By this time next week Drayton Valley will have a new mayor. Before you make your choice at the ballot box on Monday we wanted to give you a little more information on the two candidates who are seeking Drayton Valley’s top job. We asked Corey Peebles and Nancy Dodds to answer 10 questions in their own words. Below are their responses.
Breton Dental Clinic
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St. Anthony Catholic Church
St. Anthony’s Parish Drayton Valley. Weekend mass Saturday and Sunday
B.D. Lock and Key Ltd.
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Who is Nancy Dodds?
Why do you want to be mayor?
I believe Drayton Valley residents want and need a mayor that will lead the community with openness, transparency, and good governance. Who is fully committed to put in the hard work and has the community in mind.
I love this community, the spirit of hope, innovation and drive resonates within me. I want to give back to my home, ensure everyone’s voices are heard and create a safe, thriving community for years to come.
I have the experience, education and knowledge to continue pushing forward. I know how to build consensus through hard work and achieve success. I am so inspired and excited to be the voice and the action to create a community that works for all of us and is stronger together..
What do you like best about Drayton Valley?
Drayton Valley is a wonderful community full of spirited, strong residents, and endless opportunities. I love the work hard, play hard mindset, the innovation and creativity that runs deep in our roots. When crisis hits, we pull together.
What’s your favourite TV show?
Not a TV show kind of person, I’m more of a binge watcher when I get the chance. Love a good Apple or Netflix series…too many to pick a favourite.
Who was your childhood hero?
I have three : Wonder woman – I have a scar on my head that connects us. Bob Geldof – As a child I was inspired by the movement he started and wanted to make a difference. It inspired me to make a difference in the world and fight for things I believe in. My Mom – One of the hardest working women I know and she would drop everything if I needed her.
What are your hobbies/interests?
Time with family, I love the seasons and getting outdoors; skiing, snowboarding, skating, nature, meditation, qigong, chess, designing and a good book!
What’s your proudest accomplishment?
University graduate! I started my post-secondary studies fresh out of high school with a love for architecture and drafting, however I did not graduate.
I overcame the fear, and decided to go back to school while I owned a business (partnership), family and having two young daughters. I decided instead of building houses I would build cities, and out of this came my education and passion for Land Use Planning and Development.
What have you been hearing from people during the campaign?
They are proud of the community that they live in and are generally happy. They’re happy to see me and thank me for coming out. Some of the areas of concern are pot holes, homelessness, rural crime and the need for local enforcement.
How would your friends describe you?
Organized, dependable, hard working and creative.
What’s something about you people don’t know?
I have a yellow belt in Tae Kwon do. I know what you’re thinking, “ it’s not a black belt.” But this is where the seeds of knowledge have really been planted and I sure do love sparring.
Where would you like to see Drayton Valley in four years?
We seem to have hit a few bumps in the road over the last few years, but our journey is changing. The next four years are going to be exciting for Drayton Valley. We will build an asset management plan that prioritizes our projects and looks at the best possible investment decisions for our infrastructure assets. Our local College is buzzing with students, creating entrepreneurial opportunities and transitioning students into job placements. Our economy is thriving and moving forward, creating opportunities for everyone. A healthy, safe vibrant community with endless opportunities has made its way back into our community. The spirit is high and we are stronger together.
The Team Auctions Centre will be a busy place in March as it hosts the U11 A and B teams Division Finals on two different weekends.
Kara Westerlund, a member of the social committee for the event, says this community was selected after the Drayton Valley Minor Hockey Association put in a bid with Hockey Alberta.
“We came out on top,” says Westerlund. “I’ve been involved in hockey for a while; this is the first time we’ve ever been successful … so it’s quite exciting.”
DVMHA is expecting up to nine teams for the finals. Two of those teams will be from Drayton, as the host team always gets a spot, even if they aren’t in the top spot to make the finals.
“The neat thing is that both the A and the B team are at the top of their league right now, but that could change in a heartbeat with the games that are remaining,” says Westerlund.
The first weekend, March 7 and 8, will be the finals for the B teams, and the second weekend, March 14 and 15, will be for the A team.
Putting on the event will take the work of many volunteers, says Westerlund. She says they will need people to organize volunteers, to put together the player bags, cover the clocks for the games, score keep, play the music, man the penalty boxes, and more to keep everything running smoothly.
