Long time Glenbow resident Brian Winter wants to get the word out to his neighbours and friends who might be looking for a vehicle to enhance their voices when they’re upset with the way their community is treated by outside jurisdictions, like the Town of Cochrane.
The answer, he says, is to form a community association.
Winter is no stranger to advocacy roles of different descriptions (mostly with respect to emergency medical services, and most recently with the newly-formed Cochrane and Area Health Foundation) and is convinced that when it comes to having your voice heard, there is strength in numbers.
He said from the recent refurbishing of the pathway through the neighbourhood, to the upcoming sewer and water and street infrastructure upgrades, there will be plenty of opportunities for a new association to take part at the grassroots level.
He’s encouraged by conversations at an informal meeting in the parking lot of the Alliance Church.
“So far we're up to about 25 households that have heard by word of mouth that we want to form an association,” he said. “Glenbow needs a voice so we can advocate collectively for our community.”
“Community associations play a critical role in fostering cohesive, thriving neighbourhoods," Winter explained. "These associations are key to facilitating community engagement, enhancing the quality of life, and promoting local democracy for their members. Associations are created to establish strength and unity in working toward common goals."
There are over 700 individual units that are either single family dwellings, duplexes, townhouses or condominiums in Glenbow. It is also the home to the rodeo grounds, ball diamonds, a church, the Lions Event Centre, the Boys and Girls Club, Glenbow School.
Work is in progress on the paving of the pathway and in 2025 the Glenpatrick Drive Infrastructure Replacement Project where new underground services, new sidewalks and a traffic circle at the intersection of Glenhill Drive and Glenpatrick Road is planned.
“We just want to make sure that we as a community are going to be involved in some of these decisions,” Winter said. “We just want to make sure that our voices are heard.”
Winter said there are still some raw feelings in the neighbourhood over how the pathway issue was handled.
He’s asking Glenbow residents interested in forming a community association, to send an e-mail to [email protected]. A meeting of those interested will take place in the near future.
