By Alan Mattson
The Eagle
As the historic and beautiful McDougall Stoney Mission Church held spring service on June 14, it celebrated the life of a volunteer and unveiled new interpretive plaques.
Laura Oakander died on April 9 of this year at the age of 91. For more than 30 years, she worked to preserve and administer McDougall Church while sharing her love of life and dedication to God.
“Her first love was Morley — the site, the church. Her second love was peace,” said Leonard McDougall, a descendant of Rev. George McDougall, who built the church in 1875.
Oakander was secretary of the McDougall Stoney Mission Society and worked tirelessly for the church. She hosted meetings, organized weddings, led preservation efforts and always co-ordinated coffee and refreshments.
She was a dedicated Calgary Stampeders and Calgary Flames fan, with a licence plate that read “born to be wild.” Her enthusiasm and spark betrayed her years.
“I’ve talked to many people since Laura’s passing,” McDougall said. “They always opened with this question: ‘Did you know she was 91 years old?’”
Her grandson Devon helped unveil several interpretive plaques detailing the history of this provincial historic site. “It’s very cool that we could come out. She loved this place so much, she put so much into it,” Devon said.
Located about 15 minutes west of Cochrane on Highway 1A, McDougall Church is the oldest in southern Alberta. Through the efforts of countless volunteers like Oakander, the church is still active 134 years after it was built, hosting weddings and bi-annual Sunday services.
“This place here is so rich with history and story. It’s a place that rejuvenates the heart and mind in many ways,” said Rev. Tom Melvin.
“Laura simply delighted in the wildness (of nature). The only times that Laura was anxious to get back to Calgary was when there was a Stampeders game or a Flames game.”
Wild Rose MP Blake Richards attended the service and also helped unveil the plaques. “I have a bit of a personal connection to this place,” he said — his wife Tara’s ancestor, John Niddrie, was an assistant pastor at the church from 1889 to 1910.
“It’s a celebration of the work the McDougall family did here as missionaries with the Stoney people,” as well as volunteers like Oakander, Richards said. “It’s an honour to be here and celebrate that.”

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By Sarah Junkin
The Eagle
A working committee that’s been looking at designing a long-term growth management strategy in Rocky View had its concept plan adopted by MD councillors at their June 9 meeting.
The plan was prepared after several open houses around the district drew hundreds of people, with a hundred more sending feedback by mail.
Councillors heard that growth over the next 50 years elicited concerns ranging from ecological issues, to expanding development in some municipal areas.
With the input of stakeholders the plan has evolved further, but it’s not yet complete, and due to its long time span will continue to evolve and grow as different needs arise socially, economically or ecologically.
Coun. Hopeton Louden said he was concerned about the criteria used to make changes or amendments to the plan.“There ought to be a sort of predictability and fairness,” he said. “I think we need to come up with some framework.”
Division 5 Coun. Earl Solberg said he believed education for council and staff was key in further developing the plan.
Reeve Lois Habberfield recommended an amendment to the plan that would mark the Big Hill Springs conceptual scheme as a growth area, and suggested that so-called growth nodes of this kind could be developed to create smaller, low-impact communities.
“I think people are moving away from the city because they like that small town feel, but we can create that in the growth nodes without impeding anyone else’s growth,” she said.
But the amendment was defeated.
“I don’t feel like today’s the day,” said Division 6 Coun. Greg Boehlke. “This is not an area structure plan, it’s a concept plan.”

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By Sarah Junkin
The Eagle
Cochrane’s community Scottish band, the Men of Vision Pipes and Drums is pleading for help.
Due to a change in circumstances of some of its members, the group is in desperate need of a few drummers according to media spokesperson for the band, Leslie Deans.
“If you’re a snare drummer, you will definitely fit in,” she said. “You just have to be able to play the beat.”
A snare or side drum is the small double headed drum used by Scottish drummers. Deans said the enthusiastic group meets to practise every Saturday morning, and they perform at parades and special community events throughout the year. Most recently they performed at the Footstock Race Weekend June 13.
The Men of Vision band is not a teaching band, explained Deans, and some degree of experience is required, but that doesn’t mean it’s a real serious group.
“I don’t want to hoot my own horn or blow my own pipes, but we are fun!” she chuckled. “We have parties and husbands and wives come along, and it’s usually a great time.”
For more information about how to join the band, call Deans at 403-932-7446.