Some local businesses have also stepped up to help out with the finals, says Westerlund, with one providing all the hockey pucks for the event.
“Outside of the hockey… it’s so cool for our community to be picked to host something like this,” says Westerlund. “There’s potentially up to nine teams that are going to be in town, and there’s an average of 16 to 18 kids on a team.”
Westerlund says they already know they are going to fill up at least one hotel, with a high likelihood of filling two or more for both weekends in March.
“When they come, they bring their families and they have to eat, so the whole hospitality side and service industry in Drayton is going to see a massive boost that weekend for sure,” she says.
Ryan Fynn, the president of the Drayton Valley Hospitality and Tourism Authority, says these types of events are always great for the community.
He says with 150 hotel rooms being booked for two nights, the food, the fuel, and possible shopping, the economic impact will be around $200,000 put back into the community.
“Any time these finals come to Drayton, it’s always been how can we help them the best,” he says. “The biggest thing is highlighting the community and making these teams want to come back to Drayton.”
Fynn says the DVHTA has always supported minor hockey with sponsorship funds, marketing opportunities, or items for the players’ bags.
“It definitely falls right in line with what we’re all about,” he says. “We’re excited that they were awarded the bid from Hockey Alberta and glad they’re able to follow through with it.”
Westerlund says aside from the economic benefits of these events, there’s something that’s even more important.
“All the work is worth it; it’s for the kids at the end of the day,” says Westerlund. “We all know, even as adults, that moments like this and weekends like this are memorable for the rest of their lives. They will remember this.”
She says they want to make sure the event is special for the kids and shows off the community.
How do I love thee? … Ummm
Close observers of current events, or anyone with a pulse for that matter, has probably noticed that the world is a pretty crappy place right now. How crappy? Well, it’s as crappy as it’s ever been as far as I can remember, and I’ve been around since the Dead Sea was just sick. It’s got to the point where I dread checking the news every morning for fear of whatever fresh atrocity has emerged overnight.
But we’re not going to talk about that this week. It’s almost Valentine’s Day, so let’s talk about love.
I love people. Not all of them obviously. There are one or two out there who I wouldn’t cross the street to pee on if they were on fire. But I was thinking the other day that there are a surprising number of people, here in Drayton Valley and in other places too, who in one way or another make my life better. Some of them do it on purpose. Some of them do it by accident. And some of them do it simply by existing. But I’m grateful for each and every one of them.
I love sitting outside on my deck on the first real spring day and watching as six months worth of dog poo gradually appears through the snow on my neighbour’s lawn. Other people’s problems are the best kind of problems.
And I do love the sunshine we get here. I grew up in Glasgow, where we were taught to believe that any sunny day might be the last we’d see for a generation, so you learned to appreciate a bit of blue sky when you saw it.
I love salty snacks. They are so darned tasty. Sadly, it’s become increasingly obvious over the last few years that those same delicious treats are trying to kill me. But unrequited love is still love.
I love my job. Or I do some of the time. Sure there are days when it’s a pain and I really don’t feel like dealing with another story about sewers or snow removal. But those days aren’t that common and I’m privileged to be able to do something that for the most part I enjoy. And I’m also lucky to work with people who I rather like. Don’t tell them. They must never know.
I love Canada. This year marks four decades since I made this country my home. I imagine there’ll be a parade of some kind on May 19 to mark the anniversary. This is a great place to be. Sure we’ve got some problems – winter’s aren’t great, food has become too expansive and apparently Justin Bieber has a new record coming out – but this is still one of the best, perhaps the very best, countries in the world by pretty much any measure. Shut up Sweden, nobody’s talking to you.
I love that this is a long weekend, which is exactly 1.5 times better than a regular weekend. Yes, observant readers might notice I have used that joke before, but that doesn’t make it any less true.
And I love how easy it was to come up with this list. The world is a grim place right now, so I consider myself lucky to be able to say that here at home things are not too bad really. I hope you’re able to do the same.
Elevator back in action
After a wait of several months, residents at the Wishing Well once again have a working elevator.
Since October last year the elevator has been out of commission while the province waited on parts for the repair. Brazeau Foundation CAO Denise Chesterman says some of the parts were coming from the United States, which only added to the wait time.
However, once they reported to the Province that the elevator wasn’t working, they were given approval right away to start the process. Chesterman says she was grateful for how well the Province worked with them to ensure it was taken care of as quickly as possible.
