Cochrane Living - Winter 2016 by Source Media Group

contents VO LUME 6 ISS U E 1 5

W IN TE R 2 0 1 6

16 22

WINTERFEST

08 | Cochrane Winterfest A fun way to get out and celebrate the season BUSINESS

10 | Keeping it real Local business experts bullish on 2017 DEVELOPER FEATURE HOMES MARKET OVERVIEW

20 | Face of the New West

Are you listening to what the numbers are telling you?

Heartland offers new homebuyers family-oriented community with lasting value

COMMUNITY

YOU SAID IT

Whether you’re a traditionalist or a connoisseur, coffee’s always on in Cochrane

ITEMS

12 | Reading between the lines

13 | This bean’s for you

PEOPLE

16 | Boxing club a big hit Whether pro or amateur it’s all about keeping fit and having fun

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note from the editor

He shoots, he scores!

P U B L I S HE R

Source Media Group A SS O CI AT E P U B L I S HE R /E DI TO R |

Brrr. It took a while, but winter is finally here in all its bone-chilling splendor. Of course, if you’re one of those folks who was hoping for a white Christmas, it looks like you might just get your wish. Myself? I don’t have a problem with a little bit of snow, but the minus 20 temperatures I can do without. For sure, let’s hope it’s warmed up a bit by February 25 for Winterfest. Read all about it on page 8 and make plans to join in the outdoor fun for the whole family. For other winter events, both indoors and out, check out the event listings near the back of this magazine. One good way to warm yourself up from the inside out is to grab a hot cup of Joe from your favourite Cochrane coffee house. Sure, you can always count on Timmy’s, Starbucks or even McDonalds for a consistent brew — but if you want to try something a bit more local, a bit more personal, Cochrane doesn’t disappoint. Join writer David Shepherd and his wife Kyla as they go on a quest for coffee starting on page 13. Another good way to stay warm, and fit, is to pull on the old boxing gloves. These days, it’s not about a bunch of guys wailing away on each other. It’s as much about keeping fit, having fun, and making friends as it is about learning pure boxing techniques. From professional fighters, to parents with young kids, Eric de Guzman welcomes all to the Teofista Boxing training centre at Big Hill Springs Estates. Speaking of warming up and keeping fit, how about the local economy? Cochrane Living spoke with both the Town’s economic development department as well as the Chamber of Commerce to get their take on 2017. Turns out they’re “cautiously optimistic,” just like the rest of us. But don’t take my word for it, hear what the experts have to say on page 10. Finally, in keeping with our winter theme, we wrap-up this edition with our You Said It question: What’s your favourite thing about winter? Hmm. That’s a tough one for me, because I don’t like winter. Probably the best thing I like about winter is traveling to Palm Desert, California, for a week every November and March. As for sticking around town, I guess the main positive is that it’s hockey season. Whether it’s kid’s hockey, the Cochrane Generals, or the Calgary Flames, you can find a game every night, all winter long. Rogers Sportsnet is even bringing their Hometown Hockey program to town in February. Even better than watching hockey, however, is playing the game, and I’m lucky enough to be able to play every Friday night with guys I literally grew up with. We’ve been playing with the same bunch for more than 30 years now, some of them I’ve played with since we were seven or eight years old. So there you have it, my favourite thing about winter is definitely hockey. What’s yours?

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Jim Zang

jim.zang@sourcemediagroup.ca A R T DI R E CTO R |

Jean Faye Rodriguez

jean.rodriguez@sourcemediagroup.ca G R A P HI C DE S I G NE R |

Dave Macaulay

dave.macaulay@sourcemediagroup.ca G R A P HI C DE S I G NE R |

Vivian Zhang

vivian.zhang@sourcemediagroup.ca CO NT R I B U TO R S

Kim Amsing, Jeff MacKinnon, Pepper Rodriguez, David Shepherd, Carmen Solana-Martin P HOTO G R A P HY

Kim Amsing, Don Molyneaux, Allison Seto P R O DU CT I O N CO - O R DI NATO R |

Colleen Leier

colleen.leier@sourcemediagroup.ca A DV E R T I S I NG S A L E S

Heather Dougall heather.dougall@sourcemediagroup.ca

Andrea Glowatsky andrea.glowatsky@sourcemediagroup.ca ACCO U NT I NG |

Norma Robertson

accounting@sourcemediagroup.ca

VOLUME 6 ISSUE 15

Copyright 2016 Source Media Group Corp. All rights reserved. Cochrane Living® is published quarterly and is available free through select distribution points in Calgary and Cochrane. Material cannot be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the publishers. Source Media Group Corp. agrees to advertise on behalf of the advertiser without responsibility for claims or misinformation made by the advertiser and acts only as an advertising medium. Source Media Group reserves the right to refuse any advertising at its sole discretion. Contact: Source Media Group, 6109 – 6th Street S.E. Calgary, AB T2H 1L9 E-mail info@sourcemediagroup.ca Tel 403.532.3101; Fax 403.532.3109 Toll free 1.888.932.3101; Printed in Canada. Distributed by Gallant Distribution Services, Media Classified, Source Media Group PUBLICATIONS AGREEMENT NO. 41072011 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Source Media Group, 6109 – 6th Street S.E. Calgary, AB T2H 1L9

