Drumheller now has a residential unit for temporary stays for those fleeing domestic violence.
On Monday, March 1, the Big County Anti-Violence Association (BCAVA) announced the grand opening of Colton’s Place Temporary Domestic Violence Unit. This is a collaboration that includes the Town of Drumheller, the Drumheller Housing Administration, and the Drumheller RCMP. The local Rotary Club helped to sponsor the unit, and the Drumheller Salvation Army will oversee management.
Colton’s Place Temporary Domestic Violence Unit provides safe short-term housing for individuals and their children who are in crisis or transition. It supports individuals in their search for a better future, helping them overcome trauma, focus on healing, develop economic stability, and secure safe, affordable housing.
Colton’s Place is named in memory of Drumheller resident Colton McIntosh whose young life ended tragically as a result of family violence.
“This has been a dream for us for many years, and is especially needed in this time of COVID where shelter capacity has decreased, while the cases of family violence have increased,” said BCAVA Kandace Wylie-Toews.
The Colton’s Place Emergency Unit will also work at connecting individuals and their children to community resources for further support to help them move forward towards self-reliance, personal growth, healing, and independence.
Alberta Council of Women’s Shelter’s 2018 report indicates from 2015 to 2018, approximately 18,136 individuals were served by shelters in Alberta. The same report indicates in “2017/18 16,722 women, children and seniors were turned away due to lack of capacity.
Toews says before the shelter, they typically had to send those in need to Strathmore for shelter. This allows them to better serve the community without the logistics and resources. Currently there is one unit, but they will gauge the need and success of this project and plan going forward.
If you think someone you know is experiencing family violence, reach out by contacting, Crystal Chretien, Family Violence Intervention Coordinator with the Salvation Army at 403-823-2215. To learn more, visit www.familyviolence.alberta.ca or www.bcava.org

Geotechnical engineers will begin drilling boreholes in the Drumheller Valley to help determine possible future berm alignments for ongoing flood mitigation efforts.
Approximately 20 boreholes were drilled on publicly accessible land in fall 2020 to help engineers fill in gaps in historic records, and to provide initial information for proposals.
“When designing dikes and berms, we need to get an idea of the foundation soil condition and soil type-whether it is silt, sand, or clay,” said Mark Brotherton, geotechnical engineer with Red Deer firm Parkland Geotechnical Consulting Ltd.
Brotherton is one of the main consultants on the project, with 40 years experience as a geotechnical engineer, and the company is very familiar with the Red Deer River.
He explained the boreholes will typically be drilled down to bedrock, which can range from only a few metres to 20 metres throughout the Drumheller Valley. The procedure will help provide data on the types of soils throughout the valley and determine whether a dike would be feasible based on whether the soil in the proposed alignment area will support the berm structure.
The data will also help with completing detailed berm designs, such as determining stable side slope angles.
Parkland Geotechnical is not the only company involved in this phase of the project, with most planning to conduct drilling beginning in March; drilling is anticipated to take place over the next three to four weeks.
Some of the drilling may need to be conducted on privately owned land, and Scott Land and Lease will be in consultation with landowners to arrange for drilling on private properties.
The berm designs will help protect residents from overland flooding. However, Brotherton notes seepage is a topic which often comes up when discussing flood mitigation efforts. While overland flooding can have worse impacts, seepage is still a cause for concern as responsibility falls onto the homeowner. Brotherton notes a good weeping tile system is the “first line of defence” against seepage in the basements of houses.
“The purpose of dikes is to stop the overland flow,” he said. “We know, for the short flood period, the water rises on the river side of the dikes. If the berms are on permeable material (such as gravel or sand) it will likely have an impact on seepage in the protected area behind the dike.”
He adds building berms on less permeable soils, such as clays, silt clay, and bedrock can reduce the impact of floods on the local groundwater table and seepage.