Just the Facts
By Mary Lou Davis
Are you a high water user?
Leaky toilet?
Humidifier in overdrive?
If you, like me, have been cringing every time you open your town utility bill its time you take a serious look at what is happening with your water.
When I first moved in to my house I had no idea what the water and sewer bill should be. A few months after I bought my home I began my term on town council and started to become more educated about water usage, water waste and how we are billed for our water consumption.
The Town of Cochrane is a metered municipality which means we each pay for the amount of water we use in our homes. Our sewer charges are based on a percentage of our water consumption through the winter months.
As you might expect, during summer months we tend to use more water for gardens and lawns which does not drain or get flushed through our sewer system. For this reason, our entire year’s sewer rates are based on our winter consumption. The town charges per cubic metre of water consumed. This is generally easy to measure since our meters do all the work.
What if, in asking questions like I did as a councillor, you discover that a cubic metre of water is really a lot, like a very large bathtub? What if you discover that your consumption is regularly exceeding the minimum rate of consumption and you are constantly moving in to the high consumption level? At this point it was time to review how I was using water.
First I checked for leaks. The toilet was the toughest. Was it running or not? Was it leaking or was it the kids not putting the shower curtain properly in the tub and therefore making the floor wet during showers? I don’t have a dishwasher so was doing dishes in the sink using an excess of water? I have just one bathroom, no humidifier, a washing machine and the kitchen sink.
As embarrassed as I was about asking the amount of other people’s bills, I finally got the courage to ask my neighbours how much was their utility bill from the town. They brought me 12 months of their bills and imagine my shock to find out their bill for three people in the house was less than half of mine for just two people.
I had a service call a couple of years ago from the town and everything looked fine as far as my meter and appliances were concerned.
I had a plumber out three years ago to do a minor repair and when discussing changing my toilet to a low-flow fixture he wouldn’t do it until I had my bathroom floor replaced since in the past there had been a leak in the house and the floor had been patched but not replaced. I was sure this difference in my billing was this old toilet which must be pushing gallons upon gallons of water down the drain with each flush. No not gallons, cubic metres!
I continued to pay my high utility bills.
I had coffee with a friend and customer at my store, Wally Irons, who was going to do some contract work for the water department in Cochrane. I told him about my water issue. He suggested my meter might be turning double numbers and that I should really call for a meter check from the town again.
About five weeks ago when I had a plumber out to hook up a water purifier on my drinking tap in the kitchen, reality finally struck. We chatted as he did the installation and I asked what else he would look for with such ridiculously high water consumption.
He offered to take a look at my laundry room, hot water tank and bathroom. Nothing was amiss and he suggested I shut my toilet off for a couple of hours to see if the level in the toilet dropped at all. If it did then the toilet really was the culprit. A cubic metre, he said, was more than a regular bathtub, it is a horse trough. At bedtime I shut the toilet off for the night and when I got up in the morning my toilet tank water level had not dropped even one centimetre.
At this point I called the town and spoke to Mary Soch. She put in a request for a service call for someone to check my meter. All was still not smooth sailing. I had to follow up with a couple of more phone calls and Mary made sure the call was scheduled.
Phil showed up to check my meter. He had me do a couple of simple steps to help him test the meter. It seemed like it would be a mystery forever. Phil decided to change out the meter and then the “Aha!” moment came.
It turns out my meter was one of those old ones that reads consumption per 100 imperial gallons. It says this right on the meter but I was never looking for that. I was always looking to see how fast the numbers were moving, or not.
A check on Google and I learned that a meter that measures in 100 imperial gallons was resulting in my water charges being about 2.2 times what they would be in cubic metres.
A month later the town resolved the amount of my refund. More importantly, I am no longer racking my brain to try to determine where all the water is going in my house and the water department staff have had a first-hand lesson on checking water meters carefully.
If you think your water bill is too high I suggest you ask your neighbours about theirs. If you have a humidifier your consumption will be high. It takes large amounts of water and disperses it into the air to keep the air moist. You are paying for every litre of this.
Check your toilet by shutting off the water overnight or put a drop of food colouring into each tank in your house. If the colour leaks into the bowl, you have a leak and this water just keeps moving right down the drain. You are paying for every litre.
Still think your water bill is high without good reason? Call Mary Soch at the town and request a meter check. When your meter is replaced check to see if it says “Imperial Gallons” on it. If it does, you should be due a refund.
I was told that the computerized billing system at the town only identifies exorbitantly high water usage. The system has to accommodate so many different user styles from residential to commercial that the amount it is set to question is higher than I am sure any home, even mine, could use in a month.
The bottom line is water saving and consumption is all of our responsibility. Your water bill is your money and you shouldn’t be embarrassed to ask questions. This wasn’t a waste of water, just a lot of money and worry.
Mary Lou Davis is a former Cochrane town councillor and the owner of Bentleys Books.

