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Amanda Jeffery, Free Press

Anyone who is 55 years or older will soon be able to access a vehicle to get them to all of their appointments in town, and to some appointments outside of the community.

Drake’s Handi-Bus Services is now being contracted by the Town of Drayton Valley to help those who are older than 55 and those with mobility issues (at any age). Annette Driessen, the General Manager of Community Services for the Town, says they put an RSP out into the community, checking to see if there was anyone who wanted to operate the service, and Drake’s was the one who won.

“Providing accessible transportation in Drayton Valley has been a priority of Council and I am excited to see this important project come to fruition. Town Council remains committed to offering yearly grants to keep this service operating for the betterment of the community,” says Mayor Michael Doerkson in an email statement.

Amy Newberry, of Drake’s Handi-Bus Services, says the name has historical meaning for the community. “The Drakes were the people of our town that named Drayton Valley because of the Postal Code system, and they were also my great grandparents. It’s a form of leaving a legacy for me,” she said via email.

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After concerns raised at a pair of public meetings late last year,  interim CAO for Drayton Valley, Pat Vincent, demonstrated the Town’s commitment to businesses and residents by presenting council with a detailed report that spoke to a range of issues at the last Governance and Priorities meeting.

Erik Bergen, a local business owner, came forward on November 20 with a presentation he had put together after having two open meetings with businesses in the community earlier in the fall. In his presentation, Bergen highlighted three main areas of concern: the homeless population, Town services and communications, and the free enterprise market in the community.

Bergen outlined several of those concerns as well as possible solutions for council to consider.

In the report Vincent brought forward, there were five separate responses from management involved in the areas that the businesses had issue with. 

Enforcement services touched on several areas brought forth by Bergen. This included listing the various bylaws and acts that already addressed many of the areas of concern with the homeless population. The Community Standards Bylaw, the Municipal Government Act, and provincial trespassing legislation combined cover sleeping in public places, public disruption, loitering, public urination and defecation, unauthorized encampments, open fire, storage of personal items, and dumpster diving.

Cody Rossing, the manager of enforcement services and emergency management, also outlined areas that the Town could consider to help bolster the current laws surrounding those issues, such as amendments to the Outdoor Restrictions Burning bylaw and some possible amendments to the Community Standards Bylaw.

Rossing also explained that Drayton Valley could not create its own lower level court system to deal with petty crimes. However, he did say the community could petition for more court dates in Drayton Valley, which would allow more time for the courts to deal with all matters.

“Currently, with the scheduling at the Drayton Valley Court of Justice, trial dates are occurring on the same days for criminal code matters, provincial matters and municipal bylaw matters,” he says in his report. “This often results in lower-level offences either being withdrawn, or deals made to have the lower-level items removed so time can be focused on criminal code matters.”

As far as public safety in regards to needles, Rossing says they received only one call in 2023 from a business owner. In the past six months the Town’s Occupational Health and Safety Department only had four reports of Town staff locating needles.

Lola Strand, the manager of community services for the Town, spoke to the number of homeless individuals in the community and the efforts made to address the issue.

She mentioned the 2023 study done by the Rural Development Network, that found there were more than 8,300 individuals in rural Alberta dealing with some sort of housing issue. In Drayton, there were 28 people without homes, 25 people accessing emergency shelters such as the shelter pods or warming hearts, 83 people who were provisionally accommodated through things like couch surfing, and 140 individuals who were at risk of homelessness due to precarious housing.

Strand spoke to the strain enforcement services were dealing with in regard to responding to complaints of unsheltered people. She says the Town received a grant to hire a Community Outreach Worker who is communicating with at-risk individuals to help connect them to resources.

 

She also pointed out that along with the temporary emergency shelters the Town has put into place, there are also 26 affordable housing units in the community. Humans Helping Humans, the local organization that currently runs the shelter pods, has also built nine homes with grants, donations, and volunteers that have helped 19 families move into the regular housing market.

Strand also suggested the Town could work with the province to build halfway houses, or using grant money to purchase seacans, or trailers that can provide shelters in the encampment around the landfill that many of the homeless population are currently using.

Jenn Stone with intergovernmental relations and communication for the Town, outlined the different ways that the Town communicates with its residents.

The Town has a threefold approach to communication: traditional media, social media, and direct communication.

With advertisements and news stories, the Town works with the Drayton Valley Free Press and Big West Country 92.9. They also have pages on social media, the Town’s website, and YouTube. The electronic sign located at 50 Street and 50 Avenue is also used for communications. On top of those methods, the Town has held open houses, public hearings, direct mail, and door-to-door notices.

