The dedication of area youth was celebrated on April 12 as nine local students were presented with their hard earned Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

There were six youth who were presented with their bronze level awards and three received their gold level award.

“To get gold is unreal, it is pretty awesome, it is the highest level. The only thing more prestigious they could get is an independent medal,” said Constable Craig Nelson, who has helped coordinate the Duke of Edinburgh Awards in Drumheller.

The Program was launched locally in 2011 in partnership with the RCMP.  This self-development program has had an affect on almost seven million young people in 130 countries and Drumheller was the first community in Alberta, and one of five in Western Canada to introduce the partnership. Its first year 14 earned medals, and today it endures.

One aspect of the award is to take on an adventure and alongside the program, Two Wheel View and the RCMP have staged the Badlands to Banff bike tour as an opportunity to fulfill this portion of the challenge. 

“A couple of the bronze winner were on the bike trip and two of the gold winners also participated,” said Nelson. “That is cool that we have that connection there.”  

Nelson sees great value in the program.

“It is giving kids credit for what they are probably already doing. We are encouraging kids to volunteer, to be physically fit and active and to get out of their comfort zone on an adventurous journey and to learn new skills,” said Nelson. “If I go to employ someone, I would want them to do all of those things.”

The awards are also very well recognized.

“If you go to Australia, they are going to know what it’s all about. Any of the Commonwealth countries are going to know, it is internationally recognized,” he said.

    Three former Drumheller residents are safe following a harrowing two days in Ecuador where an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 struck just 70 kilometres from the epicenter.
    Susan Neufeld, her husband Paul Bertamini and their son Ashton live in Puerto Lopez, a fishing village with a population of 16,000.  They were enjoying a typical Saturday evening when the quake struck.
    “We were having pizza at our neighbours when the quake struck, most families are at home for dinner at this time of night,” explains Neufeld. “The first ten seconds was kind of gentle shaking and then the next fifty seconds were far more violent. The buildings were moving, power poles swaying, things crashing all around us, people screaming. We tried to get as far away from buildings as we could, and it was really hard to walk. Within minutes of the quake, a tsunami threat was imminent and we all headed to our place on higher ground.”  
    States of emergency have been declared in many of the cities and towns throughout the country. More than 2,500 have been injured and the death toll is in the area of 300, and continues to climb. The village they live in is about 70 kilometres from Muisne, another village at the epicenter, and 300 kilometres from Pedernales, a city of 40,000 which has suffered extensive damage.  Just 24 hours earlier they were through the communities of Manta and Portoviejo, which were also devastated.
    “Fifteen homes in Puerto Lopez were completely destroyed and several businesses sustained structural damage. All businesses, hotels and hosterias were closed today to assess the damage. As scary as this earthquake was our town faired pretty good,” said Neufeld. “We are getting reports from Emergency Facebook Groups as to statistics and evacuation routes. Right now, all roads north of Puerto Lopez are closed, cutting us off from the cities. The south exit has been cleared. The roads in our town are all good as are the bridges.”
    The family was very prepared for the quake, and was able to help their neighbours. Neufeld explains that they experienced a quake a few years earlier and because of it they built their house to withstand a quake and it did. They were also set up with food and water for survival and a back-up power generator.

    “We had approximately 40 people taking refuge at our home, some stayed till the early hours of the 17th when all threat of a tsunami was lifted and others had to stay over night as their homes were unsafe to return to. Many of them slept in lawn chairs in our gazebos and some slept in the house, and we did not sleep at all. Many other neighbours went higher up the hills, lit fires and slept on the ground with their children,” she said.  “It was a long frightful night for everyone!”
 “Our hearts and prayers go out to everyone in Ecuador who has suffered from this horrible disaster. So many lost everything. We thank God that we and all our friends are safe. We plan to stay close to home for awhile, it is much safer here.”
 Susan says at this point the country of Ecuador is focused on rescue efforts. They need to supply medical and basic needs to survivors and therefore are in desperate need of financial aid.
    " We personally are collecting clothing, shoes, blankets, bottled water and canned food to send to areas in desperate need. We are also contributing financially for the transportation of these goods. Much of which will have to go by boat to reach these towns.
    "Because some of the banks were destroyed in the earthquake, cash is not readily available in the country right now. Businesses and banks in Puerto Lopez and south of us opened today, but limited cash and purchases. A shortage of everything will soon affect everyone living in Ecuador."     
    Canadians can make contributions to the Canadian Red Cross “Ecuador Earthquake Appeal”.