Looking for a peaceful afternoon surrounded by music and nature?
The Cochrane Ecological Institute (CEI), located 21 kilometres northwest of Cochrane, is hosting an outdoor youth acoustic open mic on Saturday, July 19, from 3 to 5:30 p.m.
CEI volunteer Ali Morrison says it promises to be a free, magical afternoon celebrating young local talent and community spirit at the institute.
All performances will be acoustic to respect the animals currently being rehabilitated on site. Morrison notes a piano will also be available for use.
“We can’t have electrified instruments, but instruments like guitars, flutes, trumpets, and pianos are fine,” she says. “There’s a piano in the Straw Bale building, so they can come and play the piano and have singers and whatever instruments—classical, folk, rock, blues, modern pop, spoken word—anything the teens wish to perform.”
Morrison asks musicians to register in advance by contacting her at 403-688-0812 and leaving their contact number. This will allow them to properly prepare for the number of performers and guests for the afternoon.
A barbecue will follow at 5 p.m., by donation.
The world-renowned institute is in its 61st year of rehabilitating and releasing wildlife. It was established in 1967 by Miles and Beryl Smeeton and their daughter Clio, who has served as president for about 30 years.
Located on 160 acres of montane habitat, CEI remains dedicated to the preservation and conservation of cultural and biological diversity through education; the reintroduction of extirpated flora and fauna; the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured and orphaned wildlife; and ongoing monitoring and research.
“We’re a non-profit charitable organization, so we exist solely on donations for the care and rehabilitation of wildlife that will be healed and then released when it’s time,” explains Morrison. “And we do groundbreaking research—doctoral and master’s candidates come from all over the world.”
In 1971, CEI established and implemented a wildlife rehabilitation and release program that has since resulted in the rescue and release of more than 8,000 injured or orphaned wild animals.
You can learn more about CEI by clicking here.