By using these different options, the Town is providing several different methods of communication for all age demographics.

Public works also responded to the grievances in the report, specifically in regard to the insect population, weed control, and snow removal.

When it comes to pesticides and herbicides, the individual applying the substances has to be certified and trained in the use of the chemicals. If at any point the Town doesn’t have many employees that meet those criteria, it can be difficult for them to keep up with the applications.

When it comes to insects, the Town only sprays for stinging insects in public spaces. They work to stay on top of the issues and will follow up to check on activity. They also use the public portal the Town provides through their website, to learn about any issues that residents have raised a concern with.

Spraying for weeds also has its challenges. There are limited time frames in which the application will be effective, such as when the weeds are actively growing. Then they also have to work around the weather, as it won’t be as effective if it’s raining. If those two requirements are met, the Town also has to consider any events going on and provide notices to nearby businesses and residents before they begin spraying.

For snow removal on sidewalks, the Town currently clears 53.4 km of asphalt trails and sidewalks in the community. Prior to 2022, the Town was clearing sidewalks in the downtown core, however, an amendment to the snow removal policy in November 2022 removed the downtown core from areas to be cleared.

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Public works says if they were to be responsible for removing snow from all sidewalks in the community, they would have to double their staff and equipment to keep up with it. They say it is a common issue with many municipalities and one that is becoming more and more challenging.

The report also addressed the business owners’ concerns surrounding a free market in the community.

Peter Vana, the interim general manager for planning and growth development in the community, says there are legal limits to what the Town can do in regards to limiting businesses.

Vana says the Municipal Government Act grants municipalities the power to regulate businesses, but not prohibit businesses. Vana provided examples of land use regulations in several communities to show the different ways that the issue can be approached.

Along with that, Vana made some suggestions that might help to alleviate the issue, such as making restaurants a discretionary use in all districts, providing varying business license fees, partnering with local businesses to help give them better strategies to succeed.

However, Vana also pointed out some issues with picking a particular sector to regulate. He says were the Town to put in regulations on franchises in the food industry, it should be applied to all industries across the board, including oil and gas, as well as retail, as companies like Walmart or Canadian Tire could be seen as a threat to local businesses.

Vana also mentions that many franchises are owned by local residents, so they are in many ways, just like other local businesses. 

Other problems with restricting franchises that Vana brought forward included that the public would like to have competition as it offers options and keeps prices lower. He also pointed out, using pizza restaurants as an example, that there are eight restaurants that mainly sell pizza, nine other restaurants that sell pizza as a sideline, and two other businesses that occasionally sell pizza as well.

Vana questions whether or not the Town would have to be completely aware of the different items each restaurant sells when deciding whether a business should be allowed or not.

Council accepted the report as information after asking several questions of the departments. Vincent says he made the businesses aware the report was being discussed at the meeting, but there were no representatives for council to ask questions of.

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A local resident is using his talent as an artist to bring cheer to the community this summer.

Sydney Dunn has been out creating chalk drawings along 50th Ave between 43 St and Beckett Road. He says the images he chooses depend on what he’s feeling.

There have been Harry Potter drawings; most recently, there are SpongeBob drawings.

Dunn says he got the idea at the Summer Kickoff Party that was held on Mainstreet on June 24. He was at the event, and while he was waiting for his parents, he decided to use the chalk left out for activities to draw.

“I wanted to continue drawing. So, I went out and bought some for myself and started doing it on the sidewalk,” he says.

Dunn has been out drawing on the sidewalks whenever the weather is nice. He says he doesn’t mind if it rains because he has more space to draw again. “I’m out almost every day if it’s nice enough,” he says.

Dunn’s typical day with his artwork starts in the late afternoon or evenings, and then he draws until it’s dark out. He says he will sometimes use a flashlight and stay out late into the night to complete a piece he’s been working on.

Artwork is something Dunn says he’s passionate about. While in school, he always enjoyed art classes. Now that he’s done school, he hopes to pursue art and see where he can go with it.

I come from a generation that thought the microwave oven was the pinnacle of human achievement. And as for the fax machine? Oh, Lordy, what a time to be alive! 

But now, a mere five and a bit decades later, the machines are on the rise. Artificial Intelligence is here. The robots are coming! 

AI can do a lot of things. Those things include writing. And writing is what I do too.

I’ve steered well clear of using AI in my work, because, frankly, using it as a journalist feels fundamentally dishonest. It’s like getting your mom to do your homework.

