The Canadian Badlands Passion Play Site is undergoing some renovations to make the site service it patrons better moving forward into the 2010 season.
    A crew is hard at work making some changes that will help the site going forward. This includes work inside and outside the Jerusalem Wall, the stage, the amphitheatre and the lodge.
    Mitch Derosiers, a contractor and player at the annual staging of the Passion of Christ is heading up the renovations. He says one that patrons of the Passion Play will immediately see is the addition of about 150 sets to the amphitheatre. Last season was one of the best on record for the event, and the addition of seats will allow even more to enjoy one of Canada’s top cultural attractions.
    As well, Derosiers points out they are adding a dedicated site for those with accessibility difficulties. While the Passion Play has made the effort in the past to serve those with mobility issues, the new area will help even more.
    There is also work being completed on the stage to make the set comply with safety codes. There are also improvements including adding more showers to the lodge area for performers and volunteers.
    One change that may not be as apparent to patrons is a new office space for management and administration.
    The offices will be moving into the Jerusalem Wall.  They are creating about 600 square feet of office space upstairs. This will include washrooms and a break room, while maintaining a large rehearsal area.
    At one time, the upstairs of the Jerusalem Wall was used as an interpretive centre with artifacts relating to the Passion Play. Derosiers says they are planning to move it to the main floor near the concession where it will be exposed to more foot traffic. They will be beautifying the area north of the Jerusalem Wall with landscaping to create a green park space as well.
The crunch is on according to Derosiers as rehearsals begin in about 6 weeks and the annual Passion Play will hit the stage come July. Evening performances are on July 9, 10 and 16 to 6 p.m. and afternoon performances, commencing at 3 p.m., are on July 11, 17 and 18.

    More candidates are lining up to run for Drumheller Town Council including Councillor Terry Yemen who has decided to run for mayor.
    The Drumheller Mail reported in its April 14 edition that Tom Armstrong and Bob Hannah have decided to run for council. Hannah was with Yemen and Councillor Sharel Shoff on Thursday morning  as they declared their intention of running in the fall election.
    “Over the last few years, I saw what I believed was too much of the tail wagging the dog,” Yemen said. “ I do believe I can bring in accountability and transparency. What I do believe is needed is a common sense approach in the decision making for the community.”
    Yemen will be concluding his first full term on council this fall, after being elected in a by-election in January 2007. He said what swayed him to run for mayor was the urging for people stopping him on the street asking him to run.
    He bases much of his platform on his previous voting record which includes voting against the implementation of parallel parking, and against borrowing $6 million for the community facility after the response at a town hall meeting was to cap the borrowing at $5.2 million.
    Yemen would also like the town look for more ways to reduce costs and has not supported tax increases this term.
    Shoff will be running in her third election this fall. She has served on a number of boards and committees related to the operation of town services.
    Her key issues include councillors being more open to the public and she feels residents should exercise their ability to communicate with councillors more freely. She also believes the town should be run like a large business and have checks and balances in place like any other business to run efficiently. She feels strongly about working harder to remediate brownsfield sites.
    “We have a lot of land in Drumheller that is good land, prime commercial land we could develop into businesses,” said Shoff.  She also wants to make sure decisions for the Town of Drumheller are made for the whole town.
    “When I say Drumheller, I am talking about the whole valley. I think some people forget we are talking about Rosedale, Nacmine and East Coulee,” said Shoff. “There are unique problems in looking after the whole area.”
    The candidates decided to announce their intention at this relatively early date to allow them the maximum time to consult with constituents.
    “I think I know what some of the issues are right now but I am sure there are a lot more issues,” said Yemen. “With the new people coming on stream this will give them a chance to find out what the issues are, and for Sharel and I (as serving councillors) there may be some issues that we will be able to take care of in the next couple of months. It is just an opportunity to get out and hear what the people have to say, rather than just trying to cram it into one month.”