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It is time to have a conversation

I will never get over the feeling that June is the end of a year and September the beginning. Too many years in school have left this imprinted on my mind forever. Because of this I have two items I want to cover in this column.

I will never get over the feeling that June is the end of a year and September the beginning. Too many years in school have left this imprinted on my mind forever. Because of this I have two items I want to cover in this column.

The first is on June 17 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. I have arranged for a Coffee House meeting with members of Cochrane Town Council at Frank Wills Memorial Hall. A number of your town councillors who are available would like to host any and all community members from Cochrane to meet with us for coffee, cookies and conversation. We will have the list of council priorities available and will discuss anything you want to talk about regarding Cochrane and the future of our town. With this being the first time Cochrane Council has a four-year term, it just seems like it's time to have a conversation. I hope we can turn this into a quarterly review with you.

My second item is inspired by the honour I had this past week to attend Bow Valley High School's Blue and Gold awards evening and the Cochrane Cadets year end parade and awards ceremony. I was privileged to hand out the Citizenship Awards at Bow Valley. The number of professional, motivated, positive young people I saw this week gives me a solid belief that we are in for a great future. While this is a month of celebrating successes and looking towards the future for students I know that some are anxious, hesitant, afraid and apprehensive about the future. We can all play a part as adults in Cochrane by being aware of the young people who are struggling, need some extra support, can use a pat on the back or a shoulder to lean on. Whether going out on your own for the first time or someone who feels like you are on your own, here are a few of the words that ground me, motivate me, and give me a reality check when needed:

1. Everything you need to know you really did learn in kindergarten (taken from the poem by Robert Fulghum): Share everything. Play Fair. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Hold hands and stick together.

2. Inspired by the Ten Commandments (no religion required): Honour your father and mother and any other person who has taken the time to love you, nurture you and support you. Don't be jealous of someone else's success, cheer them on. Don't bully or hurt another human being.

3. Inspired by the 12 Steps of AA: Admit we are powerless over many things. Admit when we are wrong. Apologize and change our behaviour when we are hurtful. Seek guidance to live our best life. Be an example to others.

More than anything, every day be nice because nice matters.

See you all June 17.

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