But I have an enquiring mind. I want to know. So I decided to take a peek at what the machine mind could come up with.

There’s a tempting little button at the bottom of the page on which I create my weekly quota of wit, wisdom, and whimsy. I clicked on it, and it came back with a cheerful invitation: ‘Describe any changes you want to make.’ 

Well, with a half finished document and a deadline approaching,  you don’t have to ask me twice. 

Make this longer,’ I typed. ‘And funnier.’ 

The AI dutifully spat out its revised text. I read it and it made me sad. I suppose achieving one out of two isn’t bad for a machine. It certainly made it longer. But the language was all wrong and the humour was about as funny as a rectal exam from a leper.

In my work as a columnist I always aim for that sweet spot on the dividing line between ‘smartassed’ and ‘snarky.’ The trick is to try to sound like you don’t care who you offend while simultaneously being very, very careful not to actually offend anyone at all.

AI’s contribution certainly succeeded in adding length. The tone was also close to spot-on. It sounded like a man in late middle age trying to get things done in a hurry so he can head off to the pub.

But AI’s composition included very little wit and hardly any whimsy at all.  And while the words sort of made sense, it almost looked like something that had been written in another language and then translated into English by someone with his mind on other things.

It’s not that my own work is any kind of masterpiece. Most weeks, if I manage to come up with something I’d rate as a six out of ten I’m happy. I’m not sure I’ve ever written anything that deserves more than an eight. But AI’s efforts looked more than a little garbled and, where it did make sense, it was more than a little cliched. And as a journalist, I avoid cliches like the plague. 

So my plan to spend the remaining time between now and retirement sitting on a beach, occasionally instructing my computer to write 500 words complaining about potholes/taxes/the weather is on hold for now. AI may be the future, but it’s got a long way to go before it can match the miracle of the microwave.

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Local baseball player, Caedyn Colford, has recently started his summer baseball season playing in front of thousands of Edmonton Riverhawks fans.

Colford has been playing baseball since he was three-years-old. He has been playing college-level baseball in the United States for a few years. Two years ago, he decided to move closer to home. Now he plays baseball year-round between two different teams.

“It was pretty cool, a little nerve-wracking,” says Colford. “I’ve never played in front of 6,000 fans. It was a really cool experience, and being able to do it in front of friends and family made it that much better.”

Since the fall of 2023, Colford has been playing for the Edmonton Collegiate Hawks, which runs under the Canadian College Baseball Conference, during the school year, and the Edmonton Riverhawks in the West Coast League over the summer. During the 2026 season, Colford set a new record for single-season home runs with 15 home runs, and the team took silver at the finals in Lethbridge May 21-24.

Jake Lanferman, the head coach for both the Edmonton Collegiate Hawks and the Edmonton Riverhawks, says he was impressed by Colford’s performance. 

“He had 12 [home runs] in the regular season, and three in the playoffs,” says Lanferman. “He had a really strong year.”

The ERH play in the West Coast League, says Lanferman, and by playing for the Riverhawks, Colford will be performing in front of scouts for Major League Baseball.

“He’s always had power in his bat,” says Lanferman. “This year he really showcased that well. He led the team in multiple categories, but he also led the team as a leader off the field.”

Lanferman says as coach for the Hawks and the Riverhawks, he gets to see the local talent and tries to bring on as many of them as he can for the Riverhawks, though there are players from other areas as well.

“He’s got a strong glove; he’s a power hitter; he changes approaches here, so he hits for more contact and more average, too,” says Lanferman. “He’s done a really good job of promoting himself and playing good baseball.”

Colford says playing for the league can be tough, but he tries to stay humble and not let his success go to his head. 

One of the main reasons he decided to stay in Edmonton was that he wanted to attend the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). Currently, he’s enrolled in their electrical program and works a job while playing baseball.

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Colford’s mother, Krista, says the family loves having him close to home.

“There’s nothing better than watching your kids play a sport that they love and succeed,” she says.

Krista says the dream of these players is to just continue playing baseball. Having them in their own backyard allows them to play the sport they love without having to be away from the support of loved ones.

“The skill level and quality of baseball that these kids are playing here is equivalent to playing junior college baseball in the States,” says Krista.

The next home game for the Riverhawks is on June 9. Tickets can be purchased on their website, www.riverhawksbaseball.com. 

Here we go then. In October we’ll be heading to the polls to vote on the future of this province with respect to its role in Canada. 

Sort of. 

This is not a referendum on whether Alberta should leave Canada. This is a referendum on whether Alberta should have a different, separate referendum on whether Alberta should leave Canada at some indefinite point in the future. 

