Town of Drumheller’s administration and council are looking for ways to help alleviate some stressors on the local housing market, and during the regular Monday, August 14 council meeting, council approved a request to submit an application to the federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) to help spur new housing development.
Manager of Economic Development, Reg Johnston, explained during council presentation the $4 billion initiative was first introduced in the 2022 federal budget and municipalities were encouraged to submit action plans to help accelerate housing development.
Through the Small, Rural, North, Indigenous program stream, the Town could receive up to a potential $54,000 per new housing unit built, depending on if the build meets certain criteria. Each new unit built as a result of HAF initiatives is eligible for $20,000; an additional $19,000 is available for each affordable housing unit, and an additional $7,000 to $15,000 is also available if the unit meets criteria of being a “missing middle” unit, which are defined as multi-family and other clustered housing type units, such as apartments, which are a “missing” housing demographic in many municipalities.
Mr. Johnston noted the original HAF application deadline of Friday, August 18 has been extended to Friday, September 29, and shares this could impact when response is received about the Town’s application.
As part of the application, a three-year action plan was submitted; this outlined a projected 125 housing units to be permitted without support from the Housing Accelerator Fund. With support from the fund, it is hoped this can be increased to 222 units, and would include additional missing middle housing and some other multi-unit dwellings.
Along with the action plan, the Town is required to support a minimum of five initiatives, which must be completed within this three-year period and must provide changes which will continue for at least the next decade. Administration identified and recommended a total of six initiatives based on this criteria, including an incentive program to encourage and promote secondary or garden suites within existing single-detached residences, a tiny home project which would offer more affordable housing options, and development of an employee housing complex to support seasonal employees within the downtown area.
Council approved the action plan and directed Mr. Johnston to submit the application for the Housing Accelerator Fund.

A Sylvan Lake man who was arrested in July 2023 in relation to a stolen truck and ATV appeared by closed circuit television (CCTV) in Alberta Court of Justice in Drumheller on Friday, August 18.
Jacob Vincent, 26, of Sylvan Lake pleaded guilty to two charges-possession of stolen property under $5,000 and breach of a release condition.
The court heard how Three Hills RCMP received a complaint just before midnight on Wednesday, July 19 of a suspicious male and female in a vehicle behind a shop in the Delburne area; the pair had told the complainant the vehicle, a Ford F550 flatbed truck, had broken down.
RCMP determined the truck, along with an ATV, had been previously reported stolen.
Mr. Vincent and the female suspect, who was named but did not appear in court to answer to charges, were arrested without incident. Upon arrest it was determined Mr. Vincent was subject to a release order which included a number of conditions, including a 24-hour house arrest which he breached.
Crown and defense made a joint submission for a 10 day global sentence given the mitigating factor of an early guilty plea and insignificant prior criminal record; it was noted, being a rural property crime was an aggravating factor.
Mr. Vincent expressed his remorse when given an opportunity to speak, and apologized for his actions and “for the court having to deal” with these matters.
The Honourable Justice Shaw accepted the joint recommendation from Crown and counsel. Mr. Vincent, who has been in custody since his arrest on July 19, was handed a 10 day global sentence, using seven enhanced pre-trial custody days. The victim fine surcharge was also waived due to undue hardship.
Remaining charges were withdrawn.