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By Sarah Junkin
The Eagle
Almost 100 history buffs stepped into Cochrane’s past June 13 thanks to two local preservation groups.
The Cochrane Historical Archival Preservation Society (CHAPS) and the Cochrane and Area Heritage Association hosted a historical walk comprising three local homes and five other buildings of interest.
“We have had only positive comments and feedback so far,” said Bernice Klotz of CHAPS, but added it won’t likely become an annual event. “We don’t have that many homes.”
Klotz explained the success of the event was due in no small part to the willingness of homeowners to open their homes to the public.
Joy Moore lives in the former home of her grandparents Allister and Dolly Moore.
Allister was born in Cochrane in 1913 and lived in the house until shortly before his death in 2006.
Joy said she was delighted that the house was filled with interested residents.
“My grandparents would have loved to have all these people visiting,” she said. “They were always happy when there was a party.”
Proceeds from the event will be split between the two groups.

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By Sarah Junkin
The Eagle
It’s been a long and winding road, but it looks like Bragg Creek is one step closer to being able to construct a trail linking the tiny hamlet to Banded Peak School.
On June 9 Rocky View Council agreed to enter into an agreement with the Greater Bragg Creek Trails Association (GBCTA) to develop the Banded Peak Pathway in Highway 22 right of way, which GBCTA president Robert Sadee said could help save the lives of some students that walk the stretch of highway to and from the school.
“We drove to past the school this afternoon in the pouring rain, and we counted nine children,” he said June 15. “It’s also an issue with cycling.”
The separate road allowance will be constructed within the existing highway road allowance, next to the west fence line.
The green light for the project has come about as the result several rounds of negotiations between the municipality’s insurance provider, Alberta Transportation, and the GBCTA over the past two years. Jubilee Insurance has agreed that the MD is covered for the proposed pathway so long as the right of way is resurveyed, and put into municipal authorization, and so long as no motorized vehicles are allowed on the route.
Sedee said this means his group can move to the next step – raising funds for the $150,000 project which will likely be constructed using a blend of volunteer and contracted labour, with work possibly beginning as early as this summer.
Cochrane-area councillor Paul McLean said he was relieved an arrangement had finally been worked out.
“I remember when there were a lot of red flags on this, and now they’ve become green,” he said. “I drive by that school virtually every day and I see kids on the highway.”
Reeve Lois Habberfield was also supportive in principle. “I just hope it gets used,” she said.
A Bragg Creek Days Fun Run on July 19 will help raise funds for the project.