Hmmm.

If Premier Danielle Smith called the vote in order to take the wind from the sails of separatists within her own party, there’s an obvious and not terribly promising comparison in recent history.

That obvious comparison is with the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union. Prime Minister David Cameron decided to call a referendum on the issue in order to quiet a noisy section of his party. Cameron campaigned to stay in the EU, as did both the major opposition parties. What could possibly go wrong? Just about everything. The vote was lost. Cameron had to quit. And then: turmoil. The aftermath was reminiscent of that scene from the Simpsons where Sideshow Bob repeatedly steps on a series of rakes, each one of which hits him squarely in the face. It’s hilarious when it happens to someone else, but if it’s your face getting the rake handle treatment, you might not like it so much. 

Since then the UK has stumbled along in a manner that makes headless chickens look like they’ve really got it together.  And they’ve gone through a series of prime ministers none of whom have done much to impress. That list includes,  at the absolute lowest point, a woman by the name of Liz Truss who did a pretty good job of tanking the economy in spite of only being in charge for about 20 minutes. 

So not great then. 

But enough of laughing at other people’s misfortunes. What does this all mean for Alberta, or for Canada, or for both? 

What the Brexit experience teaches us that seismic events have repercussion upon repression upon repercussion. 

If the separatist side loses the vote they are unlikely to just go away. Two lost referendums in the the late 20th Century did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the Parti Quebecois. Quebec and Alberta are very different places but there’s no reason to believe that the outcome of a defeat here will be any different than it was for our friends to the east. A loss would see the separatist side withdraw and regroup before attempting to start the whole process again using what they’ve learned the first time around as a spring board.

And if the separatist side wins and we vote to have that second referendum then, well, all bets are off. 

In the meantime we have several months of uncertainty that will only serve to weaken Canada’s hand in negotiations with the United States, or anyone else for that matter. Meanwhile here in Alberta we can expect increasingly shrill rhetoric and mounting conflict between now and October, culminating in a vote that, either way, is going to leave some people extremely unhappy.

Doesn’t sound great, does it?

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The Awaso Canadian Academy Foundation had another successful fundraiser to support a school in Ghana last weekend.

Anne Murphy, one of the volunteer organizers and master of ceremonies for the event, says it was such a success because the community came together to make it possible. 

“There were a lot of volunteers on board. We want to thank the very generous donors who contributed from the community in live and silent auction items,” says Murphy. “There were many volunteers who were available and really helped to get the event organized.”

During the evening there was a silent auction, a live auction, a game of Deal or No Deal, and student sponsorship packages available. They also had four more people sign up to sponsor a student for a year.

“It’s a one-time payment of $400, and students get what they need,” says Murphy. “That includes daily meals, supplies, and school uniforms.”

Murphy says every penny raised goes to the school. Volunteers who travel to Ghana to volunteer there pay their own way, and the entire organization is composed of volunteers.

“We have no overhead costs and any of the trips, including the very last group which went in January of 2025, all of our travel expenses from our committee end has always been done on our own, independently,” she says.

Emphasizing that all the money goes to the school is important, says Murphy, and she says that’s not common with non-profit organizations. She says many solid sponsorships have come on board due to the fact that ACAF keeps none of the money.

The academy in Awaso, Ghana was the dream of Father Paul Mensah, the priest for the St. Anthony Catholic Church, in 2000. He shared stories about his hometown, Awaso, with his parishioners, and they made his dream a reality.

The first visit to Awaso was in 2007, and by 2010 they had built two classrooms for girls in the community. Since then, they have been adding pieces to the school.

Over the years, there have been many additions to the building and many student success stories.

“Since adding a junior high, the students graduating from Grade 9 have graduated with distinction, giving them all the opportunity to move to a good high school in the larger cities and do extremely well academically,” says Murphy. “Now the school is seeing the fruits of its labour, as alumni are returning to encourage the students to reach their potential.”

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Since their last fundraiser in 2024, the ACAF has funded two major updates regarding the academy. One was an upgrade to the water filtration system to provide safe drinking water to the students and the staff. They also drilled a new well that has purification equipment.

They also provided safe drinking water to the entire community.

“This necessitated the improvement of road access, the upgrading of the existing generator, and additional equipment and tanks, as well as the purchase of recyclable water bottles and dispensers so the community can come get their water there,” she says.

The second update is that the school is now offering a music program thanks to a generous donation. 

“Last year, the academy purchased new instruments for the academy to form a band,” says Murphy. “That’s been really exciting for them.”

