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VOLUME 6 ISSUE 10
contents
SP RI N G 2 017
10
21 SPORTS AND RECREATION
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24
10 | Friends and fun Summer camps cater to kids’ interests BUSINESS
11 | It’s show time!
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2017 Cochrane Trade Show is one of the biggest events of the year HOMES MARKET OVERVIEW
13 | Cochrane housing history 101 2016 not really that bad, but 2017 will be better
SUSTAINABILITY
COMMUNITY
Organics collection program set to start this spring
Cochrane creates a mural mosaic for Canada’s 150th birthday
DEVELOPER FEATURES
16 | Our history in art
23 | Cochrane goes green
26 | Family-friendly community
CULTURE & HISTORY
Heritage Hills offers family-oriented homes, active lifestyle
Lasting symbol of peace the fulfillment of a promise
28 | Heart of the matter
19 | McDougall Stoney Mission Church
FEATURE
21 | Play that jazzy music Cochrane bands offer eclectic blend of sound sensations
ITEMS
Heartland builds a community of friends and neighbours YOU SAID IT
30 | Who is your all-time favourite cartoon character? COCHRANE LIVING
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04 | Note from the Editor 06 | Mayor’s message 07 | Around Town 24 | Events 31 | Town of Cochrane map
note from the editor P U B L I S HE R
Source Media Group
Just do it
A SS O CI AT E P U B L I S HE R | E DI TO R
At the risk of being sued by Nike for copyright infringement, that’s the theme for this spring edition. Honestly, there’s just so much happening in and around Cochrane this spring that the dilemma will be what NOT to go to. First, I’d like to introduce readers to our new assistant editor for Cochrane Living, Dave Shepherd. Dave will be coming up with story ideas and working with writers, photographers, information sources and our design team to put them together. He’ll also be attending all those events I’m too busy to get to, and putting together the Around Town pages of the magazine. If you’ve got something you want to get into print, sent it to me and I’ll send it to him. This edition, Dave’s Around Town collection kicks things off with information about the recent Hometown Hockey event, the upcoming local theatre season, Winterfest, a new veteran’s memorial, and even Cochrane dollars. There’s also stories on summer camps and the annual Trade & Lifestyle Show, not to mention two pages worth of additional event listings. If you’re bored in Cochrane, you’re not trying. This homes portion of the magazine is anchored by a couple of new community features as well as my own market overview which, I think, does a nice job of putting last year, 2016, into historical perspective. On the lifestyle end of things, we help celebrate Canada’s 150th by painting a new mural, take a tour of the McDougall Stoney Mission Church, hang with some cool jazz cats and learn more about how Cochrane’s organics recycling program is coming along. It’s quite a smorgasboard of content with something, I hope for everyone. As always, we wrap up the edition with the fun and popular You Said It page where Cochranites get to answer such pressing questions as: Who is your favourite all-time cartoon character? For me, it’s got to be the Flintstones — Fred, Barney, Wilma and Betty. I can remember as a young kid hurrying home from school every day to watch them. Every day for many years. I can sing the song, and I can repeat lines from many episodes. Like the one with Doozy the Dodo bird when Fred and Barney try sneak off with the Loyal Order of Water Buffalo to go to a convention in Frantic City. Classic! I’m sure you’ll get a chuckle out of some of these answers and while you’re reading think of some of your own. Ask your friends and family, just for fun. Until next time, yabba dabba doo!
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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 S
Dave Macaulay dave.macaulay@sourcemediagroup.ca
Vivian Zhang vivian.zhang@sourcemediagroup.ca A SS I S TA NT E DI TO R |
David Shepard
S O CI A L M E DI A & CO NT E NT CO - O R D IN ATO R
Shylo Thompson shylo.thompson@sourcemediagroup.ca CO NT R I B U TO R S
Miles Durrie, Aaliya Essa, Carmen Solana-Martin, Pepper Rodriguez P HOTO G R A P HY
Kim Amsing, Matthew Duke, Don Molyneaux 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 10
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. Copyright 2017 Source Media Group Corp. All rights reserved. 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, 207 - 5809 Macleod Trail S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2H 0J9
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message from the mayor
We’ve
just about made it through another long, cold winter in Cochrane and are ready to
enjoy longer days and warmer temperatures. Spring is a great time to book summer activities like kids camps. Just go to cochrane.ca/eServices and choose the Program registration link. Then look for more great summer events in the Program and Activity Guide coming out the first week of May. We’re getting ready for a big celebration to open Cochrane’s new aquatic and curling/multi-sport centre. Keep an eye on cochrane.ca for news about the date and schedule of fun family events as we officially open this exciting new community facility. The Cochrane Trade Show takes place May 6 and 7 at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre. It’s a great opportunity to learn about local organization and businesses in town, as well as a chance to ask members of Council about new projects and initiatives. One of the favourite activities in Cochrane is volunteering. If you’re a volunteer, put Saturday April 22 — our annual volunteer appreciation event — in your calendar. Even if you don’t volunteer, you can still support others in the community by contributing to the Cochrane-wide food drive Saturday April 29. Spring is when you’ll see more Town staff on local roads and parks. They’re cleaning the streets, planting flowers and getting sports fields ready for another busy season. For their safety and yours, please remember to obey traffic signals and stay clear of staff working. Next month marks the start of Cochrane’s organics collection program. Watch for delivery of your cart and kitchen catcher; you can start diverting organic waste in your home as soon as you get delivery; it will be collected starting the week of April 18. Yard waste is accepted in your new green bin, but you can also take clippings and leaves to the Cochrane Eco Centre. Look for more details on organics collection on cochrane.ca/ Organics or in this year’s Town of Cochrane calendar. Council would love to see you this spring: say hello at the Trade Show, find out about long-term plans for capital projects and other initiatives, or watch a Council meeting — the public is always welcome. Council meetings start at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at the Cochrane RancheHouse (only one meeting in July, August, and December). Have a great spring!!
