Cochrane: Consider Calgary’s Neighbour to the Northwest

By Rachel Feddema
August 20, 2019

Welcome to a modern, thriving community rich in Western heritage. Cochrane was established in 1903, but the town’s history can be traced back to 1881 when Senator Matthew Henry Cochrane founded his ranch here. This community has evolved from a service centre for ranching families to a contemporary town embracing new development in a sustainable manner.

With the prairies to the east and the mountains to the west, you’ll enjoy coveted natural views with all the conveniences of a big city. Cochrane has world-class amenities, a wide selection of shops and services, and it’s only a short drive from Calgary.

Today, Cochrane is home to over 29,000 people, and that number is steadily growing as more people discover Cochrane’s neighbourly hometown warmth, the invigorating mountain air, and ultimately, a place they can comfortably call home.

You’ll actually meet your neighbours

Cochrane is a growing community, but every effort is made to keep the small-town warmth and charm alive, and it’s working. New this year is Cochrane’s Block Party in a Box - a trailer designed to make neighbourhood parties easy. It’s loaded with everything you’d need; invitations, traffic cones, signage, and a griddle.

Great food for all palates

You’ll quickly find your favourites, but we’ve got some recommendations for you. Make a reservation at My Greek Plate for date night. Spice up your weeknight takeout with Mehtab East Indian Cuisine. For your Thursday night pub stop, visit the family-owned microbrewery Half Hitch Brewing Company. Satisfy your sweet tooth at MacKay’s ice cream shop (a gathering place in this town since 1948). And don’t miss brunch on Sunday at Sunny Side Up.

Year-round fun awaits

There’s something exciting on the events calendar nearly every day. Take part in monthly art walks, enjoy summer rodeos at the Cochrane fair, pick up fresh produce at the farmers' market, take classes to learn the Stoney Nakoda language, enrol the kids in children’s play programs, and peruse street markets.

When you feel like venturing out for the day, the mountains delight both outdoor enthusiasts and urbanites alike. Whether you are out in the wild or exploring the shops and culinary delights of local mountain towns, these adventures are only a short drive away.

Innovative developments

Coming this fall, Cochrane is introducing a fully on-demand community transit system, aptly named COLT (Cochrane On-demand Local Transit). You can schedule a pickup at a bus stop minutes before you depart, or up to a week in advance. COLT will operate within Cochrane initially, but there are plans to extend service to connect with Calgary transit hubs in the future.

What about the commute?

You’re only about 30 to 40 minutes away from downtown Calgary, which is a similar commute time from one of Calgary’s suburbs with traffic. If you’d rather read a book, or snooze in that time, On-It transit offers a Monday to Friday commuter bus from Cochrane to the Calgary downtown core. And with a growing number of businesses in the area, you might find your next job in town and cut your commute down to only a few minutes.

A neighbourhood for everyone

There’s no shortage of new development in Cochrane. Homebuyers have their pick of a wide selection of new home types at very attractive prices. New communities include the Sunset Ridge, Riviera, Heartland, Heritage Hills, Fireside, the Willows and Riversong. Watch out for new upcoming developments Greystone and Rivercrest.

About Rachel Feddema

Rachel Feddema is a digital strategist and contributor at NextHome.

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