The dawn of a new day in Cochrane politics was on the minds of business leaders early yesterday as they gathered for breakfast to talk success and the state of things to come over the next four years.
The dawn of a new day in Cochrane politics was on the minds of business leaders early yesterday as they gathered for breakfast to talk success and the state of things to come over the next four years.
“You always encourage this kind of dialogue, ” said Chuck Collins of the Cochrane and District Chamber of Commerce. “We want to see this town grow … and expand. How can we help each other, support each other? That is the key. ”
The Chamber and the town of Cochrane's economic development department hosted the morning meeting, with a panel of company owners taking to the mic to share stories of business leadership, challenges and thoughts on the technological age.
Afterward, the discussion naturally drifted to Cochrane's new political landscape, with election issues such as transit, tourism, growth and development making their way into the conversation as mayor-elect Jeff Genung listened from the audience.
“Growth's going to happen, so you just hope you have wise pre-planning. Good sustainable growth is what … funds infrastructure and all the other things we all enjoy, ” said Cochrane Toyota owner and longtime resident Alex Baum. “We do want our children to stay here … I want my grandchildren to stay here. ”
Victoria Brilz, who co-founded Dynastream and is now the chief marketing officer at sports tech company 4iiii Innovations, said she wants the town to keep expanding.
“We want to attract people to our business … and if we can't grow, we will go elsewhere, ” she said, adding she would love to see Cochrane grow “up ” a little bit, rather than continue the current urban sprawl.
“We really need individuals in this town … for the taxation and ultimately to provide better paying jobs, ” said Collins.
Chamber board member David Smith urged the new establishment to think about alternative transit options for Cochrane, citing Airdrie's problems affording and managing its transit system, and he put a question to the panel
“We need to start doing some futuristic thinking about how we're designing Cochrane, ” he said.
Transit, Brilz continued, is “a really complex problem ” and she hopes the town of Cochrane will “think outside the box ” for solutions - including for commuters and people coming to town from Calgary.
Baum agreed, saying youth and seniors need a way to get around town easily and affordably.
Mark's No Frills owner Mark Johnston said he hopes to encourage more “business to business marketing ” to keep the dialogue going.
“Cochrane's still growing incredibly fast, ” he said. “We're all pretty fortunate about that. ”
Chandy Moody, business development lead for Bow Valley College, said the post-secondary institution is expanding its presence in Cochrane and pairing students with local services and businesses for practical training. She said establishing a relationship between employer and potential employee goes a long way to keeping people in Cochrane when they're done school.
“It's very, very critical, ” Moody said.
“It's a spin-off effect, ” added Business Development Bank of Canada senior account manager Kent Greenlees.
Ultimately, the group agreed that celebrating Cochrane's unique position in the shadow of the Rockies - and its identity as a small town with a big heart - is a great reason to continue to grow business, and make a home, here in town.
“There's a quality of life in Cochrane, ” said Rick Littlewood of Hunterwood Technologies. “There's a lure, a magic, a mystique. When the towns sticks to its guns … all of those little steps just come together. I'm really happen with what this town does. ”