Mayor Ivan Brooker On behalf of Town Council and staff
www.cochrane.ca
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TownofCochrane
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@TownofCochrane
around town Cochrane Dollars
Theatre Season
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his May, expect to see a new currency floating around town – in the form of Cochrane Dollars. The Cochrane Dollar is a paper currency that the town hopes will encourage people to keep their money in Cochrane and support local businesses and jobs. Throughout January and February, residents had the chance to vote on the design of the Cochrane Dollar. The bills will feature a historical figure on the front and a landscape on the back, and will be unveiled at ATB Financial in Cochrane on May 19th at 10 a.m. Over 500 people voted on the design. Find out more at
» www.cochranedollar.ca We shoot, we score!
C
ochrane received national coverage during Rogers Hometown Hockey on February 11th and 12th. The two-day event featured a live concert by country musician Paul Brandt, autograph signing sessions by former NHLers Robyn Regehr and Brendan Morrison, and a hockey-themed obstacle course. The entire town came together to support Hometown Hockey, as estimated attendance neared 5000 on both days. “We had over 100 volunteers,” says Tracy Brooker, manager of Recreation, Culture & Arts. In addition to the local organizing committee, the Cochrane Generals, Cochrane Minor Hockey clean-up teams, community residents, and local businesses all lent a hand. “A successful community event like Rogers Hometown Hockey is the result of the work of so many people, and we’re so appreciative of how everyone came together.” “People were having a blast,” says Robin Mitchell, the General Manager and Executive Director of Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre, which hosted much of the event. “The event was very well organized, and volunteers did an amazing job of pulling off the weekend. Cochrane received terrific exposure. The stories they covered on TV were amazing and really captured Cochrane.” To cap off the celebration, Cochrane Mayor Ivan Brooker and members of Council presented Ron MacLean, Tara Slone, and the Rogers Hometown Hockey team with Cochrane’s Men of Vision Award. This award is given to distinguished guests and contains the original Cochrane brand on a piece of cowhide.
urn on the lights and raise the curtains — Cochrane is getting its own theatre season courtesy of a partnership between Teatro dell’Eco and the Town of Cochrane Recreation, Culture & Arts office. The season started February 25 with the Vaughan String Quartet and will continue through to early May. Performances include “Screwtape” by Cochrane Vision Theatre (April 7 – 9, tickets $15), “Dreaming Alberta” by Daunia Del Ben (April 12-13, free to attend), and the improvised comedy musical “The 11 O’Clock Number” by Grindstone Theatre (May 12 – 13, tickets $22). The performances will take place at the Cochrane RancheHouse Theatre.
Tracy Brooker, Manager of Recreation, Culture & Arts, sees the theatre season as a natural step in Cochrane’s evolution. “It’s fantastic to be able to have theatre, classical concerts, and much more available at our doorstep. We’re ready for the arts. The community is getting large enough now that there’s a lot of vehicle traffic, and if we can keep those people in town, that would be fantastic.” But the 2017 theatre season is only the first step, says Brooker. “We look forward to expanding our theatre season beyond four plays so we can build on our momentum.” You can purchase tickets by calling the Recreation, Culture & Arts office at 403-851-2534, or visiting
»
www.cochranevisiontheatre.ca (for Screwtape) or www.brownpapertickets.com (for The 11 O’Clock Number).
Back row (l-r): Councillor Gaynor Levisky, Hometown Hockey co-host Ron MacLean, Mayor Ivan Brooker, Hometown Hockey co-host Tara Slone, Councillors Ross Watson and Tara McFadden Front row (l-r): Councillors Morgan Nagel and Jeff Toews
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»
around town
ATCO Winterfest
Honouring the Vets
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TCO’s annual Winterfest was popular once again, as Cochranites packed Mitford Park on February 25th. The one-day event featured a pancake breakfast, pony rides, a heated igloo tent, and a variety of fun and games for the whole family. It also featured an educational component, as trappers stopped by to discuss the history of the fur trade in Canada. About 50 volunteers worked together to help put on the event. Founded in 2010, the festival receives supporting funds through gate fees, sponsorships, and grants. This year, the Town of Cochrane gave Winterfest a $2,500 grant.