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message from the mayor

the Farmers’ Almanac is right, we’re in for a cold, snowy winter. No matter what the

weather, Cochrane’s many pathways, parks and other public spaces are beautiful — so get out to play, take a walk or find a hill to slide down. Please do your part to help keep Cochrane safe this winter by clearing snow and ice from sidewalks around your home or business within 48 hours of a snowfall. Town crews keep main thoroughfares clean and clear, but their mandate is to start with emergency routes, so it may take a little time to get to your neighbourhood. Please be patient, take care (especially around snowplows and sanders), and think about staying home if conditions are really bad. Our recent Rock the Waves ornament sale was a huge success, just in time for Christmas. Thanks to everyone who bought one (or more!) and thanks to the talented artists at Saffron Collective who created them for us. If you missed it, watch for more opportunities to contribute to Cochrane’s new aquatic and curling/multisport centre and watch for updates as we start on the plans for the grand opening next year. Cochrane’s Waste & Recycling team are getting ready to start collecting household organics in April (from all homes that currently get Town waste and recycling collection). Please watch for more announcements and news in the spring. In the meantime, take a look at the Waste & Recycling Calendar delivered to your home this month: it has everything you need to get ready for the new program, as well as lots of other handy Town info. (If you didn’t get a calendar, you can pick one up at the Cochrane RancheHouse or Operational Facilities, 124 Griffin Road). Council members are always available to hear your thoughts or answer questions; our contact information is on the Town website: cochrane.ca/Council. And everyone is welcome to come to Council meetings and hear how issues are discussed and how decisions are made: we meet twice each month, except July, August and December when we only meet once. Wishing you a very merry Christmas and a warm, safe winter!

Mayor Ivan Brooker On behalf of Town Council and staff www.cochrane.ca

TownofCochrane

@TownofCochrane

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around town ClubHouse Activity Centre

he new activity centre at the Cochrane Ranche historic site opened November 5, ready to host arts, recreation and other programming. The renovated building at the top of the hill, now known as the ClubHouse Activity Centre, underwent $395,000 in renovations in 2016 to allow for more programs with better accessibility, more often, all year round. The former Gilbert residence was home to the last family that ranched the property starting in 1949. In 1979, the government of Alberta bought 150 acres, including the residence, to establish the Cochrane Ranche Provincial Historic Site. Maintenance of the site is now handled by the Town of Cochrane. Inside the building, a new layout maximizes program space and includes upgraded lighting, flooring, kitchen appliances, furnace and water tank. The renovations also feature original Cochrane brick, manufactured at the brickworks that was once located on the historic Cochrane Ranche site. A new barrier-free ramp and passenger elevating device makes the building fully accessible, and the new potable water supply meets Alberta Health Services requirements. Outside, updated insulation and energy-efficient windows, a new roof, as well as maintenance-free cladding and deck give the building a refreshed new look and years more useful life. The new driveway accommodates Alberta Transportation’s intention to shut down the old entrance off Highway 1A, and the new outdoor fire pit and improved landscaping mean the location has a wide variety of indoor and outdoor programming space.

Rogers Hometown Hockey

ogers Hometown Hockey comes to Cochrane February 11 and 12 hosted by Canadian sportscasting icon Ron MacLean and co-host Tara Slone at the main entrance to Spray Lakes Sawmills Family Sports Centre. The featured game goes Sunday on Sportsnet with a classic match-up between the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens. Every stop on the nation-wide tour features two full days of activities and celebrations that include music, NHL alumni, local heroes and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. For details watch the website closer to the event date. www.hometownhockey.com

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he Town of Cochrane’ s Proudly Cochrane campaign was awarded gold in the 2016 MarCom marketing and communications competition held November 1 in Dallas. Proudly Cochrane is a joint project of the Town of Cochrane Economic Development and Communications that highlights local companies and locally made goods, inspires local pride and increases commercial and service activity between local residents and businesses. MarCom Awards recognize outstanding achievement by creative professionals in marketing and communication materials and programs. Entries come from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies and freelancers all over the world. It’s one of the biggest creative competitions in the world and is sponsored and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), a 22-year-old international organization. The Town’s Made in Cochrane display at May’s trade show was also awarded an honourable mention. Other Alberta gold award winners include the City of Calgary, Calgary Economic Development, the Town of Okotoks and City of Chestermere. For more information on the MarCom Awards, including a full list marcomawards.com of winners, is on

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Cochrane wins gold at MarCom Awards

