Winners of Light up the Night presented awards

Patrick Kolafa

The Drumheller Mail

The judging is complete and congratulations to all of the winners of the 5th annual Light up the Night Contest in Drumheller.
The annual friendly competition that awards Christmas spirit to those who decorate their houses was another great success and Drumheller houses and businesses glittered and shined with the glow of the season. Last week a panel of judges including  Mayor Heather Colberg, Community Service coordinator Laura Dougan and Drumheller Economic Development officer Julia Fielding were busy adjudicating the entries.
“It was a challenge to rate the light displays as they were all different, and everyone had good points. I really enjoyed the creativity and simplicity of some of the designs,” said judge Dougan.

The best residential display went to Briley Deleeuw of 39 Pine Place. She won two tickets to Paul Brandt with High Valley from Real Country 910 and $300 towards her electricity bill courtesy of Century 21 Power Realty. She was presented her award by Lorrenda Southern, assistant FCSS coordinator.

Second prize was Lonnie Farmer at 58 Willow Point.  He won a gift Voucher from Sublime Food and Wine as well as two tickets to the Napier Theatre and a rain barrel and composter from the Town of Drumheller. Lonnie, Cohen, and Sulley were presented their award by Lorrenda Southern, assistant FCSS coordinator.

Third prize went to Farmer’s neighbour across the street, Wayne and Roberta Flint at 2 Willow Point. Their display earned them a three-month multi-facility Recreation pass from the Town of Drumheller. The Flints were presented their award by Lorrenda Southern, assistant FCSS coordinator.

The Drumheller Mail’s People’s Choice Award for Best Commercial Display went to  Rocky Mountain Equipment. The business received a plaque from FCSS and $250 of free advertising on www.drumhellermail.com. Trevor McAfee and Ken Mcfarlane of Rocky Mountain Equipment was presented the award by Lorrenda Southern, assistant FCSS coordinator.

The Canalta People’s Choice Award for best residential display went to Joyce Lee at 684 Riverside Drive. She won a two-night stay at the Canalta Lodge in Banff. She was presented her award by Lorrenda Southern, assistant FCSS coordinator.

The Brightest Christmas Community Award went to Bankview. The community will receive a plaque and bragging rights as well as a mother and cub polar bear decoration from Westview Co-op. At the presentation are Callie and JIll, front, with Lorrenda Southern, assistant FCSS coordinator and Myrna Doktorchik of Westview Co-op.

The Yellow Vest movement showed itself in Drumheller on Sunday morning as 150 people rallied to protest a number of perceived issues, namely in support of the Alberta oil and gas industry and the federal government’s immigration policies.

Crowds donning high visibility vests and picket signs gathered at the empty lot on the corner of Highway 56 and 575, passing out pamphlets as drivers honked as they passed. Signs read “Canada Needs Pipelines” and “Trudeau Must Go,” and while there were no speeches made by the protestors, there was much talk about the need for federal support for Alberta’s energy industry and protests against Canada’s involvement in the UN Immigration Compact.

“I just wanted to make people aware of what’s really going on,” said Corey Bulechowsky, one of the organizers. “It’s more than just the oil patch here in Alberta, it has to do with the sovereignty of Canada. The future of our kids is at stake here.”

One of the protesters, Earl Brownlee, is employed in Alberta’s oil and gas industry and mainly attended the rally in support of building an eastern pipeline.

“We have to have a pipeline in the ground to get this oil to tidewater, we have to go east and west. We’ve been put on the backburner as Albertans. We’ve talked about it, we’ve knocked it around a bit – it’s time.”

Cori Grieve attended the rally because she feels Albertans have not had proper representation of their needs.

“I just feel we have really weak leader representation in Canada, provincially and federally. They’re not listening to us and they have their own agendas. Our freedom of speech is gone and our rights are being taken away, it’s time to speak up,” she said.

The meeting was largely organized on social media and come after large rallies and vehicle convoys in Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Calgary, and Medicine Hat over the last week. The Yellow Vest movement originates from French protestors who have been rioting over high costs of living and taxes.