Though the elevators weren’t working, the staff at the Wishing Well and the Shangri-La Lodge were doing what they could to accommodate or help those who would typically need the elevators. They even went so far as to install a washer and dryer on the second floor to help residents easily access laundry services.
Once the parts came in and the elevator was repaired, the Alberta Elevating Devices and Amusement Rides Safety Association inspected the repair to ensure it was safe for use.
Chesterman says the Wishing Well’s elevator isn’t the first thing the Brazeau Foundation has had issues with. She says about ten years ago, one of the elevators in the Shangri-La Lodge had to be repaired, and while it wasn’t down for as long, it was not a quick fix, either.
Sylvia Angus-McConnell, the housing manager for the Wishing Well, says she’s been receiving a lot of comments from the residents, and they are all happy they can use it again.
Every building run by the Brazeau Foundation is owned by the Province, and the care and maintenance of the elevators has always fallen under provincial responsibility. However, Chesterman and Jeannette Vatter, a board member for the Brazeau Foundation, say the province has always been great about ensuring the elevators are inspected, kept in good condition, and repaired as quickly as possible if there is an issue.
Did somebody say the F word?
Let’s start this week with a cautionary tale.
A long, long time ago there was a push to build a fieldhouse in Drayton Valley. It began as an idea to create a dedicated space for indoor soccer. That sounded just dandy. Then some other folks got involved and they added all sorts of stuff to the proposal, so the facility was going to include everything from athletics to archery. And then someone came up with the idea to add a banquet hall too, because why not?
The proposed multi-purpose fieldhouse began to look a lot like one of those tools they used to sell on late night television. You know, the kind of thing that’s a hammer, and a screwdriver and a spirit level and a wrench all built into one. The trouble with that kind of gadget is that it’s usually not a terribly good hammer or wrench or whatever, because it’s trying to do too much. So while trying to please everybody, the fieldhouse project collapsed under the weight of its own good intentions. Municipal staff had put a lot of effort into trying to make it happen. Volunteer groups had worked hard to raise money. So when the fieldhouse hit the skids the debacle left a bad taste in a lot of mouths. The only part of the project that came to fruition was the banquet hall, which evolved into the MacKenzie Conference Centre. The MacKenzie Centre is great, but you can’t play soccer in it. Well, you probably could, but it wouldn’t be a very good idea.
I mention this because I, along with everyone else in Drayton Valley and Brazeau County, am being asked for my opinion on the future of recreation in the community. In case you missed it, there’s a survey on the Town of Drayton Valley website.
I took that survey so you don’t have to.
Perhaps I’m not really the target audience. They start by asking which facilities you use. I’m not much of a swimmer – more of a sinker really – so I have used the new pool precisely twice since it opened. Mind you, that’s a dramatic increase from the old pool, which I used once in 20 years.
Skatepark? Nope. Outdoor rink? Nope. Soccer fields? Nope. Omniplex? I’ve popped in to use the washrooms a couple of times. Does that count?
As far as other facilities are concerned, I have been to Whitby Hall quite a lot. I even got married there once. But those visits, plus a couple to Easyford, have almost all been for weddings or funerals. Does that count as recreation? I suppose there’s dancing at some of them.
Anyway, in spite of the fact I don’t use those facilities, I can see the value of having them in Drayton valley/Brazeau. Good recreational opportunities add to the quality of life and they make the entire community a more attractive place to live and work. Just because my own preferred form of recreation is sitting on my deck drinking beer, doesn’t mean it’s that way for everyone.
Next on the survey was a page asking what kind of facilities I’d like to see in the future. There, right about the middle, was an option for a fieldhouse. My first thought was, are we really going to go there again? But my second thought was, why not?
The survey makes it quite clear that the list of possible future facilities are just ideas, and that each one would come at a cost. A fieldhouse would be a very expensive option and would take years to come to fruition.
But it’s something to think about, and I think there’s a conversation worth having.
It’s been close to 20 years since the proposed multi-purpose fieldhouse died on the drawing board. A lot of things have changed since then. Maybe it’s time to try again.
Wild Rose to charge for busing
Due to a gap between provincial funding and actual transportation costs, the Wild Rose School Division will be charging busing fees for students beginning in the 2026/27 school year.
