By Rachel Maclean
The Eagle
Cochrane town council unanimously decided to pay up to $50,000 for an independent third-party economic analysis for the Domtar site downtown.
The decision came down after a special meeting at council chambers April 20 because the town has asked Springwood Developments to consider adding a residential component to the northern 15 acres of the site, currently the plan only allows for commercial development.
Due to a possibility of additional clean-up for the site to allow mix-use commercial and residential, Springwood Developments has asked for financial assistance from the town.
The town sees merit in the request because including residential could increase the future tax base and density around local and regional transit hubs to create a vibrant downtown.
“To include residential is a strong case to make the downtown sustainable in the long run,” Mike Saley, director of planning and engineering, told council.
The risk lies with Alberta Environment. Currently they are conducting environmental tests to see if the remediation action plan (RAP) could actually allow residential on the land, or if there is too much contamination.
Saley said the tests could take from a couple of months to the fall, but the economic analysis would also be conducted in the same timeline.
Coun. Ross Watson was concerned that if Alberta Environment deems the site too contaminated for residential the up to $50,000 economic analysis could be a waste of time and money. He was wondering if council could wait until hearing back from Alberta Environment.
“Certainly that creates more certainty,” said Saley. “I guess there is anticipation that it would be able to be remediated for residential. . . . Our best guess is that it is do-able.”
Watson also wondered why the developer wouldn’t pay for the economic analysis, but Saley said because the town has been asked for financial assistance in the future to help clean up and build on the planned area for residential the town would like a non-biased opinion whether it is cost beneficial.
“If we put a little investment in now we may gain huge benefits in the future,” said Saley.
“From taxation, from development from land tax, from business tax, from the ability of that site to move forward with development.
“So the question (for the economic analysis) would be should we make that investment now, and how much should it be, if at all, and what would be the long term benefit of that investment today.”
Saley said the Town doesn’t employ skilled experts in economic analysis, and due to the controversial profile of the site an independent party would be ideal to stand any scrutiny.
“It’s just another check,” said Saley.
Saley said no clean-up of the site can move forward until it is understood whether there will be a residential portion, and no development can move forward until the site is cleaned up.
He said he expects the testing and economic analysis to be done for the fall, the cleanup to take one to two years, and then development can start two to three years after the cleanup.
Saley said by having the economic analysis done now provides a framework that could speed up the process in the future, even if Alberta Environment comes back saying residential will not be allowed on the site.
“$50,000 is nothing in sense of the long term big picture,” said Saley. “Certainly it is a sizable investment in the short term, but I do believe that the information we would get is worth the investment.”

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By Cori Lee Miller
The Eagle
With donations down 50 per cent and animals continuing to need the services provided by the Cochrane and Area Humane Society, the organization is hoping fundraising efforts will bolster its dwindling bank account.
With the economy slowing down and incomes dropping, the shelter has seen a dramatic decrease in donations.
Nicky Blackshaw, humane society volunteer co-ordinator, said the society is down in monetary donations, but continuing to have animals coming in.
“Obviously we have noticed a huge change in donations, so we’re probably down this year 50 per cent,” said Blackshaw, adding that the society is counting on its fundraising events to pick up the tab.
“We don’t want to be in a position when these animals come in and we say ‘Sorry, we can’t help you,’” she said.
“If our events don’t go really this year or donations don’t pick up, we might be in a really different position and we’re hoping that doesn’t come about.”
Cuts to provincial funding, such as to the Wild Rose Foundation, have also hit the humane society hard.
“That’s a big hit for us,” she said.
“We exist on donations and grants.”
While the Calgary Humane Society has seen an increase in surrenders due to the economy, Blackshaw said Cochrane has not seen the same increase.
“That’s a much smaller percentage than the strays and the animals in distress that we bring in.”
The humane society has been seeing many injured animals, most of them strays, come through the doors “with broken limbs that have some sort of blunt force trauma or have been hit by cars.”
Adoptions are still taking place at a steady rate but Blackshaw said “we do anticipate again in the summer they are going to drop off,” as the slowest months for adoptions are July and August.
With spring in the air, it’s also the season when mothers, puppies and kittens make their way through the doors.
As of April 21, the society was fostering 16 puppies and two cats with kittens had arrived at the shelter.
One cat has had all six kittens adopted, while the other remains in a foster home, as her kittens are too young to be adopted out yet.
Blackshaw said she hopes the spay-and-neuter programs at the shelter and in the surrounding areas will bring down the number of newborns they see arriving in the spring.
“That’s why we have the reduced-cost spay and neuter program.”
All animals that come through the society are spayed or neutered before they are adopted.
In 2008, the society had zero cases of euthanasia due to space, a number they hope to repeat this year.
“It’s a sad fact of animal welfare that sometimes you do have to look at who’s been there for months and who’s taking up space,” Blackshaw said.
“So sometimes we do have to euthanize, but again every effort is made to minimize that.”
Currently the shelter does have some space for cats, but is it at it’s capacity for dogs.
On April 19, the humane society held Canada’s Largest Community Garage Sale.
Approximately 35 locations around Cochrane hosted garage sales to benefit the humane society, donating all or a portion of the proceeds to the shelter.
Blackshaw said so far the humane society has raised $4,200 and is still waiting on other donations to come in.
Last year the humane society raised $15,000 with the fundraiser, and had double the participants.
Although the event didn’t raise as much or attract as many participants, Blackshaw said the society isn’t disappointed.
“We recognize that it’s a different year for everybody,” she said. “Every little bit helps, right?”
Blackshaw said three animals were also adopted, traffic to the shelter increased, and sales at Norm’s Nook, the shelter store, increased.
For more information on the Cochrane and Area Humane Society and how to make a donation, visit www.cochranehumane.ca.

