If you weren’t able to take advantage of the Town of Drumheller’s toilet rebate program last year, it has returned.
    Last summer, the Town of Drumheller introduced the program where residents who purchase a new, higher efficiency toilet for their home, can apply for a rebate from the Town of Drumheller towards the purchase.
    There was a modest uptake of the program in 2009 with 44 residents getting a rebate. They have reintroduced the program for this year.
    The Town is offering $50 to homeowners who replace high flow toilets (13 litres or greater) with a six litre single flush toilet, and a $75 rebate if the owner purchases a dual flush toilet with an output of three litres and six litres.
    While the rebate is a great savings, it pales in comparison to the savings consumers can realize by buying a high efficiency toilet.
    Replacing just one, 20 litre toilet with an efficient six litre low flow toilet will save approximately 25,550 litres of water per person every year. This would also result in further savings on a Water and Sewer Utility Bill of approximately $66.54 per person every year. (Based on 2009 rates).
    Any resident, within the Town of Drumheller, who has a current utility account can apply for one rebate per household. Applications are available online at www.dinosaurvalley.com, or at Town Hall. The Town emphasizes a resident must be pre-approved before they purchase and install a qualifying toilet.  A list of qualifying toilets, approved by the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association performance standards is available at Town Hall or at www.dinosaurvalley.com.
     Applicants must attach the original receipt and photo to their application form and return to Town Hall no later than December 31, 2010.

    Travel Alberta came to the Ramada in Drumheller on Wednesday, February 24 during their tour of the province, to make business owners aware of the marketing potential Travel Alberta can provide to businesses in the tourism industry.
    Travel Alberta is the tourism marketing agency of the Government of Alberta, its  mission is to manage the investment of Tourism Levy revenues effectively and efficiently in tourism marketing programs and services.      

    The agency re-invests the revenue into developing the tourism industry within Alberta, which represents a big share of the market and also markets Alberta to the rest of the world.
    About 15 business owners came to hear Travel Alberta’s update and learn about the tools available to improve their revenue.
    Shelley Grollmuss, regional executive director of Travel Alberta explained “We need to sell Canada first, then Alberta and finally your product”.
    Recently, they have entered into discussions with China to be able to market the area there and are hopeful to sign a contract soon. 
    Recent news in the flight industry is also opening doors to Alberta as a destination, Air Canada is starting a flight from Tokyo to Calgary,  three times a week, while Korean Airlines is starting a summer charter.    
    They also have a partnership with Dutch airline KLM which has opened a route from Amsterdam, giving them access to the whole of Europe.
    During 2010, they are also concentrating their efforts on the British Columbia market, so far achieving $50 million in unpaid media as a result of their efforts for coverage during the Olympics and managing to retain their brand advertising via the Vancouver to Whistler daily shuttle train until October 2010. They advised they would invest in a $2 million advertising campaign in BC too this year.
    While they are busy tapping into the international market and other provinces and developing a strong brand, they offer schemes and tools for local businesses to help them better market themselves and achieve higher revenue, often at no cost to the business.
    One of such offerings is their cooperative marketing, which is not only a financial help they provide to industry consortium, they will also advise and assist every step of the project.