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around town Paralympic Silver Medalist calls Cochrane home

ocal Paralympian Stefan Daniel was honoured at the October Town Council meeting for his silver medal in triathlon at the Rio Paralympic Games. The para-triathlon includes a 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike and 5-kilometre run. Daniel, who grew up in Cochrane, has come first or second in eight triathlon competitions in the last three years, including this summer’s Paralympics. Cochrane’s senior manager of community services, Suzanne Gaida, coached Daniel in swimming at Cochrane’s Big Hill Leisure Pool when he was a young competitor. “Everyone in the Cochrane swimming community is so

proud of Stefan and his tremendous accomplishments,” Gaida says. “He works so hard and puts so much energy into his training — it’s great to see it paying off on the world stage.” paralympic.ca/ See Stefan’s full athlete profile at stefan-daniel

Rockland

urnswest had a strong turnout at their first open house earlier this fall to inform the general public of their plans to infill the gravel pit off of Griffin Rd. with a new 148 acre subdivision. Feedback on the community itself, currently known as Rockland, showed support for the third option presented due to the greater amount of green space, including a sports field near Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre, and better balance between residential and business/commercial development. The idea of having more space for businesses was also supported, with some people interested in the possibility of having a hotel in the area to take advantage of the rec centre being just down the street and perhaps having some senior housing nearby so that seniors could easily get to the shopping centres. Some residents from the nearby Riverview neighbourhood were concerned about the type of multifamily units that could end up being across from them but were generally assured that any such buildings along River Avenue. would be town homes. Any larger multi-family structures would be further east next to

Test your Cochrane IQ the economic centre and would likely be limited to four storeys. “Overall, in talking to people, the most common sentiment is that people are in agreement that infilling the gravel site is a good use as long as it’s a good mix of biz, res and trans,” said media spokesperson Veronica Kennedy. The aspect of the development most people were concerned about was the potential impact of up to 750 homes would have on traffic. “We did receive clear feedback with all three options that residents want traffic studied,” said Kennedy. “Getting this level of community input is excellent because it helps us to design a preferred concept... that we would then take to the town for application,” said Kennedy. She was not only happy about the amount of feedback they got but its calibre with many going into detail and providing creative ideas on how Rockland could be improved. The next open house planned to precede Town Council’s final review of the development, expected to occur sometime next spring. For more www.rocklandpark.ca information

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verything you ever wanted to know about Cochrane, but didn’t know who to ask. Did you know there’s an entire section of the Town of Cochrane website dedicated to answering your questions? In fact, there’s answers to more than 280 of the most frequently asked questions about Cochrane; from who to call about a barking dog, to how to apply for building permits and business licences, to how soon after a snowfall you’re expected to shovel your walk. Got a question that’s not on the list? Cochrane Intelligent Questions (IQ — get it?) is your source for everything you want to know about how the Town of Cochrane works, where facilities are located, how you can get involved in events and programs, and what the plans www.cochrane.ca/ are for the future. FAQ.aspx

winterfest

Cochrane Winterfest A fun way to get out and celebrate the season n By Carmen Solana-Martin

very year, families in Cochrane come together for a fun-filled festival that celebrates the best winter has to offer. Cochrane’s 7th annual Winterfest will be held on Saturday, February 25th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mitford Park. Family-oriented Winterfest appeals to not only to children, but their parents and grandparents as well. Marina Chabbert, Chair of the Cochrane Area Events Society (CAES), says the intent of the event is to provide a fun incentive to get people outdoors and enjoying the winter months. “We are planning a return of some fun activities from last year, as well as organizing many new ones for this February festival,” says Chabbert. “We want everyone to embrace and celebrate Winter.” “Thinking back at all our past activities, many favourites come to mind: large ice sculptures, karaoke, human curling, hay rides, bobsled demonstrations, human dog sled rides, pony rides, log sawing contest, calf roping trials, hay bale mazes, real curling, snowshoe tryouts, and cross country ski activities.” Chabbert said each year CAES adds new activities to the festival to provide variety, however some, such as the pony rides, return year after year. “Kids have come to expect the ponies and they are extremely popular.” To warm up after taking part in the many outdoor activities, people can participate in family games inside the huge heated Igloo tent. The tent also offers a perfect spot for children to participate in art classes and crafts hosted by local businesses.

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“Kids always have a blast, and the feedback they give us is that they don’t want to leave the festival to go home,” said Chabbert. “It’s rewarding to see children totally exhausted from playing so hard and smiling throughout the day.” The main outdoor stage is also a hit, as families are entertained by children performers, local signing clubs, and dance studios. “The energy of the day is upbeat, happy, positive and fun,” said Chabbert. Chabbert noted that her committee strives every year to make the event affordable for families. Entry fee is $5 for adults. Kids 12 and under are free. Winterfest has become so popular, that attendance has increased from 500 attendees in 2011, to 4000 participants last year. Along with Cochrane residents, people travel from Calgary, Airdrie, Canmore, Bragg Creek, Redwood Meadows, and surrounding areas, to revel in all the family fun that is Cochrane’s Winterfest. The event runs with 40 – 50 volunteers, including local high school students who volunteer as part of their leadership classes. Winterfest receives funds through gate fees, sponsorships, and grants; including the Town of Cochrane, which supports the festival with a $2,500 grant.

