Since its founding in 2008, the Drumheller & District Humane Society has worked to ensure surrendered and stray cats in the valley receive the care they deserve. Run by a mix of staff, volunteers, and board members, the non-profit has evolved into an important community resource—one that wouldn’t exist without the support of those around it.

“The community keeps our doors open,” says Lindsay Rothman, a volunteer since 2023 who joined the board in 2024. Through donations, local partnerships, and volunteer hours, the organization has been able to house and care for, on average, 50-80 cats per year. The society is truly grateful to their sponsors who make this possible, including Western Financial, the estate of Clifford & Eileen Ing, Freson Brothers, and contributions made in Hadyn McFadden’s memory.

Still, the number one need remains the same: community support. The group is preparing to expand its mission—with the launch of a dog rehoming program. Currently, there’s no safe overnight facility for dogs in the area. The goal is to change that by renovating their space and grounds.

Liane Pinel wasn’t always an entrepreneur. She spent many years in the corporate world, working hard for others. Eventually though, it became clear that the corporate environment was not designed for single moms. This realization prompted her to take a leap of faith – to create a business that would unite like-minded individuals, fostering collaboration and autonomy while nurturing personal passions. The outcome? The Spirit Within, a metaphysical business cooperative now with three locations, and ambitious plans for more.

Dr. Devaleriola (Chelsey), is the founder and clinic director of Sacred Roots Wellness. She is a board-certified Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and a Registered Acupuncturist. Her passion lies in the delivery of integrative patient-focused healthcare. Prior to studying Eastern Medicine, she spent six years as a Registered Nurse with Alberta Health Services, working in emergency medicine and acute care.

Chelsey graduated with her Doctorate Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture in June 2022, and knew that by the late fall she wanted to have her practice up and running in Drumheller – she just wasn’t sure where. She searched commercial listings and found a few options, eventually settling on a smaller, downtown space. While growth and expansion were always part of her five-year plan, a smaller more manageable space made sense to start. Her goal was to build a clinic that would bridge the gap between Eastern and Western Medicine.

Janice and Margo are the sisters behind Poor Sisters in Rosedale. Though it might be hard to find on maps, it’s easy to get to, and only minutes east of Drumheller, where they grew up. This isn’t Janice’s first career, far from it. She has worked in varied roles from emergency dispatch to eldercare. A common thread throughout her work has been looking after those around her. Janice studied holistic nutrition, with a special interest in using food for healing. She loves creating menus and caring for others through food.

Lana Phillips and Natalie Lum arrived in the Drumheller Valley for a quick summer getaway in 2020 – the Ontario transplants were living in Edmonton at the time. When they arrived in Drumheller they were intrigued by what they saw – a coffee roastery, a pride crosswalk, and miles and miles of scenic bike paths! Within a year of that initial trip the couple were serving their first customers at “Bikes and Bites”, a creative enterprise bringing together their experience, talents and passions.

Michael Love was the first client of Bikes and Bites when the business opened and now Bikes and Bites is a happy client of Community Futures Big Country!

Just a few short years ago Candace and Chris Lorenz were happily advancing their careers in Calgary. Chris, a SAIT Culinary graduate, opened a new restaurant in Inglewood and, “had five spectacular weeks” of operating before the pandemic took hold. While Chris opened and closed (and opened and closed) the restaurant in accordance with AHS restrictions, Candace, a graphic designer, stopped going in to work and started #WFH. With the restaurant industry radically disrupted, Chris decided to get creative. He started making fresh sausages with quality, local ingredients. Soon, “Sausages for the Apocalypse” were flying off the shelves.

Candice Dow already had 20 years of experience in retail fashion before she opened Fashion Sense Boutique, in September 2018. But it was more than just the day-to-day management experience she had gained over that time – even more important were the relationships she had developed with customers, who showed amazing support for her new venture, she says. “I feel that it is imperative to cultivate those personal relationships, especially with a small, independent business – you can’t rely on the history or name recognition of a chain store. Genuine and reliable customer service is of the utmost importance.”