    A pair of Drumheller teachers are planning to lend their skills to help students in Kenya, volunteering at an orphanage and school.
    Irv and Corrine Gerling are heading to the Our Lady of Grace Children’s Home and the Our Lady of Grace Academy in Marimba to volunteer. Corrine explains there is a local connection.
     A few years ago, the Gerlings reconnected with Rita Balachandran, nee Rovere, formerly of Drumheller. In 2002, she initiated a trust fund called Action for God’s Love (AFGL) in memory of her husband, the late Professor Balachandran, a prominent orthopedic surgeon in Singapore.
    AFGL is an all volunteer run organization, which aims to improve the material and spiritual lives of those trapped in poverty.
    “We knew she had this project going and we said to her that when we retire, we would come and volunteer for a while,” she said. “This year we said we need to reconnect, get over there and help her in some way.”
    Corrine explains the school and orphanage was built in 2006, and is built on land owned by the Catholic diocese. Over the years, Rita has taken in 175 orphaned girls. Many of these children have lost their parents due to AIDs and HIV related complications, and are living with grandparents. In Kenya, Rita has to legally adopt these girls in order to provide them shelter and education. She is affectionately known as Mama Rita.
    The Gerlings are hoping to use their skills to support the school. This could be through working with students, or sharing their skills and knowledge as educators with the teachers.
    “We are a little nervous, because when you teach here, you have everything in that school. There, we are going to have a chalkboard. I am taking some resources and some print resources, and children’s books.”
    The couple has had overseas experience. Irv taught in Tanzania in the 1970’s. The couple also taught in Columbia in the 1990’s and most recently, the couple spent three years in Montenegro teaching.
    “It is very interesting to live and work in another culture,” said Corrine.
     Irv agrees. “It will be an experience, we have enjoyed every place we have been. Between the geography, the people and food, it will be great. It is a completely different experience than when you are a tourist.”
    This is not the only project for AFGL. It has completed projects in Mongolia, Myanmar Uganda and Kenya. It also supports student volunteers who lend a hand for the charity.
    Corrine said Rita funds these other projects through the foundation, but the orphanage and school is the one project she is actively involved, spending nine months a year in Kenya.
     It won’t be all work for the couple. During their three-month excursion, they hope to take in some of the local sites while they are in East Africa.
    To learn more about their excursion or about Action For God’s Love, contact the Gerlings at igerling@telusplanet.net.