The Drumheller Fields store, which has occupied the Valley Plaza for the last 28 years, will be closing this year.
    This week, parent company Hudson’s Bay Company, announced that it would be closing all of its Fields stores across Canada. This is just a month after it closed 26 stores in Ontario. In all 167 will be closed by this fall.
    “After careful consideration, Hudson’s Bay Company has announced we will wind down our Fields store operations,” said Tiffany Bourré, external communications manager for Hudson’s Bay Company. “We will wind down the remaining 141 store locations across the country in phases, with closures complete by Fall 2012.”
    The Drumheller store opened in August of 1984 in the location, which was previously Vicker’s Grocery.  Currently it has four staff members. Manager Diane Shymanski has been with the store since it opened.
    The Hudson’s Bay Company operates under the banners of the Bay, Zellers and Home Outfitters. In January, it acquired Lord and Taylor Holdings LLC, a US department store. As part of that transaction, Hudson’s Bay Company invested $427 million, which went to reducing Lord & Taylor’s corporate debt.
    “This is a strategic decision by Hudson’s Bay Company to focus on growing our other banners: The Bay, Lord & Taylor and Home Outfitters,” said Tiffany Bourré. “Fields was proud to serve the many communities across Canada where our stores were located and would like to thank all of our customers for their loyalty. Hudson’s Bay Company would like to thank all Fields associates for their dedicated service. “

    Consistency is key as Drumheller grows again following the 2011 Census.
    The Town of Drumheller saw modest growth over the period since the last census in 2006.
    The population went from 7,932 to 8,029, a modest growth of about 1.2 per cent. While it is not a great increase, Mayor Terry Yemen said it is positive simply because, while there has been a period of economic instability, the trend is in the right direction.
    In comparing surrounding communities and like-sized towns, the trend is mixed. Hanna saw a decrease in population of about 6 per cent. Beiseker also dropped about 2.4 per cent, Stettler saw an increase of 5.6 per cent and Camrose increased by 10 per cent.
    Yemen says he believes the numbers are accurate. Following the 2006 census, the Town of Drumheller paid to conduct a second census with the assertion that growth had been higher. They found the numbers were lower.
    Bill Wulff, acting Director of Corporate services for the Town of Drumheller, said the numbers are important because many grant programs are based on per capita.
    “Just about all of them are based on per capita,” said Wulff, adding the population at the Drumheller Institution is included in the count.
    He says there are a number of reasons people may perceive growth being higher. While there are a number of new faces in town, he said there is attrition; for example when young people leave the valley to study they do not return.
    While there has been an increase of new homes being built that could signify growth, Wulff adds those buying houses could be current residents who are moving from the family home, or starting a new family.
    Alberta led the way in Canada with the highest percentage of growth (10.8), bested only by the Yukon Territory with 11.6 per cent growth. Overall Canada grew by 5.9 per cent with no province or territory declining.
    More information from the 2011 census will be released throughout the year.