The Village of Rockyford was a hive of activity on Saturday, April 15, as the Fire Department celebrated its centennial.
Rockyford Fire Brigade was formed on February 5, 1923. Deputy Chief, Mayor and long-time firefighter Darcy Burke explains, according to records, eight or nine men gathered in the office of Secretary-Treasurer of the town, and put the question to the people about fire protection.
“There were 54 names written down that evening at the meeting, the actual residents of the village, and so they decide at that point in time they would organize the fire brigade. Council made a motion to appoint a fire chief, and that chief would select six men to take charge in case of a fire,” Burke explains.
The department has a long and storied history, going from a bucket brigade to a state-of-the-art rural volunteer fire department that serves beyond its borders and has mutual aid partners. Part of the history on display was the department’s original fire truck.
Burke explains it was built by a local garage owner in the village named Ken Henry, and it has been with the department since it was acquired. A few years ago, it was restored and is now the perfect vehicle for parades.
Today, the department has one engine, two tenders, two bush buggies and an all-terrain vehicle. The department is also equipped with highway rescue tools.
“You see where it starts out at, and where you are today,” said Burke.
The highlight of the weekend was a hose-laying competition.

Burke was proud to say the two fastest teams were made up of members of the department. The old timers also got into the act with a team, consisting of Burke, Rosebud firefighter Art Hudson, Gary Geeraert and Regional Fire Chief Mike Bourgon.
This was followed by a free hamburger and hot dog lunch with over 200 served.
They held a banquet in the evening with the department members, old and new, and made some presentations. Long-time firefighter Dave Elder donated a jacket from his time with the department, which will be displayed in the hall.
“It's about the community. The success of the department is because of the backing of the community. Whenever we need to do a little fundraising for equipment, the village folks, the county folks, everybody just steps in,” said Burke. “There is pride and respect in the community, and the fire service is built on the tradition of reselect, and we certainly see that here.”

The Drumheller Dragons have completed the 2022-2023 AJHL season, and at the conclusion of the regular season announced its player’s awards.
Dragons Fan Favourite Award – Sam Simard: Team captain Sam Simard earned the honour of being named the Dragons fan favourite player. Simard is known for his out-going and positive personality, both in the dressing room and when interacting with fans in the community. He has played three seasons with the Dragons, and has made a lasting impression both in the community and with fans of all ages during his last year of junior hockey.
Community Involvement Award – Ben Christian: Ben Christian was this year’s Dragons nominee for the AJHL’s RBC Community Ambassador Award. Ben is an outstanding member of Drumheller Dragons organization and inspires his teammates to create positive impacts within the community. He is a true representation of what it means to be a leader both on and off of the ice. Christian has won this award for the second year in a row, and we thank him for his tremendous efforts in supporting the community of Drumheller.
Academic Achievement Award – Easton Adrian: The Drumheller Dragons take great pride in developing student-athletes and preparing them for education past high school. During the 2022-2023 season, the Dragons team grade point average was at a 3.8, with Easton maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. We would like to credit our amazing players for their dedication to excelling both on the ice and in the classroom, and would like to thank our education team led by Dave Wood for their time and effort working with our players.
Faubion Family Unsung Hero Award – Connor Poffenroth: Connor Poffenroth has earned our Unsung Hero Award for the 2022-2023 season. Poffenroth plays an important role within the team, as his veteran presence and consistent game helps our young team excel during the season. Poffenroth was also named the Dragons nominee for the AJHL’s Greatest Teammate Award, highlighting his tremendous character and passion to helping his teammates through the adversity they face throughout the season.
Hardest Working Dragon – Jacob Goudreau: Jacob Goudeau has had an impressive first season in the AJHL as a 16-year-old player. Goudreau has been a staple on the Dragons penalty kill and is a standout for his fearless play and work ethic while on the ice. Despite being a smaller player, he plays a physical game and has been a valuable member to the Dragons lineup all season long.
Most Improved Player – Tate Yule: Tate Yule has seen great strides in his game this season, and is now one of the most trusted defencemen on the Dragons back-end. This is credited to the work and dedication he has put into this season and the skill of our coaching staff.
Rookie of the Year – Coy Pighin: Coy Pighin has been one of the AJHL’s top rookies all season long. Pighin finished the season with 33 points in just 40 games, and sits among the league’s top rookies in points per game average. During the season, he also earned himself a NCAA Division I commitment to Colorado College.
Top Defenceman – Easton Adrian: Easton Adrian had an impressive season for a young player in the AJHL. He led the Dragons in both defencemen scoring and rookie scoring, and finished 13th in AJHL defencemen scoring. With this offensive output, he earned himself a NCAA Division I commitment to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.
Top Scorer – Ty Daneault: Ty Daneault was chasing history all season long. He finished 2nd in franchise history with 37 goals this season, just two behind the all-time record. He led the team in scoring from start to finish, recording 65 points in 53 games for the Dragons. Daneault also finished 14th in the AJHL for points and 4th in the league for goals this season, just five behind the league leader.
Most Valuable Player – Ty Daneault:The selection of the Dragon’s MVP Award for the 2022-2023 season was an easy one. Daneault has had one of the most impressive and remarkable seasons by a Dragons player in franchise history. Daneault’s list of accomplishments include being named the CJHL Player of the Month, AJHL Player of the Month, getting ranked on the NHL Central Scouting List, and representing Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge where he set a tournament record with 4 goals in one game.
Jeff Hendricks Memorial Scholarship Winner – Ty Whitford: Ty Whitford is one of the most seasoned veterans in the league, and leads all Dragons players in games played in the AJHL. Over five seasons in the AJHL, two of which were spent with the Drumheller Dragons, Whitford has totaled 219 games played and over 100 points. He has had an impressive season this year with the Dragons, recording 40 points in 53 games.