Drumheller seniors living with dementia and their caregivers will soon have a new program available due to a $5,000 grant received by the Drumheller Community Seniors Coalition (DCSC).

DCSC, formerly the Drumheller Dementia Coalition, received grant funding from the Rural Development Network to establish a monthly Memory Cafe program through the Awareness Builds Connection in Dementia (ABCD) communities project.

“Inspiration (for the Memory Cafe) came by working through the wellbeing guide with the Primary Health Care Integrated Geriatric Service Initiative (PHC IGSI) team and generating a better understanding of the needs of the person living with dementia and their care partners, and what was missing in the Drumheller community,” the coalition shared with the Mail.

The coalition originally formed in 2017 and established a weekly day-program supported by the Drumheller and District Seniors Foundation (DDSF). This provided socialization, education, and respite for caregivers; however, a lack of funding and support staff limited further programming and services that were much needed in the community.

The coalition underwent a name change in 2021 when community recreation therapists Kim Larsen and Lisa Orton joined, and the group began looking at grant opportunities to develop new community programs.

Drumheller’s Memory Cafe takes inspiration from other communities in the Central Zone with successfully established programming, and these programs will guide the coalition as they continue establishing the program locally.

The ABCD grant funding will allow the Memory Cafe to operate once a month-on the second Wednesday of the month beginning June 8-and will support various activities and entertainment to help participants reminisce, socialize, enjoy some entertainment or community outings.

DCSC hopes to bring the program to various local attractions, and have so far partnered with the Homestead Antique Museum to host three sessions over the summer.

They are currently looking for volunteers to help facilitate the program, and participants. Anyone interested is encouraged to contact Kim and Lisa at 403-820-7297 for more information.

Kneehill County council approved second and third reading to redesignate a parcel of land from Agriculture District to Light Industrial District to allow potential development of a cryptocurrency mining facility during the regular Tuesday, May 10 council meeting.
The proposed facility will be located on an existing 1.04 acre Ember Resources surface lease approximately two kilometres southwest from the hamlet of Torrington.
“Kneehill County recognizes the importance of a balanced taxbase and strives to create opportunities for commercial, agricultural, industrial and tourism growth,” explained manager of Planning and Development Barb Hazelton during the meeting.
Council heard how the facility will be owned and operated by Alberta-based company Fire Technology Corporation which operates several cryptocurrency mining facilities internationally in China and Kazkhstan.
The facility will not be connected to the electrical grid and will instead use between seven and nine natural gas-powered generators to power the facility; it is estimated there will be seven to nine containers located on the site, with each container housing some 300 high-tech mining machines with multiple fans. There will also be a small office on-site with communication equipment.
Fire Technology is proposing to complete development in two phases, though it is expected both will be completed by the end of 2022.
Ms. Hazelton noted data centres such as the proposed facility are permitted within the Light Industrial District as a discretionary use, and noted the applicants will still need development permit approval from the Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) before proceeding with any work.
During the public hearing, Ms. Hazelton noted administration had not received any letters in favour of the development and received one letter in opposition listing additional traffic and noise among the concerns of the proposed development.
Ms. Hazelton added, if the development is not approved, the land can be rezoned back to Agriculture District if requested by the landowner.
Second and third readings were unanimously approved by Kneehill County council.