Drumheller area resident Diana Rowe has been selected to serve on one of 12 newly formed Health Advisory Councils in the province.
    Rowe, who returned to the area about three years ago, was appointed to Health Advisory Council 9, which roughly mirrors the former Health Authority 5.
    She explains the councils are established to provide feedback on what is working well within the health system and may suggest some areas of improvement for service delivery.
    According to a release, the role of the councils will be to engage community members, gathering input and feedback on local health service delivery in communities across the province.
    “The appointment of the councils is a significant milestone for Alberta Health Services,” said board chair Ken Hughes. “We know Albertans have been asking for increased opportunities to provide feedback on health service delivery in the province. These councils will help us engage with communities and allow us to gather valuable information on local health care needs.”
    Rowe has significant experience working in the pubic relations and marketing fields. She was a community relations representative with McDonald’s Restaurant for 10 years and was also executive director of the Red Deer Downtown Business Association. She served one term as a  Red Deer City Councillor.
    Since returning to Drumheller she has completed contract with Children’s Services and FCSS.
    “Through my career work I have been involved with a number of boards and committees, both locally and provincially. I just always have felt it gives me the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution, and especially to health care, especially in Alberta right now,” she said.
    Currently she sits on the Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) Central Region Community Board, as well as at the Drumheller Economic Development Task Force.
    While the members of all 12 boards were appointed on December 3, the councils in areas 7, 9  and 10 were appointed in November. She says she submitted an expression of interest to sit on the board and was interviewed shortly thereafter.
    “We’re going to act as a liaison between the community and Alberta Health Services. It is more of an advisory role,” she said. “We’ll also be considering safety and quality reports.”