- Cochrane, Alberta
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Cochrane — Town — Town of Cochrane Overview of Cochrane Motto: How the West is Now Location of Cochrane in Alberta Coordinates: 51°11′27″N 114°28′05″W / 51.19080°N 114.46793°W Country Canada
Province Alberta
Region Calgary Region Census division 6 Municipal district Rocky View County Incorporated 1903 (village) 1971 (town) Government[1] – Mayor Truper McBride – Governing body Cochrane Town Council- Ivan Brooker
- Joann Churchill
- Ivan Davies
- Tara McFadden
- Jeffery Toews
- Ross Watson
– CAO Julian deCocq – MP Blake Richards (Cons-Wild Rose) – MLA Janis Tarchuk (PC-Banff-Cochrane) Area[2] – Total 30.03 km2 (11.6 sq mi) Elevation 1,186 m (3,891 ft) Population (2006)[2] – Total 13,760 – Density 458.3/km2 (1,187/sq mi) Time zone MST (UTC-7) Postal code span T4C Area code(s) +1-403 Highways Highway 1A
Cowboy TrailWebsite Town of Cochrane [3] Cochrane /ˈkɒkrən/ is a town in the Canadian province of Alberta. The town is located 18 km west of the Calgary city limits along Highway 1A. With a population of 15,424 (2009),[4] Cochrane is the second largest town in Alberta and one of the fastest growing communities in Canada. It is part of Calgary's Census Metropolitan Area (1,107,200 in 2006) and a member community of the Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP). The town is surrounded by Rocky View County.
Contents
History
Cochrane was established in 1881 as the Cochrane Ranche, after Matthew Cochrane, a local rancher.[5] It became a village in 1903 and a town in 1971.
Geography
Cochrane is situated at the base of Big Hill in the Bow River Valley. It sits at an elevation of 1,186 metres (3,891 ft). The town is intersected by Highway 1A and Highway 22. Cochrane has a reputation for its western culture, which can easily be felt when one wanders the streets (particularly Main Street). The town is a popular destination for ice cream and coffee in its quaint western-oriented stores as well as for windsports, golfing, hiking and other adventure activities.
Cochrane is also a small industrial centre. Major industries include lumber, construction, retail, and agriculture (ranching). It is notable as being one of a very few communities in Canada with no business tax.
Cochrane is known for outdoor pursuits. It is a centre for paragliding/skydiving instruction, with the renowned Muller family operating a school at the top of the Big Hill.
The hill is also a popular training ground for cyclists from the area, who take advantage of its 7% grade and 3.5 km distance.
Demographics
Census History
[citation needed]Year Population 1911 395 1941 298 1971 1,046 1981 3,544 1991 5,267 2001 11,798 2006 13,760 2009 15,424 The population of the Town of Cochrane according to its 2009 municipal census is 15,424.[4]
In 2006, Cochrane had a population of 13,760 living in 4,969 dwellings, a 14.3% increase from 2001. The town has a land area of 30.03 km2 (11.59 sq mi) and a population density of 458.3 /km2 (1,187 /sq mi).[2]
Culture
Cochrane houses attractions such as Cochrane Ranche Historic Site and Bert Sheppard Stockmen's Foundation Library And Archives, located in the Cochrane Ranchehouse.
Cochrane is home to many annual events each year:
- Chamber of Commerce Trade Fair: Early May
- Cochrane Valley Festival of the Arts: Canada Day (July 1)[6]
- Town of Cochrane presents the Canada Day Family Concert : Canada Day (July 1)[6]
- Labour Day Rodeo & Parade: Labour Day weekend
- Terry Fox Run: September
- Christmas Lightup: Late November
See also: Festivals in AlbertaArts
Cochrane Ranch provided the corral setting for the 1954 National Film Board of Canada documentary Corral, by Colin Low, whose father had worked as a foreman at the ranch. This film played theatrically across Canada and was named Best Documentary at the Venice Film Festival.[7]
Government
- Municipal politics
Cochrane has a town council consisting of an elected mayor and six councillors elected at-large. Councillors are elected by the eligible electors by voting for up to six candidates and the six receiving the largest number of votes being elected. The position of deputy mayor is rotated through the councillors over their term. Elections are held on the third Monday in October every third year.