n a unanimous vote, Town Council has agreed to provide $65,000 in funding to the Cochrane Legion to help build a $12,0000 memorial to honour fallen war heroes. The memorial, a life-sized bronze statue of a First World War soldier, will be erected at the existing cenotaph on Main Street and Fifth Avenue West. The project is slated to be unveiled before Remembrance Day this year, and will simultaneously honour Canada’s 150th birthday, the 90th anniversary of the Cochrane Legion, and the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Studio West Bronze Foundry & Art Gallery is creating the piece. n
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sports & recreation
Friends and fun
Summer camps cater to kids’ interests n By David Shepherd
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ochrane’s summer camp programs are unique due to their proximity to nature, says Tracy Brooker, Manager of Recreation, Culture & Arts at the Town of Cochrane. “We have a beautiful natural playground at our doorstep, including the connection to local pathways and access to the historic Cochrane Ranche.” This year, Cochrane youth from the ages of four to 13 have plenty of summer camp options. The Discover the Ranche programs, for children from ages four to six, run through May and June. Nature Nuts is about discovering nature, enjoying the sights and sounds of the Cochrane Ranche, and doing crafts at the Clubhouse Activity Centre. Kids will need their rubber boots for Pond Exploration,
where they’ll explore Big Hill Creek with nets and buckets and learn about the creek’s ecosystem. Finally, if your little one wants to be a cowboy (or girl), you should look at Cowboy Culture, where they can experience roping, branding, and other cowboy activities. Summer camp season officially kicks off in July with Ranche Capers, ClubHouse Kids, Art & Theatre Camps, and a Skateboard Camp. Ranche Capers is a threehour preschool camp featuring outdoor fun, active games, and simple crafts. ClubHouse Kids is a throwback to the good ole’ summer camp experience, featuring arts, crafts, and summer camp games.
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If you’re raising a budding thespian, check out the Art & Theatre camps. Each week, children produce artwork used in a weekly themed production, then hit the stage to do some acting. The Skateboard Camp is run in partnership with Shredz Skateboard Shop and Cochrane Fun Van and is designed for both beginner and intermediate skateboarders. A helmet and a skateboard are required. Each camp is lead by a qualified secondary student, with camp staff undergoing a week of planning and training at the end of June to prepare for eight full weeks of summer camps. This year, all summer camps except for Arts & Theatre and the Skateboard Camps will be held at the newly renovated ClubHouse Activity Centre. Costs range from $75 to $185 depending on the camp. For more details, or to register for summer camps, check out www.cochrane. ca/Camps or call 403-851-2534. n
business
It’s show time!
2017 Cochrane Trade Show is one of the biggest events of the year
W
hether you’re from Cochrane or not, the annual Cochrane Trade Show, put on by the local Chamber of Commerce, has something for everyone. That’s why the event attracts more than 145 different exhibitors and literally thousands of visitors over the course of the two-day show. From products and services, to interactive displays, to tasty treats and fun activities, it’s a great day out for the whole family, including face painting, a kids’ petting zoo, and a coloring area for the children. Looking for some local real estate? You’ll find it here. Or how about some new clothing and, of course, accessories to go with it? Come browse to your heart’s content. Need help with financial planning or maybe personal training? Chances are you’ll find the expert guidance you need at the show.
Take part in the silent auction, and be sure to enter for hourly prize draws. It could be your lucky day! If you’re more into giving than receiving, there’s lots of opportunity for you also. Drop by one of the various non-profit booths and see what they’re doing to support the community. Feel free to make a donation, or better yet ask how you can get involved as a volunteer. Just attending shows your support for the community, plus a portion of the admission proceeds go to provide scholarships at the three local high schools. Finally, don’t forget to drop by the Cochrane Living magazine booth for a fun photo shoot courtesy one of our professional photographers. We’ll be putting the photos in the next edition of Cochrane Living plus online for you to download and share with
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ADMISSION INFORMATION Hours
Saturday, May 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location
Spray Lakes Sawmills Family Sports Centre 800 Griffin Road East, Cochrane
Price
$2/day for 12 years of age and older Free for 12 years and under $5/day for family pass (Good for 2 adults and up to 4 children) Entrance fee is CASH ONLY
your friends. Visit www.cochranechamber.ca/events or call 403-932-0320 for more information. n
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homes market overview
Cochrane housing history 101 2016 not really that bad, but 2017 will be better n By Jim Zang
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f a picture is worth 1,000 words — as the old saying goes — then what’s a chart or graph worth? Well, to an admitted number cruncher and housing industry journalist like myself, actually, quite a bit. I love to look at the numbers and try to figure out what they really mean. For others involved in the new home industry, the numbers can be used as market research to help determine future corporate strategies. How many homes do we need to build? Single or multi-family? What are the trends? For the prospective new home purchaser, consider the numbers as buying power. If not a lot of homes are being built, and prices are trending down, it’s a good time to buy. If there’s a glut of apartment condos hitting the market, maybe that’s a good investment. Bottom line: knowledge is power. Anyways, that being said, I’ll try to keep the verbiage to a minimum this time and let the numbers do the talking — starting with new home starts by type of dwelling. Looking at Chart A, the first word that comes to mind is ‘Wow’! January 2017 starts are more than four times the total of starts in January last year. Quite a nice way to start the new year and hopefully a sign of things to come. A closer look reveals that
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Chart B
Under Construction
Chart A
New Home Starts by Type of Dwelling
single family starts were actually close to the same, with most of the January 2017 activity being in the apartment category. But, hey, up is up. Chart B shows the number of homes that are currently under construction. What’s super interesting here is that the total number of homes under construction — right now — in Cochrane (431) is literally more than the final total for all of 2016 (391). It’s a sure bet that more homes will come on stream throughout the year, leading me to believe that, barring some unforeseen catastrophic event, 2017 housing start numbers are going to eclipse last year by a wide margin when all is said and done.