In a statement to the parents, WRSD superintendent Jodie Mattia explained that rising costs for transportation are the reason for the new fees. Since 2019, the division has been using contracted operators for busing to reduce costs associated with maintenance and replacement. Beginning in the 2024/25 school year, the division has been unable to stretch the grant funds from the province to cover all expenses.
“… bus contractors are experiencing rising costs in maintaining and updating the bus fleet, fuel and insurance,” says Mattia in her statement.
The decision on the fees was made at the January 20 board meeting.
“This is our second year in a row with a million dollars in deficit for transportation,” says WRSD board chair Daryl Scott.
The fees that parents will have to pay will depend on how far they are from the school their child is attending. Scott says students are divided into two categories for busing: eligible and ineligible, and the rate they pay depends where the students fall.
Eligible students are K-6 students who live more than 1.6 km from their school and 7-12 students who live more than 2 km from their school. The busing fees for these students will be $300.
Ineligible students are K-6 students who live less than 1.6 km from their school and 7-12 students who live less than 2 km from their school. The busing fees for these students will be $600.
The fee will be applied to every child using WRSD transportation services, with families getting a discounted rate when they have three or more children using the busing system.
Scott says the transportation funds they receive from the Province are separate from the funds they give for the students’ education. During the first year of deficit, the division used funds from their transportation reserve to cover the gap.
Rather than implementing these fees on parents without notice, the division will be covering the difference using funds meant for classrooms and instruction. In 2026/27, the implemented fees will be used for cost recovery of the transportation expenses incurred by the division above and beyond what the Province provides in their funding.
Scott says in many cases, the buses in the division aren’t being fully utilized by students. There are seats available for every registered child, but some of them are finding alternate means of getting to school.
Scott says in many cases, the buses in the division aren’t being fully utilized by students. There are seats available for every registered child, but some of them are finding alternate means of getting to school.
“The majority of our buses on paper are full, but people aren’t using the bus,” says Scott.
He says the fee may deter those who aren’t actually using the bus from holding onto a seat, which might allow the division to reduce some of the routes and save some costs as well. However, he says they still have to be careful with rerouting because they want to have students home at a reasonable hour.
Mattia says there will be payment options made available for parents who do not wish to pay the whole fee at the beginning of next year.
Parents who have questions or concerns about the fees are encouraged to call the Ward One trustees, Becky May at 780-514-6122, or Daryl Scott at 780-542-1945, or the Ward Two trustee, Holly Ekstrom, at 780-696-2065. Questions may also be directed to the division itself at 403-845-3376.
Opinion: Don’t write off seniors
There is a little bit of a stereotype around newspapers. Some people think that the only people who read them are seniors. Our data shows otherwise. Typically as soon as you own property or enter the family phase of life, you get more involved in the community. And that includes reading the newspaper. So our range of avid readers tends to be 34 plus, not 65 plus. But, regardless, many business owners will decline to advertise in the paper because, “it’s only read by seniors.”
Even if that was the case, I am writing today to say; don’t dis-count seniors.
Seniors make up about 17.5 percent of Drayton Valley’s population according to the 2021 census. Census data states that in 2021 our community has a population of 6,970, and 1,040 of that is 65+. So why is this important information to know?
Boomers’ spending power is stuff of legend. In September 2025, Maclean’s Magazine featured a long form article titled “The Jackpot Generation.” The article explored the implications of the wealth transfer of approximately $1 trillion from boomer parents to their children or grandchildren that is expected to happen over the next 10-15 years.
Drayton Valley has typically been considered a young community with the bulk of our population being well under 65. However, as community founders, and boomers who moved here in the early days of the oil boom age in this community we are lucky to have a portion of our population who have strong community ties, some disposable income, and still favour the traditional ways of doing commerce – face to face.
While this population is on the rise in our community, I am not so sure our businesses have grown to include this demographic in their marketing mix.
Last Wednesday at 2:30 pm I went grocery shopping, and I was amazed at how packed the parking lot was. It was seniors’ discount day, and so on top of your regular shoppers you are now seeing an influx of seniors who are discount savvy and are looking to experience the community while doing so. This got me thinking. Why didn’t other retail locations piggy back on the success of the grocery store with a Wednesday seniors’ discount day? Or where are the early bird dinner specials to fill up the slow 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm time slots in the restaurants?
Seniors in 2026, are not shut-ins. They are active in the community, and in life. They have disposable income, and they still believe in traditional business transactions. If you think the newspaper is “only read by seniors,” you’re wrong. But even if it was, then choosing not to advertise because of this fact may mean that you are not reaching a critical demographic in this community and you are leaving money on the table.
