Bow Valley College is set to begin offering new post secondary program for Drumheller residents; all it needs is a few good students.
    The college, which has offered programs in the valley including the Licenced Practical Nursing program and Early Learning and Childcare program, is looking to offer a Justice Studies program in the valley. It has been working on the logistics for quite some time, and now wants to gauge interest in the corrections stream.
    “I am really interested to see if we can provide educational service to the communities of Drumheller, Olds and Innisfail because of the two large federal institutions that are there and the opportunities it might create for local individuals to be employed at the federal facilities,” said Dr. Bill Du Perron, Dean of Health, Justice and Human Services program at Bow Valley College.
    Du Perron has worked to introduce the Justice Studies program and it has streams in law enforcement, youth justice and corrections, which would be the one offered in the valley.
    “We had the first intake of students here in Calgary and it is doing extremely well, so I have asked for a feasibility study to see where the opportunities might exist in Drumheller,” said Du Perron.
    He said they have discussed the programs with Corrections Canada human resources, as well as with leadership at the Drumheller Institution and Bowden. Locally they have talked to the Alberta Employment and Immigration office, Campus Alberta and with Drumheller Valley Secondary School, "all of which looks extremely promising,” said Du Perron.
     The program would be delivered via teleconference at space provided at DVSS.
    “It would be real time video conferencing so students in Drumheller would be taking exactly the same program as our students here at Bow Valley College in downtown Calgary,” said Du Perron. “What we are doing now is trying to determine the level of student interest to determine whether we will have viable numbers in order to offer the program. Hopefully we will have a great deal of interest in the community”.
    Du Perron says the main focus for the program would be for those interested in attaining work at a corrections facility.
    “Our primary concern is creating employment opportunities for our graduates so the program has been developed to specifically reflect what the requirements would be within the justice system,” said Du Perron. “It has been confirmed with us that the corrections service would look upon the graduates with a diploma program in corrections as being real assets to their educational consideration for employment.”
    He says the program would also be a route for those already involved in corrections to take on some professional development. It also offers the opportunity for further post secondary study.
    “For the two years students take at Bow Valley College, we have licensing agreements with other post secondary institutions, so it would be two years towards a degree program,” said Du Perron. “In fact, Athabasca University is going to be offering years three and four for their justice degree right here in Bow Valley College.”
    The investigation into the feasibility of the program coincides with expansions at the provincial and federal level of corrections institutions.
    “What makes these programs so viable is not only is the Corrections Service of Canada undergoing significant expansion of its facilities in Alberta, but also the province, the correctional services division from the Solicitor General is also increasing their facility space here in the province and that is going to provide opportunities for our graduates as well,” said Du Perron.
 Those interested in learning more about Bow Valley’s program or are interested in the Justice Studies Program can contact Frank Dungen at 403-355-4620 or fdungen@bowvalleycollege.ca

    It has been a busy and tumultuous year for Drumheller town council.
    Council has completed its first full year mandate and they had their plate full going in.
    Mayor Terry Yemen holds one accomplishment above all others.
    “The thing I am proud of the most, and I think council is too, is the moving of the cenotaph to a place of honour,” said Yemen. “If you didn’t do anything else in a year and you did that, then you did good.”
    He is also proud of the town’s involvement with the celebration of the centennial of coal mining. This year, the community celebrated with a number of activities including May Day, pony days, a number of cultural displays and performances, and participation in the Calgary Stampede Parade.
    One thing that has dominated council and much discussion in the community is the Badlands Community Facility. While construction has faced delays, it is hoped it will open early in the new year. Yemen said council played a role in putting it back on track.
    Other infrastructure projects last year included the completion of the upgrade to the Drumheller  landfill, valued at $7.8 million. It also wrapped up, after about four years a $16 million upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant.
    Council also opened up dialogue with the Drumheller Institution to renegotiate its water and wastewater contract, and this is a priority for council moving into the new year.
    Another contentious issue in 2011 year was the reaction from residents of East Coulee on the expansion of the waterline. Council recently received the results of a survey of residents and the majority have voiced opposition.
    Moving forward, council held its annual retreat before Christmas identifying its priorities moving forward. They include the Badlands Community Facility funding strategy, renegotiating its utility rates contract with the Drumheller Institution, making a decision on the relocation of Town Hall, beginning to explore design and committee structure for Phase 2 of the Badlands Community Facility, and preliminary plans for the Town of Drumheller’s 2013 centennial celebrations.