JANUARY 2017
JANUARY 2016
JANUARY 2017
Single 124 Semi-detached 70 Row 134
Single 21 24
Apartment 103
Semi-detached 10
Total 431
4
Row 5 0 Apartment 87
0
Total 123 28
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homes market overview
Moving to Chart C, which shows both average and median prices over a period of several months, a couple of things jump out at me. First, the fact that the average and the median price are so close together every month is the sign of a stable, healthy market. When you just look at average prices sometimes a couple homes at the top end of the market can really skew the results. Comparing the average to the median helps, in today’s terminology, ‘keep it real’. The second thing, which is perhaps easier for people to notice, is that the prices are stable from month to month — another sign of a stable market.
2016 wasn’t so bad in comparison, and even 2011 saw fewer total starts than last year. If you break it down and look at the single-family starts only, 2013 and 2014 were the highest numbers EVER, so it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that there’s been a drop off since — especially given the recent economic conditions. The highest number of single-family starts prior to those years Chart C was 1997 and ’98, with 302 and 370 respectively. But those Absorbed Single Detached Prices years were historical anomilies back then, just like 2013, 2014 OCTOBER 2016 NOV. 2016 DEC. 2016 JAN. 2017 and 2015 were recently. Those Median price $440,000 $430,000 $447,500 $440,000 levels of housing starts simply were not, are not, sustainable. Average $439,110 $442,431 $464,219 $443,245 For example, if you go back ten Chart D shows what I like to call ‘the big picture’ by looking at housing years to 2006, single-family starts were only starts over the past six years. This really helps put things in perspective. 167. In 2010, there were 273 single-family For instance, you can see almost exactly when the condo boom began starts. in 2012, with the totals climbing steadily until last year. What’s it all mean? Optimistically, 2016 And, speaking of keeping things in perspective, everyone talks about numbers were probably a lot closer to the 2016 like it was such an awful year, which compared to 2015, 2014 and historical average than most people would 2013, it was. But the fact is, those three years were all-time housing start have guessed — and it looks like 2017 will highs for the Central Alberta region. It’s just not realistic to think you’re be a bit of a bounce back year. Just don’t going to set a new record every year. Going back to 2012, we see that expect to set any new records. n Chart D
Final Annual Housing Starts by Type of Dwelling Single
2016 2015 2014 235 293 456
Semi-detached 90 Row
172
128
375 114 248 120
62
96
55 361 254 168 16 21
Apartment 11 107 32 Total
2013 2012 2011
391 933 870
89 80 0 752 272 365 Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
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community
Our history in art Cochrane creates a mural mosaic for Canada’s 150th birthday n By Carmen Solana-Martin
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alented Cochrane artists are eagerly awaiting the unveiling of their newest mural mosaic, which honours Canada’s upcoming 150th anniversary. Alberta artists Phil Alain, and brothers, Paul and Lewis Lavoie, created and developed the Mural Mosaic project to bring Canadian communities together through art. The mural mosaic process, which was invented by Lewis Lavoie, combines individually painted tiles and places them in a specific order to create a large painting. This isn’t Cochrane’s first time creating a mural mosaic. From 2005 to 2007, Cochrane residents took part in creating the TRUST Mural. The TRUST Mural received international exposure after contributors created a social media campaign that went viral. “Over a few months, our website went from 50 hits a day, to 120,000, and then on to one million hits per month,” says Alain. “The TRUST Mural became a worldwide sensation through the internet.” Since the installation of the TRUST Mural inside the Cochrane RancheHouse in 2007, people continue to marvel at the painting. “International tourists visiting Banff book tours to Cochrane just to see the mural,” says Alain. In 2014, Alain asked the town of Cochrane to join the Canada 150 Mural Mosaic, a national project celebrating the country’s sesquicentennial, which also aims to connect Canadian communities. “The town partnered with the Mural Mosaic because of their unique approach to placing multiple works of art together to create an overall masterpiece,” says Tracy ABOVE: Cochrane Mayor and Councillors work on their tiles. Brooker, Town of Cochrane Manager, Recreation, Culture, & Arts. “Hundreds of artists and talented people in Cochrane participated, all of who were inspired to leave a
BELOW: Tracy Brooker (right), Town of Cochrane manager of Recreation, Culture & Arts, and Julie Haskill, Town of Cochrane Communitcations Advisor.
