When Mayor Terry Yemen was in The Ukraine to observe the election last spring, his translator was a university professor who taught second year English. He proposed a essay contest about Drumheller for a small scholarship.
The following is the
winning essay
by Ann Mormil.
The Town of
Drumheller
Every city or town of the world has a charm of its own. My native city, Lviv, isn’t only the capital of Western Ukraine. It is Ukraine’s most romantic city, full of little courtyards where couples can fall in love as they feel the ancient architecture.
What is the town of Drumheller known for? Why should its citizens be proud of it? What architectural ‘treasures’ can be seen in the Drumheller Valley? My essay holds the key to all these questions and even more.
In the heart of the Canadian Badlands in Southern Alberta the town full of spectacular sceneries, diverse facilities and startling contrasts has risen above. It is Drumheller that is commonly known as the Dinosaur Capital of the World!
Joseph Tyrrell – a Canadian geologist and mining consultant was searching for coal deposits along the river, instead, he discovered dinosaur (Albertosaurus) bones. Canada’s Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in Alberta was named in his honour. Dinosaurs are nature’s celebrities. Since my childhood I admired movies about them, a lot of my friends had dinosaur toys and were staging battles between plastic Tyrannosaurus – king of the tyrant dinosaurs – and a long-necked Apatosaurus model. The Royal Tyrrell Museum houses the world’s largest displays of dinosaurs. It was set up in 1985. So, if you are a dinosaur fan, the museum is open for you around the clock.
The zest of the town is the statue of the World’s Largest Dinosaur – Tyrannosaurus rex (T-rex). You can climb the giant T-rex and admire the badlands from inside its mouth. Isn’t it breathtaking? By the way, the World’s Largest Dinosaur is actually a female dinosaur. She stands 86 feet tall and is 151 feet long. The statue is constructed almost entirely out of steel!
However, the Drumheller Valley can brag about other gems. I was impressed by Drumheller’s Little Church that has six one-person pews and a pulpit. Never before have I seen such a tiny church! It was designed as a place of worship and mediation and not just as a tourist attraction.
Over 400,000 people come to Drumheller each year! Drumheller is a great place to visit and even a better place to live. To be frank, I’m a little bit envious of those who live there. The area’s moderate climate, fresh air, recreational facilities, lower cost of living and relaxed atmosphere make for an excellent quality of life! Also, Drumheller offers excellent health facilities.
Another tourist attraction of Drumheller is the Canadian Badlands Passion Play. I would like to visit one! The Passion Play takes you 2000 years back in time. It depicts the Passion of Jesus Christ performed annually in Drumheller, Alberta, and is staged outdoors in a naturally occurring amphitheatre in the hills of the Drumheller valley. I wish I could be there and see such a performance with about 300 actors and musicians.
You’ve never seen anywhere oddly shaped rock-formations similar to petrified giants which stand up to 20 feet tall. At last you may see them in Drumheller! They’re known as Hoodoos. There’s a legend that they come alive at night to protect the land around them by hurling stones at intruders. If I saw them, I would run away. I’m really afraid of bizarre and magical things.
All in all, Drumheller is the town worth visiting. Its citizens say: “Come visit for a day, and you could stay for a lifetime”. You’ll never find yourself bored there. This town inspired me so much that I decided to write a short poem. Please, don’t judge me harsh.
The town standing on the bank of Red Deer River,
The town where dinosaurs used to live,
The town of rolling fields and steep, dry coulees,
It will amaze you by its scenes where zest is,
It’s steeped in history, it has the flavor of its own,
It is Drumheller, the best in the entire world!
