Latest news with #Cochranites
Calgary Herald
10-06-2025
- Health
- Calgary Herald
Cochrane residents opposed to YMCA proposal for SLS Centre
A proposal that would shift operations of Cochrane's SLS Centre to the YMCA has been met with backlash from Cochranites who have questions on how this will impact their community. Article content Following media event on June 9, Town of Cochrane CAO Mike Derricott said the proposal would see Cochrane's recreational facility transfer its future management to the YMCA. Article content Article content 'It was about a year ago that [Cochrane] council, in conjunction with our partners at Rocky View County, asked a question about what was the best model for managing recreational service pressures,' Derricott said. 'We have seen sustained sustained patterns of growth, and as that continues, we need to know that that's going to necessitate us evolving our services to match the growing demand.' Article content Article content Currently, the proposed agreement will last for 25 years, which will include quarterly operational and annual governance-level reporting built into the agreement. It will also host a six-month transition period where the YMCA will undergo a detailed process and connect with all users. Article content Article content In financial estimates made to Cochrane council, from 2026 to 2030, the YMCA projects an operating margin increase of 130 per cent in their first year, followed by and 185 per cent increase in year two, and 20 per cent increases over the next three years. Article content This will result in a $392,000 surplus in year one, with a $1.85 million surplus by year five. The YMCA does note that this is before any monumental operating model adjustments that would need to be considered with Cochrane and Rocky View, and as the SLS pursues peak optimization. Article content After the request for proposal closed on July 9, 2024, the YMCA was picked as the best candidate among two other potential options. Following this decision, it has been met with backlash by members of the community that it could potentially be seen as a takeover of the facility by YMCA Calgary. Article content Article content With major user groups of the SLS Centre expressing their concerns on the topic, Derricott said that it is understandable and reasonable there is anxiety around what the change will bring. Article content 'We do not expect there to be changes at the operational level [and] to user experience, both at individual level or to the groups that rely on Spray Lakes and Cochrane Arena to provide their programs,' he said. Article content Cochrane mayor Jeff Genung said that the impetus of the decision is to address the growth pressures of the town. Article content 'If you haven't been around here, you need to come over the hill and take a look and see this community transform almost overnight,' Genung said. 'And that discussion included looking at a second site for another rec facility, and so – where is that? Who's operating it? That was really where the question came from in the beginning, and that's why we find ourselves in this RFP process now.'
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Legacy of Cochrane's fallen Grandfather Tree will live on through new bench
The Town of Cochrane has found a way to pay tribute to its most treasured tree. The Grandfather Tree, an estimated 300-year-old white spruce in Cochrane Ranche, was toppled by high winds during a storm in January. Now through a proposal reminiscent of Shel Silverstein's book The Giving Tree, it will live on in the form of a commemorative bench made with its salvaged wood. WATCH | Grandfather Tree mourned by Cochranites: The bench was chosen over two other options presented to Cochrane town council on Monday: a children's book authored by a local author and the production of wooden key chains made from the tree. "In the weeks that followed [the tree's collapse], we saw an incredible outpouring of community sentiment," said Michelle Delorme, the town's director of parks and active living. "Residents left reflections, drawings and stories in a temporary mailbox and journal placed at the site, showing us how much this landmark meant to so many people." The tree is currently commemorated through two public art installations at The Station in downtown Cochrane. The bench will include infographic interpretive signage and a mailbox where visitors can share their Grandfather Tree stories and reflections. Calling the bench project "a meaningful, long-lasting tribute that can be delivered within our parks and active living budget," Delorme said it would cost from $7,000 to $10,000. Some council members balked at that estimate. Coun. Patrick Wilson said he was "amazed" and "kind of disgusted" by the proposed cost. When asked by Wilson, Delorme said the price is in line with that of other municipal benches in Cochrane's parks, with those costing anywhere from $5,000 to $7,000. "I can't believe that number. I'm absolutely aghast that we pay that," he said. Stacey Loe, community services executive director with the Town of Cochrane, said that while the cost would continue to be evaluated, this particular bench will likely be more expensive than others due to the labour involved with creating it from the Grandfather Tree. Delorme added that the entire bench won't be made from the Grandfather Tree's wood, but that the goal is for "at least half" of it to be. "We will have to piece everything back together," she said. Coun. Marni Fedeyko said that "unless it's made out of, like, African rainforest wood, it seems kind of on the high side." She supported the motion but emphasized that hiring local artists and contractors for the bench's construction should be prioritized. Coun. Morgan Nagel acknowledged that the project sounds "a little too expensive," but said it was a reasonable proposal, likening it to "an artisan project off of the woods." Councillors floated the idea of combining the bench proposal with the children's book idea, but ultimately approved the construction of the bench at the proposed price. Six of seven council members voted in favour of the motion, leaving Wilson as the sole dissenter.
CBC
30-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Legacy of Cochrane's fallen Grandfather Tree will live on through new bench
The Town of Cochrane has found a way to pay tribute to its most treasured tree. The Grandfather Tree, an estimated 300-year-old white spruce in Cochrane Ranche, was toppled by high winds during a storm in January. Now through a proposal reminiscent of Shel Silverstein's book The Giving Tree, it will live on in the form of a commemorative bench made with its salvaged wood. WATCH | Grandfather Tree mourned by Cochranites: This tree outlived generations until high winds took it down 4 months ago Duration 2:04 The bench was chosen over two other options presented to Cochrane town council on Monday: a children's book authored by a local author and the production of wooden key chains made from the tree. "In the weeks that followed [the tree's collapse], we saw an incredible outpouring of community sentiment," said Michelle Delorme, the town's director of parks and active living. "Residents left reflections, drawings and stories in a temporary mailbox and journal placed at the site, showing us how much this landmark meant to so many people." The tree is currently commemorated through two public art installations at The Station in downtown Cochrane. The bench will include infographic interpretive signage and a mailbox where visitors can share their Grandfather Tree stories and reflections. Calling the bench project "a meaningful, long-lasting tribute that can be delivered within our parks and active living budget," Delorme said it would cost from $7,000 to $10,000. Some council members balked at that estimate. Price tag not popular Coun. Patrick Wilson said he was "amazed" and "kind of disgusted" by the proposed cost. When asked by Wilson, Delorme said the price is in line with that of other municipal benches in Cochrane's parks, with those costing anywhere from $5,000 to $7,000. "I can't believe that number. I'm absolutely aghast that we pay that," he said. Stacey Loe, community services executive director with the Town of Cochrane, said that while the cost would continue to be evaluated, this particular bench will likely be more expensive than others due to the labour involved with creating it from the Grandfather Tree. Delorme added that the entire bench won't be made from the Grandfather Tree's wood, but that the goal is for "at least half" of it to be. "We will have to piece everything back together," she said. Coun. Marni Fedeyko said that "unless it's made out of, like, African rainforest wood, it seems kind of on the high side." She supported the motion but emphasized that hiring local artists and contractors for the bench's construction should be prioritized. Coun. Morgan Nagel acknowledged that the project sounds "a little too expensive," but said it was a reasonable proposal, likening it to "an artisan project off of the woods." Councillors floated the idea of combining the bench proposal with the children's book idea, but ultimately approved the construction of the bench at the proposed price. Six of seven council members voted in favour of the motion, leaving Wilson as the sole dissenter.