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legacy and commemorate Canada’s 150th anniversary.” As you’d expect, it takes an enthusiastic community to put a project of this scale together. After several community workshops and individual submissions, approximately 1,800 residents painted five-by-five inch tiles to complete the 40-foot by eight-foot Cochrane mural, the largest painting in the national mosaic mural. “Many professional artists have worked on this project, including Cochrane’s most noteworthy artist, Glenn Boles, who completed the final tile in January 2017,” says Brooker. “Families also participated together,
to make their mark on history.” The Canada 150 mural represents Cochrane’s history. Ranching, First Nations communities, families, active living, the Bow River and the Rocky Mountains are all featured. Working on the Mosaic Mural has been a positive experience for all the artists who lent their creativity to the project. “Painting the murals has boosted the self-esteem of young artists, brought others out of retirement, and inspired people to become painters,” says Alain. “We want people to follow the progress of the mural because it is a national project, made by Canadians,
which will possibly become a lasting legacy for our country.” Cochrane’s Canada 150 Mural will be displayed on the east facing wall of a new storage building at Centennial Park, which faces the Centennial Playground, and the home of the Tim Bannister Memorial Park. Town Facility Manager Greg asked the town to display the mural at the park to honour the memory of co-worker Tim Bannister, who passed away suddenly in 2012. Brooker explains. “Tim Bannister was a popular Town employee, and devoted family man, with a big heart for the Cochrane community.” On Canada Day, every Canada 150 community mural will be combined together, and then displayed on Mosaic Mural’s website as a scrolling photo slideshow. Cochrane’s Canada 150 Mural will be unveiled during Cochrane’s Canada 150 Celebration festival at Mitford Park on July 1. Limited edition prints will be available for purchase. n COCHRANE LIVING
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ABOVE: The Trust Mural
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culture
Lasting symbol of peace the fulfillment of a promise n Carmen Solana-Martin
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t all started out as a simple promise. In the mid-nineteenth century, Methodist Reverend Robert Rundle travelled to the area and met the Nakota (Stoney) First Nations people. Rundle promised the Nakota that he would build a mission church, but he could not fulfill that promise. A few years later, in 1860, Reverend George McDougall arrived. To honour the promise made to the Nakota, McDougall, alongside teacher and carpenter Andrew Sibbald, built the McDougall Stoney Mission Church. Inspired by the beauty of the land, which was a popular hunting and camping location for the Nakota, McDougall and his family settled in the area. Ron Moore, President of the McDougall Stoney Mission Society, which handles the upkeep of the church, is proud of his historical heritage. “My family and I are very proud of my ancestors because they were instrumental in getting this part of the world settled peacefully.” After Reverend George McDougall died in 1876, his son Reverend John MacDougall succeeded him as Superintendent of
Methodist Missions for the District. According to Sarah Harvey, Society board member, Reverend John McDougall fought for First Nations rights. “The Nakota First Nations people meant a lot to the McDougalls, and they were the reason they went west,” says Harvey. But life was difficult in the wild west, and in 1921, Morleyville was abandoned in favour of settlements along the newly built railroad line. Despite the efforts of various caretakers, the church seemed destined to be lost to history — until As One That Serves, a United Church Men’s Group, took on the task of restoring the mission in 1952. In 1971 the McDougall Stoney Mission Society received title to 49.3 acres of natural grassland surrounding the site. In 1979, both the United Church of Canada and the Government of Alberta designated the church as a historic site. Head west from Cochrane along Highway 1A and you’ll have no problems spotting the historic white church overlooking the Bow River Valley. In fact, the McDougall Stoney
Stoney Mission Society board member Sarah Harvey
Mission Church, the first Methodist Church in Southern Alberta, is all that remains of Southern Alberta’s first pioneer settlement of Morleyville. Each year, the McDougall Stoney Mission Society shares the church’s history and its importance to First Nations communities through two commemorative services. This year, the services will be held on June 11 and September 10 at 3 p.m. In past years, up to 100 people have attended. The church is also used for weddings. Tours of the church start on the Victoria Day long weekend and continue through to the end of September, from 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.. “We would love to have more volunteers,” says Harvey. “People who have a passion for history would especially enjoy helping us.” To volunteer please contact Sarah Harvey at sarpatharv@gmail.com or 403-404-8717. For more information visit www.mcdougallstoneymission.com. n
McDougall Stoney Mission Church
Photo by Matthew Duke
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Photo by Carmen Solana-Martin
McDougall Stoney Mission Church
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feature
Play that jazzy music Cochrane bands offer eclectic blend of sound sensations n By Miles Durrie
Photo by Don Molyneaux
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laying in a band on top of holding down a fulltime “day job” can be demanding enough. But how about playing in two bands? For the members of funk/soul band Get It! and jazz group Jazz It, the love of music more than makes up for the hard work. “To see people enjoying themselves, dancing or listening, is just extremely rewarding,” says Cochrane-based Lucy Mills, singer with both bands. The core members also include fellow Cochrane resident Wally Petersen on bass and vocals, plus Darryl Lamoureaux (keyboards), Paul Evans (saxophone) and Gord Vescio (drums), who along with Mills make up the Jazz It lineup. Jazz It plays vocal jazz pieces made famous by Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Nat King Cole and their contemporaries. To transform this smooth combo into high-energy funk outfit Get It!, the quintet is joined by guitarist Jay Harman, trumpeter Doug Zacharias, and trombonist Tim Embree. Get It! lays down a party groove with classic and modern tunes by artists ranging from James Brown and Aretha Franklin to Earth, Wind and Fire, Michael Jackson, and Bruno Mars.
“You rarely get rich or even make a profit from performing. It’s
more of a calling.
Music is a great healer and energizer.” (Left to right) Darryl Lamoureaux (Keyboards), Gord Vescio (Drums), Lucy Mills (Singer), Wally Petersen (Bass), Paul Evans (Saxophone).
