By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
Council agreed Sept. 27 to move ahead with the creation of a program to encourage Cochrane homeowners to restore and maintain their historic properties by granting incentives.
Senior Planner Sandy Wong told council the town identified 45 structures that have significant historic value and the incentives may encourage property owners to maintain the buildings.
“We want to prepare a set of incentives and start the ball rolling by getting building owners to come forward,” Wong said.
Council received a report outlining possible options for municipal incentives, including providing grant funding and tax incentives as well as non-financial help such as creating heritage conservation agreements and the relaxation of development permit and building code standards.
“We would look to offer municipal incentives, both financial and non-financial,” she said.
The report also outlined provincial and federal incentive programs that would be promoted to give heritage homeowners more options.
Wong said the second step after developing a strategy would be to “get the word out to the public” about the incentive program.
Council agreed to begin work on establishing a heritage advisory committee and a set of municipal incentives.
The committee will be charged with allocation funds and recommendations of historic resources on provincial and national heritage registers.

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
A group of municipalities along Alberta’s eastern slopes is trying to raise the profile of growing environmental impacts on the watershed that feeds a number of communities including Cochrane and Calgary.
Following a Sept. 24 presentation to Calgary Tory MLAs, two architects of the Southern East Slopes Task Force said concerns over the growing impacts have become more urgent.
Maria Dunki, reeve for the Municipal District of Bighorn, said the impact of industrial, agricultural and recreational uses along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains needs to be addressed.
“You have this interplay of interests. Logging happens under one wing, recreation under another and other interests fall under another,” Dunki said. “What we’ve done is we’ve drawn together as four municipalities to identify the concerns and come up with solutions.”
The Ghost-Waiparous area, a 1,500 sq. km region northwest of Cochrane, is the primary concern for Bighorn. An access management plan for the region has been in the works for almost two years and is anticipated to be unveiled next spring.
Joining Bighorn on the task force are Clearwater County and the M.D.s of Pincher Creek and Ranchland, representing communities from Pincher Creek to Rocky Mountain House.
In the task force’s final report, a number of major issues were identified, including environmental degradation from inappropriate use by recreationalists, lack of proper government enforcement, poor planning and coordination of access, the compromise of water quality and unreasonable expectation from the public regarding land use and the need to protect the landscape.
Bighorn Coun. Hugh Pepper said users of the wilderness area need to change the way they view the resource.
“The whole quest here is to change the culture and have them acting in a responsible, lawful way so they can maintain these activities over the long haul,” he said. “There are too many risks to just leave this sitting here.”
Pepper said the impact on the watershed is the number one concern for downstream communities that rely on the supply that comes from streams within the eastern slopes.
“There’s been a very powerful voice expressed locally, looking at the situation in Cochrane. We’re 100 per cent together,” Pepper said. “In Calgary we asked for their support and outlined the issues. They came back solidly behind us.”
Along with identifying the problems, the task force has spent much of the two-year process trying to find some solutions.
Pepper said one of the primary recommendations is to educate back-country users about the impact of irresponsible use.
Awareness and education will be generated through signage, pamphlets and awareness packages, school programs and displays promoting responsible land use.
Increased financial resources from the province or the implementation of user fees is being promoted along with the creation of local advisory committees and improved planning and development of recreational resources such as campgrounds and trails.

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
Rocky View students continue to be near the head of the class in provincial achievement tests and diploma exams last year, trustees heard Sept. 23.
Murray Besenski, associate superintendent of schools and program services, told trustees that Rocky View students met or surpassed the acceptable average in 2003-2004 diploma exams in 10 out of 10 subjects, and met or exceeded the provincial average of excellence in seven of 10 subjects.
Students were most significantly ahead of others in the province in English language arts 30-2, social studies 33, physics 30 and science 30. Students were well above the excellence standard in pure math 30 and science 30.
Students dipped below the standard of excellence in English 30-1, applied math 30 and biology 30.
Trustees heard the annual trends suggest the gap between Rocky View and provincial results is shrinking while the division continues to maintain strong results in pure math, social studies and science.
Meanwhile, Rocky View had another strong showing in provincial achievement tests, given to students in Grades 3, 6 and 9.
Unlike past years, school boards reported provincial achievement tests based on annual targets instead of already set standards of achievement.
The 2003-2004 results indicate students met or exceeded the provincial average for the acceptable standard in eight of 10 subjects and met seven of nine provincial targets. While on the rise from previous years, students met only three of nine targets in the excellence standard.
Grade 3 students were slightly above the provincial average in English language arts and math while lagging behind in French math.
Students in Grade 6 were close to the provincial average for acceptable standard in most of the eight subjects but failed to meet any standards of excellence.
Grade 9 students also hovered near the acceptable standard but failed to meet it in three out of eight subjects. Students remained below the provincial standard of excellence, meeting it in only two subjects.
Trustees heard Rocky View students had participation levels above the provincial standard in 17 of 19 subjects in the provincial achievement tests while participation in diploma exams exceeded the provincial average in eight of 11 subjects.
Board chair Wendy Metzger said the results show the level of commitment across the division.
“The results indicate a lot of good work from our staff and students and also on behalf of the parents,” Metzger said. Rocky View also surpassed the provincial standard in nine of 10 subjects for its special education students.