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Three more local hockey players have been selected to take part in the Alberta Cup April 22-26 in Calgary.
Connor Chartier, Connor Sutton and Dustin Cave are part of the South Senators team in the showcase of local hockey talent under the age of 16.

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By Cori Lee Miller
The Eagle
Cochrane RCMP cannot confirm what caused the death of a man who fell into the Bow River last week.
At approximately 4:00 p.m., April 14, Cochrane emergency services responded to a call about a man falling into the river near the West Pointe Estates area. An elderly man fell 20 feet into the Bow River, and was pulled from the water 30-45 minutes after the call was received.
Police said at this point they cannot release the man’s identity, or the cause of his death.
“We have to wait for a medical examiner report before we can confirm or deny that,” said Const. Darleen White.
White said police are continuing to investigate, and foul play is not suspected.

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By Rachel Maclean
The Eagle
It was just after 9 a.m. on April 15 when the massive log office of Moose Mountain Log Homes Inc. slowly made its way down Griffin Road on the back of bright red semi.
Causing a bit of a traffic jam and a few astonished stares, the building was heading to its new home beside the Cochrane Recycling Depot from its current location across from Spray Lake Sawmills on the southeast corner of the Domtar site.
Owners Linda Bourdage and Lloyd Beckedorf, who are also married, said while the move has been in the works for the last eleven years as Springwood Developments gets ready to develop the Domtar site the possibility of leaving Cochrane was never on the table.
“Everything is within just minutes,” said Beckedorf. “For the size of the town it has amazingly everything we need. We very seldom have to go to Calgary.”
Their company has been building in Cochrane since 1986, and in 1990 they found themselves leasing a section of Domtar lands from the owners at that time: Cochrane Properties.
Beckedorf said he has been in touch with Springwood Developments and while they “hold their cards pretty close” he expects development is coming soon.
Knowing they would eventually have to leave the site, Moose Mountain purchased eight acres beside the recycling depot more than nine years ago.
“They’ve been giving us fair warning,” said Bourdage. “I think it’s going to be great for Cochrane. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if there was something like shops, or a park. . . right in the heart of Cochrane.”
Beckedorf said they have seen a lot of changes and growth in the industrial area while at their previous location.
Today, even though the economy is in a downturn they are still busy. They have decided to not build as many homes, but focus on a few 5,000 to 6,000 square feet homes at one time. The emphasis is quality not quantity.
“We can certainly focus more on each individual client if we build bigger homes and less of them,” said Bourdage.
Their company has shipped log homes all over the world — Japan, Europe, the United States — including Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, but now they find they are building more in Alberta.
Bourdage said it is a good time to find skilled trade workers for a fair price, before in the economic boom “you took what you could.”
Also, materials are down in price, such as granite, steel and lumber. Bourdage said if the people have money saved for a home now is the time to build it.
“It’s making building a custom home more affordable,” said Bourdage, adding they are getting some beautiful wood for a good price in today’s market.
Their home building process is winter harvesting for wood and they purchase it at the location the tree falls. They bring it to their yard and start the handwork of peeling and building.
They said they can’t use pine beetle kill for their homes because they are “the only handcrafters that guarantee air and weather tight joinery that never needs chinking or caulking,” but they are continuing to build off grid houses and environmentally friendly options.
Just like for their personal home, which was struck by tragedy in 2006 when the multi-million dollar home burnt to the ground southwest of Bragg Creek only a month before they were to move in.
Deciding to rebuild it, the couple has added even more environmentally friendly technology like solar panels and wind energy, while sticking with the same floor plans.
Bourdage said one positive of rebuilding is a redesign in their walk-in closet, as a low beam would have had them ducking for the rest of their lives. They also decided to have water and hoses on site to fight a fire if needed.
Bourdage and Beckedorf said they are happy with the pace of their business, and believe with their niche market they will not have a problem finding business.
For more information visit www.moosemountain.com.