Who is Corey Peebles?
Why do you want to be mayor?
Throughout my life, I’ve been a guy that when things get tough, I step up. I love Drayton Valley and I feel that I have the skills to work closely with the community to take us to the next level.
What do you like best about Drayton Valley?
Besides our amazing choices in restaurants? It’s the people! Drayton Valley is full of Friendly, encouraging, approachable and entrepreneurial people.
What’s your favourite TV show?
Right now, I would have to go with Ted Lasso. A football coach moves to the UK to be a Soccer coach. New Culture, knows nothing about the sport, but his passion for people and building teams makes all the difference (don’t want to spoil it for you with any more details)
Who was your childhood hero?
My Uncle Kevin. He was a bodybuilder, didn’t drink coffee and was huge! Kids in the school yard would say “my dad can beat up your dad” and I would say “my uncle can beat up all your dads”
What are your hobbies/interests?
I love anything fun with a group of people, working out, spending time with my wife and kids and lately…disc golf! Surprisingly fun once you stop losing the discs in the bushes
What’s your proudest accomplishment?
I’m really glad you didn’t ask me this in person as I feel like the long pause to reflect on this would be quite awkward for you. I would say being a dad. There is something about actively watching the legacy you are trying to build into your kids that is incredibly rewarding. Even with the mayoral race. Win or lose, my boys will see that I did my best and that’s all I ask of them.
What have you been hearing from people during the campaign?
Fix the Roads!
How would your friends describe you?
Energetic, visionary and funny (I’m assuming they say the last one…because I think I’m funny)
What’s something about you people don’t know?
I can’t skate! I love hockey, but never learned how to stop on skates. I think there should be a midnight CanSkate course for people like me that can learn without fear of being seen.
Where would you like to see Drayton Valley in four years?
Unified in community spirit
In agreement for our plans for economic growth (and utilizing a redeveloped program for job creation)
Having clear long range plans for our infrastructure needs
Great working relationship with the County and the Province
Having practical solutions for addressing homelessness and poverty
Seeing our region full of tourism opportunities!
The Team Auctions Centre will be a busy place in March as it hosts the U11 A and B teams Division Finals on two different weekends.
Kara Westerlund, a member of the social committee for the event, says this community was selected after the Drayton Valley Minor Hockey Association put in a bid with Hockey Alberta.
“We came out on top,” says Westerlund. “I’ve been involved in hockey for a while; this is the first time we’ve ever been successful … so it’s quite exciting.”
DVMHA is expecting up to nine teams for the finals. Two of those teams will be from Drayton, as the host team always gets a spot, even if they aren’t in the top spot to make the finals.
“The neat thing is that both the A and the B team are at the top of their league right now, but that could change in a heartbeat with the games that are remaining,” says Westerlund.
The first weekend, March 7 and 8, will be the finals for the B teams, and the second weekend, March 14 and 15, will be for the A team.
Putting on the event will take the work of many volunteers, says Westerlund. She says they will need people to organize volunteers, to put together the player bags, cover the clocks for the games, score keep, play the music, man the penalty boxes, and more to keep everything running smoothly.
Some local businesses have also stepped up to help out with the finals, says Westerlund, with one providing all the hockey pucks for the event.
“Outside of the hockey… it’s so cool for our community to be picked to host something like this,” says Westerlund. “There’s potentially up to nine teams that are going to be in town, and there’s an average of 16 to 18 kids on a team.”
Westerlund says they already know they are going to fill up at least one hotel, with a high likelihood of filling two or more for both weekends in March.
“When they come, they bring their families and they have to eat, so the whole hospitality side and service industry in Drayton is going to see a massive boost that weekend for sure,” she says.
Ryan Fynn, the president of the Drayton Valley Hospitality and Tourism Authority, says these types of events are always great for the community.
He says with 150 hotel rooms being booked for two nights, the food, the fuel, and possible shopping, the economic impact will be around $200,000 put back into the community.
“Any time these finals come to Drayton, it’s always been how can we help them the best,” he says. “The biggest thing is highlighting the community and making these teams want to come back to Drayton.”
Fynn says the DVHTA has always supported minor hockey with sponsorship funds, marketing opportunities, or items for the players’ bags.