The ACAF is currently looking for volunteers for the foundation, as the board still consists of many original members. Murphy says they would like to have younger people involved so the academy can still be successful for years to come.

Those looking for more information, how to volunteer, or a way to donate to the cause can visit www.awasoacademy.ca and receive a charitable receipt. The ACAF can also reach out to the organization at admin@awasoacademy.ca. 

What’s this World Cup I keep hearing about?

It’s the global festival of football that takes place every four years.

Football? I love football! Go Esks … sorry, I mean Go Elks!

Er, it’s not that kind of football. We’re talking about the game where you actually kick the ball with your foot. Not the game where you pick the ball up and run around a bit. 

So when you say football you mean soccer. Stop being deliberately difficult. 

OK, anyway, the World Cup is kicking off next month. It’s the world’s biggest sporting event and some of the action is taking place right here in Canada.

Right here? 

Well, not right here. In Toronto and Vancouver. 

Neither of those is anywhere near here. 

Fair point. There are also games in cities in the United States and Mexico. 

This is starting to sound familiar. Did Canada qualify? 

As one of the host nations we get a free pass to the tournament, so Canada will be there without having to go through all the inconvenience of the qualifying rounds. Also in the mix are the usual big boys from the likes of Brazil, Argentina and Germany along with some places that aren’t traditional powerhouses like Haiti, Uzbekistan and England.   

I see what you did there. What are our chances of winning? 

The entire thing? Remote. But Canada did manage to get drawn in one of the easier groups for the round robin. We’ll be facing Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar and Switzerland during the group phase. Those are decent teams, especially the Swiss, but none of them are unbeatable. And if we make it to the knockout rounds, anything can happen. Although, to be honest it usually doesn’t.

Any particular players to watch out for?

Alphonso Davies is probably Canada’s brightest star. In his day job he’s a regular starter for Bayern Munich so officially counts as being Quite Good at Football. And he grew up in Edmonton! So far so good, but he stretched the bejesus out of his hamstring (this may not be the correct medical term) in a match against Paris Saint-Germain May 6 and is expected to be out of action for several weeks.

Oh dear. And when is Canada’s first World Cup match?

We face Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday June 12. So depending on your definition of “several weeks” Davies may or may not be able to play.

I can already feel the tension building. Any other drama to look out for?

Plenty. This will be the last World Cup for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, both of whom are getting on a bit and will be very keen to go out with a bang.  Scotland, Austria and Norway are back in the competition for the first time since 1998. We’ll see the World Cup debut of a number of nations including the likes of Curacao (population 180,000 and land area of 444 square kilometres) which is the smallest country ever to make it to the finals.

And Iran have qualified and have games in Los Angeles and Seattle. 

You have captured my imagination with your insights. I can’t believe I used to say there was nothing interesting in the paper.  I will purchase a large flag and a novelty inflatable maple leaf prior to June 12.  Is there anything else I’ll need to get the most out of the tournament?

Patience. The first game kicks off June 11, but the final isn’t until July 19, 102 games later.  That is a lot of football. 

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Angela Patty and her family have lived in the Berrymoor area all her life, and she would like to see the Berrymoor Centre as busy as it was when she was younger.

“Berrymoor seems to have grown so much in the last while that we don’t even know who our neighbours are anymore,” says Patty.

She wanted a way to get to know the families in the area better, and since she has a love of reading, she felt encouraging youth to join a book club could be a good way to achieve that.

“I know there’s a lot of kids who are struggling in the schools and just in general with reading, and I want to bring excitement to the stories,” she says.

The Bookaneers have been meeting at the Berrymoor Centre every Thursday night from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for the past couple of months. Patty says the use of the hall was donated to them, courtesy of the 3Bs Board. The club has received book donations, and parents have been helping out by bringing healthy snacks, but the remaining costs come out of Patty’s pocket.

“It just makes me happy. I love seeing how excited the kids get with the books, and I’m very grateful that they’ve all really enjoyed the book choices that we’ve had so far,” she says.

Originally, the plan was to make it just a junior book club. However, it has become much more than that. Patty brought some of the toys her kids had used to the hall, and now they also have activities to participate in before they settle in to read.

“A lot of aunts, grandparents, and parents come, and then everyone just kind of gets to visit as well,” says Patty.

Though the book club is aimed at area residents, Patty says she wouldn’t turn away anyone who was willing to drive out to the club. The club is free to join, though donations are appreciated.

“We’re willing to expand and I can definitely get more parent volunteers to come out,” she says.