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By Rachel Maclean
The Eagle
A sleek, black flat screen TV reflects the light of a nearby window as it sticks out on a plain white wall surrounded by memorabilia of the past.
It is just one of the purchases the Cochrane 50 and Over Club bought with a recent $9,350 New Horizon’s grant given out by the federal government.
Wild Rose MP Blake Richards was on hand April 14 to pass out one gigantic cheque that will go towards buying a refrigerator, vacuum, kitchen supplies, storage cabinet, table, chairs, couch and virtual gaming system to accompany their already purchased Blu-Ray player.
Robbins said it is only the first step. She said the biggest wish for the club is to get a new building to move into with their new furniture.
“We are trying to get the word out to town council and the government that we need a bigger space,” said Robbins. “Although we do appreciate what we have, as the town provides the building.”
Dorothy Margeson, secretary for the club, said at one time it was a post office and she heard it might have been a curling rink at one point.
But today the older building could use a facelift, and its maximum capacity is 32 — not so good for a club of 116 members.
“We’re bursting at the seams with only 32 people allowed in here,” said Margeson. “I know people who belong that don’t bother to come down because they know there isn’t enough room.”
Robbins laughed when she recalls on Thursdays the card game Euchre starts at 7 p.m., but members start arriving at 6:05 p.m. just to get parking and a seat.
The Club has been up and running since 1969, and offers a place for those over the age of 50 to socialize, participate in activities and organize their volunteer efforts.
In the future the club would like to expand to organizing bus tours and having a pool table or shuffle boards with more parking for club members, but it all hinges on a new building.
They would like to have more room to allow their growing membership to participate. Also, the building is not wheelchair accessible and does not have handicap washroom facilities.
For now Robbins said they are just crossing their fingers. (more…)

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By Sarah Junkin
The Eagle
A Cochrane teen who’s been diagnosed with two types of leukemia will not have to fight the disease alone.
Already the whole community is rallying round to support the family of Taro Okada, a popular Grade 10 student who will likely spend much of the next year in Calgary’s Children’s Hospital.
“They have no family in Canada so it would be really wonderful if we all pulled together to help,” said family friend Debbie Phibbs, who is hosting a meeting on how best to assist them. “The family is very popular and all their kids are in sports so they know a lot of people.”
Parents Shojiro and Yoshiko first became aware that something was terribly wrong when Taro seemed unable to shake off a cold he’d caught from girlfriend Jasmine, Phibbs’ daughter.
“He had a fever and became terribly weak,” said Phibbs. “His mom took him to the doctor and two days later to the hospital in Canmore. He was getting really sick.”
Phibbs added the fever was actually a blessing because without it, the disease could have taken a more aggressive hold without any warning.
Since the diagnosis, doctors have already begun an aggressive round of chemotherapy and radiation, and they’ve also tested Taro’s parents and his younger brothers to find out if any of them might make a suitable bone marrow donor. Those test results won’t be available for two more weeks.
In the meantime, the Okadas are trying to adapt their busy schedule to accommodate frequent visits to the hospital. Yoshiko, who is employed by Extra Foods, will now only work weekends when her husband is off from his job at Moose Mountain Log Homes.
“This means they’ll have less of an income,” said Phibbs. “So I’d love it if people could help cook, clean, drive the kids.”
She added Shojiro recently began finishing his basement, and she’s looking for helpers to finish the job for him.
To that end, Phibbs is hosting a “Team Taro” planning meeting April 22 at the Royal LePage Allstar office on First Street at 7:30 p.m. She’s hoping anyone who has any spare time will come out to lend a hand.
“We just want them to feel loved and cared for,” she said.
Yet despite the diagnosis, the Okadas are trying to remain optimistic and say they are grateful for the help they’ve already received.
“Our freezer is almost full,” said Shojiro. “A lot of people tried to help us.” The pair is also grateful to the many visitors who have visited Taro in the hospital, including his entire Bow Valley football team.
“He gets a lot of energy from his friends,” Yoshiko said. “He is always so happy to see them.”
But as Taro struggles with the nausea from his treatments, all the family can do is wait to learn if any of them will make a suitable bone marrow donor.
“Wait and hope,” said Yoshiko.
For information about how to help the Okada family, call 403-932-2290.

