Rowleywood has a new–old look following its transformation for a German feature film production.
    The Drumheller Mail brought readers the story of The Cut, a German film that spent time in the Hamlet of Rowley in its March 20 edition.
    Despite some weather issues, which are expected in April in Alberta, they were able to wrap.
    “We finished shooting on a beautiful day. They got the blue sky, which they really wanted, and it worked out quite well,” said Doug Steeden, who worked on the production.
    The movie centers on a family torn apart in the early 1900s in the aftermath of what is known as the Armenian Genocide. A father goes on a quest to find his family.  Rowley served as a town in North Dakota in the 1920s.

Some of the crew and cast from the movie The Cut at the Rowley Elevators last month.

    To do this, many of the buildings received a facelift and were featured in the show. Since the production some of the buildings have been returned to the look they had before the show, while others have been freshened up.  Chris Foessier of Rowley said not long before filming the post office had been painted. For the movie however, the crew set about antiquing the building, and then reapplying a fresh coat of paint before they left.
    Steeden said the crews enjoyed working in the area and were amused each morning seeing the “Rowleywood” sign on the highway. He said Rowley is an asset for the industry.
    “It is good to know that it is available in the province there’s always a call for that. It is good they have kept it up and the grain elevators are in short supply these days,” said Steeden.
    It was a welcome sight to see a local production, and Steeden said he has seen a little more work in the province lately.
    “It’s definitely not what it was before, but things have picked up the last couple years with the series in Calgary (Hell On Wheels) and Heartland is now going into its seventh year… and there is always people looking around,” said Steeden. “I’ve always said that as long as people are still looking at the province, even if they are not coming here, it bodes well for it.”
    He said a number of factors have led to the slow down in the film industry. Made for television movies are becoming more of a rarity. Tax credits also have a bearing on where crew will go.
    “Nowadays you can shoot anywhere in the world with visual effects,” said Steeden. “But it does come down to where there are more tax credit dollars available.”
    In the mean time, while the talent pool has remained relatively strong, many have left for greener pastures.
    “They have gone where the work is…but I know they would come back if they knew the work was going to be steady here.”

    Simulation training exercises to help shape the future design of ground ambulances with frontline staff from Alberta Health Services – Emergency Medical Services (AHS-EMS) were conducted in Drumheller last Thursday.
    More than 100 EMS personnel from across Alberta are volunteering with the Ambulance Design Research Project through the University of Calgary’s Ward of the 21st Century (W21C).
    As the first study of its kind to be conducted in Canada, this provincewide initiative explores how EMS staff can best deliver care within the patient compartment of ambulances. Study findings will influence and improve the safety, layout and functionality of future AHS ambulances.
    “Our goal is to ensure we are providing our staff with a safe, comfortable workspace that will allow them to do their jobs as efficiently as possible to improve patient safety and outcomes,” says Mike Plato, Acting Executive Director of EMS business standards and operations support. “This is a unique opportunity to observe the interactions between EMS practitioners within the patient compartment of an ambulance, while providing simulated patient care.”

Research associate Greg  Hallihan (centre)  and  Jamie Dawson set up a eye’s view camera on Matt Schulz. Emergency responders in Drumheller participated in a research study in Drumhead on Thursday, May 9.

    To create a realistic emergency scenario similar to those encountered on the job, EMS staff taking part in this emergency exercise will treat a simulation mannequin as their ‘patient’ as they provide care inside a moving ambulance. Researchers will use video and vision-tracking devices to observe and learn how treatment can be affected by the confines of an ambulance.
    “Our data collection will allow us to develop evidence-based design guidelines for future ambulances,” says Jeff Caird, PhD, Human Factors and Simulation Lead, W21C. “The study focuses on efficiency of care and the safety of health care providers and patients.”
    Through surveys and interviews, AHS-EMS staff will also give written and verbal feedback to researchers about their experiences working in ambulances.
    The simulation exercises were from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Canadian Tire parking lot. Similar training exercises will be held across the province in the coming months.
    The study is a collaboration between AHS-EMS, W21C and multiple other stakeholder groups within AHS. Funding for this study has been provided by the AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence (a Government of Canada automotive-sector research initiative), AHS and W21C.