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
Four Calgary candidates are looking to fill the seat on the Calgary Catholic School District that oversees Cochrane and is set to be vacated by former board chair Linda Blasetti prior to the Oct. 18 election.
Joe MacEachern, Eileen Leeds, Serafino Scarpino and Marilyn Sheptycki have all put their names forward to fill the role that covers Wards 1 and 2 in Calgary in addition to the Cochrane area.
All four will square off in an Oct. 4 candidates forum slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. at St. Timothy Jr./Sr. Catholic High school.
MacEachern, a 59-year-old former principal in the Catholic system, said he wants to ensure Cochrane’s concerns are heard around the board table.
“One of the things I’ve picked up is they want good communications with the board and continued support for the schools out there,” he said. “They want to feel like they’re fully part of the operation.”
MacEachern said he brings the time, education and energy necessary to sit on the board and keep Cochrane’s issues on the radar as well as his other responsibilities.
“I fully believe in the Catholic school system,” he said. “We need sustainable funding over a long period of time. When you’re getting money from year to year, you can’t do long-term planning.”
Leeds, a teacher for 25 years in the Calgary Catholic system who retired this year, said she wants to continue to promote Catholic education in a new forum.
“I want to keep my fingers in the education system,” the 61-year-old said. “I’m really aware of the needs of parents, students and teachers.”
Finding funding for new schools in a growing area will be at the top of her agenda.
With newly annexed lands, a new board may have to consider beginning talks for a new Catholic elementary school for the town.
Scarpino, another recently retired educator, said he has long set his sights at contributing at the board level.
“This is always something I’ve wanted to do,” Scarpino said. “My goal in retirement was to remain a part of the district and contribute.”
The 56-year-old served as president of the Calgary Italian Club for six years and is the co-founder and current principal of the Calgary Italian School.
He said curriculums and class sizes are his main issues that he will bring to the board table.
Sheptycki, 49, has been an active volunteer on school councils for the last 17 years including sitting as chair at five different schools.
The mother of four advocates a number of changes that will make the district more accessible to parents.
“I have the understanding and passion to want to make a bigger difference for all students,” Sheptycki said.
She said she supports a review of the current curriculum and how its delivered, “truth and completeness” in board reporting, open meetings, better recognition of contributions to the division, direct access to trustees and the reduction of bureaucracy.
Sheptycki added the focus of the school district should also be “less results-oriented.”

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
Cochrane Mounties have collared three teens in connection with a shooting incident Sept. 18 and 19 in which three vehicles were hit by bullets on the Trans-Canada Highway.
According to a press release, RCMP have three males, two 14-year-olds and a 15-year-old, that were arrested in connection with the shootings. Cochrane RCMP did not return calls Sept. 27 and 28.
Bullets from what police said was a .22 calibre rifle were fired at three vehicles near the Jumping Pound area west of the Highway 22 overpass.
An eastbound pickup truck and travel trailer, and a westbound Greyhound bus, were hit by bullets. No one was injured.
The three youths have been released into the custody of their parents or guardians, the release said.
The charges against the youths were not listed. They are set to appear in Cochrane provincial court next month.

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
Cochrane EMS crews transported a Calgary woman to hospital after she spent a night in the Kananaskis back country suffering from a broken ankle that occurred while hiking Sept. 26.
Grant Brilz, Cochrane EMS manager, said the 44-year-old woman was hiking near Powderface Ridge west of Bragg Creek with two friends when she was injured by falling rocks.
“Four large boulders came down and one rock smashed into her ankle,” Brilz said.
George Field, public safety specialist for Kananaskis, said two conservation officers spotted the group from the helicopter but opted against trying a rescue with dusk approaching.
The officers, Bill O’Connor and Mike Koppang, drove into the area with a quad and stayed with the the group through the night, keeping the patient comfortable and the fire going.
“At first light, we put the patient on a sling and we got everybody out,” Field said, noting one of the hikers was 61.
The woman was taken out and met by Cochrane EMS crews waiting at Powderface Trail. She was transported to Foothills Hospital with what Brilz said appeared to be a fractured ankle. (more…)