Currently, there are two groups reading two different books. The members get to choose which book they are more comfortable reading. The ages of the children are five to 13.

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Patty says the children are always given the option to read aloud if they would like to, but she won’t ask them to because she wants them to feel comfortable. 

“The last thing I want is for anyone leaving our group feeling discouraged,” she says. 

Patty is also considering holding an adult book club in the future. She says she’s been putting feelers out to see if any parents would be interested.

Along with the book club, Patty also has a park play at the playground at the Berrymoor Centre every second Monday. She brings her son Atlas along for 5 p.m. and any kids are welcome to come out and join in. 

“Whoever comes, great. Sometimes they don’t and sometimes they do,” she says. “I’m just trying to bring life to our little centre.”

Since he’s started drawing, Dunn has gone through 24 packs of chalk, each containing 40 chalk pieces. There has also been tons of positive feedback for him. 

“Some of the people who walk at 6 a.m. in the mornings have stopped by to tell me how much they liked it.”

“There’s a lot of people who wave and honk,” he says, and many kids stop to tell him how much they love the drawings. 

Dunn says he enjoys how it seems to brighten up the community. “It’s one of the things that parents and kids can both enjoy.”

He also says he’s up to taking requests if anyone has something, in particular, they would like to see. The best place to catch him, he says, is while he’s out drawing on the sidewalks in the evenings.

With hot summer temperatures a day at the river is just the ticket. 

Just a 10 minute drive west of Drayton Valley is the Willey West campground and boat launch. From what I can tell no one knows how the Willey West Campground got its name, there is no mention of it in the local history books and there is also some debate among locals on how to pronounce the name. Is it  “Willey” like the caretaker from Simpsons or “Wiley” like that old coyote that keeps getting bested by the Road Runner? It was a hot debate in my grade six classroom.

The road heading down to the campsite rolls, winds and finishes with a steep downhill. For you cyclists looking to make the trip from Drayton Valley the ups and downs will not disappoint. The road meandering the campground’s treed campsites open up to a large activity field and playground at the heart of the camp. This is a fantastic place to play but in the heat of summer it can be quite hot. 

Following the boat launch signs you will find a large parking lot with a gravel beach and a rocky river bank. The current slows close at the water’s edge but get out too far you may find yourself going on a ride down the river. 

Play in the river

There is a row of Adirondack chairs on the upper bank but many locals opt to bring their own lawn chairs and sit in the shallows, cooling their heels and sipping a pop. Kids splash and play among the rocks at the boat launch. With such hard underfoot conditions, bringing along a pair of water shoes or sandals is a great idea. Sand toys such as buckets and shovels are also great. There is one picnic table at the boat launch.  

With such beautiful scenery it is important to remember that the water can be dangerous. Often the water’s surface masks the turbulent activity below. If you look to the bend just south of the boat launch below the surface there are some powerful undertows and have taken more than one life in recent years. Although the North Saskatchewan River is a class 5 river, being cautious, using life jackets, and keeping a watchful eye is always a great idea. 

As part of Canada’s broader trapper and fur trade history the North Saskatchewan River was once a vast trade route. By 1776, the North West Company had begun to travel up the North Saskatchewan to give competition to the Hudson’s Bay Company. South along the North Saskatchewan River Boggy (or Bogey) Hall is one refuge stop the famed David Thompson stopped at during his time with the North West Company. This clearing can be accessed from the Powerhouse Road near Lodgepole through a network of lease roads. Fast forward a century and industry and modernization came to the area. 

In 1913, upstream from Rocky Rapids, Edmonton Hydro-Electric Power planned to build a dam; but it was funded by a British syndicate and all funding stopped with the outbreak of WWI. The great flood of 1915 wiped out all evidence of dam building. In the 1930’s coal in the seams in the riverbanks sold for $2.50/ton.

Pan for Gold

If coal isn’t a mineral that interests you, maybe you’d like to spend your time panning for gold. 

Although gold rush fever never took hold of west central Alberta like it did the Yukon panning for gold is still a fun activity you can do at the river’s edge. I have yet to know anyone who struck it rich doing this but even just finding a few flakes here and there can feel like you won the lottery. 

Hiking the trails

Hiking from the Willey West boat launch is also an activity for the to do list.  If you head south along the river edge on a sandy hiking trail the curves along give you a view of the new Drayton Valley River Bridge. The original two-lane bridge structure was built in 1956. It replaced a ferry crossing further upstream. The ferry crossing brought its own set of challenges. Eleanor Pickup, the namesake for the local arts centre, re-lived her experience with the old ferry crossing in the Drayton Valley Historical Society book “Trappers, Loggers, Homesteaders and Oilmen.”  

