On Tuesday December 8, 2020, Premiere Jason Kenney unveiled new measures that will be in effect until January 12 at the earliest. The new measures include many restrictions and closures for various service industries, including Drumheller’s recreation facilities and events.
The Premier announced that closures would take effect Sunday, December 13 at 12:01am. This effectively closes Town Hall, the Drumheller Aquaplex, Badlands Community Facility and the Drumheller Memorial arena to the public. The Government of Alberta Websitei states that outdoor recreation is permitted, but facilities with indoor spaces except for washrooms will be closed.
“We recognize the importance of the provincial measures, and we’ve been following the guidelines very closely since we re-opened in September states Darren Goldthorpe, Manager of Recreation Arts and Culture. “Our team is working quickly to contact our clients who have reserved spaces with us. Memberships and payments have been paused during this closure and will resume when the member is ready to return. We appreciate everyone’s support as we work through this and we look forward to seeing everyone back at our facilities when it is safe to do so.”
All memberships and automatic membership payments will be suspended. When the Town facilities are permitted to reopen, memberships will be reactivated upon the request of each member; the same process is in place from the September re-opening.
Town Hall will be closed to the public effective Friday, December 11 at 4:30pm until January 12 at the earliest.
The announcements have also effectively cancelled all of the festive events, with some exceptions. The Chief Medical Officer of Health announced yesterday that drive-by or drive-in events are still permitted, provided participants remain in their vehicles.
“We are permitted to have drive-in fireworks,” states Karen Shneck, the Community Events Coordinator for the Town of Drumheller. “Our live music streams, markets, visits with Santa and other festive events are unable to proceed, but I believe we can make the best out of the fireworks and still enjoy some festive cheer!”

The Salvation Army will no longer have volunteers at their Christmas Kettle locations across Alberta as part of new safety protocols to deal with COVID-19.
The Kettles will remain in those locations only where permitted and outfitted with an electronic donation option as well as signage to donate online, by phone, or via text message. The last day for volunteers will be Saturday, December 12th.
“Since the beginning of our campaign this year, the safety of our volunteers and donors has always been our first priority,” says Major Al Hoeft, Divisional Secretary for Public Relations. “In response to the increasing cases and the recent safety protections by the province and AHS, we will no longer have volunteers ringing the bells at our Kettles in Alberta.”
The Salvation Army has been serving Albertans since 1887, and to potentially lose Kettle donations will greatly impact the programs and services that The Salvation Army provides, not just at Christmas, but all year. Kettle donations stay local to fund programs such as food bank services, hot meals, Christmas food & toy hampers, job search programs, counselling, ESL classes, back-to-school supplies, and much more.

“We have many options this year for people to donate to our Christmas Kettle Campaign safely,” says Major Hoeft. “Every Kettle donation makes it possible to change someone’s life.”

Captain Ben Lippers of the Drumheller Salvation Army tells the Mail, there is a QR Code hanging at the locations of the kettles, and those wishing to donate can scan the code with their smartphone, which will take them to FillTheKettle.com. There, residents can specify their donation to the Drumheller Salvation Army by selecting the community.

Other options to donate include:

Tiptap touchless donation at the Kettles (where permitted), $5 each tap, up to 10 times
By phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY or online at FIllTheKettle.com
Mail your donation to The Salvation Army, 200-5615 101 Avenue Edmonton, AB T6A 3Z7

The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people in 400 communities across Canada and 131 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the necessities of life. When you give to The Salvation Army, you are investing in the future of marginalized and vulnerable people in your community.