It is a special season for the Atlas Coal Mine as it marks a milestone in Drumheller Mining history.
“In 2016, it will be 80 years since this mining site opened up,” said Jay Russell, curator at the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site.
They are still in the planning stage on how to mark this occasion, it is gearing up for another fun season. Russell says they have most of their staff for the coming season in place, with many coming from inside and outside the valley.
“We have a few returning staff, but we have one from Nova Scotia, via Saskatchewan, three from Ontario, one from Drumheller and three from Rosebud,” he explains. “We are going to have a really awesome team. Our reputation at the Atlas, and of course Drumheller is known all across Canada, and when they come here and buy into why the Atlas is important to the history of Canada they become ambassadors when the go back home.”
He says the Atlas is sticking to its bread and butter, with its traditional popular tour offering.
“We were called one of the most kid-friendly sites in Alberta, and we are. We want to keep emphasizing that in our other tours,” said Russell.
One success it had last season, they are looking at building on, is unmentionable.
“People always ask us certain question on all the other tours. They are legitimate questions, but they are risqué questions. They want to know about the seedy underbelly of Drumheller,” said Russell. “Drumheller had 16 brothels at its peak and two of the most famous brothels in Canada were right here in Drumheller. There was all kinds of labour struggles, there was fighting, brawls, robberies… it sounds like a great Friday night! So we packaged it all together into the one hour ‘Unmentionables Tour.’”
He said it is a nice change of pace from the other tours, and some of the other guide will dress up.
