Wee Jackie Weighs In

So here we go Pride of Cochrane.

That certainly has a nice ring to it. Buying the Grant Profit tarp at last week’s Calgary Stampede chuckwagon tarp auction is only the beginning.

It happened this way.

Alex Baum at Cochrane Toyota suffers from a terminal belief in Cochrane and thought what better way to promote our town and district than sponsor a chuckwagon at the Stampede — night after night of Pride of Cochrane roaring around the track for millions  to see.

So he gathered a few local business folks, pitched the idea to them, and the town, and the deal was made.

If businesses raised $50,000 the town would match it.

Businesses did, and so did the town, so who better to purchase than Grant Profit who lives right here in Cochrane. Well, a couple of miles north, but still he’s one of us.

Who could be better ambassadors  than the family of  Grant: his wife Shelly and daughters Calie and Charleigh?

The chuckwagon tarp auction is an auction to be sure, but buyers talk to drivers to make arrangements.

Like, “I want to buy your tarp. Is there any objection?” There must be some control, however, subtle.

From left: Alex Baum, Coun. Ivan Davies, Calie Profit, Shelly Profit, Grant Profit, Charleigh Profit, Don Adams (Ja-Co Welding), Dwayne Whitney and Jack Tennant pose at the 2011 Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby Canvas Auction after Pride of Cochrane made a successful bid for Grant’s chuckwagon canvas March 31. Photo submitted

Grant Profit promised the Cochrane business group he would proudly drive for Pride of Cochrane and even though the morning of the auction he had offers for considerably more money he stayed loyal to us.

He left a lot of money on the table simply because he made a promise. That’s the measure of the man and his family.

This will be a community event. The plan is to involves school kids writing about chuckwagon racing. The plan is to get seniors to the races. The plan is to create enthusiasm for this wee village by the Bow.

I find it interesting that one of the partners in this thing is the Wesley band from the Stoney Nation.

They are one of the sponsors, and when was the last time  the Stoneys were involved in such a community event. Or even asked?

See, already it’s working.

There will be thousands of flags with  Pride of Cochrane  all over them.

There will be thousands of white t-shirts with the logos for all to see.

Just as an example of how this can work is we weren’t five minutes out of the auction after purchasing the Profit tarp when Alex had a call from CBC radio for a cross-Canada interview.

How many times was Cochrane mentioned?

About a dozen. When was the last time CBC national radio mentioned Cochrane? I don’t know either.

And maybe the best part is the Cochrane Eagle gained two new columnists.

The Profit girls, Calie and Charleigh, have agreed to write columns on chuckwagon racing.

They travel down the road with their parents all summer so will bring a unique insight into the sport.

Their column will offer a new perspective to chuckwagon racing and I’m quite looking forward to it.

As long as they don’t try and make their Dad a Sunshine boy.

So let the fun begin.

Open your home

Speaking of fun, you might need a Spaniard in your life. If you do just call my friend Lisa at 403-981-5557,

Here’s the deal.

A group of Spanish teens are arriving in Cochrane in four weeks and you have an opportunity to billet them.

And it’s not just let them sleep. They’ll live with you. Take them places and do things. Show them our country.

You might even learn a little Spanish and no doubt these teenagers will learn a lot from you.

So give Lisa a call and do something different this summer — something so rewarding.

Buckles and Bling

Entries close Friday for  the annual awards for community leaders.

Nomination forms are available at the Chamber of Commerce office and awards are for everything from employer of the year to citizen of the year, ambassador of the year and the coveted Order of Cochrane.

There’s many great candidates for these awards so get your nominations in by Friday.

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