The current town council (elected in October 2010) consists of Mayor Truper McBride and Councillors Ivan Brooker, Joann Churchill, Ivan Davies, Tara McFadden, Jeffery Toews, and Ross Watson.
- Provincial politics
Cochrane is located within the provincial electoral division of Banff-Cochrane. It has been represented in the Alberta Legislature by Progressive Conservative MLA Janis Tarchuk since the 1997 provincial election.
- Federal politics
Cochrane is located along the southern most boundary of the federal electoral district of Wild Rose. Blake Richards is representing Cochrane in the House of Commons since 2008. He replaced long standing MP Myron Thompson, who was originally elected as a member of the Reform Party in 1993.
Education
Cochrane is home to schools from both the public Rocky View School Division as well as the separate Calgary Catholic School District and the Francophone school system, the Greater Southern Alberta Catholic Francophone Region #4 (CSCFSA).
As of 2008, there are currently nine public and separate schools in operation within the town boundaries.
- Rocky View School Division
- Bow Valley High School: Grades 9–12
- Cochrane High School: Grades 9–12
- Elizabeth Barret Elementary School: Kindergarten, Grades 1–4
- Glenbow Elementary School: Kindergarten, Grades 1–4
- Mitford Middle School: Grades 5–8
- Manachaban Middle School: Grades 5–8
- Cochrane Christian Program: Kindergarten, Grades 1-8
- Calgary Catholic School District
- Holy Spirit: Grades 1–6
- St. Timothy: Grades 7–12
- Nôtre Dame Des Vallées: Kindergarten, Grades 1–8 (French-Catholic school GSACFR#4 or CSCFSA)
In November 2006 the Rocky View School Division accepted a proposal by the Cochrane Christ-Centred Education Society to set up a Protestant Christian education program in Cochrane. The Cochrane Christian Program opened its doors at Mitford Middle School in September 2007, offering kindergarten to grade 4. Approval for expansion to include grade 5 for the 2008–09 school year was given by the board of trustees in April 2008. Further expansion to higher-grade levels will depend on student enrolment numbers.
There are currently two trustees (one from each board) elected to represent Cochrane Schools at their respective boards. As of January 2008 these trustees are:
- Dr. Bruce Pettigrew: Rocky View School Division, Ward 6
- Serafino Scarpino: Calgary Catholic School District, Wards 1, 2 and Cochrane
The Greater Southern Alberta Catholic Francophone Region #4 has one trustee for the Region from Cochrane.
Cochrane is also home to the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary, the flagship seminary of the Canadian Southern Baptist Convention, the Canadian branch of the largest US Protestant denomination.
See also
- List of communities in Alberta
- List of towns in Alberta
References
- ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs: Municipal Officials Search
- ^ a b c Statistics Canada (Census 2006). "Cochrane - Community Profile". http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4806019&Geo2=PR&Code2=48&Data=Count&SearchText=Cochrane&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=4806019. Retrieved 2007-06-10.
- ^ Town of Cochrane (2008). "2008 Municipal Census Report". http://www.cochrane.ca/municipal/cochrane/cochrane-website.nsf/AllDocSearch/23120E029FCC7576872574A900633D3D/$File/Summary%20Census%20Council%20Report%202008.pdf?OpenElement. Retrieved 2008-02-24.
- ^ a b Alberta Municipal Affairs (2009-09-15). "Alberta 2009 Official Population List". http://municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/documents/LGS/2009pop.pdf. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
- ^ Cochrane: Our History - Cochrane.ca. Retrieved 2010-02-07.[dead link]
- ^ a b http://www.cochrane.ca/municipal/toc/webcms.nsf/AllDoc/DF68DC09CF7AD8CF8725773C0064193A?OpenDocument
- ^ "Corral". NFB.ca. National Film Board of Canada. http://www.nfb.ca/film/corral. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
External links
Cremona Crossfield Canmore Airdrie Cochrane
Bragg Creek Calgary Coordinates: 51°11′27″N 114°28′05″W / 51.19080°N 114.46793°W
Categories:- Rocky View County, Alberta
- Towns in Alberta
- Calgary Region
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