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Tourism numbers begin recovery following flood lull

    While it is expected that tourism will take a hit his year after the flooding in southern Alberta communities, it appears, visitation number in Drumheller are recovering.
    About a month ago, all eyes were on the Red Deer River in Drumheller as it peaked. While the valley escaped relatively unscathed, the same can’t be said for its neighbours, particularly in Calgary, one of the biggest areas that Drumheller tourism draws from. 
    Leanna Mohan head of marketing and communications for the Royal Tyrrell Museum, said year to date the Museum is down about eight per cent. By this time last year, there were about 147,000 visitors through the door. This year the have had about 135,000 visitations.
    She explains they were down about 5 per cent in June. This was mostly because they were closed for two days, when the flood water peaked.
    The Atlas Coal Mine also had its doors closed during high water, and it had its effects. However they have continued to see a rise in visitation.
    “June was up 17 per cent,” said Linda Digby, executive director of the Atlas Coal Mine. “We had one slump week toward the end of June, which we figured was post flood drop, and even accounting for that, we were up. Since the long weekend things have been hopping.”
    One interesting change Digby has seen an increase in youth groups visiting the museum.
    “It is challenging for us but it is the kind of challenge we want,” said Digby.
 Beyond the closure, Mohan said it has taken a little while for numbers to comeback.
    “In July with the impact of the flood we were down, because our main visitations are Calgarians, they are the ones not travelling,” said Mohan, adding that she is not concerned that the image of the flood has slowed all visitation.
    “I’m not too worried about international visitors or even from Edmonton, to us it was the visitors from Calgary,”’ said Mohan.

Many tourism operators felt a dip following the flooding events last month. Today it appears numbers are starting to rebound.

    Since then, numbers have begun to climb. In the first week of July they were down about 4,000 visitors, however in the second week they were down by about 1,000.
    “I am assuming by August we’ll be back on track for a good year,” she said.
    She adds they are planning a do a push come the later summer and fall to bring visitors back the valley.

 


Trio to golf around the clock at Dinosaur Trail

To support L’Arche Calgary, which runs homes and programs for persons with developmental disabilities, a trio of golfers with endure 24 hours of non stop golf at the Dinosaur Trail Golf and Country Club starting at 8 a.m. Friday, July 26.

    For many, the perfect day out in the summer is long day at the local golf course. Several golfers will literally make a day of the Dinosaur Trail Golf and Country Club as they golf for 24 straight hours.
    The three will golf around the clock in support of L’Arche Calgary’s homes and programs for people with developmental disabilities. They will start bright and early and 8 a.m. on Friday, July 26, and end at 8 a.m the following morning.
    Nothing is more frustrating than a lost ball and the three, to keep track, during the night, the players will use glow-in-the-dark balls and flashlights. They will also mark the fairways and hazards with glow sticks.
    Though a day on the course is a dream for some, it might not be all fun and games to the marathon golfers.
     “All kidding aside, this will be grueling. This is not a relay. This is me going for 24 hours non-stop. This will mean blisters, pulled muscles and tendonitis. This will mean trying to swing a golf club after a night with no sleep when I will be so tired I will barely be able to walk and think. This will mean trying to make a golf swing while so sleep deprived and so fatigued that it will take every ounce of energy just to move,” said Randal Van de Moselaer. “I believe deeply in the work of L’Arche Calgaryand operating the homes and programs requires financial support in order to continue to make a significant impact in our community.”
    Residents are invited to stop by and watch the trio as they swing through their marathon golf game.
    “Scott Westman at Dinosaur Trail Golf Course in Drumheller has been very helpful and accommodating in making this event work,” said Dave Tod. “We will have an RV on site so why not drive down after work and join us for a round or…three!”

Rowley celebrates centennial and more

The quiet streets of Rowley will be lined with classic cars this Saturday as the hamlet celebrates it centennial during Pizza Night. Though Rowley was never officially incorporated, businesses first started to appear in 1910 and a post office established in 1913.

    The hamlet that never became a town is celebrating 100 years…and then some this weekend.
    The Hamlet of Rowley is having its centennial celebration this Saturday at Pizza Night. The afternoon and evening celebration includes entertainment from Dew Carver and, the Rowley house band Nort and the Nerds, face painting for kids and a street full of classic cars.
    Lorraine Foesier of Rowley explains the history book shows the first business, a general store, opened in the hamlet around 1910-1911. It changed hands in 1911 and then the post office was established in 1913.
    “The problem is, Rowley was never incorporated. That is why we are calling it 100-plus years,” she tells The Mail.
    They decided to go with when the post office was established as the date. This also coincides with a classic car cruise coming from the north.
    The same group that hosted the Ukrainian Triangle Cruise, passing through Glendon, Vegreville and Mundare  in 2012 is hosting the Old Cars and an Empty Town Cruise. This starts just South of Edmonton at Looma and heads south down Highway 21 and over to Rowley. They are expecting to arrive at about 2 p.m.
    The community is planning a cake cutting at 4 p.m. and MLA Rick Strankman has accepted their invitation to the event. In fact, Foesier says he has a classic Ford Fairlane that may even show up.
    She explains the early history of the community is not well documented simply because it was not incorporated. Much of what appears in history books comes from memory.
    It is not known when Mr. Deering started his general store, but it is documented that George Swallow purchased it in 1911. In 1913, his wife was appointed the first postmaster.
    The hamlet thrived in the early part of the century and a garage, a church, livery and of course a restaurant, which is Sam’s Saloon, was established.
    The garage lasted until the 1940’s, Sam Leung shut down his restaurant in 1968 and the general store closed in 1973.
    This didn’t spell the end of Rowley. Today the dedication of the community has added the soul to the ghost town. Heritage buildings have been refurbished and maintained, the famous elevators have been extensively restored and Sam’s Saloon attracts a great crew for Pizza Night.
    In addition, the hamlet has become the backdrop for a number of motion pictures, domestic and international. Its most famous credit, and the project that got the motion picture industry interested in the hamlet was Bye Bye Blues in 1988, earning its moniker Rowleywood.
    The celebration of the Centennial, and then some is Saturday, July 27. Cars are expected to arrive at 2 p.m. and cake cutting is at 4 p.m. In addition to Pizza Night, There will also be hot dogs and beef on a bun.


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