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Both bands perform regularly in Cochrane and Calgary, including corporate parties, bars, and nightclubs. “Being in the two bands is great fun,” Mills says. “With Get It! the audience reaction is obvious in the full dance floor — people just letting go and having fun. The Jazz It audience shows appreciation more in being absorbed in listening.” The Cochrane music scene is active and getting more so. “It is definitely getting better. There are quite a lot of bands and the opportunities are growing,” she says, adding that Cochrane’s location makes it easy for bands to reach out into Calgary, Airdrie, Canmore and other nearby communities for gigs. But staying active in music is a labour of love rather than a source of profit, even for musicians who play regularly, Mills notes. “You rarely get rich or even make a profit from performing. It’s more of a calling. Music is a great healer and energizer.” For more information, visit getitfunk.ca and search “Jazz It” online. n
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sustainability
Cochrane goes green Organics collection program set to start this spring n By David Shepherd
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his April, the Town of Cochrane introduces its organic waste collection program. Fabrizio Bertolo, Cochrane’s Manager of Waste and Recycling, is proud of how the program has come together. “We’ve been talking with residents and working very hard over the past year to develop a great program for our community.” It’s estimated that organics represent 68 per cent of the garbage generated by Cochrane residents. The problem? “Organic waste doesn’t break down at the landfill,” says Bertolo. “It releases methane, a greenhouse gas that is 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.” Landfills also produce leachate, a liquid that drains or “leaches” out, potentially flowing into groundwater. By diverting organics away from landfills, Cochrane will turn waste into healthy, living soil.
If your home receives municipal waste collection, expect to receive a kitchen bin and an organic waste cart when the program kicks off. The size of the waste cart is based on the type of home, with single-family and duplex homes receiving 240L carts, and townhomes receiving 120L carts. Organics will be collected every week during the summer and every two weeks during the winter. The list of accepted materials is lengthy: food waste (including meat, fish, and bones), coffee and tea (plus filters and bags), paper goods soiled by food (such as paper plates and napkins), and yard waste like grass clippings, branches, and leaves. If you’re a pet owner, you’ll also be able to include cat litter and dog waste — as long as it’s in a compostable bag. “The program will be convenient,” says Bertolo. “All organic waste goes into one cart.”
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And what happens with the collected organic waste? Bertolo explains. “We will provide residents with free finished compost to use in their gardens or lawns, which closes the loop for organic waste.” Adopted in 2012, Cochrane’s Zero Waste Framework’s goal is to divert 80 per cent of Cochrane’s waste away from landfills by 2020. The City of Calgary requires Cochrane to implement organic collection in order to continue using Calgary’s landfills. To find out more, including a complete list of acceptable materials, go to www.cochrane.ca/ organics. n
events
ONGOING WORKING THE FLAG WORKSHOP. Mondays from 6 – 8 p.m. Cochrane Agricultural Society Grounds (northwest corner of Hwys 1A and 22). Spectators welcome. www.cochraneagsociety.com FRIDAY NIGHT BBQ at the Legion from 6 – 7 p.m. Membership not required. Enjoy steak for $9.50 and burgers for $7.50 with potatoes, beans, salad, and garlic bread. Families welcome. 114 5th Avenue West.
APRIL
1
“AN AFTERNOON WITH ELVIS” Seniors on the Bow Anniversary & Fundraiser. 2 – 3:30 p.m. At the Seniors on the Bow Centre. Come enjoy an afternoon of fun and music — all while helping Seniors on the Bow! Cash bar, 50/50 draw, refreshments served.
1-2
EXTREME COWBOY CLINIC. Cochrane Agricultural Society Grounds (northwest corner of Hwys 1A and 22). Spectators welcome. www.cochraneagsociety.com
7, 8 & 9
COCHRANE VISION THEATRE PRODUCTION OF SCREWTAPE. Based on the book “The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis. Cochrane RancheHouse Theatre, 101 RancheHouse Road. www.cochranevisiontheatre.ca
29
8
FOOTHILLS ART CLUB ANNUAL SPRING SHOW AND SALE. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. St Andrew’s United Church, 128 First Street East. Free admission; free draw of an original painting; refreshments. Visit www.foothillsartclub.com
8-9
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE at the Visitor Information Centre, Danita Phalen, 521 1st Street West. Saturday 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Sunday 12 – 4:30 p.m.
10, 11, 12 & 13
TEATRO DELL’ECO PRODUCTION OF DREAMING ALBERTA, an environmental play commissioned by the Town of Cochrane. Cochrane RancheHouse Theatre, 101 RancheHouse Road, 7 p.m. Admission is free.