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By Rachel Maclean
The Eagle
Even though war has ravaged the landscape around them and deeply affected their lives forever, little kids in Rwanda are grabbing a soccer ball and hitting the pitch.
A Canadian non-profit organization called Opportunitas Aequa (OA) is helping to make that happen.
Their plan is to use the unifying power of soccer to build stronger and healthier communities for at-risk and war-affected children and youth.
They have been fundraising to build soccer fields and provide soccer equipment for communities across Africa.
OA is looking to Cochrane for help in their next step. They have just launched a new T-shirt campaign on their online shop called “1 for 1.”
By buying an OA shirt it will provide a village in Africa with a soccer ball.
“Through our T-shirt campaign we’re hoping to develop a strong base of supporters and fund-raising partners,” said Devin Holterman, OA Ambassador for Alberta.
“Down the road it could lead to the possibility of charity games, soccer camps and other fund-raising initiatives in Calgary and Alberta, including Cochrane.”
The past year was a success for OA. It saw the distribution of 100 soccer balls in Rwanda, along with other needed equipment to local organizations, and OA helped to rehabilitate a local soccer pitch in Kigali, Rwanda.
OA is now looking forward to a pilot project planned for April in Gulu, Uganda, and phase two of its project in Kigali, Rwanda, set for July.
These projects are what the new T-shirt campaign will go towards.
For every shirt sold OA will donate a soccer ball to a local program in either Gulu or Kigali.
All OA clothing is produced with 100 per cent organic cotton and is screened in North America.
OA founders Gavin Hollett and Duncan Penn came up with the idea in 2006 when they were in university and wanted to use soccer to help kids robbed of their childhoods.
The concept was inspired by a passage in a book by retired Canadian Gen. Roméo Dallaire, who served with the UN peacekeeping force in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide.
Dallaire, now a Liberal senator, described a group of children temporarily escaping the horror that surrounded them by playing soccer with a clump of banana leaves.
Dallaire would later say: “There is no more powerful an instrument of reconciliation for youth than the game of soccer.”
The founders realized soccer works for two main reasons: just a ball is needed to play and it allows everyone to participate.
OA focuses on the four core activities of improving community infrastructure, implementing soccer camps for kids, providing support to local programs already using soccer to improve their communities and training local coaches.
For more information or to visit the online shop go to http://oaprojects.
org/.

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By Rachel Maclean
The Eagle
Cochrane town council has approved the closure of portions of River Heights Drive.
After only having one person show up at a public open house, the decision was made April 14 to make parts of the road leading to the intersection of River Heights Drive and Highway 22 legally closed.
It will remain open until a new intersection to the south is built.
Mike Saley, director of planning and engineering, said in the town’s budget this year the initiative will begin to start securing the land from a landowner to the south for the new intersection.
The larger intersection to the south will eventually connect to the new entrance to the Westridge development area.
The road will eventually be closed due to safety.

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By Sarah Junkin
The Eagle
A Cochrane girl is trying to shed light on the issue of worldwide sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
Marni Butler is a Grade 12 student who’s hosting a May 7 fundraiser, the proceeds of which she plans to donate to the Servants Anonymous (SA) Foundation, a non-profit group that helps exploited women and children re-integrate into society.
“I think it’s a great cause and not many people know about it,” said Butler. “I wanted to do something to help.”
The Bow Valley High student is hosting a jewelry sale at the Cochrane Alliance Church on May 7 at 7 p.m. On hand will be a representative from SA to talk about the group’s various projects around the world. The sale of handicrafts, jewelry and knitted items is part of an SA initiative called Global Wonders, and the products are all manufactured by Nepalese women trying to make a new life for themselves. Butler said it’s a great opportunity to do some Mother’s Day shopping, adding she wants to do more.
“I want to take things to the next level,” she said. “After graduation I’m going to Nepal to work in an orphanage of kids who have been sexually exploited and who otherwise would live on the streets.”