“…I am first on. “What’s happening? The car made the ferry bob around like a rubber ball. The front of the ferry was higher than the back, “Oh NO!” I thought. Then the back was higher than the front.” 

Mrs. Pickup managed to navigate her car on and off the ferry but in a time before backup cams, and big car fronts the task wasn’t for the faint of heart. 

 In 2010 construction broke ground on a new two-lane bridge that you see today with completion being reached in 2016.  

Along the hike there are viewpoint benches to rest on. You can go all the way under the bridge but eventually the trail dead ends and so begins the journey back. 

Biking the trails

If you head from the north end of the boat launch parking lot there is another hiking/biking trail that connects with the Hill Top and Hillside trail systems. These trails were developed along with the construction of the new river bridge. 

Hiking and biking the trails is best to do in the morning or evening on a hot day. Although both trails are covered by a thick forest canopy, they do not have any water source. So bringing water is encouraged if you are heading out during the heat of the day. Also before you go have a look at the trail maps on www.epbrparkscouncil.org because although these are two loops they only intersect at one point and if not planned properly you can find yourself on the trail longer than you expected.

Spending a day or a weekend in the Eagle Point Provincial Park at Willey West Campground is a fantastic way to enjoy the summer heat. 

Try these DV100 training routes

Just beyond the western borders of Drayton Valley is a series of township roads and secondary highways that creates an amazing training ground for anyone looking to tackle the DV100, DV60 or the DV40, this September.

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Tips for beginner mountain bikers

Rocks, berms, extreme pitches, however you slice it, mountain biking is not for the faint of heart. But with a little can-do attitude and grit it can become a fun pastime during any age or stage of life. This summer Rae and Bell decided that they wanted to try something new. Although they were no strangers to road cycling, the purchase of a e-mountain bike got them off the asphalt onto the trail.

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Three trips for your winter wonder list

Snowshoeing is a fun way to get outside, stretch your legs and add a little interest to your snowy winter walks. With the Eagle Point Provincial Park and Provincial Recreation area right on our doorstep there are endless places to explore by snowshoe. But for those of you who are just getting started here are three of my favourite places to get you going.

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Experience the rich history of Drayton Valley and Brazeau County with a visit to the Drayton Valley Museum!

Conveniently located just off Cowboy Trail, AB-22, the Drayton Valley Museum showcases the history of a community that never gives up.

Explore the museum’s five historic buildings with displays of the agricultural, oilfield and pioneer history of Brazeau County, and take a step back in time to discover the lives of some of Drayton Valley’s earliest residents on a guided tour of the grounds.

With a variety of stories, objects, permanent and temporary exhibits, the Drayton Valley Museum is sure to have something to interest everyone!

Follow the museum on social media or watch their website for updated programs and events happening throughout their summer operational months. The museum is open seasonally (May-August) daily: 11am-5pm. Admission is free.

Click to view online exhibits

Museum Activity Ideas

Self Guided – Historic Walking Tour (Downtown Drayton Valley)

Special plaques have been created since 2013 to commemorate significant historic locations. Seven locations are recognized with plaques to date.

As you stroll along the sidewalks of our downtown area, let your imagination take you to a time where gas was just 20¢ a gallon, where the average home was under $20K ( although many of the roughnecks lived in skid shacks) and the mud was considered stickier than anywhere else! Enjoy!

Click here for a tour map

Explore the Grounds – Open Air Exhibits

The Drayton Valley Museum has 5 historic buildings on their grounds that are part of there permanent exhibit collection. Click here to find out more about the history of each building. 

Have a Picnic on the Grounds

The Drayton Valley Museum grounds have a number of picnic tables, they are also located near the playgrounds, and recreation fields located in West Valley Lions Park. 

Museum Exhibits

Buck Lake is located 33 min South of Drayton Valley. The closest access to amenities are in the communities of Buck Lake and Alder Flats. It is a large lake that once was used as a commercial fishery and as a means to move logs to the early sawmills.

Buck Lake can be accessed from three different access points:

  • From Hwy 22 turn east on to TWP 464 and  signs will direct you to the Buck Lake Provincial Recreation Area and campground  where you will find a boat launch.
  • From Hwy 13 go directly through the community of Buck Lake and off Lakeshore Drive at the community campground you will find an access point.
  • From Hwy 13 turn onto TWP 761  and follow the signage to Calhoun Bay Provincial Recreation Area and campground. This is located on the East side of the river.