15-16
3 DAY EVENTING CLINIC, Cochrane Agricultural Society Grounds (northwest corner of Hwys 1A and 22). Spectator Fee. www.cochraneagsociety.com
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to May 1 JIM ANDERSON CLINIC, Cochrane Agricultural Society Grounds (northwest corner of Hwys 1A and 22). Spectator Fee. www.cochraneagsociety.com
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M AY
6
QUARTER HORSE SHOW Cochrane Agricultural Society Grounds (northwest corner of Hwys 1A and 22). Spectators welcome. www.cochraneagsociety.com
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HELPING HANDS COCHRANE & WESTERN ROCKY VIEW FOOD DRIVE. Semi-annual food drive to help restock the local food bank. Meet your neighbors and help a good cause! 10 a.m. To register or volunteer email fooddrive@helpinghandscochrane.ca
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COCHRANE HUMANE SOCIETY PETICURE. 1 – 3 p.m. at the Rehabiliation & 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 groomers for this event. Dogs must be on a leash. Cats are welcome too, as long as they are in a kennel. www.cochranehumane.ca
6-7
COCHRANE AND DISTRICT TRADE SHOW, Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre, 800 Griffin Road. Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission $2 per person / per day. Kids under 12 — free. Family pass (valid for 2 adults, and up to 4 kids): $5.00 per day. Please note that the entrance fee is CASH ONLY! Over 140 vendor booths. Daily prize draws, Kids Zone. www.cochranechamber.ca COCHRANE ART CLUB’S 57TH ANNUAL FINE SHOW & SALE, FREE at the Cochrane Ranchehouse, 101 RancheHouse Road. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. “A Gallery Event Featuring Original Fine Art by Local Artists.” Visit www.cochraneartclub.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
EXTREME COWBOY SHOW, Cochrane Agricultural Society Grounds (northwest corner of Hwys 1A and 22). Spectators welcome. www.cochraneagsociety.com
12-13
TEATRO DELL’ECO PRESENTS THE 11 O’CLOCK NUMBER by Grindstone Comedy Theatre. Ninety minutes of improvised comedy entertainment based on audience suggestions. Cochrane RancheHouse Theatre, 101 RancheHouse Road, 7:30 p.m. Tickets $22 by phone 403-851-2534 at Recreation, Culture and the Arts Office at the Cochrane RancheHouse or online www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/2816587
13-14
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE at the Visitor Information Centre, Marty Cochrane painting historic main street, 521 1st Street West. Saturday 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Sunday 12 – 4:30 p.m. REINING ALBERTA SPRING SHOW AND CLINIC, Cochrane Agricultural Society Grounds (northwest corner of Hwys 1A and 22). Spectators welcome. www.cochraneagsociety.com
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COCHRANE HUMANE SOCIETY’S 16TH ANNUAL MUTT STRUT www.cochranehumane.ca VINTAGE MARKET AT BEAUPRE HALL. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Drop by the Hall for a visit, good food, and great bargains on gently used treasures. Beaupre Hall is located just 15 minutes west of Cochrane. www.beauprehall.com
9-10
27-28
EXTREME COWBOY SHOW, Cochrane Agricultural Society Grounds (northwest corner of Hwys 1A and 22). Spectators welcome. www.cochraneagsociety.com
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PACE AND CHASE EVENT, Cochrane Agricultural Society Grounds (northwest corner of Hwys 1A and 22). Spectators welcome. www.cochraneagsociety.com
DOORS OPEN COCHRANE, a behind the scenes look at Town facilities and local businesses and organizations including Studio West Foundry & Gallery, Cochrane Humane Society Training Facility and more. www.doorsopencochrane.ca
10 -11
EXTREME COWBOY SHOW, Cochrane Agricultural Society Grounds (northwest corner of Hwys 1A and 22). Spectators welcome. www.cochraneagsociety.com ART SHOW AT BEAUPRE, Beaupre Hall, Beaupre Creek Road, 1 – 4 p.m. Small charge for the Tea on Sunday only. No charge if you’re just coming for the Art Show (Beaupre Artists Guild). www.beauprehall.com
JUNE
Saturdays
SATURDAY MORNING COCHRANE FARMERS’ MARKET. 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Historic Cochrane Ranche Site, Junction of Hwy 1A & Hwy 22. The first market is June 4th. www.cochrane-environment.org
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COMMEMORATIVE SPRING SERVICES OF WORSHIP at the historic McDougall Memorial Church, 3 p.m., include presentations which reflect upon the historic role of the church, its founders and members. West of Cochrane on Hwy. 1A. All are welcome. www.mcdougallstoneymission.com
3-4
FOOTSTOCK, Western Canada’s premier race featuring a 5 km Run or Walk, 10 km Run or Walk, Individual Duathlon, Duathlon Relay, Half Marathon and Kids Triathlon www.footstock.ca
3, 4 & 5
PETER CAMPBELL CLINIC, Cochrane Agricultural Society Grounds (northwest corner of Hwys 1A and 22). Spectators welcome. www.cochraneagsociety.com
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KIDS CAN CATCH, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Mitford Pond, Free Family Fishing Event. Kids 15 and under can take home a fish. Kids 16+ must catch and release or ages 16 – 64 can purchase a sport fishing license in advance at Canadian Tire. www.abconservation.com/events/kids-can-catch
24-25
H O R S E T R I A L S E V E N T , Cochrane Agricultural Society Grounds (northwest corner of Hwys 1A and 22). Spectators welcome. www.cochraneagsociety.com
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developer feature
HARMONY PARK DEVELOPMENTS CORP.
