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Last updateMon, 30 Sep 2024 4pm

Valley Bus Society expands route

Valley Bus passing by

The Valley Bus Society has officially expanded its routes to outer communities in the Drumheller area.
Places like Carbon, Delia, Dorothy, East Coulee, Michichi, Morrin, Munson, and Rosedale will now have access to a transit system.

“Right now we do every Wednesday out to East Coulee area so I’m thinking of getting a weekly schedule going between the seven communities,” said Barbara Drever, Valley Bus manager.

Even smaller communities linking to Drumheller will have access like Nacmine, Newcastle, and Rosebud.

These new routes will, for now, include senior and disabled citizens but everyday folks who need a transit system have the potential to expand to the public.

“It’s not just for seniors or people with disability – we have kids. Right now during the summer, we are helping camps taking kids out and about and we do drive home service for weddings.”

With many complications to work out, the valley bus board must contemplate all options to make sure that opening to the public is a realistic plan.

“Our hours of business are limited too. We need to talk to the directors and see if it’s even feasible to do,” Drever said.

This step will help bring family’s closer together.

“We do more than just Drumheller area. I’m finding that the senior's families come and enter’s Drumheller and spend the day with their mom or dad so it’s bringing people together from other communities and even Drumheller,” said Drever.


Red Couch Tour visits Drumheller

20170811 Red Couch Tour TJH 0005

In celebration of Canada’s 150th year, The Red Couch Tour is traveling across the country to get your opinion on what Canada means to you.

Spanning 63 days and 20,000 kilometers on the road in an RV, by September, the couch will have visited every Province and Territory in Canada.

All of the action took place on August 11 from noon until 2:00 p.m.

Even some well known Canadian celebrities have shared their thoughts on the country like Bubbles from The Trailer Park Boys which can be seen below.

 

Each person or group has one minute or less to share their pride. From there, the videos will be posted on YouTube and promoted through social media. The website will also host a digital mosaic of photographs taken during the tour, showcasing people met on the journey as a portrait of contemporary Canada.

To view your own video as well as people across the country, visit the Red Couch Tour website at www.redcouchtour.ca.

This unique tour is one of 38 signature Canada 150 projects selected by the federal government to create opportunities for Canadians to celebrate and build a sense of pride and attachment to the nation.

Contractor picked for Tyrrell expansion

Royal Tyrrell Museum Ext 2015

A contractor has been selected to take on the task of updating and expanding the Royal Tyrrell Museum.

It has been a long time coming for the Tyrrell as it was recently announced the contract for the expansion has been awarded to LEAR Construction Management Ltd. out of Calgary.

“Construction will start once the building permit has been released. The building permit is expected to be released shortly,” said Tracy Larsen of Alberta Infrastructure via email.

The Mail broke the story that the Tyrrell was included in the Alberta Government’s budget in April of 2016. The project has been largely planned since 2013.

The expansion is roughly 1,100 square metres and it will make more space for the distance learning center and additional classroom and laboratory space. It will feature a large multi purpose room that can be used for programming and conferences, It will also expand on improvements that make visits a more positive experience including accessible washroom facilities, a hands-on discovery room, and a family rest area.

LEAR Construction Management has been operating for over 40 years and has experience in the valley.

“Lear Construction Management is extremely proud to have been awarded the addition and renovation project for the Royal Tyrrell Museum and is excited to return to the Town of Drumheller,” said Vice President of Construction Chris Grant. “We were last in the community in 2012 completing the Drumheller High School modernization and we are also working just up the road in Starland County on the new Munson Fire Station.”

In January of this year, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of Defense Kent Hehr was at the Museum on behalf of Melanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage to announce a commitment to just over $3.95 million from the federal government for the project.

This was the first time the federal government has invested in the Tyrrell.

"We find our relationship with the Government of Alberta an example of cooperative federalism. It is a place where we can come together, exchange ideas, look at projects and try to build a better province and a better Canada. It doesn't mean we agree on every single issue, but it means we sit down like adults and discuss things of importance to Alberta and important to the national government and try to come to a consensus,” said Shannon Phillips, Alberta Minister of the Environment, who was in attendance for Minister of Culture and Tourism.

The entire project has a budget of $9.3 million. LEAR’s bid for the construction portion came in at $5,397,600. Larsen said budget wise, it is on target.

The expansion was designed by representatives from the government, the Museum and Kasian Architecture.

The project remains on schedule for completion February 2019.


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