There’s an exciting year ahead in Cochrane
When the New Year arrives I do something other than make resolutions, I like to reflect on all I have to be thankful for in the past year. I sat around the table on New Year’s Eve with my wife, Dana, and my daughters, Olivia and Sophia, and we each talked about what we liked best in the past year, and then what our favorite day of the year was.
Every example that was given involved the entire family being together and spending quality time with each other.
As I write this column I am doing the same reflection on a community level. I’m thankful that our construction is well underway, on time and on budget, for our new Aquatic and Curling/Multi-Sport Centre at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre.
We are just a year-and-a-half into our five-year plan to raise $10 million and today we are almost at 50 per cent of our target goal. In these tough economic times, that is a huge accomplishment.
I’m thankful the new provincial New Democratic Party government has not thrown out all the work we have done with the previous Progressive Conservative government to get the intersection at Highway 1A/22 completed to help alleviate traffic congestion. We’re spending $110 million over the next 10 years on our own infrastructure but we need the province to step up and do its fair share. Please keep sending letters to the provincial government to keep the heat turned up on this issue.
I’m thankful that my fellow councillors have stepped up and demanded more from the development community. Since the first day I was elected, I have worked to set the bar higher for Cochrane in terms of how we develop our residential and business communities.
I’m thankful that in February the Community Enhancement Notice of Motion that Coun. Gaynor Levisky and I co-wrote will be voted on. This motion addresses items such as community entrances, building separation and landscaping, parking and road standards, natural areas and connectivity, just to name a few.
This has been in the works for a year-and-a-half, so getting this in place before the 2016 construction season begins is vital.
And finally, I’m thankful for where I live. I feel fortunate to be part of an active community surrounded by some amazing people. From the hard-working town employees, to the many volunteers who contribute to our community, we are fortunate to have so many people working to make Cochrane the vibrant, safe, caring community that it is.
As always, you can reach me at [email protected] or please visit my website and blog at www.jefftoews.ca for community and council updates I wish all of you the very best in 2016.
