Over the last two years small businesses have faced unprecedented challenges as they have been asked to make numerous changes to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce have been working with members to help them continue to thrive in spite of these difficulties.
Chamber services coordinator Marley Henneigh tells the Mail, “The Chamber has stayed quite busy throughout the year assisting businesses with COVID restriction information and resources.”
She adds membership has held steady over the last year, and “quite a few” of new businesses which have opened recently in the valley are women-owned.
In June, the Chamber received federal funding to run the Shop Local campaign until the end of 2021; among the initiatives include Chamber Cash, a local gift certificate program designed to keep money circulating within the community, and the Love Local video project which has allowed the chamber to highlight local small businesses with professional promotional videos.
The Chamber also got the community involved with two initiatives.
Mission Possible was a four-week activity which encouraged locals to complete a variety of tasks to win prizes; Henneigh shares that a holiday-themed version is set to begin in November.
Locals are also encouraged to nominate businesses who continue to give great customer service with the Customer Service Superstars giveaway. Henneigh says the giveaway is a way to boost the spirits of local business owners and staff who may be experiencing burnout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 50 locals have been nominated as of Sunday, October 17; a list of all nominations will be posted to the Chamber website.

With the permanent closure of the Cluny Fire Hall earlier this year, Wheatland County council were presented with a request to reallocate two firefighting units to other county fire departments at the regular Tuesday, October 5 council meeting.
A resource assessment was completed of all Wheatland County fire halls to reallocate the former Cluny engine, tender, and bushbuggy.
“On August 5, the Capital Committee reviewed the recommendations and decided the following capital resources be relocated to the following--fire engine to Rosebud, and the tender reallocated to Standard,” said Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Matthew Boscariol during the meeting.
The transfer of the bushbuggy to the Gleichen Fire Hall did not require council approval as it will remain a county asset.
According to the Request for Decision, it was also determined by the Capital Committee to keep the Cluny Fire logo on the bushbuggy as a show of support for the contribution the former department provided to Cluny and the surrounding areas.
Wheatland County provides fire service through a total of eight fire associations and halls throughout the county, including the Rosebud and Standard departments, and the majority are operated by volunteer members.