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winterfest

Founded in 2010, Winterfest was initially organized by Cochrane resident Brooks Towers, who after he realized the community should have fun celebrating winter thought a family festival would help. As it was not a CAES event in its inaugural year, Towers himself solicited volunteers to help organize and run Winterfest. Then, the CAES committee was formed, and the volunteer-run group has hosted the event for the last six years. The Cochrane Area Events Society also organizes other large community events, such as the Labour Day Parade, and the Christmas season donation initiative, Stuff a Bus, for the Cochrane Activettes. n

COCHRANE LIVING

Winterfest has become so popular, that attendance

has increased from 500 attendees in 2011, to 4,000 participants last year.

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business

Keeping it real Local business experts bullish on 2017 n By David Shepherd

Photo by Allison Seto

lberta’s struggling economy has affected everyone, and Cochrane’s local businesses are no exception. However, some are being hit harder than others. Bill Popplewell, President of the Cochrane & District Chamber of Commerce, explains. “Last year had its ups and downs. We’re still in a big growth mode, but we’ve got two sides to the equation. We’ve got new malls and our box stores, and they’re growing. But then we have a number of small businesses, some of which are closing, and others that are struggling.”

Reasons for the recent struggle, besides the economy? “A lot of small businesses are affected by minimum wage, and they’re going to be affected by the carbon tax. We’re already hearing that,” says Popplewell. “But overall, the town is busy.” Mike Korman, economic development manager for the Town of Cochrane, has a different perspective, but tells a similar story. “Obviously, the oil and gas industry suffered. But both tourism and retail did

Bill Popplewell

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better than expected.” One of the reasons for retail’s surge? The Springwood development — particularly the Quarry, which is set to be a 45-acre shopping centre located towards the heart of town. Currently, Cochrane has approximately 1,800 businesses, with an even split between storefront, non-residential, and home-based businesses. In the past year, 300 new licenses were issued. One of the more popular newcomers? The Half Hitch Brewing Company, which officially launched in July. Lammles Western Wear also had its Cochrane Grand Opening in the past year. While some small businesses struggled, it could have been a lot worse had it not been for the town’s Proudly Cochrane campaign. The award-winning campaign was designed to convince Cochranites to shop locally, instead of heading to Calgary. “A lot of people work in Calgary, so they’ll stop and do some shopping on the way home from work,” says Korman. “Proudly Cochrane was designed to get them to come home to shop.” The Proudly Cochrane Initiative is expected to continue through 2017. One idea that’s being floated around is the development of a local Cochrane dollar currency to help keep money in the local economy. There’s also rumblings of a customer service initiative. “We want to put our best foot forward, and show we have the best

business

“We want to put our best foot forward, and show we have the best customer service in the world.” customer service in the world,” says Korman. “We’ll be providing businesses information on customer service, study groups on how to improve it, and workshops. It’s an overall marketing campaign that says let’s be Proudly Cochrane to the world.” The customer service initiative is expected to pick up steam by early February. The Chamber of Commerce will be doing their part for local businesses as well, says Popplewell. “We do a lot of different training events. While we have some programs targeted at larger

companies, most of our membership is small businesses and home-based businesses.” Every year, on the first weekend of May, the Chamber of Commerce runs a massive trade show over a two-day period. That event is key to not only connect vendors with customers, but to connect businesses that may be able to work together. “We don’t want Cochrane business owners feeling like they’re on their own.” The Chamber also runs a monthly lunch program and invites its members to listen to a variety of different speakers and ask questions.

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Popplewell expects business to grow in 2017. “I’m not sure we’re any different than what’s going on in Calgary, or other small towns. There’s growth, but there’s still some small businesses that are borderline. I think there will be growth, but it’s not going to be gigantic — it’s going to be more of a leveling out.” Korman is a bit more optimistic. “We’re looking forward to 2017, and the economy as a whole picking up. As a town we’re still growing, and we’re going to grow fairly substantially in 2017 and 2018, given the housing starts we’ve had. So we’re looking forward to seeing our local businesses thrive and providing services so people don’t have to venture out of town to get what they need.” n

homes market overview

Reading between the lines Are you listening to what the numbers are telling you? n By Jim Zang

or a stats geek like me, having access to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) ‘Information Portal’ is the gift that keeps on giving. I can zoom in on just about any decent-sized market in Canada and instantly get all kinds of raw housing industry data just begging for interpretation. See, Mom, I really am using my Sociology degree! And what’s the point? Why to try to predict the future of course. Throughout history mankind’s single best predictor of the future has been the past. And, while it might be setting the bar a wee bit high to attempt to predict the future — we’ll leave that to Richard Cho, Lai Sing Louie and the experts at CMHC — as the saying goes: to ignore the past is to repeat its mistakes. Instead, I like to look at past trends, both recent and long-term. It’s interesting to note the peaks and valleys, then look closer and see if you can see any pattern within the pattern. For example, were a particular year’s stats changed drastically by one or two large multi-family project permits getting approved? For Cochrane, CMHC has data going back to January 1990, when, by the way, there were 11 single family new home starts and that was it. And they have it for every single month. Compared to those numbers, October 2016 (see Chart A, the most recent statistics available at time of writing),

