The moment valley residents have been waiting for is a little closer. The Town of Drumheller will start moving into the field house and fitness centre of the Badlands Community Facility on February 6.
    Dawson Wallace, the contractors, are tantalizingly close to completing, cleaning, and vacating the field house and fitness areas. Afterwards, the town and contractors will have joint occupancy and the town can start moving in.
    The senior staff of the facility will bring over equipment and furniture that has been in storage at public works. Everything will be inventoried, assembled, and organized.
    The contractors will still be in other parts of the building. As areas are completed, the facility staff will move everything in.
    “On the sixth of February we get the field house and fitness centre. The next two areas that will probably be done  are the lobby and the library. After that, the meeting rooms and dining hall. The kitchen is going to be the last thing finished,” said Guy Latour, Business Manager of the facility.
    The week after the joint occupancy date, the remaining staff arrive and begin training.
    “There’s a lot of training to do because we’re all new to it,” said Latour.
    Prior to opening, the staff must be well versed in customer service, point of sale, fitness and sporting equipment, emergency procedures, and the particulars of each area of the diverse building.
    Apple Fitness will return later in February to set up the fitness equipment.
    As opening day draws near, plans are being made to showcase what the facility can offer. Ideas being considered are offering tours to sports leagues who have expressed interest in using the field house and having an open house, complete with activities and tours. A volunteer program is in the works as well.
    More information about the facility events and programs will be released in February.
    The news of joint occupancy  comes as a relief, because of the Sports Recreation and Arts Expo and Canadian Badlands conference planned at the facility in March. It is expected that at the current pace the events will continue in the facility as planned.
    The news generates the same excitement and anticipation a new homeowner feels when awaiting their possession date.
    “The joint occupancy was a big thing for us, because it’s indicating that we’re close,” said Latour. “It’s got me super excited. I’m ready to move everything over there myself!”