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Coffee with Warren
by Warren Harbeck
Last week’s column on success in the restaurant business sure generated some thought-provoking feedback.
Several Cochrane-area restaurateurs shared the column with their staff. All agreed: attitude is of the essence. A&W proprietor Mike Bigland, while acknowledging he’s able to get good food pretty much everywhere, put it bluntly:
“What sets better restaurants apart is the quality of service.”
Several of our e-mail coffee companions also agreed.
Winnipeg reader Kim Jochem wrote:
“I loved your column on what makes a successful restaurant. You not only hit the nail on the head, you hammered it flat to the board. I’ve been in restaurants in which the décor was attractive and the food was great, but the wait staff was so miserable they ruined your appetite. I’ve also been in restaurants that were clean but plain and where the food was passable but not memorable, but the staff was so prompt and cheerful they made it a pleasure to eat there.”
“Well said,” wrote renowned photographer Angus McNee, formerly of Ghost Lake Village and now living in the Okanagan.
“For anyone contemplating a ‘people’ business like the hospitality trade, if you cannot stand the heat, you gotta get out of the kitchen. I started my work life in the hotel industry, and if there’s one business in which you find people at their best and at their worst, that’s it. If you can accept people for all their quirks and weaknesses, and still feel happy about dealing with them, there’s no more satisfying way to spend your work day.”
From Langdon, the “good luck” community east of Calgary, Alfred Unger wrote:
“Oh, how right you are! I have spent a great deal of time in restaurants and coffee shops as a result of my work. They’re my office away from home. I have often wished to be able to conveniently spend time at Cochrane Coffee Traders with all the regulars. The few times I’ve been there have been a joy. You can imagine my pleasure when I found a coffee shop of ‘equal’ standing right here in Langdon. In fact, the first time I spent any time there, I commented to the owner how much her place reminded me of Coffee Traders.”
Speaking of Coffee Traders regulars, there’s this response from Calgarian Leo Peters, a motivational expert who doubles as a professional Santa.
Following up on my three T’s for success in running a restaurant (Taste, Tidiness, and especially Temperament), he put together his own list of four L’s: Love, Laugh, Listen and Learn:
“Love. Love your customers. Give them what they want. Make their experience in your restaurant memorable. Remember their names, their likes and dislikes, their drinks and their meal preferences. (Hold the pickles!) Love them like long-lost friends. Surprise them with random treats. Listen to their stories. Thank them for coming. Love your employees, treat them fairly, pay them well and if possible, make them shareholders like WestJet does. Love what you do and do what you love. Model loving and caring. Love, love, love.
“Laugh. Laugh often. Laugh at your customers’ jokes, their stories and photos. Share your humourous stories. Laughter is good for the heart and a great way to create a memorable experience in your restaurant. Hire people with a great sense of humour. Have Fun. Laugh often.
“Listen. Listen to the feedback your customers give you. Listen to their ideas. If they come up with a good suggestion, give them a free desert. If you mess up, fess up, fix up and find a way to make it up. Listen like they’re restaurant consultants and find a way to give them what they want. Listen.
“Learn. Learn from your mistakes. Learn from other great restaurants. Take the best ideas from the best restaurants and customize them and make them yours. Learn from your successes, too. Conduct surveys and focus groups. Learn from your customers. Ask them what they like, what they love and what they would like to see improved. Then follow through. Love, laugh, listen and learn and you will have a higher bottom line and a great restaurant.”
I asked Leo how he came up with the four L’s on his list.
“My daily intention is to love, laugh, listen, learn and be happy, so I’ve been familiar with the words,” he said.
In fact, those four words have been at the heart of Leo’s personal life philosophy since his brush with death from cancer some years ago. Love tops his list. “I coach my restaurant friends to include love in their branding, possibly the most valuable asset in the value of their place.”
Hmmm. . . . Not a bad life philosophy for the rest of us, too, whether or not we’re in the restaurant business.
(c) 2009 Warren Harbeck
warren@harbeck.cam, www.coffeewithwarren.com

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By Cori Lee Miller
The Eagle
Canada is known for its great authors, from Margaret Atwood to Lucy Maude Montgomery.
Now more authors are ready to join the ranks alongside Canada’s greats – 19 more authors to be exact, in the form of Banded Peak’s Grade 3 and 4E class.
With a book published and quickly selling copies, the young class of wordsmiths even had a book reading on June 12.
Imagination Unlimited, A Collection Of Imaginative Short Stories, was written as a class project and has gone on to make approximately $400 to be donated to the Cochrane and Area Humane Society.
Student authors Faith Davis, Poppy Morrish, Hunter Anderson and Duncan Dillabough said the project was challenging, but rewarding in the end. The students worked from pictures supplied by teacher Clint Ellard, called story prompts, to create an idea for their short stories.
“Mr. Ellard had exactly 25 story prompts and we each got to choose our own story prompt,” said Morrish.
“It was really fun to choose our own,” said Anderson.
A student said the class spent weeks on the project, everyone coming up with different and unique stories.
The students also spent time practicing for their book reading debut, at Bragg Creek’s The Best Little Word House In The West.
“Everyone was nervous,” said Morrish.
“We practiced like twice a day for like four days,” added Dillabough.
Some of the students had a harder time than others.
“I was nervous,” said Anderson. “When I was doing the reading my legs were real stiff.”
After reading their stories to a packed house, the book began to fly off the shelves.
The students said they received a lot of compliments, and many people bought copies “not even just people from our school but complete strangers,” said Morrish.
With the money from the book going toward helping animals, the students were ecstatic.
“I love animals,” said Morrish.
Although young, the authors already had a grasp of what it means to represent others besides themselves.
“We’re helping animals and we’re representing our community, school and our class,” said Davis.
Dillabough explained that a Grade 3 and 4 class having a book published and sold goes to show “that you don’t have to be a great author that is really old and experienced. You can just be yourself.”
The book is available for $5 at The Best Little Word House in the West in Bragg Creek.