“It definitely falls right in line with what we’re all about,” he says. “We’re excited that they were awarded the bid from Hockey Alberta and glad they’re able to follow through with it.”
Westerlund says aside from the economic benefits of these events, there’s something that’s even more important.
“All the work is worth it; it’s for the kids at the end of the day,” says Westerlund. “We all know, even as adults, that moments like this and weekends like this are memorable for the rest of their lives. They will remember this.”
She says they want to make sure the event is special for the kids and shows off the community.
Close observers of current events, or anyone with a pulse for that matter, has probably noticed that the world is a pretty crappy place right now. How crappy? Well, it’s as crappy as it’s ever been as far as I can remember, and I’ve been around since the Dead Sea was just sick. It’s got to the point where I dread checking the news every morning for fear of whatever fresh atrocity has emerged overnight.
But we’re not going to talk about that this week. It’s almost Valentine’s Day, so let’s talk about love.
I love people. Not all of them obviously. There are one or two out there who I wouldn’t cross the street to pee on if they were on fire. But I was thinking the other day that there are a surprising number of people, here in Drayton Valley and in other places too, who in one way or another make my life better. Some of them do it on purpose. Some of them do it by accident. And some of them do it simply by existing. But I’m grateful for each and every one of them.
I love sitting outside on my deck on the first real spring day and watching as six months worth of dog poo gradually appears through the snow on my neighbour’s lawn. Other people’s problems are the best kind of problems.
And I do love the sunshine we get here. I grew up in Glasgow, where we were taught to believe that any sunny day might be the last we’d see for a generation, so you learned to appreciate a bit of blue sky when you saw it.
I love salty snacks. They are so darned tasty. Sadly, it’s become increasingly obvious over the last few years that those same delicious treats are trying to kill me. But unrequited love is still love.
I love my job. Or I do some of the time. Sure there are days when it’s a pain and I really don’t feel like dealing with another story about sewers or snow removal. But those days aren’t that common and I’m privileged to be able to do something that for the most part I enjoy. And I’m also lucky to work with people who I rather like. Don’t tell them. They must never know.
I love Canada. This year marks four decades since I made this country my home. I imagine there’ll be a parade of some kind on May 19 to mark the anniversary. This is a great place to be. Sure we’ve got some problems – winter’s aren’t great, food has become too expansive and apparently Justin Bieber has a new record coming out – but this is still one of the best, perhaps the very best, countries in the world by pretty much any measure. Shut up Sweden, nobody’s talking to you.
I love that this is a long weekend, which is exactly 1.5 times better than a regular weekend. Yes, observant readers might notice I have used that joke before, but that doesn’t make it any less true.
And I love how easy it was to come up with this list. The world is a grim place right now, so I consider myself lucky to be able to say that here at home things are not too bad really. I hope you’re able to do the same.
After a wait of several months, residents at the Wishing Well once again have a working elevator.
Since October last year the elevator has been out of commission while the province waited on parts for the repair. Brazeau Foundation CAO Denise Chesterman says some of the parts were coming from the United States, which only added to the wait time.
However, once they reported to the Province that the elevator wasn’t working, they were given approval right away to start the process. Chesterman says she was grateful for how well the Province worked with them to ensure it was taken care of as quickly as possible.
Though the elevators weren’t working, the staff at the Wishing Well and the Shangri-La Lodge were doing what they could to accommodate or help those who would typically need the elevators. They even went so far as to install a washer and dryer on the second floor to help residents easily access laundry services.
Once the parts came in and the elevator was repaired, the Alberta Elevating Devices and Amusement Rides Safety Association inspected the repair to ensure it was safe for use.
Chesterman says the Wishing Well’s elevator isn’t the first thing the Brazeau Foundation has had issues with. She says about ten years ago, one of the elevators in the Shangri-La Lodge had to be repaired, and while it wasn’t down for as long, it was not a quick fix, either.
Sylvia Angus-McConnell, the housing manager for the Wishing Well, says she’s been receiving a lot of comments from the residents, and they are all happy they can use it again.
Every building run by the Brazeau Foundation is owned by the Province, and the care and maintenance of the elevators has always fallen under provincial responsibility. However, Chesterman and Jeannette Vatter, a board member for the Brazeau Foundation, say the province has always been great about ensuring the elevators are inspected, kept in good condition, and repaired as quickly as possible if there is an issue.
Let’s start this week with a cautionary tale.
