Being a leader in the fastest growing municipality in Alberta is not an easy feat, but for Cochrane’s Mayor Jeff Genung, his efforts have not gone unnoticed after he was awarded The Alberta Municipalities Award of Excellence last week.
The award recognizes exceptional leadership by a current or former elected municipal officials with a minimum of three years in office in Alberta. According to Genung, a nomination form was sent out earlier in the year, which led Coun. Susan Flowers to nominate Genung for this year’s awards.
“She initiated it here from our own council, council voted on it, and I was lucky enough to be bestowed the award,” Genung said.
Genung said he is humbled to be recognized by his peers for his work and efforts, but believes he was only doing what he was originally elected for.
“In my mind, I think it’s just me doing my job,” Genung said. “Being recognized on the job that I am doing feels good, and I guess I appreciate the pat on the back from my colleagues.”
In terms of his success, Genung said it can be attributed to a love for his work and the community.
“I love my home town, the place I grew up, have a business, and a family that all live here. My wife and I are so blessed to call Cochrane home,” Genung said. “In my view, my job is to try and make Cochrane a better place in the future, and being recognized for that is like – Oh, cool!”
He added that it felt very special to be recognized by his peers at the award ceremony in Edmonton by other municipal leaders for his work, but outlined, at the end of the day, he is simply doing his job as the mayor of Cochrane.
“One of my mandates that I took upon myself was to put Cochrane on the map, provincially.” Genung said. “So, this award kind of does that in a way. A lot of people I didn’t know came up to me and Cochrane got in the headlines again, this time with my name attached to it, but I consider that a win.
“We’re getting on that provincial stage, in front of those provincial decision makers, and if this helps Cochrane get another highway, it was an award well-received.”
Moving forward, Genung said he will continue to do his work in the community, listening to the voices of residents, building and improving relationships with the public, and continuing to work towards his mandate of putting Cochrane on the map.
“I’m just going to keep doing those things and I think it’s only going to bring good things to Cochrane,” he said.
Although it was an individual award, Genung said he could not have received it without the help of his team and the staff that brought him to that position, along with all the work they do behind the scenes.
“They make me look pretty good,” Genung said. “a lot of the time I have to be the speaker or deliverer of those messages, but [with] council, my colleagues, and administration it’s a team effort here.”
