It's Volunteer Week, and members of Drumheller’s volunteer community demonstrated the spirit of the valley to the Minister of Culture last Wednesday.
    The Honourable Heather Klimchuk was hosted by the Town of Drumheller to a luncheon and the town showcased some of its volunteer pride.
    “We have an expression in Drumheller and it is one word, ‘roar.’ Everyone who is a volunteer is an embodiment of that word,” said Community Services director Paul Salvatore. “What does roar mean? Roar is the passion and connection we offer the community in Drumheller. Roar is all the things we do working together to make our community a better place.”
    The Minister was treated to a snap shot of just a few of the volunteer organizations in the valley as well as a presentation on the innovative Volunteer Drumheller website.

Area volunteers had a chance to share their volunteer experience with Minister Klimchuk. (l-r) FCSS Coordinator Cathy Smoliak, Natalie Westman, Maria Patterson, Kaine McDougald, Minister of Culture Heather Klimchuk, SpringFest Producer Brent Noland, DVSS principal Curtis LaPierre, and Michelle Salvatore.

    Cathy Smoliak explained the innovative tool was introduced about three years ago to help connect those wishing to volunteer with groups looking for volunteers.  This website has been effective, and the Drumheller Festival Committee has referenced it as a resource it has used as they go forward with the second annual Dinofest coming this June.
    “They (the ministry) had commented to us prior to arranging the meeting they were very impressed with the work Volunteer Drumheller is doing,” said Salvatore.
    The Minister also learned more about the East Coulee Spring Fest from Brent Noland and was even presented with tickets to this year’s show. There were also presentations from Cora Bolt of the Family Fun Committee, and Cindy Stelmaschuk of the Big Country Anti Violence Association.  DVSS student Maria Patterson, who is on the cusp of achieving her silver Duke of Edinburgh Award spoke of her volunteer experience and aspirations, including a trip she is planning to Ghana this summer.
    DVSS Principal Curtis LaPierre also spoke about some of the initiatives of the school including its Seniors Dinner, which will be turning 20 this year.
    Klimchuk was appreciative of the presentations.
    “Volunteers make our province hum. All of you here today are a huge part of the puzzle,” she said. “Being here today and feeling the spirit and passion that is alive and well in Drumheller—I appreciate it.
    “I want to express my thanks to you, and on behalf of Premier Redford, we’ll continue to build Alberta, through volunteerism and partnerships with all levels of Government, that’s what it is all about.”

    There is less than a month until East Coulee rocks the weekend away for its annual SpringFest. In anticipation of that, the 2013 SpringFest poster has been unveiled.
    The man behind the now iconic posters is part-time resident of East Coulee, Michael Dangelmaier creative director of Karo Group in Calgary. Dangelmeier volunteered to create the posters and give the long-running festival a new image several years ago.
     “It’s a photograph of a fender guitar, a photo of a robin Gwen shot sitting on a post outside our house in East Coulee one spring, and then the background is a landscape shot I took,” said Dangelmaier.
    Dangalmeir created the poster with the help of Karo Group artist Hans Freistater.
    The year before, the poster had four turn of the century musicians given a KISS makeover. Two years ago, the poster had a coal miner, an icon of the Valley, trade his mining tools for a good ol’ fashioned keytar.
    The posters have given SpringFest a fresh, rock n’ roll,  and a little bit quirky brand.
    “Essentially, every year the poster was different and there would be a reveal. Branding is about creating a persuasive experience and delivering that over and over,” said Dangelmaier.
    Like many, Dangelmaier and his wife K. Gwen Frank, fell in love with East Coulee and its quiet atmosphere and decided to buy a house there.

Michael Dangelmaier (left) and his wife, K. Gwen Frank, moved to East Coulee four years ago and soon fell in love with the East Coulee SpringFest.

    “We were looking for a little getaway place not too far out of Calgary. We knew a little bit about East Coulee and bought a place there to hang out,” said Dangelmaier. “All of sudden, in the spring, there was this festival down the street from us. So, we checked it out and we were hooked.”
    From there, Dangelmaier volunteered and found himself managing one of the stages at SpringFest. The next year he decided to help re-brand the festival.
    With Dangelmaier’s help, SpringFest will have some new talent taking the stage; Harry Manx.
    “We thought it would be nice for Harry to be exposed to a slightly different audience, so we’re bringing him in on the Mother’s Day Sunday concert,” said Dangelmaier.
    SpringFest organizer Brent Noland felt Dangelmaier has made a big impact on the festival.
    “Over the years, he’s been helping with sound and then donated that first poster with the coal miner. For me, that was a big change in the look of SpringFest,” said Noland. “He came up with that hippie-style lettering brand, which is his specialty. He’s really an artistic and business genius, and an amazing guy to have in your backyard in East Coulee.”
    Dangelmaier is already excited about what’s in store for this year.
    “I’ve got family coming in and I’ve been trying to promote it to my musically-minded friends,” said Dangelmaier. “Oh yeah, wouldn’t miss it for the world.