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By Chris McKiernan
The Eagle
After a successful start to their season the previous week, the Cochrane Lions were shut out against the Broncos on April 23, losing 21-0 and falling to 1-1 in the league standings.
With a couple of key offensive players missing as a result of injuries sustained during the Southern Alberta U-17 trials, and the introduction of a hastily amended playbook as a result, the offence never really got into its stride and it was left to the defence to hold the line against the bigger and heavier Broncos.
Despite a rather complacent start — Lions players were still ambling onto the field with a complete lack of urgency as the referee blew his whistle to call the captains to centre field — the team tried hard to match the tempo of the game set by their opponents. However, with the exception of a couple of series in the fourth quarter when the score was already out of reach, the Lions were forced to play the entire game in their own half.
Although the offence tried a number of innovative plays, including onside kicks and running the ball from third and long, nothing quite came together and quarterback Sam Dornian was sacked seven times while the team gave up 70 yards in penalties.
With a weakened running game, the receiving corps was obliged to take up the slack and Lochlan Walker, who also made a stirring 30-yard special teams’ run in the fourth quarter, Tyler Teece, Jared Megee and Dylan Pace all made solid catches with the latter pair also gaining first downs.
Back-up quarterback Aaron Elock-Coyle came in for a couple of series and, although lacking Dornian’s arm strength, moved the team forward by virtue of his quicker release.
On defence, the linebacking tandem of Chase Radford and Daniel Westby tackled everything that moved in an opponents’ jersey with Westby adding a last-ditch tackle as the fourth quarter wound down to prevent a certain Broncos touchdown.
Defensive lineman Mike Andrusco and defensive back Cole Schmidt played their usual consistent games while defensive lineman Andreas Scholten chalked up a sack.
Linemen Dale Butters and Kristian Root, who stood in capably at centre, and defensive back Erik Persinger, were also in on the tackle count.
The Lions move on to play possibly their toughest match-up this season against the perennially-strong Hilltoppers at 6 p.m. at McMahon Stadium on April 29. (more…)

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By Joshua Wassing
Last week I thought I was going to take my shirt off, but now there is another series.
If anybody was wondering, I have worn it for 68 days in a row and the biggest question that I have been asked is, “Do I wash it?” Yes, it has been washed.
Since last week the teams that have advanced are Vancouver, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Boston, Anaheim and Chicago. Carolina and New Jersey, Washington and New York are still to come.
It looks like Carolina is going to beat New Jersey because the last game that was played on Sunday, Ray Whitney got one goal and three assists, and Eric Stahl had two goals and one assist in a 4-0 win. Cam Ward had the shutout (these guys all play for Carolina) which shows they can shut the door on some of the greatest players in the 2009 regular season.
I am really happy about Alexander Ovechkin’s great goal that he scored against the Rangers last Friday. It looked like after the goal there were some of Brandon Dubinsky’s and Mark Staal’s equipment on the ice.
Sunday’s game between the Caps and Rangers pushed this series to game seven.
Finally, Calgary and Chicago. Jerome Iginla, after the game on Saturday, said that his whole team didn’t play good. But from what I saw I thought it was a good game for Calgary — and I didn’t say GREAT, I said good.
There were some Flames that had a great game, like Dion Phaneuf had compared to his last. And you guys are probably thinking what’s this guy talking about. Phaneuf was injured and in his last game he limped off the ice, but in this game he was skating really well for an injured player.
I have my fingers crossed that the Capitals will win on Tuesday. I will still be wearing my shirt, and if not, I have a new shirt from Hawaii to put on.
Nine-year-old Joshua is a big-time hockey and soccer fan, and a big-time fan of Alexander Ovechkin.

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By Cori Lee Miller
The Eagle
With their season a few weeks away from ending, the Swiss International Sports and Education Centre (SISEC) Selects have had an experience to remember.
The team, made up of payers from around the world, has been in Cochrane since August playing Canada’s game and attending Bow Valley High School.
The Selects are scheduled to play until mid-May and head coach Fred Voser said the difference between this year and last year’s team has been a dramatic improvement.
“It’s been exceptional. We went from a team that could barely win a game last year, in the ’07-08 season, to a playoff contender in the Rural Alberta Midget Hockey League (RAMHL),” he said.
“People take notice of us and people talk very positive of us, so that shows we’re on the right track here.”
Voser said for hockey players, coming to Canada is a dream come true.
“Any player that plays hockey, the hockey country is Canada. We want to come play hockey here.”
A professional player who spent his career in Switzerland, Voser said the Swiss play a less physical game on a larger, Olympic-sized sheet of ice.
“It’s more of a skating and passing game, while here in Canada it’s more of a physical game.”
The physicality was a bit of an adjustment for the Selects.
“The first two months my boys were constantly laying on their backs because they’re not ready for that,” he said, adding they eventually picked up the physical aspects.
“Once you know how the game is played, it’s still hockey so they make adjustments fairly quick.”
Voser scouted the 21 players personally, choosing them based not only on skill level but dedication to the game.
“It’s not necessarily the best players I pick. It’s the players who are dedicated and want to be in a program like that.
“I also play all my players. It’s not like I have a third or fourth line that gets five minutes of ice time.”
Woody Kapp, 18, from Baltimore, Md., and Robin Bonvin, 16, from Crans-montana, Switzer-land, said playing in Canada has come with a bit of a learning curve.
“Here it’s more with contact, more with hits and the ice rinks are more smaller so you have to be like more faster and make decisions faster,” said Bonvin.
“So when we’re going back to Switzerland, it’s going to be easier for us — we’re going to think faster.”
Kapp played previously in Saskatchewan and British Columbia, but said Alberta’s hockey still took some getting used to.
“I’ve actually played in Canada all my high school years,” Kapp said.
“It’s an adjustment. Alberta AAA, it’s pretty tough, but I enjoy it a lot.”
As for Canada being a dream destination for players, Kapp and Bonvin both agreed with their coach.
“That’s for sure, it gets you places. Hockey’s huge here,” said Kapp.
By the end of this season the SISEC Selects will have played approximately 78 games, including some in California and Vancouver.
Voser also plans to put together another team.
“As of this August, we are actually putting together a junior team out of Canadian players and they will be playing in Switzerland for a season,” he said, adding the team has a few spots still open.
He is also looking for local families to host the Selects for next season.
For information contact Voser at 403-248-0771 or fredvoser@sisec.ca.