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By Sarah Junkin
The Eagle
A workshop entitled “The People and Potential Forum” attracted approximately 60 business leaders, political candidates and community members who met at the Cochrane RancheHouse Sept. 25 to discuss the town’s economic future.
The event was hosted by the Town of Cochrane, and economic development manager Curtis Cooke said he was pleased with the number of people who attended.
“We had a very motivated crowd with a good mix of residents, candidates and business members,” he said. “Lots of them stayed around for the whole day.”
Cooke said the two main areas of focus for discussion were the town’s economic development plans, and a sharing of information about the proposed Wired West internet portal, a virtual town hall Web site.
“We put together six unique teams of between five and eight people and each team will come up with recommendations,” he said, adding teams will tackle topics such as how to attract tourism, how to improve local business retention and improving community lifestyles.
“The groups will have a lot of freedom and will meet regularly over the next few weeks,” said Cooke. “The ultimate goal will be to integrate their recommendations into a development plan.”
He added each team has a designated leader, and that an advisory committee made up of those leaders, a chamber member and himself will examine teams’ priorities and recommendations.
Cochrane lawyer Randy Mabbott volunteered to be the leader of a team that will study investment and business attraction in the area.
He said he’s cautiously optimistic the strategy will be successful but added “it’s too early to tell.”
“I’m just a local businessman that’s interested in what other business people have to say,” he said. “We’ll take a look at what’s working, what’s not and I hope we’ll really get into the meat of what we can do about it.”
Cooke expects to have the teams’ initial recommendations and priorities in about eight weeks.

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
The long-awaited Ghost-Waiparous Access Management Plan (GAMP) will sit on the shelf a while longer until after a November provincial election.
Rick Blackwood, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development’s manager for the southern Rockies area, said plans for another round of public consultations this fall have been delayed because of the upcoming election.
“It appears to be on hold until after the election,” Blackwood said Sept. 27. “Most things wrap up before an election so it’s not seen as electioneering.”
The access plan for the 1,500 sq. km wilderness area northwest of Cochrane has been through a battery of public consultation since the process began in early 2003.
It had been slated for release in May but with a number of strong voices weighing in on the plan, it has moved along slowly.
Blackwood said while the plan is close to a final draft, it still needs some fine tuning that will be derived from user groups’ input.
He acknowledged that to some it “appears we’ve done nothing for eight months” but the process has tried to reach out to a wide range of stakeholders that use the area.
“Certainly some people think the plan is done,” he said. “The big reason it’s not released is because it’s not done. We’re not just sitting on it for the sake of sitting on it.”
He noted because the issue is so sensitive to so many users, finding common ground has not been easy. “Every day there’s a new twist and turn,” Blackwood said.
While the plan must still earn ministerial and cabinet approval, Blackwood said he is continuing to push for the plan to be in place by the May long weekend, traditionally the busiest period for the area.
“That’s our desire, to have it in place by May long weekend next year,” he said. “This is a high priority.”

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By Jack Tennant
Wee Jackie Weighs In
Alex Baum and Dan Kroffat are going to Ottawa and the good news is they don’t have to stay.
They’ll be in the nation’s capital Oct. 14 to present the www.opentheborder.
com petition to the government but the federal Liberals aren’t interested.
Not one Liberal has shown enough concern to receive the petition that has nearly 100,000 names of people who want the U.S. border opened to Canadian beef.
How about Anne McClellan, the Liberal MP from Edmonton, who is deputy prime minister?
Surely she would care but alas and alack even though she’s an Albertan she’s learned the Liberal attitude well since she’s too busy to accept the petition.
So on Oct. 14 the pair will present the petition to Wild Rose MP Myron Thompson and that is as it should be.
Myron is our MP and he’s railed long and loud about western injustice at the hands of central Canadian bureaucrats so it’s fitting that he should deliver names of 100,000 folks who likely won’t be voting Liberal any time soon.
We wish the pair well and can only hope some of their charitable attitude rubs off on others during their visit.
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I noticed an Associated Press story the other day that the Taliban are threatening to interfere with the Afghanistan elections.
There was no mention of the Taliban interfering with the Cochrane civic election.
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So you want to take a shot at the mayor?
You will get your chance Sept. 30 with a soccer ball.
It’s a fundraiser by Mark’s Work Wear-house that starts at 5 p.m. in the parking lot in front of their store and Canadian Tire.
It works like this: It’s a soccer shootout and the mayor and other celebrities will be in goal. In this case, I suspect more people will be trying to hit the goalie than score, but so be it.
Proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Society and other sponsors are Java Jamboree and BBQs By Me.
A tip of the soccer hat to the Lady Rangers soccer team for its involvement in making the promotion fun and successful.
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There’s no surer sign summer is coming to a close than when Glen Koenig shuts down his vegetable and fruit stand which has been at Super Drug Mart parking lot every Friday.
His final day for this year is Oct. 1 so pop by and wish him well.
May all his seeds winter well.

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