Opinion

One year ago, responding to a challenge from Cochrane reader Grayce Vanden Berg, I declared my New Year’s resolution as follows: “With your help, to embrace more fully a lifestyle of peace and goodwill in 2014.

Anniversaries are important, whether it’s a birthday, wedding, or the day you got your first bike. Today (Dec. 31) is significant to me for a number of reasons. This was the day, in 2003 when I met my wife Sue at a New Year’s Eve party.

It’s only two days till Christmas, and the province’s political leaders are snug in their beds enjoying the Holiday season comforted by the knowledge that Albertans are also busy with their families this time of year and will soon forget that the pol

The Christmas season is upon us – a time for friendship, family and fellowship for all including our furry friends.

An intriguing convergence of events has altered the course of this year’s Christmas column.

Cochrane's current housing situation may be a microcosmic example of what Canada as a whole may be headed toward in the coming years. According to the Bank of Canada's Financial System Review, housing prices, coupled with consumer debt, are the biggest risks to the Canadian economy.

The price of oil has been steadily declining since the end of the summer. As the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) watches the price freefall, Albertans are left wondering what this means for our families. We're all hoping for the best. However, we should be aware of the risks we face and budget responsibly.

Seniors on the Bow (SOTB) had a great 2014, and 2015 is shaping up to be filled with interesting events and activities, something to suit every Cochrane senior. Before December 2014 is gone, be sure to check the Town of Cochrane activities guide to register for ballroom and social country dancing, zoomer zone, yoga and meditation for longevity, gentle yoga, Zumba gold, dance yourself fit, Piloga, beginner snowshoes and acrylic painting for beginners.

On Oct. 14 a severe snowstorm and devastating avalanches took the lives of 50 trekkers along the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal.

The history of aviation in the Cochrane area is close to my heart, as I have been a licensed Private Pilot since 1978. That was the same year Air Canada hired its first female pilot for commercial flights.