A long, long time ago there was a push to build a fieldhouse in Drayton Valley. It began as an idea to create a dedicated space for indoor soccer. That sounded just dandy. Then some other folks got involved and they added all sorts of stuff to the proposal, so the facility was going to include everything from athletics to archery. And then someone came up with the idea to add a banquet hall too, because why not?
The proposed multi-purpose fieldhouse began to look a lot like one of those tools they used to sell on late night television. You know, the kind of thing that’s a hammer, and a screwdriver and a spirit level and a wrench all built into one. The trouble with that kind of gadget is that it’s usually not a terribly good hammer or wrench or whatever, because it’s trying to do too much. So while trying to please everybody, the fieldhouse project collapsed under the weight of its own good intentions. Municipal staff had put a lot of effort into trying to make it happen. Volunteer groups had worked hard to raise money. So when the fieldhouse hit the skids the debacle left a bad taste in a lot of mouths. The only part of the project that came to fruition was the banquet hall, which evolved into the MacKenzie Conference Centre. The MacKenzie Centre is great, but you can’t play soccer in it. Well, you probably could, but it wouldn’t be a very good idea.
I mention this because I, along with everyone else in Drayton Valley and Brazeau County, am being asked for my opinion on the future of recreation in the community. In case you missed it, there’s a survey on the Town of Drayton Valley website.
I took that survey so you don’t have to.
Perhaps I’m not really the target audience. They start by asking which facilities you use. I’m not much of a swimmer – more of a sinker really – so I have used the new pool precisely twice since it opened. Mind you, that’s a dramatic increase from the old pool, which I used once in 20 years.
Skatepark? Nope. Outdoor rink? Nope. Soccer fields? Nope. Omniplex? I’ve popped in to use the washrooms a couple of times. Does that count?
As far as other facilities are concerned, I have been to Whitby Hall quite a lot. I even got married there once. But those visits, plus a couple to Easyford, have almost all been for weddings or funerals. Does that count as recreation? I suppose there’s dancing at some of them.
Anyway, in spite of the fact I don’t use those facilities, I can see the value of having them in Drayton valley/Brazeau. Good recreational opportunities add to the quality of life and they make the entire community a more attractive place to live and work. Just because my own preferred form of recreation is sitting on my deck drinking beer, doesn’t mean it’s that way for everyone.
Next on the survey was a page asking what kind of facilities I’d like to see in the future. There, right about the middle, was an option for a fieldhouse. My first thought was, are we really going to go there again? But my second thought was, why not?
The survey makes it quite clear that the list of possible future facilities are just ideas, and that each one would come at a cost. A fieldhouse would be a very expensive option and would take years to come to fruition.
But it’s something to think about, and I think there’s a conversation worth having.
It’s been close to 20 years since the proposed multi-purpose fieldhouse died on the drawing board. A lot of things have changed since then. Maybe it’s time to try again.
Due to a gap between provincial funding and actual transportation costs, the Wild Rose School Division will be charging busing fees for students beginning in the 2026/27 school year.
In a statement to the parents, WRSD superintendent Jodie Mattia explained that rising costs for transportation are the reason for the new fees. Since 2019, the division has been using contracted operators for busing to reduce costs associated with maintenance and replacement. Beginning in the 2024/25 school year, the division has been unable to stretch the grant funds from the province to cover all expenses.
“… bus contractors are experiencing rising costs in maintaining and updating the bus fleet, fuel and insurance,” says Mattia in her statement.
The decision on the fees was made at the January 20 board meeting.
“This is our second year in a row with a million dollars in deficit for transportation,” says WRSD board chair Daryl Scott.
The fees that parents will have to pay will depend on how far they are from the school their child is attending. Scott says students are divided into two categories for busing: eligible and ineligible, and the rate they pay depends where the students fall.
Eligible students are K-6 students who live more than 1.6 km from their school and 7-12 students who live more than 2 km from their school. The busing fees for these students will be $300.
Ineligible students are K-6 students who live less than 1.6 km from their school and 7-12 students who live less than 2 km from their school. The busing fees for these students will be $600.
The fee will be applied to every child using WRSD transportation services, with families getting a discounted rate when they have three or more children using the busing system.
Scott says the transportation funds they receive from the Province are separate from the funds they give for the students’ education. During the first year of deficit, the division used funds from their transportation reserve to cover the gap.
