Cochrane Eagle – Written by Izaiah Louis Reyes Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, 3:00 pm
Councillor Tara McFadden has announced that she will be running for a sixth consecutive term at the upcoming 2025 elections.
For Coun. Tara McFadden, public service is a serious commitment– one she constantly re-examines to ensure she’s up to the task.
“Do people value what I bring to the table? Am I able to make a difference? And am I having fun?” she said. “As long as I’m scoring on those questions, that’s how I decide whether I’m going to put my hat in the ring and offer my service to the people of Cochrane.”
McFadden has served on council for the past 18 years, helping guide the town through its rapid population growth.
“My focus is on making life easier to get around, easier to find an affordable space to live, and on access to more people places,” she said. “Whether that’s playing fields, parks, off-leash parks, libraries, [or] community spaces where people can meet.”
Having lived in Cochrane for 22 years, McFadden said her passion for community spaces comes from a personal connection. A longtime trail enthusiast, she has volunteered with Alberta TrailNet and the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation, and has championed the trail linking the SLS Centre to the east end of town.
When she’s not busy with council or family responsibilities, McFadden can often be found in the very parks she advocates for, taking her dog Ripley to one of Cochrane’s off-leash areas.
“We need those kinds of recreation spaces, we need those quiet parks to enjoy, we need more of those,” she said. “And it’s not just the spaces, it’s the reasons for the spaces, like seasonal events and celebrations.”
That passion, along with her priorities of affordable housing, meaningful connection with residents and improved transportation, is what motivated McFadden to seek a sixth consecutive term on council in the upcoming 2025 municipal elections.
