By using advanced DNA testing, a historic case of a man whose body was found in a remote area of Laurentian Hills in 2001 has now been identified to have been born in Drumheller.
On September 5, 2001, members of the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP responded when a man’s body was located in an outhouse at a remote cross-country ski shelter. It appeared as though the individual had been using the outhouse for shelter for some time.
While the post-mortem examination at the time was able to determine that the individual had died as a result of a medical condition with no foul play, the person’s identity could not be confirmed.
Missing person reports and fingerprint records were checked with law enforcement and other agencies across Canada and the United States. Details were also released to the media.
According to a release, the OPP, in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner (OCC), Ontario Forensic Pathology Service (OFPS) and the provincial Crown Attorney used advanced DNA testing, known as Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) testing or Forensic Genealogy. Through whole genome sequencing, the samples matched one collected from an individual listed in a family DNA tree. These results were then confirmed by additional family DNA testing by the OCC and OFPS.
The testing has confirmed that the body is that of a man from Drumheller, born in 1962. It’s not known why he was in the area.
Investigators and Victim Services have spoken with the individual’s family, and as the matter did not involve foul play, and out of respect for the family’s privacy, we will not be releasing the male’s name.

The Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce (DDCC) through the World’s Largest Dinosaur (WLD) Legacy Fund has selected four local organizations to receive a total of $59,464.
Earlier this year, the Chamber of Commerce announced that the WLD Legacy Fund would be open once again to not-for-profits and other formally organized groups for capital projects. Eleven funding applications were received during the application period from August 1 to September 30, 2023.
The successful applicants are the Atlas Coal Mine Historical Society, Drumheller and Region Transition Society (D.A.R.T.S.), Rails to Trails and Rowley Community Hall Association.
The Atlas Coal Mine will receive $6,464 to upgrade their miners’ lamps which are an integral piece of equipment for their underground mine tours.
D.A.R.T.S. will receive $21,000 to support the completion of their new bottle depot.
Rails to Trails and Rowley Community Hall Association will both receive $16,000 each. Funds to Rails to Trails will support the continued development of the pathway system throughout the Drumheller Valley along the former CN rail line. Rowley Community Hall Association will be using their funding to support phase one of its elevator restoration project.
DDCC President Lana Phillips states “The Chamber of Commerce is fortunate to have Tyra, the World’s Largest Dinosaur that provides revenues to reinvest through our WLD Legacy Fund. The fund is used to enhance and enrich community economic development initiatives. Over the years, the Legacy Fund has supported many great projects in the Drumheller area, which have had a positive impact on our community’s growth and economy. The DDCC Board of Directors will continue to be pragmatic in managing the WLD Legacy Fund, supporting local businesses and not-for-profits, while saving for the future needs of Tyra.”
Since the creation of the World’s Largest Dinosaur Legacy Fund in 2004, the Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce has invested over $800,000 in the Drumheller region. This funding has supported 39 non-profit organizations and 35 businesses, including $250,000 to the Town of Drumheller to construct the Badlands Community Facility.