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Wee Jackie weighs in
by Jack Tennant
Not long ago council decreed we in this wee village by the Bow didn’t need signs at our entrances proclaiming us to strive to be bully free.
It was a nice idea at the time but we’ve outgrown that.
We’ve also outgrown the western motif that’s become far too important to bylaw enforcers.
Who cares if a store in Cochrane has a cowboy boot hanging in the window or any other attempt at the so-called western way of life?
Again perhaps a nice idea at the time but surely we’ve outgrown the notion that unpainted boards and woodburnings of deer makes a difference.
These thoughts were triggered by a recent visit to Olds where the highway from Sundre on the western fringe of Olds is chock-a-block with big box stores.
It’s quite amazing. Just one after another and what’s even more amazing and certainly news to local tree huggers is Olds is still there.
People still live there. They seem happy. They seem to enjoy the new businesses, new employees and new money that’s coming into town.
I understand one of the reasons those retail outlets located in Olds is because town council encouraged them.
Now isn’t that a novel approach.
I’ve talked to enough developers to know many would die of shock if Cochrane town staff had the attitude of what can we do to help rather than look at all the hoops we can make you go through.
If one business ever refused to locate in Coçhrane because of the western motif bureaucracy then that provision must be eliminated.
Take a look around.
Where’s the western motif on the new health facility. It’s a huge building without a hint of western motif.
What about schools? Even portables. They’re small buildings and would be easy to decorate but do you want taxes paying for woodburning deer heads and used harness hanging from walls?
Neither do I.
Convince me flashing palm trees is western motif.
So let’s gas the western motif.
If we truly want to reflect the western spirit we should be asking what we can do to create more business in town.
The true western spirit is pitching in and making things happen not using outdated policies to further the narrow minded agenda of the select few. (more…)

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By Sarah Junkin
The Eagle
A publicity campaign has finally paid off for a group trying to ease the growing problem of hunger in Cochrane.
After some lean months when the shelves of the Activettes’ food bank were emptier than usual, and at a time when hamper requests were on the increase, the group reached out to the community for help.
“We’ve had so much support,” said Activettes’ president Betty Suski. “After the first article in the paper, the Lions Club gave us $4,000 and the police went around the elementary schools challenging the kids to fill up their cars with food.”
Suski added even in-store donations seemed to increase. And the latest community donation is a whopping 1,010 pounds of food from the local Curves fitness club, she said.
“This is something Curves International has been doing for about 10 years,” explained Curves owner Wendy Buckland. “We have a big promotion every March where we waive the members’ service fees in return for a bag of groceries.”
But with 20 per cent more families reaching out to the food bank for help in March 2009 than the same time last year, the need is ongoing.
“It’s really been a relief that we’ve had these donations because the need for hampers is not going down,” she said. “I’m really worried because in this recession things could get a lot worse before they get better.”
So with that in mind, an interfaith group made up of local churches and known as Helping Hands has organized a community-wide food drive for April 25. Residents are encouraged to leave food out on their doorsteps before 9 a.m. It will be picked up during the day by volunteers.
Anyone wishing to make a monetary donation may do so by sending a cheque to: Cochrane Activettes Food Bank, Box 535, Cochranee, Alberta, T4C 1A7. For more information call 403-932-9290.

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