Devastation for hundreds of kilometres, tens of thousands displaced and with the worst likely over, it’s safe to say Cochrane has shown her true colours since June 20.
Cochrane wasn’t the worst hit by the massive floods of 2013, but when called upon the town and its residents sent aid, workers, supplies and became home to the central nervous system of the Canadian Forces crisis base.
On June 21, 1,000 members of the Canadian Armed Forces moved into the Cochrane Arena and it was very much taking everyone by surprise.
“About 2 p.m. (June 21) they came and asked us if they could stay here,” said Neven Wilson, the operations manager of the Cochrane Arena, who stayed at the rink until well after 2 a.m. to help facilitate incoming troops.
“It’s all about helping out everyone in the area and getting out there to Bragg Creek, Redwood (Meadows), Kananaskis, Canmore and High River, and helping all of those people in need,” he said.
The visible presence of the military wasn’t lost on locals as onlookers started to show up at the rink to check out their vehicles. As troops started to settle in for the evening, locals started showing up with food.
“There were lots of people coming up to check out the vehicles, but around 6 p.m. people started to bring up hot food for the troops and helped welcome them in,” said Wilson.
“Times like this I’m proud to be a Canadian,” he said.
“They’re out there helping people out, I don’t know much more than that but anything we can do to make them welcome we’ll do.”
Commanding officer Jim Julien said when they had to decide on a spot to house their command post, the place where they would send troops in and out from, Cochrane was the perfect fit.
With high hills and dry open space to park military units, Julien said that it made sense to work from Cochrane, but also that if they’d known how welcoming Cochrane would be, they’d have made the same choice again.
“We’re OK here in Cochrane, we’re safe, but what if it was reversed? I’d want someone to help me out like this,” Wilson said.
“This is ideal for what these troops need. We’ve got a massive parking lot, lots of room to bunk and hot running water so they can shower and feel comfortable,” he said.
“If they’re going to be out working hard helping out the people of the Bow Valley, they deserve a place to be dry and feel safe.”