Last year’s numbers are obviously far ahead of 2016, but if you look more closely, and factor out the

425 townhone and apartment units in the 2015 YTD totals, it’s a bit different story.

and the prospects for January 2017 look pretty good. Even the median price of a single detached home has been holding steady at $435,000 in July, $425,000 in September and back to $440,000 in October. It’s down from 2015, but at least it’s been consistent, ie. predictable. September 2016 saw 24 single family starts and 24 semi-detached, which led to what is so far the busiest month of the year with 52 total new home starts. In comparison, July had 22 single but only 14 semi and August 21 single and 6 semi. Last year’s numbers are obviously far ahead of 2016, but if you look more closely, and factor out the 425 townhone and apartment units in the 2015 YTD totals, it’s a bit different story. Including those two categories, 2016 YTD is tracking at about 38 per cent of 2015. Excluding those two categories, 2016 fares a little better, at 70 per cent. What a difference a couple big projects can make! As for predictions, how’s this for going out on a limb: 2017 will be better. n

DID YOU KNOW? The busiest month ever in Cochrane for new home starts was March 2015 with 182 total starts powered by 142 multi-family units. The busiest month ever for single family starts was October 2013, with 62.

Chart A

Starts by dwelling type

SEPT. 2016

Single

OCT. 2016

SEPT. 2015

OCT. 2015

YTD 2016

YTD 2015

24 16 12 29 195 249

Semi-detached 24 6 14 6 78 142 Row

4 11 36 26 36 318

Apartment 0 0 0 0 0 107 All

52 33 62 61 309 816

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community

This bean’s for you Whether you’re a traditionalist or a connoisseur, coffee’s always on in Cochrane’s n By David Shepherd

Photos by Kim Amsing

“There’s more to coffee in Cochrane than Tim Hortons and Starbucks, you know,” says my wife, staring me down with that disappointed look usually reserved for when I set the dirty dishes beside the sink instead of putting them in the dishwasher. She stands with her hand on her hip for emphasis and rattles off a list of her favourite Cochrane coffee joints: The Hub, Watermill Bakery, Cochrane Coffee Traders, and Heritage House Coffee. “I have definitely walked past most of those,” I say. She’s not impressed. “You have had a coffee in your lifetime that isn’t from Timmy’s or Starbucks, right?” I shrug. “Mark has a Keurig.” Apparently that doesn’t count, and my wife is determined to expand my Cochrane coffee-tasting resumé beyond double-doubles with a short road trip or two from our condo in Citadel. Our first stop is the Watermill Bakery. When I open the door, warm air rushes out and the smell of fresh baked bread surrounds us. The coffee menu

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community

“If you would’ve taken me here on a date, we would’ve got married a lot sooner.”

Cochrane Coffee Traders

is more limited than I’m used to, but the various pastries, pies, and cookies make up for it. My mocha arrives in a good-sized mug, and we sit at a tiny table in the corner. My wife sits across from me and stares, reading my expression. “Well?” The mocha is good, and the pastries are delicious, but I play it cool, wanting to keep her hanging a little longer. “Not bad.” Our tour continues on an overcast November afternoon where the plan is to hit not one, but two places — Heritage House Coffee and Cochrane Coffee Traders. Heritage House is up first. There’s a stage in the corner with a barn door backdrop and a single black stool. Legacy Guitar House is connected to the coffee shop, and

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someone’s quietly tuning a guitar in the background. I think this is where the ‘cool’ coffee drinkers must hang out. The menu’s larger here, and while I stick with a regular coffee, my wife orders a white chocolate mocha. We sit next to the window and split a slice of strawberry-rhubarb pie. It’s worth noting that they’re closing this location down at the end of December, according to manager Jean Davidson, but are hoping to find a new location soon. After a brief argument about whether it’s too cold to go to MacKay’s (I say it’s never too cold for ice cream, and am quickly overruled by my probably correct wife), we head to Cochrane Coffee Traders. This is one of my wife’s personal favourites. She’s smiling and pointing out all of the things that she loves about the place: the horseshoe door handle, the stained glass sign hanging in the window, and the mural on the ceiling. To me, the place feels like a ski chalet, and I imagine how cozy it would

