Here is a fine example of relatively new residents to the Cochrane area that have consistently kept Cochrane’s history alive and actively got involved in the community.
Debora and Gordon Salomons moved here from Calgary in 2004, purchasing the Morgan place on Horse Creek Road. It is now called the Buenaventura Ranch (meaning ‘good adventures’).
Debora was raised on a farm near Lacombe and Gordon’s parents owned the Beaver Hardware and Lumber store in Lacombe. They even went to the same high school in Lacombe, but as fate has it, they never met there.
It had been a lifetime dream of Debora’s to someday own a ranch in the foothills of Alberta.
Her path in life led her in another direction for many years, but in 1999 she actively started searching for her dream property on the Internet. She was working for an oil company in Yemen for three and a half years. One day she was out in the dessert meeting with engineers and geologists when she met Gordon, who was an international geologist. As they got to know each other, they discovered they were both from the Lacombe area; but it took a job 11,700 kilometres from home to meet. They were the first couple to be married at the new Beaupre Hall in 2003.
They were anxious to get to know their neighbours, so the first Christmas, they invited 150 people to their now annual Christmas party, pageant included, which was held in their party room above the barn.
This is also where they hold community wine competitions.
Debora and Gordon also host an annual Stampede barbecue with approximately 200 neighbours and friends attending.
Their pirate ship, the Black Pearl, is in the Cochrane Labour Day parade each year and has been instrumental in raising money for the Cochrane Food Bank and the Boys and Girls Club. There is also an old cabin and a teepee for children to come out to learn about nature.
Debora’s charity work has offered some innovative ideas to raise money for local charities. Her well-equipped wood working shop provides a haven for not only Debora, but also friends, neighbours and children who enjoy making all kinds of crafts. One of her hobbies is making bird houses. “One day I put a bird house on my desk at work and before I knew it, 91 were sold,” Debora stated with a smile. “All proceeds from the crafts go to charity.”
The craft group is called Horse Creek Critter Creations.
While she was working in Yemen, she coordinated the fund raising for an orphanage and built the largest library in Yemen.
She still gets photos and letters from the children there. In Yemen they called her ‘the lady with the white heart’, (white means letting the light in). As Debora puts it “I am a dedicated charity person.”
The Salomons raise bucking horses and have 16 mares and 16 foals on their property at present, plus their saddle horses.
Debora’s brother-in-law has an award winning bucking stock rodeo contractor business, in which they hold an interest as well. Currently the total herd is 300 horses.
Debora is working as an accountant for Talisman in Calgary. She also trains on the SAP System (Systems Applications Products) in data processing, which is the third largest system in the world.
In speaking to their neighbours, they will tell you, “The Salomons are a shining example of what western hospitality is all about.”