Family-friendly community Heritage Hills offers family-oriented homes, active lifestyle n By
Aaliya Essa
M
ore and more people are putting their roots down in Heritage Hills, and for good reason. Here in Heritage Hills you’ll find more than just your dream home — you’ll be living in your dream community too. Located in the picturesque northwest quadrant of Cochrane, with views of the foothills and Rocky Mountains, Heritage Hills was designed and created around the busy active lives of its residents, says Charles Boechler, Development Manager at Harmony Park Developments Corporation. “This is a community with very active and engaged residents, as exhibited by constant family activity in the parks and community events that have taken place — all purely through the effort of current Heritage Residents,” he says. With around 650 homes at build-out, spread-out over 50 hectares, the community will offer lots of space and a variety of distinct product types, including some fee simple townhomes. Buyers can look forward to the new phase launching this year. Boechler says they will open new show homes later this year, hopefully before fall. The community is proving so popular that Stepper Homes’ and Trico Homes’ single-family homes have sold out in Phases 1 and 2, with a few spec homes remaining for quick possession. But first-time homebuyers and downsizers can still find their perfect home in the Heritage Hills Townhome Collection from Stepper Homes. There are three layouts to choose from, “there is a design to fit your lifestyle,” says Mary Anderson, Area Sales Managers for Stepper Homes. With a total of 51 townhomes, each layout is two-storeys, includes three-bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, and a front attached oversized single garage with an additional six-metre driveway. Ranging in size from 1,338 to 1,405 square-feet, starting from $314,900
and going up to $339,900 in price that includes GST, it comes as no surprise that they are already at 60 per cent sold in phase 1, while having just released 11 townhomes currently being built in phase 2. “The Collins is the corner model on almost all the nine buildings,” says Anderson. “The main floor is an open layout with the kitchen and island next to the dining area and the great room at the rear. The kitchen has a corner pantry. The master suite features a five piece ensuite and generously sized walk in closet.” They also offer the Baker, which boasts a central dining area and a great room the width of the home. The Andover is the largest of the three plans and feels very open with a central dining area adjacent to the kitchen. It includes a flex space on the upper floor. “All the homes back onto green space, the main floor ceilings are nine feet in height, the staircases are wide and have great wall space for displaying your treasured artwork and wall hangings,” she says. When you’re done moving in, you’ll have time to discover even more about this great community. Explore the paved pathways where you’ll meet your neighbours, and, of course, the new off leash Dog Park is a great way to meet people too. Maybe best of all, as great a place as it is to live, when you want to get away from it all, Heritage Hills has quick access to worldclass skiing, hiking, golfing, sailing, fishing, camping, mountain biking, off-roading, and a host of other outdoor activities. “It’s all about the lifestyle,” says Boechler. n
For more information visit www.heritagehillscochrane.com
Heritage Hills Townhome Collection from Stepper Homes
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developer feature
APEX DEVELOPMENTS
Heart of the matter Heartland builds a community of friends and neighbours n By
Aaliya Essa
F
or residents of Heartland, in Cochrane, it’s all about living in a community that is designed and built around bringing families and people together. From the beginning, Heartland has offered a variety of homes to suit different lifestyles, from young families and couples, to growing families and downsizers alike. There is a home to fit every budget and lifestyle, which is why it’s such a popular choice with many new homebuyers. Heartland by Apex Developments is currently the fastest growing community in Cochrane, with approximately 1,500 homes of all shapes, sizes and prices, — including single-family, duplex and freehold townhomes to choose from — expected at build-out. And with Excel Homes, Jayman BUILT and Birchwood Properties as their formidable builder group, there’s nothing to stop Heartland’s growth. “We aren’t slowing down here in Heartland,” says Charla Power, Excel Homes’ area manager. “This year has been incredible, the volume of people interested in living here has doubled from last year.” Excel Homes has two show homes for buyers to peruse, Edendale II and Radison, which are 1,918 square-feet and 2,046 square-feet in size. Respectively. The Edendale is three-bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths, starting from around $390,000, GST included. The Radison floor plan features four-bedrooms, perfect for a large family, plus a tandem garage, which adds additional room for your recreational toys — starting from around $425,000, GST included. “We also just launched our duplexes in phase 6A, that start from around $324,900 to $334,900 including GST, we have double and single
attached garages, and they range from 1,543 to 1,582 square-feet,” says Power. The newest member of the Heartland team, Jayman BUILT, is just as enthusiastic about the future of the community. “Our buyers are very excited to have Jayman here in Heartland,” says Jayman BUILT area manager, Kym Daigle. “With two new show homes on display, the Dakota-24 and Nitro, this allows buyers to see the calibre of options we have available.” Brand Townhomes by Birchwood Properties is also hot, with more than 50 per cent sold and possessions expected to begin soon. Adele Kerr, Sales and Marketing Manager at Birchwood Properties, says the response to the design of the homes have been quite positive. 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. Heartland, at 250-acres, mirrors Cochrane’s Big Sky character; with abundant parks and walkways to provide residents with room to play, Heartland provides the environment to set down roots in. Situated on the western edge of Cochrane, Heartland is perfect for people who like to get a jump on traffic to escape to the mountains. Access in and out of the community is easy and, with two exits at the moment and a third coming soon, whichever direction you’re heading, it’s easy to get there from Heartland. n
For more information visit www.heartlandcochrane.com
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you said it
Who is your all-time favourite cartoon character? n By Kim Amsing
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Elsa from Frozen, because she has super powers.
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Meg from Hercules. Carlee
Leonardo from Ninja Turtles. Leo
Evalea
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Well, it’s Ninja Turtles, of course. Astrit
Donald Duck. Brian
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I’ll say Scooby Doo. Kim
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Bugs Bunny. Robin
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Scooby Doo. Rello Raggy! John
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