The Canadian Badlands Passion Play is pleased to welcome Zeke the donkey back to the stage for nine performances from July 8-24 in Drumheller.

Over the past 23 years, the Passion Play has seen eight different actors play the role of Jesus, but during that same time only three donkeys have taken on the role of carrying Jesus into Jerusalem during his triumphant entry.  Since 2012, that donkey has been Ezekiel – affectionately known as “Zeke,” by his fellow actors.

 Zeke is actually a Nubian burro, a breed known as “Jerusalem Donkeys” or “Christian Donkeys” due to the distinct markings on their back.  

Zeke, like his ancestors for the last 6,000 years, bears a fur cross over his shoulders. An ancient legend says that the original donkey that carried Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday also wanted desperately to carry the cross for Jesus, and that desire was imprinted across his back and carried for all future generations. 

At times, Zeke can be a bit of a prima donna and has been reluctant to walk through any puddles on stage. He also has to be careful with his diet. He has a diabetic condition and if he eats too much of the sugar-rich grass on stage, his feet will hurt to the point where he will refuse to let anyone ride him. 

Last year, during one performance, the actor playing Jesus had to run by himself onto the stage during the triumphant entry as Zeke “put his foot down” and would not go onstage for that show. 

Like most actors, Zeke loves attention from the audience and from those around him. If you pass by his corral he will bray to get your attention, and will keep braying until you come over for a visit.

 He is also protective of his animal co-stars, and will stand next to the sheep pen all night if there are coyotes in the area.

 His best friend is Zar, the Arabian horse that appears in the play’s new Gospel of Luke script.  Donkeys and horses don’t always get along but when a separate pen was built for Zeke a few years back, he escaped one night and went over to join Zar in the corral. That friendship continues to this day.

After borrowing Zeke for his first few seasons at the Passion Play, the play’s animal wrangler, Marlies Ohlhauser, was so taken with the gregarious donkey, that she purchased him so Zeke and Zar could stay together throughout the off-season. Her three-year-old daughter, Monroe (who also acts in the Passion Play each year), enjoys riding Zeke on trail rides as this unique donkey is also capable of wearing a harness, saddle, and bridle.

 When she was just learning to talk, Monroe would say a simple prayer each night, “Thank Jesus for donkey.” At the Passion Play we are also grateful for Zeke and all the other animals that join us each year as we present “The Greatest Story Ever Told”.

There will be some organizational shuffling for the better in Three Hills as Kneehill County is set to celebrate the grand opening of their new administrative building on Friday afternoon. 

County and town officials are hosting the event to celebrate the completion of the $10.5 million project that includes both new administrative offices for the county and a new medical clinic for residents.

Located just east of the Three Hills hospital at 1600 2nd Street NE, its proximity to the hospital provides increased efficiency and ease of work for staff moving in between, while its increased space allows for better service for patients.

“We wanted a building that was efficient, we wanted a building that was effective, and that was not extravagant,” said Kneehill County Reeve Bob Long. “We certainly feel we accomplished those things. We’ve got a great building, its functional, and came in $1.3 million under budget.”

The decision to combine both the clinic and administrative offices saved between $750,000 to $1 million, Long said. 

New medical offices were deemed a necessity as part of a doctor recruitment initiative that began in 2006 as a regional priority between the county, Three Hills, Trochu, Carbon, Acme, and Linden in light of new doctor schedules, and doctor recruitment and retention. 

“The delivery of medical services is changing. There’s more services being offered now, including pain management, chronic disease, and the existing building did not provide room for any additional medical professionals to work,” said Long. “It also was something that gave the doctors some comfort in terms of being able to do their work and run back and forth without having a long drive.”

The move to the new building has also allowed for shuffling of organizations in Three Hills. The Town of Three Hills office will move into the previous county administrative building, and the Three Hills library will move into the previous town offices after they are refurbished. Discussions have begun for the potential move of Kneehill Regional Family and Community Support Services and the Seniors Outreach Society into the vacant medical offices. 

One hundred and four 40x 60” solar panels are also installed on the roof of the administrative offices at a cost of $150,000, and are expected to generate 41,236 kw/hrs per year to both the administrative and medical buildings. 

The previous administrative offices served the county for 55 years.

“We’re trying to stay current… What we have effectively done here is we have removed the requirement for Kneehill County to have to build buildings for the next 50 or 60 years. So we’re in good stead that way,” said Long. 

“We’re just trying to establish some stability to things going into the future and I think that was accomplished.”

Included in the project budget was the addition of one bay to the county’s Agricultural Services department.

The administrative office includes council chambers, meeting rooms, and 25 offices.

About $4.5 million in funding came from the province’s Municipal Sustainability Initiative.