The Drumheller and District Humane Society received a boost last week after receiving a $2,500 cheque from the Canada’s Farmers Grow Communities Program.

Canada’s Farmers Grow Communities is sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer. The program allows farmers to register to win $2,500 for their favourite community charity or not-for-profit organization. Charitable groups also offer suggestions online at
www.canadasfarmers.ca, which farmers can consider in their application.

Lisa Rosgen nominated the humane society for the work they do in the community. Deb Bussie of the society says the money will be put to good use and they were thrilled to have found out they won last week.

The 2018 program received 758 farmer applications (a 68 per cent increase from 2017) and 337 charity suggestions (a 200 per cent increase from 2017) making this the most successful year yet since the program launched in 2012. Two winners were selected in each of 33 different regions in a random draw which took place on October 19.

“We are thrilled to see farmers and charities engaging in this program and thinking creatively about how to strengthen their communities,” said Trish Jordan, public & industry affairs director with Bayer’s Crop Science division. “There are so many worthwhile groups and projects in need of assistance in rural communities across the country. We know the funds will be put to good use for the benefit of all community members.”

After just over a year and a half, Trekcetera, the Drumheller museum celebrating the television and motion picture industry with authentic costumes and props, is no more.

The owners of the Museum on Highway 9 made the announcement on Monday morning, December 17 on social media.

“It is with heavy hearts that we must announce the permanent closure of Trekcetera Museum. We wish to thank you all for your incredible support over the years. It has meant so much to us. We wish to express that every attempt was made to renegotiate our funding with a normal repayment structure. But it was not meant to be,” it stated on its Facebook page.

Trekcetera opened in Drumheller in April of 2017. This was after ownership made the decision to move from Vulcan, Alberta, where it had been established for about three years. While Star Trek was certainly a focal point for the museum, it also featured exhibits from many other productions including Hell on Wheels, the Titanic and even items from the British television show Thunderbirds.

Fans of the museum are sharing their photos and memories of the museum on social media.

In its short history, it achieved the high honour on TripAdvisor, being rated the number one attraction in Drumheller and number seven on the top 10 museums in Canada.