Almost two years after its original unveiling, the Town of Cochrane’s Cenotaph project should have the third and final phase done by the spring of 2020.
“It’s a volunteer-run project but it’s for the benefit of the community. I don’t want to diminish the Town of Cochrane’s role in the whole thing because they gave us $65,000 to allow us to contract in order to get the bronze statue made. I just wanted to make it clear that the Cenotaph is a community project, not strictly a Legion project,” Usherwood said.
He added there are a few details remaining in order to finish the project, which he believes will take $10,000 to complete.
“We raised over $191,400 for the project and we have spent $191,030. Phase one of the project where we installed the bronze statue cost around $132,000, the bronze itself cost $105,000 but we had to plant some flag poles and things like that. Then we had to do the walkways ... they were deteriorating as they were at least 35-years-old and frost does great things to concrete in that time frame,” Usherwood said of the things done to date.
“I had a meeting with OnGrowing Works, the main contractor for this project. I want to install two park benches, which can be anywhere from $750 to $1,200 each. They need to be planted into concrete pillars or posts so they don’t disappear or get damaged. We’ll also need two six-inch pipes to prevent cars from getting close to the Cenotaph. Finally, we want to get a naming stone where we’re getting a bronze plaque from Studio West. The official name that we’re working on with the Cochrane Historical and Archival Preservation Society (CHAPS) and Town Council is the Cochrane Alberta Cenotaph Park ... we want the park to be used and give a reminder that the Cenotaph isn’t just for Remembrance Day.”
If all goes to plan, Usherwood said a naming ceremony and a ribbon-cutting will be held next spring.
Usherwood is looking for donations to complete the project. Those interested in contributing can contact him at 403-650-6826.
