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Amos appointed interim executive director of Canadian Badlands Ltd.

    Canadian Badlands is moving forward after announcing a challenging future in the months ahead.
   The Board of Directors recently announced Cindy Amos would take over the helm of the organization as interim executive director.
   “She was with the Foundation side of things and we’ve asked her to take over, on a temporary basis, as executive director,” said Doug Jones, president of Canadian Badlands. “She came back to Alberta earlier this week and is working full-time.”
   This is not the first time Amos has held the position. During the organization’s infancy, Amos helped lay the groundwork for Canadian Badlands.
   “She was our first executive director and came in to lay the ground work. Then, she was doing the (Canadian Badlands) Foundation work for us on a contract,” said Jones.
   Amos replaces Bob Davis who departed Canadian Badlands on April 12. She is tasked with implementing changes to the organization following a meeting between Canadian Badlands and the provincial government.
   Canadian Badlands is looking at how they can operate within the province’s new mantra of results-based funding and streamlining the organization, which is split into the municipally-driven Canadian Badlands Ltd. and private sector Canadian Badlands Foundation.
   “We’re looking at how we can create efficiencies and the overall structure will be addressed at the next board meeting,” said Jones.
   Amos is expected to fill the position during the transition process. Once things stabilize, the hunt will begin for a permanent executive director.
   “I think before we do that, we want to make sure the organization is situated where we want. It’s hard to hire someone new when the structure is changing, so we hired someone on an interim basis to get the organization where we want to be,” said Jones.
   Drumheller will remain the head office for the organization and Mayor Terry Yemen was appointed to the board of directors as a member at large in May.
   “I look forward to travelling in the Canadian Badlands once again to leverage tourism opportunities, assist economic prosperity through tourism development and ensure the region becomes Alberta’s next iconic tourism destination,” said Amos.

St. Anthony’s meets with Transportation Minister to address Dinosaur Trail crossing

    The principal of St. Anthony’s School JoAnne Akerboom was able to get an audience with Alberta Transportation Minister Ric McIver when he was through town on Saturday.
   Akerboom, who is concerned with the safety of St. Anthony’s students crossing North Dinosaur Trail, has made appeals to Town Council and to Drumheller-Stettler MLA, Rick Strankman for support to make some changes. She said Strankman was instrumental in making the meeting happen.
   “I talked to the MLA’s office, the Town, the RCMP, and I was in the process of putting a letter together in collaboration with all of them. I went to Rick Strankman and he said he would champion this, move it forward, and was able to arrange the meeting with the Minister,” said Akerboom.
   Strankman said with McIver in town, it was a natural to have the minister meet with her.
   “’For him to have time to meet with us on a local safety issue for school kids, to me is a priority, and the ministers recognized that,” said Strankman.
   Some solutions Akerboom has suggested include making it a school zone, adding flashing warning lights at key times during the day when there is more student traffic, add a pedway over the intersection, lower the speed limit to 50 kmph in the Midland area, or create a traffic circle.
   At the meeting with Akerboom were Strankman and Christ the Redeemer trustee Paul Andrew. Akerboom said the minister was accepting of the ideas.
“It was a great meeting,” said Akerboom. “The big thing was that he looked at it and appreciates the concerns we have. It was a great, very collegial meeting, he let everyone speak.”
   Minister McIver agreed it was a productive meeting.
   “The principal was talking about issues that would make it as safe as possible crossing the highway to get to school,” said McIvor. “We need to think about what we can do to make it better and as a result of the meeting we’re going to look at a number of options that could be appropriate and what could be put in place.”
   He expects the department will be in contact with the school within a month.

DVSS students live with no regrets

    Students at Drumheller Valley Secondary School (DVSS) were challenged to live with no regrets.
   On Friday, May 31, DVSS held its second No Regrets Day, organized by the Friends of Rachel (FOR) Club, the school’s anti-bullying group. The day was a roaring success according to organizers.
   “It’s bigger and better than last year,” said teacher Lynn Hemming, who helps the FOR Club.
   “We’re encouraging kids to make good choices in their lives, so they live with no regrets. We don’t want them to make foolish choices and then have to live with consequences that would plague them for the rest of their lives. Last year, we felt the message got out really loud and clear, and it did again this year.”
   In the morning, Grade 7 and 8 students took some time to clean litter in the area surrounding the school. Senior high students attended a sex education-themed presentation.
   The day was made possible through a $24,000 provincial grant.
   “It’s about making good choices in life, in particular when it comes to relationships and sexuality. The grant made it possible to finance the special event and other educational materials, conferences, and staff professional development. It’s going to have an impact for years to come, because we now have resources in place we did not have two years ago,” said Hemming.
   In the afternoon, students and teachers were treated to a barbecue and some fun. The day culminated in a softball showdown between teachers and students. The students had the upper hand in the early innings, but the teachers rallied and came away with the win.
   It is hoped No Regrets Day will continue to be an annual event at DVSS.
   “I believe it’s already been entrenched in our school culture that it will become something we do on a regular basis,” said Hemming.

Landon Brown crushes a home run during a friendly slo-pitch game between Drumheller Valley Secondary School teachers and students. The students started strong, but the teachers came back for the win.

Darion Alford (top) and Wyatt Gray did their best to sabotage each other during an obstacle course race during No Regrets Day at DVSS.

Students, like Charles Coates, went wild for a huge inflatable slip and slide during No Regrets Day at DVSS.

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