During the regular council meeting of May 26, Cochrane council resumed a benched discussion about-- you guessed it-- a bench.
What began as a heartfelt plan to honour the fallen Grandfather Tree turned into a spirited debate over just how much a park bench should cost.
Originally discussed at the April 7 Committee of the Whole meeting, council unanimously supported creating a commemorative piece from the fallen tree. Administration returned with a proposal to incorporate salvaged wood from the 300-year old spruce into a custom-built memorial bench, to be installed on the original site.
“This would be paired with interpretive signage and a permanent reflection mailbox, creating a meaningful, long-lasting tribute,” said Michelle Delorme, Director of Parks & Active Living.
However, council was taken aback by the $7,000 to $10,000 estimated cost.
“The bench is an amazing idea,” said Councillor Susan Flowers. “I was surprised at the cost though-- do we know that for sure?”
Delorme explained that the high estimate reflects the complexity of the build. The tree was removed in smaller segments, and crafting a bench from fragmented, aged wood adds both time and labour to the process. In addition to the bench, the cost includes design, signage, and site preparation such as ground clearing and installation of a concrete base.
Upon learning the cost, Councillor Patrick Wilson questioned whether the price was tied to extra seating capacity. However, the bench will be standard-sized, similar to other municipal benches, which typically cost between $5,000 and $7,000.
“I can’t get my head around $7,000 to $10,000 for this,” he said. “I’m absolutely aghast. I had no idea that’s what a municipal bench is worth.”
Councillor Marni Fedeyko also expressed skepticism, citing a previous purchase of a bench for Glenbow at roughly half the cost.
“Unless it's made out of African rainforest wood, it seems kind of high,” she said. “I’m rather shocked.”
While a standard municipal bench costs up to $7,000, administration emphasized that using the Grandfather tree’s wood is a major factor in the higher estimate.
“There's probably more labor-intensive work involved in this particular bench simply because they're not starting from a large slab to cut from,” said Stacey Loe, Executive Director of Corporate Services.
Despite the sticker shock, other councillors supported the investment.
“It’s kind of like an artisan project out of the woods,” said Councillor Morgan Nagel. “They have to pour a concrete pad and clear out the ground, so that $5,000 to $10,000 range doesn’t seem that crazy to me.”
Councillor Alex Reed echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of quality.
“It's not just a bench; there's an interpretive centre with this. As Morgan has indicated, it's a craft product,” he said. “I'm sure it'll come in less than the estimates but I don't want to cheap this out - I want to be able to do it well.”
Mayor Jeff Genung reminded council that though estimates for the project seem high, administration has gone through a process to come up with the number, performing their due diligence.
“I think we're kind of putting the wrong kind of pressure on them,” he said. “They're coming back and giving us exactly what we asked for and now we're balking at the numbers, So either we say here's the here's a number for you to do it within or let's pick a different option. If that's the cost then that's the cost.”
Ultimately, the project was approved by a 6–1 vote, with Wilson opposed. The final design will include:
- A custom bench featuring wood from the Grandfather Tree
- Interpretive signage
- A permanent reflection mailbox
As a final caveat, Fedeyko urged administration to prioritize local contractors when awarding the work to support Cochrane businesses.
For more information or updates on the Grandfather Tree commemorative project, visit cochrane.ca/grandfathertree or contact [email protected].
