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Cochrane chamber boxes up local support this holiday season

The Cochrane Loves Local Gift Box is launching Nov. 20 at the Social Spot's Pop-Up Holiday Market and is sure to make shopping local this holiday season a lot easier, with more than $165 of goodies from local businesses inside.

Shopping local this holiday season is sure to be a lot easier as the Cochrane Loves Local Gift Box is set to launch Nov. 20 at the Social Spot's Pop-Up Holiday market.

The gift box, containing more than $165 of local goodies, is a collaboration between the Cochrane Tourism Association, the Cochrane and District Chamber of Commerce and Town of Cochrane Business Development.

A limited supply of 50 gift boxes will be available for $75 each and can be picked up Saturdays and Sundays during the market's hours of 11-4 p.m. until Dec. 19 while supplies last.

Also available will be 500 free, empty branded Cochrane Loves Local boxes that can be used to claim special promotions at local businesses featured in the Town of Cochrane's Holiday Gift Guide. Those are expected to land in mailboxes this week. 

"We're excited to be able to support so many local businesses this holiday season with the Cochrane Loves Local program," said Chamber executive director Kelly Carson in a media release.

"The gift guide and the curated box are a reminder of the variety of amazing products that are available in Cochrane," Carson said. "Supporting local will be easier than ever!"

Products from 15 different local businesses are featured in the gift box, including a handcrafted glass by Peregrine Glassworks made from a recycled bottle, a set of four locally made art cards from Studio West Gallery & Bronze Foundry, a limited edition chocolate bar made by Sweet Gypsy Bespoke Chocolates and much more.

Shirley Begg, owner of Studio West Gallery & Bronze Foundry, said the art cards are prints of oil paintings by her late father, renowned western artist Doug Stephens, who founded Studio West in Cochrane 50 years ago. 

"They are really local in that they represent scenes in the Cochrane area and they're even printed in Cochrane," she said, adding they also have a selection of unique Christmas cards available at the gallery, all of which have original artwork and a poem or greeting written by Stephens. 

Begg, who is also an artist, along with her daughter Karen and husband Don, said they appreciate the efforts the town and chamber make to encourage local business.

"I'm very pleased that these kinds of initiatives are happening and always like to see new and inventive ways of encouraging the recognition of local business," she said. "I hope that people will see what I call samples in the gift box and then follow up by visiting the businesses."

The Bronze Foundry is perhaps best known locally for their creation of the Legacy statue a.k.a the Chicken Lady, which sits beside Centennial Plaza downtown, but the Beggs have sent their work far and wide. They also have smaller creations available for purchase or viewing at their gallery in Cochrane's unassuming industrial district. 

"We don't look like a very inviting art gallery," Begg said with a laugh. "We have a chain link fence with barbed wire but there's a lot of value here. People come here because they want to look at artwork, they don't just stumble in."

Peregrine Glassworks, another family-run business in Cochrane, has contributed a drinking glass to each gift box. All of which are cut down from recycled wine, beer and spirit bottles and then finished with locally created print designs.

Hugh Moloney, who owns Peregrine Glassworks, said the support the business has received from the community is unparalleled. They are regular vendors at the Cochrane Farmer's Market and Christmas markets and they have taken notice of the town's appreciation for handcrafted products.

"Every time you shop local, you're helping somebody else in your community make money to buy the things they need to buy," he said. "You're keeping the money in your community and you're allowing other small businesses, and businesses in general, to thrive in your community."

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