The Kneehill Regional Emergency Management Agency (KREMA) hosted a five-day training exercise with Three Hills, Trochu, Acme, Carbon, Linden, and Kneehill County teams working collaboratively to prepare and respond to emergencies.
The goal of the Emergency Management exercise was to train individuals to ensure knowledgeable and reliable resources are available to respond to disasters in the region. Since 2017, the Kneehill Region has seen overland flooding, the risk of a dangerous goods incident, a tornado, and multiple grass fires.
“The best thing we can do as a municipality is to be prepared,” says Kneehill County Director of Emergency Management Debra Grosfield. “It’s not a question of if a disaster will strike, but when. And we’ll be ready to respond.”
Established in 2004, KREMA was recently granted an official Ministerial Order in October of 2020 and continues to work closely and collaboratively with the province of Alberta and the Alberta Emergency Management Agency to improve emergency response. The regional group consists of emergency management personnel and staff from local municipalities, enforcement agencies, fire and first responders, and social services. The group meets regularly to plan and prepare in case of emergencies in the Kneehill region.
In 2019, KREMA received the Emergency Management Preparation Program (EMPP) grant for $17,500 to conduct additional emergency management training from the Alberta Government.
These community-based exercises optimized the funds available from the grant for training purposes.
“We are working together at the municipal level to support our communities across Kneehill County, but our residents can take actions at home to prepare for emergencies,” said Grosfield. “One of the most important is an emergency kit with supplies on hand to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours, including water, food, and medical supplies. Depending on the disaster, it may take that long for first responders to assist you.”
Residents are encouraged to learn about potential hazards by visiting getprepared.ca.

A Drumheller man was sentenced to federal time for possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking.
The Mail reported in May 2021, Drumheller RCMP and the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) arrested two individuals and seized an estimated $50,000 worth of drugs. The investigation involved the execution of search warrants in Drumheller and Red Deer.
A press release at the time of the arrest noted the investigation was a concerted effort to disrupt the fentanyl market in Drumheller. It states the investigation began after Drumheller experienced a series of suspected fentanyl overdoses in late February 2021. While the investigations are not directly linked, ALERT believes the arrests will have an impact on the fentanyl supply in the region.
“Many Drumheller area community members have been devastated by the senseless acts of those trafficking in illicit drugs, including fentanyl. These initiatives resulted in another significant seizure of fentanyl from within our small community. Our teams will continue to work diligently, and are committed to proactively identifying these drug traffickers and conducting investigations into their activities, particularly those which have resulted in death,” says Staff Sergeant Ed Bourque, Drumheller RCMP Detachment Commander, at the time of the arrests.
Scott Painter of Drumheller was charged with possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking, possession of proceeds of crime, failure to comply with release order, and six firearms-related charges. Painter is prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous convictions.
Last week the Mail learned Painter pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl for the purposes of trafficking as well as breaches and firearm charges.
He was sentenced to seven years in prison.