Like many sectors in Alberta, the downturn has taken its toll on real estate, however, there may be some positive signs in Drumheller.
    Realtor at Century 21Power Realty, Stacey Gallagher reports there were 97 active listings in January, the lowest in 12 months, and the pace of sales appear to be on par with previous years, with 8 sold.
    “We had an upswing in 2006-2007 just like the rest of Alberta and the numbers from 2016 are showing a downswing in prices. I think this is just a reflection of what is happening in Alberta as a whole, She said. “We feel the ripples for sure, but they are not as large or as quick to come to Drumheller like in the larger centres such as Calgary, Edmonton, or Fort McMurray.” She explains lower inventory levels can be expected this time of year.
    “Low inventory in December, January and February is quite typical. There are usually fewer buyers, but also less sellers want to move this time of year, so they will remove their homes from the market causing a bit of a shortage,” she said.
    There are a number of factors that can make the market sluggish, including unrealistic expectations by sellers.
    “If sellers are unrealistic about what’s going on and unwilling to make the price correction ahead of a down market, they will quickly get left behind and in turn, we are left with inventory which is overpriced,” she said. “I am seeing quite a bit of that right now which is causing the on market to go up, and it appears to the public as though there are lots sitting on the market and that things are not selling. That’s not necessarily the case.”
    Recent changes to financing regulations have also appeared to have affected the market.
    “I am finding there are less sales above the $250,000 - $300,000 marks and more options below $100,000 than there has been in a while. The price range people are able to afford and or want to be in has taken a hit since the government made changes to financing rules in October.  I think that has a lot to do with the falling prices,” she said. “Financing, in general, is continually getting harder and harder to come by. CMHC fees are on the rise, down payment requirements are getting higher and credit and employment requirements are getting tighter if you are looking to get a mortgage.”
    While it is impossible to predict the market, she indicates that Drumheller appears to be stable.
    “Small towns with three or fewer main economic drivers such as Hanna, or Carbon are taking a major hit right now. Drumheller has about five, so we are okay. I think there is still that bit of uncertainty with the future, and with the current government causing some hesitation,” she said. “I often get asked if I buy this house what will it be worth in 5 years? I can’t predict the future, so I have no idea but in Drumheller, if I had to make my best guess probably the same as what you paid for it... and if that’s the case it’s not the worst investment you could make.”

Residents from Drumheller have shown material support to the Morgan Jayne Project and the Charmont Academy for more than a decade, and now a well-known face will be teaching at the school.
    Jaiden Lal completed most of her schooling in Drumheller, but moved to Australia for her Grade12 year. She has since graduated and was given the opportunity to teach at the Charmont Bilingual Academy in Roatan. Last week she made the trek and is already training.
    Leaving from Australia, travelling half way around the world sound like a daunting task, Jaiden appears to take it in stride.
    “Actually it kind of was a spur of the moment decision, a year and a half ago, an opportunity like the one Valerie (Nelson of Familias Saludables), gave me would have scared the hell out of me,” she tells the Mail. “It took me about a month to decide that I was going to accept, I’d always fantasized about a gap year of travel, but when my dad told me about the opportunity it felt like fate- that’s how I viewed moving to Australia, if an amazing opportunity came right to me then I can’t turn it down.”
    In fact, she credits her move to Australia a couple of years ago for giving her the perspective she needed to take on such a challenge.
    “Moving to Australia allowed me to meet so many amazing people from so many countries. I now have friends in Germany, Brazil, Chile, and of course, some Aussies. But so many of those friends were international students who had come from so far away, and left it all behind to have a new experience,” she explains. “That courage that I saw in those people definitely gave me the courage to accept the offer to volunteer with the Morgan Jayne Project. My dad was a huge influence too, he’s always put it in my head that travel is of amazing value and he definitely set an example for me that it’s more important to get out of your bubble and experience the world than to let fear of change hold you back.”
    The Morgan Jayne Project appears to have had a profound affect on her life. Founded by Fred Makowecki in remembrance of his daughter its goal is to curb the spread of AIDs in Roatan.
    “The Morgan Jayne project is important to me because I’m very passionate about human rights, and women’s rights. My views have completely shifted in the past year since moving to Australia and I’m very passionate about feminism, and I believe that the Morgan Jayne project is really making a significant difference in the lives of a lot of women- a lot of young mothers, and a lot of young girls, and that’s profound to me,” she explains. “I’m also a big believer in education being a powerful tool to change the world, and I feel really lucky to be getting this kind of experience at such a young age so that I can spend the rest of my life being aware of how privileged I really am.”
    She will be at the school for 10 months teaching Grade 7 and 8. She says she has a passion for reading, writing and public speaking and looks forward to sharing that with her students.
    After that, she might find herself back in the classroom.
“I still have aspirations to study law, but honestly I don’t have any career plans at this moment. The only thing I know is that my work is going to be dedicated to helping the people who can’t help themselves and defending people who can’t defend themselves. I want my work to have real meaning, and I want my privileges to have been beneficial to more than just me.”