It was a surreal sight for Cochrane’s Rob Hatch with nearly 100 kids smiling, laughing, and staying active on a court that started as a simple idea: “What if we build a place for sports that’s accessible to everyone?”
That dream, imagined in 2020 by Hatch, owner of Canadian Tire Cochrane, officially came to life on July 16 with the grand opening of the Jumpstart Inclusive Multi-Sport Court.
“I’ve been here in Cochrane for 25 years,” said Hatch. “I’ve raised a family here and seen this community grow. I just felt we should do something to make the place we live in even better.”
A long-time advocate for active living, Hatch envisioned a space that was fully inclusive, where families and children of all abilities could gather and play.
“I knew from the beginning that the spirit of this asset would be around inclusion and accessibility,” he said. “It’s important to build a place where everyone is welcome. When we get kids involved in sports, we build a stronger community. We end up with better Canadians and better Cochranites.”
With support from Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, Hatch brought the idea to the Town of Cochrane in 2021. After four years of planning, partnership, and construction, the court is now officially open to the public.
“This court reflects our commitment to working with valued partners like Jumpstart,” said Mayor Jeff Genung. “We’re creating spaces that support our growing and diverse population while also bringing people together physically and socially for stronger community connections.”
Located next to the SLS Centre, the barrier-free sport court offers enhanced visibility and accessibility features for a range of users. It supports basketball, sitting volleyball, pickleball, wheelchair tennis, and more.
The entire project was funded by Jumpstart, a national charity focused on inclusive play spaces and programs. Each June, Canadian Tire hosts Jumpstart Month, a fundraising campaign to support those efforts. Hatch and his family also made a significant personal contribution to help make the Cochrane project a reality.
“Canadian Tire has a long tradition of local dealers investing in their communities,” said Hatch. “My family and I decided to contribute directly to the building of this court.”
At the July 16 grand opening, Hatch was joined by Mayor Genung, Elder Helmer Twoyoungmen of the Stoney Nakoda First Nation, and Jumpstart representative Stuart McReynolds. But the most important guests were the dozens of kids who brought the first-of-its-kind court in Alberta to life.
“I’m overwhelmed,” Hatch said. “Dreams do come true. It may take time and perseverance, but seeing all these kids playing is all the reward I need. I’ll treasure coming here and seeing it in use for years to come.”
With potential for hosting events, summer camps, and community programming, the Jumpstart Inclusive Multi-Sport Court is set to become a lasting hub for recreation and inclusion in Cochrane.
The court is located at 800 Griffin Rd. E., adjacent to the SLS Centre and Jim Uffelmann Memorial Park. It is open for drop-in use Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays/statutory holidays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