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By Sarah Junkin
The Eagle
A local rancher has lashed out about claims the opening of a provincial park has been delayed.
In 2006, Tim Harvie’s family sold a 1,314-hectare piece of land along the Bow River between Calgary and Cochrane for $40 million, approximately half its market value.
At the time it was widely reported the park, which is expected to go a long way in protecting the ecosystem of the Bow River in the area, would be open to the public the following year.
In a recent report defining how provincial parks will be preserved over the next decade Calgary MLA and Parks Minister Cindy Ady said the area to be known as the Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park will be “worth the wait.”
But Harvie, who is on the project’s core committee, said there has been no delay at all.
“It’s not behind schedule. We never ever had a proposed date.”
While he does acknowledge three years have gone by and that there is still much work to be done, he doesn’t believe that’s relevant.
“Public safety is our first concern and this is a huge project,” he explained, adding decisions as to the placement of footpaths, parking, access from the Highway and the issue of the railway track running through the property are weighty issues in terms of safety and at the same time protecting the environment, the land and the archeology.
“Getting people across a railway is not an easy thing to do,” he said. “You don’t just put a crossing anywhere you want.”
Harvie added it takes time to make many of these decisions because some are almost impossible to change later.
“If we put paths in the wrong place, it’s difficult to change public use patterns later,” he said.
Though he won’t commit to a date when the park could be open — “I’d say a couple of years but that’s as definite as I’m going to be” — Harvie agrees with Ady.
“One day it’s going to be a really great park,” he said. “But I’ve tried to be very careful not to say a date.”

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Coffee with Warren
by Warren Harbeck
When Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took the microphone at the Durban Review Conference in Geneva earlier this week, local Baha’is were hopeful that he would address human rights issues of special concern to them. Instead, he once more attacked Israel’s right to exist as a nation, prompting many delegates to walk out of the United Nations-sponsored event already boycotted by Canada, the United States and other nations, and also prompting U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to publicly denounce the Iranian president’s abuse of the conference platform.
The purpose of the Durban Review Conference, often referred to simply as Durban II, is to evaluate progress towards the goals set by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance held in Durban, South Africa, in 2001.
According to a press release distributed by the Baha’i International Community, United Nations Office, “If he desires to lend genuine support to the Durban process, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad should address the severe forms of discrimination faced by minority groups in his own country.” This includes women in general and ethnic and religious minorities.
About religious minorities, the press release goes on to say:
“Discrimination is widespread in Iran, affecting Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Sufis, Sunni Muslims, and other minorities. Members of the Baha’i faith, in particular, face multiple forms of discrimination solely because of their religious beliefs. Over the last four years, more than 200 Baha’is have been arbitrarily arrested, detained, intimidated and harassed. When charged with crimes, they face false accusations, such as acting against national security. They are denied a decent livelihood through restrictions on employment and property confiscations. Students are expelled from universities as soon as they are identified as Baha’is.”
The Baha’i faith is a world religion with many adherents in the Cochrane area. It was founded in 1863 by Persian-born Bahá’u’lláh, believed by Baha’is to be the latest manifestation of God in a lineage of manifestations that includes Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad. Baha’is believe that God has made His nature and will known through these manifestations, because direct knowledge of God is beyond the limits of human understanding.
At the heart of Baha’i teaching is the idea of unity: the oneness of God, the oneness of the human race, and the oneness of religion. According to Baha’i teaching, the sacred scriptures of all the major religions point to this oneness.
Since its founding, adherents to the Baha’i faith, including Bahá’u’lláh himself, have faced persecution, especially within what is modern-day Iran. Loss of life, property and basic human rights continues to this day.
“Of particular concern is the manner in which the government controlled news media has vilified adherents of the Baha’i faith,” the above-noted press release states. “Hundreds of articles, radio and television programs, Internet postings, pamphlets containing hate speech have been disseminated in Iran since President Ahmadinejad took power. As well, clerics and officials who publicly incite hatred and violence have been condoned by the authorities — and Iranian Baha’is are denied their lawful right of reply. Attacks against Baha’i homes, businesses and cemeteries are openly encouraged and conducted with impunity.”
Cochrane-area Baha’is have drawn my attention to the Iranian government’s current persecution of seven leaders of the Baha’i faith in that country.
According to a February motion adopted by the Canadian Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Human Rights demanding their immediate release, the seven outstanding Iranian citizens have been arrested and maliciously charged with “espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic republic.”
The motion notes that even “Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi — who announced her intention to defend the Baha’is in court — has since been harassed and her offices have been closed.”
Members of the Baha’i community in the Cochrane area stand resolutely with their courageous faith family in Iran, especially during the 12-day Festival of Ridvan (pronounced riz-wahn), which began April 21.
The festival is a commemoration of Bahá’u’lláh’s public proclamation of himself as the next messianic figure. Ridvan is the name of the Baghdad garden along the Tigris River where he made his proclamation before being exiled to Turkey.
In the spirit of universal freedom of religion, a coffee-cup toast to the Baha’i community: Happy Ridvan! May justice prevail in Iran.
(c) 2009 Warren Harbeck,
warren@harbeck.ca, www.coffeewithwarren.com

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