community

be to sip coffee while it snows outside. It’s my turn to get the fancy coffee, so I order a cafe Yoolup, which has espresso, caramel, mocha, and whip. Coffee Traders operates the only roasterie in Cochrane, and it shows in the quality of the coffee. I make a mental note to come back here the next time I’m interviewing folks around town. Our coffee tour ends two weeks later with a stop at The Hub. The Christmas decorations are up and holiday music is playing so the two of us quietly sing to Burl Ives’ A Holly Jolly Christmas. To her credit, the woman who takes our order doesn’t comment on my nails on a chalkboard singing voice. I’m in a festive mood and can’t resist ordering one of their holiday specials: a salted caramel latte. It’s everything I want it to be. My wife takes a single sip of her coffee and relaxes in the chair next to the fireplace. “I would move here for this coffee.” This is not the first time she has hinted about moving to Cochrane. Board games are stacked neatly on a shelf nearby. Combine them with the ambience, and you have a great place to take someone on a date. When I say this to my wife, she laughs. “If you would’ve taken me here on a date, we would’ve got married a lot sooner.” As our tour ends and we’re driving back towards Calgary, my wife asks me if I’ve picked a new favourite. I have. But I’m not about to tell her what it is. After all, even a newlywed has to have some secrets. n

Ernesto Lozano, owner The Hub, Café and Wine

The Hub, Café and Wine

Imen Mikkelsen, owner WaterMill Café and Bakery

Heritage House Coffee/ Legacy Guitar

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Boxing club a big hit Whether pro or amateur it’s all about keeping fit and having fun

n By Jeff MacKinnon

Photos by Don Molyneaux

ric de Guzman was training in a gym one day in 2001 in Silver Springs when the gym’s owner came over and asked the 20-year-old former boxer if he would teach his son how to defend himself against bullies. He happily agreed. Word soon spread and there were so many kids coming to de Guzman for help that they took up way too much space and the gym’s owner had to ask them to find another spot for their workouts. But instead of just kicking them out he helped de Guzman, who was then winding down his junior hockey days with the Cochrane Generals, find a space to lease. He returned the favour de Guzman showed his son by showing de Guzman how to run his own business — and Teofista Boxing was born. Named after de Guzman’s grandfather’s sister, who took de Guzman in when he moved to New York for a brief time after high school to pursue boxing, Teofista Boxing has become a successful operation that is sought out by Calgary-area amateurs and pros who are looking for a great place to train for their next fight; or folks just looking for a good place to work on their fitness. Sixteen years after starting the gym de Guzman, now 36, runs Teofista Boxing out of a facility he built at his acreage in Bearspaw, which he bought through some shrewd real estate investing. Each day professionals and aspiring amateurs from all over the city, including Cochrane, flock to Big Hill Springs Estates to train. “A new member pays their gym dues and they get treated the same way as everybody else,” he says. COCHRANE LIVING

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“And everybody else who is above (the new members) has to give back to the people below. Everybody knows that when new people are in the gym somebody’s got to look after them.” De Guzman has also trained Canadian hockey star Hayley Wickenheiser in the past along with her son Noah, who took out a membership. Wickenheiser provides a testimonial for Teofista on the club’s website and can be seen in video working out with De Guzman.

people

Little big man

Pro boxer Devin Reti packs a powerful punch

Teofista’s gym has a welcoming feel for visitors, who can hope to be met by a member’s friendly English bulldog, then given a skipping rope before being fitted with some gloves and showed how to use one of the punching bags that hang from the ceiling. Teofista’s membership is at about 100, with about half that number being boxers who are busy training for competition. De Guzman uses Teofista’s professionals for shows that he organizes at Deerfoot Inn and Casino along with out of town cards he facilitates. Teofista was expecting to add amateur cards at the casino this spring in a room outside the main gambling room, which will allow minors to compete and attend. De Guzman says boxing remains as popular as ever. “I’ve never seen boxing so strong within the past five years with the amount of shows going on and big events on TV and the amount of kids we see coming through our gym,” he says. “We’re such a secluded area that it blows me away how many kids will come here and how many parents will sit here for the hour they are training and have no problems doing it. They come from downtown and all over Calgary.” For information on Teofista Boxing’s programs visit www.teofista.com n