Buck Lake is a hot spot for winter and summer fishing. Species of fish found in Buck Lake include  Walleye, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, Lake Whitefish. 

Please review Alberta Guide to Sportfishing Regulations for more information about fishing in this lake.

I suggested to my daughter that she name her first child Grahamina if it’s a girl. I haven’t managed to come up with a good boy’s name yet. 

Here in Alberta, Noah is once again the most popular name for newborn boys, according to info that winged its way into my inbox a couple of weeks ago from the nice people at Service Alberta. On the girls’ side Olivia took the top spot in 2025, as she has done for the last several years.

It’s an interesting phenomenon* that kids’ names seem to drift in and out of fashion, like long hair, flared jeans and the federal New Democrats. Some of that is probably due to the impact of celebrities. It should surprise nobody if we see an uptick in Taylors due to the global dominance of Taylor Swift, while recent events mean the popularity of Andrew is likely to fall off a cliff.**

Looking back at my elementary school class, we had a couple of Davids, a Stephen, an Allan… on the girls’ side there was Jennifer, June, Dorothy and Elspeth. There was also a cluster of more overtly Scottish names:  Alastair, Fraser, Morag and several Fionas. Little did any of them dream that more than 50 years later they’d be name checked in the Drayton Valley and District Free Press. What a strange world we live in. 

Anyway, there were certainly no Noahs, apart from that guy with the boat from the Bible, who was not in my class (I’m old but not that old) so doesn’t really count. I don’t remember any Olivias either, although back then girls were both terrifying and mysterious to me, so who knows.  

What I can tell you is that you couldn’t swing a cat in 1960s Glasgow without hitting a Graham.*** At one point there were three of us in my elementary class. Since I moved to Canada I believe I’ve only met one. ****

Meanwhile here in present day Alberta the rest of the top six boys’ names for last year were Theodore, Oliver, Henry, Jack and Lucas. Amelia, Emma, Sophia, Charlotte, and Violet round out the girls’ side. 

There were more than 52,000 little bundles of joy registered in this province in 2025, with 14,500 unique names. That sounds like a lot, but presumably some are close to duplicates, so Brandy, Brandi and Brandee counts three times, which doesn’t seem fair really.

Anyway, it doesn’t look like there were any Grahaminas, and my daughter didn’t appear to be particularly taken with the suggestion. So if anyone out there is looking for a unique name for their newborn, Grahamina is there for the taking. You can thank me later. Although I suspect your daughter may not be so grateful 

* Disclaimer: Phenomenon may not actually be interesting.

** That’s cliff as in geographical feature, not Cliff as in Clifford. Writing is hard.

***This was before the European Union stepped in and banned cat swinging across the continent. 

**** I mean one Graham. I’ve met lots of cats. That’s cats as in Tom Kitten, not cats as in Cat Stevens. I’ve never met him.

She also feels strongly about the seniors in the community, who have contributed so much of their efforts to make Drayton Valley the town that it currently is.

“I felt that it was past due for our town to give back to our seniors and help them out as much as possible. Without them we wouldn’t have had a town to call home.”

Driessen says the project has taken a while to put together. “It’s been in the works for quite a few years and we have to thank [many] for their contributions. It’s been a community collaboration without a doubt.”

Newberry says she is also grateful for the generosity and hard work of community members, including one local hockey team, that were able to ensure the project was a success.

Driessen says this service isn’t just for medical appointments. She says in some cases that means getting groceries, going to the pharmacy, or sometimes, the polls for an election.

“We will be providing a special in town service every Wednesday, so that our seniors can go shopping and get their groceries or medications along with their senior discounts,” says Newberry.

There will be a fee for the service, says Driessen. The Town researched and found a reasonable cost comparison with cab services in the community. Driessen says it will be comparable to cab services. “It does, of course, give a bit of a break,” she says.

In the future, Driessen says they would like to see some public funding allotted to the service to help lower the cost for those who need it.

Newberry says that paying for the service is set up with a digital payment service, allowing family members to easily help out their loved ones. 

“It will work on digital payment service program where a family member or the person (senior or disabled) can purchase a prepaid visa gift card. Every time a person needs a ride the card will be debited the amount of the ride. Until the card is used up. Then it’s a matter of reloading it with money at that time. Could be a great Christmas gift from family to a loved one,” she says.

Those who are interested in registering their family for the service can contact Drake’s Handi Bus at 780-542-8706.

Brandy Fredrickson sales business card Free Press