After another successful Canada Day celebration in Cochrane, we realize that our families all came from ‘somewhere’ to make this country what it is today.
There are generations dating back to the late 1800s and others arriving more recently, here now, to tell us why they came.
Sandra and Bob Jordan are an example of such a couple.
They were both born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, met at a dance and had been going together for a couple of years when Bob accepted a job in Collingwood, Ont. at the shipyards.
Sandra arrived six months later and they were married in Collingwood in 1965, later moving to St. Catharine’s, Ont. Their first daughter, Donna, was born in Canada.
In 1968 they decided to move back to Ireland for nine years, where their daughters Tracey and Kerry were born. Later in 1977, they moved to England for four years.
While in England, the lure of the new land called again when Bob was offered a job in Cochrane in 1981 as a contract manager with a petro-chemical company called GEA Rainey Heat Exchangers. They then decided to make Cochrane their permanent home and bought a house in the East End neighborhood. Their daughters, Donna and Tracey, both live in Cochrane, and Bob and Sandra have four grandchildren: Meagan, Evan, Michael and Allison. Sadly, their daughter Kerry passed away in 2003 at the age of 27.
Fairly soon after arriving in Cochrane, Sandra and Bob started their own dry cleaning business in 1983. Cochrane Cleaners.
Sandra said, “I did the dry cleaning and Bob did all the maintenance.”
Sounds like they made a good team in business.
They sold Cochrane Cleaners after 13 years of serving Cochrane and area residents. Bob worked at various jobs in Cochrane until he officially retired in 2009.
“I am really enjoying my retirement and love staying home,” said Bob. “And I still look after all the maintenance around the house and cut the grass. Sandra is in charge of the flowerbeds and garden. I’m not allowed to touch that.”
Is it any wonder their yard looks so immaculate? The grass looks like a carpet and there is not a single flower out of place.
Sandra has been an active member of St. Andrew’s United Church, recently receiving the prestigious award of “Life Member of the United Church Women.” She also dedicates her work to the Rebekahs (part of the Odd Fellows Fraternal Order), which assists those in need around the world.
Sandra is a busy lady and enjoys being out and about in our community. She belongs to Seniors for Kids, who are grandparents helping out in our schools; and is on the programming committee for Seniors on the Bow. She also participates in Zumba and Aerobics.
The Jordans have quietly and humbly been forming their life in Cochrane for 33 years, serving our community professionally and socially.
It is people moving here, working here and volunteering to help others that gives Cochrane its dynamic culture.
A word to tourists here for the Stampede or just visiting the little town on the Bow, along the Cowboy Trail – look around, you might find something here to bring you back for good.