evin Reti’s mother Donna gave him a beloved gift before she died of leukemia in 2014. It was her blessing to pursue a boxing career. “When I first started boxing, like any mom, it was ‘no’,” he recalls. “But they come to a few fights and start to like it. My mom became a huge fan and was the loudest one at the fights. “When she was in her final moments, she was saying everything she wanted to say to family, and she told me to go for it and go as far as I can so I had no regrets.” So far, what Reti’s done in the ring as a professional has given him no cause for regret. He compiled a 5-0 record heading into 2017, training and fighting out of Teofista Boxing’s gym in Bearspaw. Along with the gym’s talented stable of professionals, he’s hard at work every night putting in the sweat equity needed to pursue his dream. “I’ve dedicated my life to this sport,” the 23 year old says during a break in training one night as the sound of punches thudding against bags fill the gym. Armed with the knowledge that he had her approval, Reti easily made the transition from top amateur to that of a promising professional who is leaving observers impressed. “He’s not just a guy who sells tickets around here. He’s a really good fighter,” says Teofista Boxing owner/trainer Eric de Guzman. “He knows how to box.” Reti’s grandfather Harvey Reti boxed for Canada at the 1964 Olympics and won a bronze at the British and Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia in 1962. Reti has been in the ring since he was just a boy, though his mom originally didn’t want him to. Labeled as too small to pursue hockey seriously, Reti found boxing much to his liking when first introduced to it at the age of 15. “The first time I tried it I was put through the hardest workout and got my butt whooped in sparring,” he says. “It just stood out from other sports because of the adrenaline aspect and I stuck with it and won my first 10 amateur fights.” Reti had 90 fights as an amateur and won six Alberta titles and a Canadian Golden Gloves title at 152 pounds just before he turned professional. He typically fights at 154 pounds but occasionally moves up to face bigger foes.”

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events

ONGOING THE LEGION HOLDS A BBQ EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT from 6 – 7 p.m. Membership not required. Enjoy steaks for $9 and Hamburgers for $7. Families are welcome, 114 5th Avenue West. FREE PUBLIC SKATING Saturdays and Sundays at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Rec Centre from 1 – 2:15 p.m. sponsored by Rotary Club of Cochrane from until March 31, 2017. Please be sure to see Guest Services to obtain your wristband! www.slssportscentre.com/

ART SHOW AT SENIORS on the Bow from 1 – 4 p.m. at Seniors on the Bow Centre. www.cochrane.ca/sotb

JANUARY

COCHRANE HUMANE SOCIETY PET-I-CURE. From 6:30 – 8 p.m. at our Rehabilitation & Education Centre. For a minimum of $10 donation per pet, you can get your pet feeling and looking great! All funds raised go back to the shelter. Thank you to High Tails Pet Resort for providing professional groomers for our event. Dogs must be on a leash. Cats are welcome too, as long as they are in a kennel. www.cochranehumane.ca

DECEMBER

MARTIN PARNELL’S 7TH ANNUAL RUN/ WALK at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration on site, beginning at 8 a.m. Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, 2K along the stunning Bow River. Proceeds to benefit Free to Run and support sporting activities for a girls school in Bamyan, Afghanistan.

IT’S HIP TO BE SQUARE OLD-TIME DANCE is coming to Cochrane from 7 – 11 p.m. at the Frank Wills Memorial Hall. Have you ever wanted to learn to square dance? Now is your chance! There will be a live band keeping you dosey-do-ing to old-time mountain tunes and a dance caller teaching you just what to do. No experience necessary and everyone is included. Cash bar provided by Cochrane’s own Half Hitch Brewing Company! The dance is in support of the Cochrane Food Bank so please bring a non-perishable food item donation and help support our local Food Bank. Yeehaw! Tickets: $15 each. Tickets online at www. hiptobesquarecochrane. brownpapertickets.com.

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COCHRANE TOURISM ASSOCIATION MEMBERS OPEN HOUSE, 7:30 p.m. Current and prospective members and partners are invited to join us for a thank you reception and opportunity to learn about the 2017 marketing plan. www.cochrane-tourism.ca/all-januaryevents

COCHRANE PIPE BAND 18TH ANNUAL BURNS DINNER at Cochrane RancheHouse, 101 RancheHouse Road. Tickets are $60 each or tables of 8 for $450 and can be purchased by calling 403-932-2228. Roast Beef Dinner with Haggis, Performance by Cochrane Pipe Band, Silent Auction, and Dance with music by Rob Skeet. www.cochranepipeband.com

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY at Cochrane Golf Club. Dinner is a three course meal, followed by music from the entertainer himself, Rob Skeet, in between sets & for the countdown we have our DJ Shawn so it never stops! Champagne & party favours at midnight for the countdown then sandwiches, desserts & coffee from 12:30. http://cochranegolfclub.com/ upcoming-events

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HUNTER HORSE SHOW at Cochrane Agricultural Society Grounds (northwest corner of Hwys 1A and 22). Spectators Welcome. Schooling rounds run from 4 – 9 p.m. on the Friday before the show. www.cochraneagsociety.com

events n To list your event email your information

to jim.zang@sourcemediagroup.ca. For more listings and further information check www.cochraneevents.ca or www.cochrane-tourism.ca

FEBRUARY

, 11, and 12 ANNUAL KIMMETT CUP, 3 on 3 Pond Hockey Tournament, Mitford Pond. Lace up for a good cause or come out and cheer on the participants! www.kimmettcup.com

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ATCO COCHRANE WINTERFEST See story on page 8 or visit www.cochraneevents.ca

ROGERS HOMETOWN HOCKEY CELEBRATION. See story in Around Town page 6.

