The Royal Tyrrell Museum took a moment on Friday, January 27, to reflect on possibly the best year it has ever had.
The museum has been a premier tourism draw since it opened in 1985.
In 2022 it set a record by welcoming 501,430 visitors. This is the first time since the museum began charging admission in 1991 it has surpassed half a million visitors in a calendar year.
Jason Martin, director of Operations and Finance, credits the staff for its part in reaching this impressive milestone.
“Each and every one of you who work at the museum or support the Royal Tyrrell Museum contribute to this tourism success. You bring unforgettable experiences to life through your work, which impact people in more ways than we can imagine. Think of the sense of awe as people drive down the hill into the valley or walk into Cretaceous Alberta and hear the dinosaur roar for the first time, you help facilitate these experiences,” he said.
He also recognizes the importance of the museum as part of the local economy.
“Tourism is an important economic driver in the Drumheller valley, providing unique experiences, captivating visitors with our breathtaking landscape, our one-of-a-kind attractions and the vast history of the Alberta Badlands,” he said.
He also reaches out to the museum’s partners, including Travel Drumheller, Travel Alberta, Alberta Parks, Town of Drumheller, the Royal Tyrrell Musem Cooperating Society, the Chamber of Commerce, Alberta Infrastructure, Best Pro Cleaning Services and Visionary Catering.
This is just one more milestone for the museum, which is approaching four decades in the valley, with another on the horizon.
“We are quickly approaching another milestone event as we expect to welcome the museum’s 15th million visitors sometime this March, a feat we could not have achieved without the continuous support of our partners,” said Martin.

Residents will see a new charge on their monthly utility bill as the Town of Drumheller moves its solid waste fees from the tax funded budget to the utility funded budget to provide equitable rates for all users.
The change was approved by Drumheller council in December 2022 and will take effect as of March 1.
“While everyone receives the same service, one 360 litre garbage cart picked up once per week and access to recycling, the existing way to pay for this service is a percentage of assessment,” explains Drumheller Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Darryl Drohomerski.
Funding for solid waste was previously collected through municipal taxes, which meant those properties with a higher assessed value were paying more for the same service than those with a lower assessment. By removing this charge from municipal taxes and charging each user the same amount for the same service, it makes it more fair and equitable for everyone regardless of their property assessment.
CAO Drohomerski notes Drumheller was among a minority of municipalities which still charge for solid waste on its municipal taxes, and this change is in line with many other municipalities.
“For some, this is the first time they have received a utility bill from the Town,” says CAO Drohomerski. “People along Highway 10X and west Midland, who do not have water or wastewater from the Town, have previously not received a utility bill.”
Although there were some concerns online this would mean the Town would increase the municipal tax rate to cover the loss of revenue from this change, CAO Drohomerski shares this is simply not the case.
“As we all know, the property taxes went up this year. If the garbage and recycling services were left in the tax supported budget, the tax increase would have been about three to four per cent higher,” he explains.
This change will take effect as of March 1 and will be reflected on utility bills going out beginning in April.