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By Cori Lee Miller
The Eagle
Although the Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) was expected to vote on its budget June 10, a change to pay increases has pushed the vote back to Aug. 31.
The budget had been based on the expectation teachers would receive a 4.8 per cent salary increase, calculated by using Statistics Canada’s average weekly earnings index.
However, Statistics Canada adjusted the index, resulting in a 5.99 per cent increase.
CCSD chair Margaret Belcourt said pushing the vote back was necessary because salaries make up a large chunk of the budget.
“That’s a big part of our budget so we felt we couldn’t go ahead with our budget until the government gave us their numbers,” she said.
“If the weekly average goes up, the raise goes up.”
Belcourt said CCSD had budgeted for a 4.8 percent increase, not 5.99 per cent.
“I think we’ve budgeted for the 4.8, but I think the government has said they will fund whatever the agreement is between them and the Alberta Teachers Association (ATA).”
The CCSD could be on the hook for increases to CUPE and support staff, which are also affected by the index. CCSD has a four-year contract with its caretakers, and a three-year contract with its support staff.

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By Lindsay Wilson
Special to the Eagle
The kids and teachers at Glenbow School celebrated National Aboriginal Day on June 12.
Thirty five of Glenbow’s 400 students are of aboriginal descent, and each year the school celebrates this through Cultural Day.
Each year takes on a different theme, and this year’s was art. Students from each grade spent the morning working on various native art projects, and enjoying the homemade bannock.
Kristy Cote’s second graders could hardly wait for the best part of the day: the powwow. The kids anxiously finished their art projects and waited for the call over the loudspeaker, instructing them to make their way outdoors to watch the dancers put on a show filled with prayer, traditional aboriginal dances and drumming.
Many of the dancers are students of Glenbow, each adorned in brilliant costumes and feathered headdresses. The sea of colour was spectacular, and the energy was high. The dancers ranged from high-school age to two-year-old Hardy Smalleyes — who stole the show as he danced alongside his brother and sister.
Cultural Day is co-ordinated by Arlene Stormoen and Colleen Heschl-Ball, along with the assistance of parent volunteers, fellow teachers and most importantly, members of the Stoney-Nakoda First Nation.
“It’s a way for us to celebrate who they are and a way for the other students to see how talented they are,” says Stormoen.
She also runs the Roots and Wings program at Glenbow, which native students take part in on Fridays to learn about their culture.
Stormoen was pleased to see how many native boys took part in the traditional drumming this year — the core of the powwow, led by Harrum Smalleyes this year.
“The students absolutely love it, and they can hardly wait for the powwow at the end of the day,” said Stormoen.
The first effort, led by Shyles Smalleyes, was the grass dance, historically performed in high prairie grass to pat down an area for the other dancers to come.
The girls’ jingle dance was also performed, a dance of healing and wellness. The dance originated through the dream of a chief whose granddaughter was sick. In the dream, a spirit came to him and told him how to make a dress that would heal his sick granddaughter. Once made, the granddaughter began to heal as she moved around in her new dress.
Harry Wildman was this year’s guest elder from the Stoney Nakoda Nation:
“To me (the powwow) is a spiritual dance to heal people and meet other people. We call each other brothers and sisters, whoever we are.”

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