FAMILY DAY at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre, 800 Griffin Road. Enjoy Family Day at the sports centre. www. slssportscentre.com

COCHRANE HUMANE SOCIETY PET-I-CURE. From 1 – 3 p.m. at the dowtown training centre. For a minimum of $10 donation per pet, you can get your pet feeling and looking great! All proceeds will benefit the animals. Thank you to the animal health technicians and professional groomers who are donating their time and expertise for this event. www.cochranehumane.ca

COCHRANE BRIDAL FAIR at Cochrane Ranche House, 101 Ranche House Road, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., www.cochranebridalfair.ca

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MARCH

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TEA WITH LOCAL PRODUCERS at St. Andrews United Church, from 10 a.m. to noon. Come meet local food producers, learn more about the foods grown locally, and hear how these local producers are practicing sustainability principles in growing this food. Supporting our local producers is an effective way to curb the high price of food due to the US dollar. Let’s use our Canadian dollars to support our Canadian farmers and ranchers! Child care available in the nursery. Free admission, although donations are welcome. www.standrewsunitedcochrane.com/ tea-with-local-producers

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developer feature

APEX DEVELOPMENT

Face of the New West Heartland offers new homebuyers family-oriented community with lasting value n By

Pepper Rodriguez

or the avid home seeker who thinks they’ll never be able to afford to buy their own home, take heart in Heartland where beautiful, well-made single-family homes and townhomes are still available at very attainable prices. Take for example, Claudette, she had moved to Calgary from Vancouver. While living in Vancouver, Claudette and her husband did not think they would ever be able to own their own home due to the high market prices. That is until she visited the community and show homes in Heartland and fell in love. With homes starting from the $350,000s, she knew living here would be well within their budget. “We loved the feel of the community (it’s like the Alpines meets the Prairies), the great use of green space, the family friendly atmosphere, and the proximity to town and easy access to the mountains off the 1A.” says Claudette. “Now is the time to buy in Heartland, with introductory pricing and amenities coming our way you can get in and ride the wave while building equity in a home you love as the community becomes more established,” says Charla Power, Excel Homes’ area manager. Excel Homes is one of three homebuilders in this popular community from APEX Development just off Highway 1A in the west side of Cochrane. The others are Jayman BUILT and Birchwood Properties. “Heartland is a 250-acre community,” says Susan Henderson, Senior Development Manager for APEX Developments. “When it is complete it will have approximately 1,500 homes that are a mix of single-family, duplex and freehold townhomes. There are also six multi-family sites,

a local commercial site, lots of parks and a great pathway system to get around the community safely. Heartland offers such a wide selection of product that it’s able to welcome first time buyers, empty nesters, and move-ups,” she adds. “Sales volume in Heartland has been great this year! We launched a new phase to accommodate various price point/timeline needs for our homebuyers,” Power adds. Excel Homes has 11 models to choose from ranging from 1,756 to 2,534 square feet. Prices range from $350,000 to $475,000. Power says families make up a huge portion of the buyers in Heartland, and upcoming amenities like a future school site, and planned commercial and public service in the community will prove to be very beneficial to them. Jayman BUILT offers double front-attached garage two-storey homes, ranging from 1,674 to 2,405 square-feet, “with our Best Price First policy pricing starting at $377,116 to $439,044 (lot and GST included),” Daigle says. Inspired by Cochrane’s spirited Western heritage, Brand Townhomes from Birchwood Properties offers the best opportunity to enjoy active living, comfort, and convenience in Heartland. Brand offers three townhome styles: the Galloway, Highland, and the Devon. With a mix of two-and three-storey townhomes, each with a choice of two or three bedrooms and a single or double attached garage. Sizes range from 1,055 to 1,372 square-feet and start at $239,900 before tax. n

For more information visit www.heartlandcochrane.com

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you said it

What’s your favourite thing about winter? n By Kim Amsing

“

I like it when you’re bundled up in minus 40 and your eye lashes are frozen together, your nose is running, can’t feel your toes and you still stop by the gas station to get a slurpee on your way home.

Freia

Emily

Age 3

Co-owner, North Forty Feed & Farm Supply

“

I like the scenery, the way the frost freezes on the trees. Lindsay Manager, North Forty Feed & Farm Supply

My favourite thing about winter is playing in the snow!!!

“

My favourite thing is building snowmans! Abygael

My favourite thing about winter is the community skating rink. Jeff

Grade 2

Volunteer, outdor ice maintenance

“

Getting together with family! Uilliam Grade 6

“

My favourite thing would be hockey and the outdoor rinks. Matt Employee, North Forty Feed & Farm Supply

My favourite thing about winter would be the holidays, because my daughter comes back from being away. Karen Volunteer, Cochrane Humane Society

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