The Drumheller Starland Rural Mental Health Network is presenting keynote speaker Tom Watson to share his story of overcoming adversity.
Watson will be presenting “Who You Are Makes a Difference” on Wednesday, January 25, at the Cretaceous Conference Centre.
Diana Rowe, chair of the Drumheller Starland Rural Mental Health Network says he is a dynamic speaker who brings a strong message.
“We have never had him at Drumheller before, but I heard him speak a couple of years ago,” said Rowe. “We are really excited to bring him in. He has a great message about the choices we make in our lives. And choices plus our actions lead to our life, and how important it is to recognize the choices we make are so important.”
Watson brings a powerful life story of being abandoned as a baby and living through 13 foster homes before being adopted at age 5. He could not change the challenges he had been dealt, but he could change how he handled them. Through that adversity and using the support network of his foster family, siblings and community, he is now living his best legacy.
“He credits the people in his life who helped shape his life and change direction,” said Rowe.
The Drumheller Starland Rural Mental Health Network has a goal of strengthening the community’s capacity for better mental health in their area through collaboration and training. It is funded through the Canadian Mental Health Association and has trained facilitators in the Drumhller and Starland County areas.
“About five years ago, when we started, I felt strongly we needed to have trained people to work with and have discussions with the community around mental health and emotional distress people experience in their lives. And that can happen at any age,” she said.
Rowe says Watson will be the first of two speakers they are planning to bring to the community. His presentation is on January 25 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
There is no charge for the event. Reserve a seat by calling Rowe at 403-821-3954 or e-mailing diana.rowe89@gmail.com.

Rockyford village council and administration, and Strathmore RCMP are asking the public for assistance in identifying two persons of interest following two separate incidents, including a break in, at the public works yard over the New Year’s long weekend.
The two separate incidents took place on Saturday, December 31 and Monday, January 2 while the village administrative office was closed for the holidays.
“When we returned to work on Tuesday, January 3, our public works employee noticed right away the door handle was broken off the truck,” says Rockyford Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Lori Millier.
The employee then noticed the back window and driver’s door lock were both broken.
When Public Works had attended the yard the previous week for garbage pick up on December 27, they did not notice anything amiss at the time.
As there were footprints in the snow, the employee immediately left the yard and returned to the office to call RCMP.
While waiting for RCMP to arrive, village administrators began looking through security camera footage; this footage was posted to the village’s public Facebook page in hopes someone may be able to identify the persons of interest.
The first incident took place on Saturday, December 31. A person walking a dog can be seen approaching the vehicle and checking the door handles. It has not been determined whether this incident is in connection with the actual break and enter.
The break and enter occurred at approximately 8:05 a.m. on Monday, January 2.
In the footage, an individual can be seen climbing into the bed of the pickup truck before opening the driver’s side door. When the vehicle’s alarm system sounds, the individual can then be seen lifting the hood and disconnecting the battery.
Ms. Miller says no tools or any items of value are left in vehicles overnight, and at this time the only item believed to be stolen is a pair of heavy leather mitts.
She estimates the cost of repairs will be around $1,000.
Some tips have come in from community members following the Facebook post, which have been passed on to RCMP; however, at this time, no further information is available.