With the hot days here, it is time to relax, recharge, and enjoy summer. With no Council meetings in August, this Council’s term is winding down. The break has given me time to reflect on the accomplishments of the last four years.
With the hot days here, it is time to relax, recharge, and enjoy summer. With no Council meetings in August, this Council’s term is winding down. The break has given me time to reflect on the accomplishments of the last four years.
No one predicted the headwinds of this term.
Between the economic downturn and COVID-19, the last four years have been the most difficult in my public service experience. Difficult times are revealing, and I am proud of our community. Cochrane rallied to help ourselves, municipal staff worked hard to deliver services in a challenging environment, and Council pivoted to managing the pandemic crisis, preparing for recovery and preparing Cochrane for the future.
As part of Council’s priority on transportation, significant transportation projects were delivered, including the Jack Tennant Memorial Bridge, COLT Transit and the Horse Creek pedestrian railway crossing. This year, major projects have been launched, including the Protective Service Building, Transit Hub and Innovative Centre and the Highway 1A upgrades.
Connectivity is Council’s primary focus. Improving community engagement, building pathways and recreation, any piece of how we as a community come together, is essential. It is great to have delivered on little wins, including trail connections in Riverview and Sunset.
It is why I am excited to see the Cochrane Corridor Plan approved this month. I brought this idea to Council in 2018 to set plans for our major downtown roadways to ensure they become easier to connect through, whether in your car, on foot, or bike, and to improve the access for the jobs, services, and recreation in those areas. Step by step, we need to prepare for the vibrant, complete community we want to be.
It has been a challenging four years, but I am proud of what we have accomplished as a community.
Enjoy the summer and stay connected.