Rather than implementing these fees on parents without notice, the division will be covering the difference using funds meant for classrooms and instruction. In 2026/27, the implemented fees will be used for cost recovery of the transportation expenses incurred by the division above and beyond what the Province provides in their funding.
Scott says in many cases, the buses in the division aren’t being fully utilized by students. There are seats available for every registered child, but some of them are finding alternate means of getting to school.
Scott says in many cases, the buses in the division aren’t being fully utilized by students. There are seats available for every registered child, but some of them are finding alternate means of getting to school.
“The majority of our buses on paper are full, but people aren’t using the bus,” says Scott.
He says the fee may deter those who aren’t actually using the bus from holding onto a seat, which might allow the division to reduce some of the routes and save some costs as well. However, he says they still have to be careful with rerouting because they want to have students home at a reasonable hour.
Mattia says there will be payment options made available for parents who do not wish to pay the whole fee at the beginning of next year.
Parents who have questions or concerns about the fees are encouraged to call the Ward One trustees, Becky May at 780-514-6122, or Daryl Scott at 780-542-1945, or the Ward Two trustee, Holly Ekstrom, at 780-696-2065. Questions may also be directed to the division itself at 403-845-3376.
There is a little bit of a stereotype around newspapers. Some people think that the only people who read them are seniors. Our data shows otherwise. Typically as soon as you own property or enter the family phase of life, you get more involved in the community. And that includes reading the newspaper. So our range of avid readers tends to be 34 plus, not 65 plus. But, regardless, many business owners will decline to advertise in the paper because, “it’s only read by seniors.”
Even if that was the case, I am writing today to say; don’t dis-count seniors.
Seniors make up about 17.5 percent of Drayton Valley’s population according to the 2021 census. Census data states that in 2021 our community has a population of 6,970, and 1,040 of that is 65+. So why is this important information to know?
Boomers’ spending power is stuff of legend. In September 2025, Maclean’s Magazine featured a long form article titled “The Jackpot Generation.” The article explored the implications of the wealth transfer of approximately $1 trillion from boomer parents to their children or grandchildren that is expected to happen over the next 10-15 years.
Drayton Valley has typically been considered a young community with the bulk of our population being well under 65. However, as community founders, and boomers who moved here in the early days of the oil boom age in this community we are lucky to have a portion of our population who have strong community ties, some disposable income, and still favour the traditional ways of doing commerce – face to face.
While this population is on the rise in our community, I am not so sure our businesses have grown to include this demographic in their marketing mix.
Last Wednesday at 2:30 pm I went grocery shopping, and I was amazed at how packed the parking lot was. It was seniors’ discount day, and so on top of your regular shoppers you are now seeing an influx of seniors who are discount savvy and are looking to experience the community while doing so. This got me thinking. Why didn’t other retail locations piggy back on the success of the grocery store with a Wednesday seniors’ discount day? Or where are the early bird dinner specials to fill up the slow 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm time slots in the restaurants?
Seniors in 2026, are not shut-ins. They are active in the community, and in life. They have disposable income, and they still believe in traditional business transactions. If you think the newspaper is “only read by seniors,” you’re wrong. But even if it was, then choosing not to advertise because of this fact may mean that you are not reaching a critical demographic in this community and you are leaving money on the table.
Symposium puts focus on mental health
One of Canada’s most sought-after rodeo announcers and motivational speakers returned to his hometown last weekend as the keynote speaker at the Mental Health Awareness Symposium.
Brett Gardiner was born and raised near Drayton Valley and has a grad photo hanging on the walls of Frank Maddock High School.
Shared history is a foundation for the future
Last year we sent our daughter to summer camp, at the request of one of her friends. A text to my husband revealed that this was the summer camp he went to as a kid, as well as his mom and his grandmother. A deeper search showed that his great-grandfather helped build the camp back in 1945.
Working youth are suffering
Not too long ago, I heard a complaint about youth being too lazy to get jobs nowadays. That annoys me to no end because not only is it painting an entire generation with a broad brush, the blame for lower employment rates is placed solely at the feet of the youth, which is not right.
Drayton to host U11 finals
The Team Auctions Centre will be a busy place in March as it hosts the U11 A and B teams Division Finals on two different weekends.
Kara Westerlund, a member of the social committee for the event, says this community was selected after the Drayton Valley Minor Hockey Association put in a bid with Hockey Alberta.
