Cochrane

The Town of Cochrane has begun preparing for its 2026 budget.

Town council has approved a recommendation from Chief Financial Officer Alvin Allim to base the budget on two per cent inflation and assessment growth—a formula also applied to the 2025 budget.

Additional factors to be considered include feedback from council's spring strategic session, the 2022–25 council strategic plan, the 2025 municipal election, and ongoing economic uncertainty in both Canada and the United States.

Whether Alberta should withhold social services from immigrants is among the issues Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is tabling for debate this summer when she travels the province to consult citizens on potential referendum questions.

The tour is part of what Smith has dubbed the "Alberta Next" panel. At a news conference Tuesday, she announced details of its work and named its 15 members.

At the same time, six online surveys were launched on the panel's website, which are to help inform what questions the government puts to a referendum next year.

May inflation figures showed marginal improvements in some of the Bank of Canada's closely watched price figures — a step in the right direction, some economists say, but likely not enough to convince the central bank to cut interest rates.

The annual pace of inflation held steady at 1.7 per cent last month as cooling shelter costs helped tame price pressures, Statistics Canada said Tuesday.

Cochrane’s own Sarah Wozniewicz is heading to the pros! The 21-year-old forward was selected in the third round, fifth overall by the Ottawa Charge in the 2025 Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Draft, marking a major milestone in her impressive hockey journey.

From her early days on the ice in Cochrane then with the Airdrie Lightning, to becoming a standout player at Edge School and eventually the University of Wisconsin, Wozniewicz has shown relentless drive and passion for the game.

Recent heavy rainfall has pushed the Bow River to higher-than-normal levels in Cochrane, prompting local fire officials to issue a high stream advisory.

“We are looking at a high stream advisory for both the Bow River and the Jumping Pound Creek basins,” says Cochrane Fire Chief Shawn Polley.

Polley explains the river flow recently peaked at nearly 300 cubic metres per second on June 21 and has now dropped to about 171. While that’s within seasonal average, the water remains fast and unpredictable.

The Liberal government will table a bill this fall introducing stricter bail conditions and sentencing for some crimes, particularly those involving organized crime, human trafficking, home invasion and car theft, Justice Minister Sean Fraser said in an interview.

"It's perhaps obvious, given the tenor around the criminal justice system, that reforms are in order," Fraser told The Canadian Press.

Marni Fedeyko is preparing to take the chair as Cochrane’s deputy mayor on June 26, ending a long debate over whether she would be allowed to serve after sanctions were placed on her by town council in May 2024.

Her opportunity to fill in for the mayor isn’t the result of any decision by her fellow councillors. It came after Bill 50 received Royal Assent on May 15, effectively stripping municipalities of the authority to enforce local Code of Conduct bylaws.

The Cochrane Tourism Association is offering one lucky local a luxury staycation package — and a chance to invite a special guest.

To enter, create a short video highlighting the people, places, and experiences that make Cochrane unforgettable, then upload the video on the website or Instagram using the hashtag #CochraneExplorer. 

RELATED STORIES:

Cochrane residents can expect tourism growth

World-class horse vaulting athlete Daniel Klotz-Dedora is preparing to depart for Austria ahead of his third appearance as a member of Team Canada at the FEI Junior Vaulting World Championship.

The 18-year-old received official word of his selection late last week from Equestrian Canada.

“We are excited to have you representing Canada again on the world stage and look forward to supporting you through the final preparations,” reads a letter from the organization.

Cochrane football players will suit up for three Alberta teams this summer following an extensive selection process by Football Alberta.

Cochrane Cobra Tyler Clazie has been named to the receiving corps of Alberta’s U18 squad for the Football Canada Cup. Fellow Cobra Evan Samoleski also made the team as a defensive back but is sidelined by injury.

Three other Cobras were in the running after advancing to the Top 100 camp held in Red Deer in May.