Town of Drumheller council approved the 2022 Capital Budget of $10.74 million comprising of a total of 43 capital projects during the regular council meeting on Monday, January 24.
Along with the Capital Budget, Director of Corporate Services Mauricio Reyes also presented council with the 10-year capital plan, which outlines proposed capital projects through to 2031.
“In the next five years, the plan is to invest roughly around $10 million each year; those amounts, of course, are subject to change,” Mr. Reyes explained to council during the meeting.
Included in the 43 capital projects for 2022 are some $2.16 million in projects which will coincide with ongoing work for the Drumheller Resiliency and Flood Mitigation Office (DRFMO).
Although Flood Mitigation projects are not included in the capital budget, these projects-including $1.5 million in utility work at the Michichi Creek sanitation crossing, and $600,000 in upgrades and improvements to both the Centennial Park and Newcastle recreation areas-will be completed in conjunction with ongoing Flood Mitigation projects.
“Improving municipal infrastructure in conjunction with flood mitigation construction is efficient and will offer significant cost-savings,” Director of Infrastructure Services Dave Brett explained in a press release from the town. “Once ground is open for berm construction, we can upgrade an out-dated sanitary crossing (at Michichi Creek) at the same time instead of opening up the earth at a later date. This will save us dollars in the future.”
A total of some $7.64 million will be spent on infrastructure replacements, $1.14 million in new assets, $950,000 in machine and equipment replacements, $880,000 in facility upgrades and renovations, and $130,000 in other expenditures.
These capital expenses will be funded through some $2.47 million in ongoing and one-time grants, $750,000 in tax supported borrowing and an additional $3.4 million in utility supported borrowing, along with a total of $4.12 million from both tax and utility supported municipal reserves.
Budget deliberations for the 2022 Operating Budget will be held at a future council meeting.

While the new year has just begun, for some parents, it is time to start thinking about selecting a school for their child’s learning journey.
St. Anthony’s School has opened registration, and Christ the Redeemer’s Kindergarten programs are open to all students, both Catholic and non-Catholic, and focus on active learning, skill development, and relationships.
The St. Anthony’s kindergarten program offers outdoor experiences through play-based learning, a focus on fine motor skills and connections, fosters kindness and compassion through face-to-face relations, and guarantees Grade 1 placement, and beyond.
Kindergarten teacher Robert Rowland has 11 years of experience teaching kindergarten and believes in the St. Anthony’s program.
“We have a really good play-based program, we aren’t all about paper and pencils and table work, we are out playing and learning the way kids naturally do,” he said. “With a lot of our activities we are incorporating our letter sounds and math all through play.”
He says many kindergarten programs say they are play-based, however, he says he tries to infuse play into everything they do. This helps the child engage in active learning.
“Obviously there’s a focus on academics, and there is a curriculum, but we treat kids holistically. We focus on every aspect of the child; the emotional, physical, intellectual, and spiritual,” he said. “We are not just here to put knowledge in their head, we want them to grow as individuals in their own way that works for them.”
Rowland explains COVID has put a strain on students, and throughout the elementary program, they brainstormed on ways to support mental health and make the students more comfortable. Simple changes like lighting and sound machines have made a difference in the classrooms.
“I love the school has kind of done that, that each level has its own initiative to help the kids during this emotional time,” he said.
St. Anthony’s offers a two full days per week program, or a full time, 5 days a week program.
“With the full day, my students get to explore a broader range of enriching activities with other kinder classmates. As an early childhood educator, I am blown away at the developmental differences the full-day program has had with all my students. I feel full-day kindergarten is such a blessing and needs to be fully embraced for the welfare of our future leaders,” said Rowland.
To register, go to www.stanthonys.redeemer.ab.ca