It’s all aboard and full steam ahead for The Station – a pivotal addition to Cochrane that will become a centre for business innovation, connect residents to local and regional transit, provide access to municipal services, and house the Cochrane Information Centre.
Cochrane town council and administration gathered with the community and media for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 8 to celebrate what they hope will become a central hub for all kinds of activities.
The Town of Cochrane is making an investment to create a hub for active living, innovation, and even possibly some recreational opportunities.
Not this winter but perhaps by next, an outdoor skating rink is planned for the space adjacent to the building, and with a White spruce they saved during construction, it could be the perfect site for a Christmas tree lighting, skating party, and even hot chocolate.
Connected by the new CP Rail pedestrian crossing, the landmark provides a link between historic downtown and the commercial districts south of the railway.
As if on cue at the ceremony, as Mayor Jeff Genung stepped up to the microphone, a CP Rail freight train rumbled through in the background.
Genung mentioned that someday in the future, passengers may be getting on and off a train running between Calgary and Banff at the very spot where the ribbon was being cut.
The normally reserved mayor was animated as he served as tour guide for media outlets after the formal portion of the program. He clearly sees big things in the future for new entrepreneurs to grow their ideas at The Station.
It is an accessible space where innovators can rub shoulders with like-minded entrepreneurs and pursue their dreams, according to Genung.
“The idea is a business that starts in Cochrane will stay in Cochrane,” he said.
“We’d like to incubate our own industry and build our own economy here from the ground up. People with great ideas – this will be a launchpad to get them over that first couple of years that are really difficult, and that’s what I’m most excited about.”
Denise Anstey is a Small Business Advisor at the Cochrane Scotiabank branch. She said she'd put The Station to good use.
"When I think of small business it always provides a feeling that a real nurturing person, a family with a need or dream is behind it," she said.
"Small business owners have a variety of needs – some may not want to meet at a traditional bank setting. I would meet them in a place like The Station.“
Anstey added that coming together and building the new economy right where we live can produce new and innovative ideas.
Other stated objectives from the Town’s literature include: attracting funding and investment opportunities for new and existing companies in Cochrane; executing business education and programming that provides support and resiliency for the business community; and solving Cochrane-specific problems and challenges through innovation.
Executive director, development and infrastructure services Drew Hyndman presented an overview of what The Station will mean to the community at a council meeting the night before the ribbon-cutting.
He provided an overview of The Velocity Garage, an entrepreneurial start-up facility at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, which served as inspiration for The Station idea.
At the Velocity Garage, more than 400 companies were incubated in 10 years.
“If we can do a fraction of that out of this space, we’re making a significant accomplishment in accelerating things in our community,” said Hyndman.
At the Nov. 7 meeting, Genung cited the success story example of Garmin Canada: the idea was hatched in someone’s garage, and now their Canadian headquarters is in Cochrane.
He also stressed that the Town still has a bit of important work to do, in clarifying its goals.
“We need to be clear about what industry we really want to drive,” Genung said.
The Station project was the successful recipient of grant funding from Green Transit Incentive Program (GreenTRIP), Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) and Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF).
Located at 360 Railway St. W, (across the street from the library) The Station will act as a point of service for Cochrane On-demand Local Transit (COLT) and commuter services provided through Cochrane partners On-it Regional Transit, for public transportation access to Calgary’s downtown and Brentwood neighbourhood, and SWIFT Mini Thni Transit Service, for access to Stoney Nakoda Nations.
Furthermore, the Cochrane Information Centre and Economic Development will operate out of The Station to provide visitor, resident and business services in the heart of Cochrane.
In addition to supporting transit with a centralized transfer location, sheltered waiting area and public washrooms, the relocated Cochrane Information Centre at The Station will provide information on local attractions and businesses for residents and visitors.
Cochrane services, including animal and business licensing and payment services, will be accessible there as well.
The Station also is designed to accomodate the future development of a train platform for regional train service bringing commuters to and from work or visitors to historic downtown Cochrane.
Doors opened to the public Monday, Nov. 14.
