chestermere’s john morris is best known as a gold … · 2012. 2. 22. · the building team for...

WWW.CALGARYHERALD.COM/SUBS SUBURBS + SATELLITES FEBRUARY 2012 1

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ALSO INSIDE: Homeowners are taking full advantage of amenity-rich southeast Calgary PLUS: Advantages of life in Chestermere • Strathmore • Cochrane • Airdrie • Okotoks • and more . . .

CHESTERMERE’S JOHN MORRIS IS BEST KNOWN AS A GOLD MEDAL-WINNING CURLER, BUT HIS DAY JOB ISN’T SHABBY, EITHER SEE INSIDE FOR FULL STORY

Fire & Ice

Suburbs SatellitesCALGARY & NEIGHBOURING COMMUNITIES • FEBRUARY 2012

2 SUBURBS + SATELLITES FEBRUARY 2012 WWW.CALGARYHERALD.COM/SUBS

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in this issue

20 Cochrane Town’s outdoor opportunities lure noted advocate.

04 John Morris Gold medal-winning curler plants roots in Chestermere.

11 Airdrie City is taking the initiative to attract more physicians.

14 Southeast Calgary Quadrant’s communities are opening new world to buyers.

24 OkotoksArea schools are reversing the flow of traffic, one student at a time.

10 Strathmore Local organization is giving small business owners the proper tools.

SUBURBS + SATELLITES JANUARY 2012 1

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ALSO INSIDE: Homeowners are taking full advantage of amenity-rich southeast Calgary PLUS: Advantages of life in Chestermere • Strathmore • Cochrane • Airdrie • Okotoks • and more . . .

CHESTERMERE’S JOHN MORRIS IS BEST KNOWN AS A GOLD-MEDAL-WINNING CURLER, BUT HIS DAY JOB ISN’T SHABBY, EITHER SEE INSIDE FOR FULL STORY

Fire & Ice

Suburbs SatellitesCALGARY & NEIGHBOURING COMMUNITIES • FEBRUARY 2012

SUBURBS + SATELLITESA special advertising publication

of the Calgary HeraldSpecial Projects Manager:

Barb Livingstone, [email protected]

Project Co-ordinator:Jamie Zachary, [email protected]

Contributors: Wil Andruschak, Estelle Besserer, Suzanne Beaubien, Alex Frazer-Harrison, Michelle Hofer,

Shawn Hoult, Carl Patzel, Joel Schlesinger, Andrea Tombrowski,

and Gerald Vander PylCover photo: Estelle Besserer,

www.stellarimagery.ca

Located just north of Calgary, the city of Airdrie continues to be a shining star among Alberta communities.

And Cooper’s Crossing by WestMark Holdings is the one of its brightest lights.

Located on the southwest side of the city, minutes from shopping and all those “big-city amenities with a small-town feel” Airdrie is famous for, Cooper’s Crossing continues to surprise with its variety of home styles.

“I’m hard-pressed to think of another new estate community that offers grand character homes with rear garages,” says development manager Paul Gerla.

Visitors are also surprised to see Cooper’s Crossing is already a mature community — no waiting for years for the amenities to catch up with the development.

“Our lush parks have had 10 years to fill in,” says Gerla. “An extensive network of park trails connect every corner, while a covered boardwalk lines the water’s edge.

“There’s also a new high school under construction that will border Cooper’s Crossing — they started moving the dirt before Christmas.”

And on the off chance you can’t find what you need in Airdrie, CrossIron Mills is less than a 10-minute drive away.

“Surprisingly, with its direct link via Highway 2, Coopers’ Crossing residents can commute to downtown Calgary in the same time, or less, as residents

in many of Calgary’s new suburban neighbourhoods,” says Gerla.

“Despite the similar commute times, home-sites in Airdrie are considerably less expensive than those in Calgary. In Cooper’s Crossing, you really can live better while spending less.

“And people are finding they have all the same amenities as they’d find in any new Calgary community.”

Cooper’s Crossing’s success relies on its builder group. For estate homes, WestMark calls upon Artigiano Developments, Canterra Custom Homes, and Copper Rock Homes.

The building team for the Move-Up Collection includes Homes by Avi, Airdrie-based McKee Homes, and Trico Homes.

New show homes by Canterra and Trico are also scheduled to open soon, says Gerla.

Move-up front-attached and rear-detached garage models start from the $400,000s while the estate and classic estate models start from the $700,000s.

There are a number of great lots left in the Move-Up and Estate Collections, however only a limited number of lots are available for the exclusive estate rear-garage collection.

For more information, call 403-948-5300. For an interactive map of the Cooper’s Crossing area showing show homes and other amenities, visit cooperscrossing.ca.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Luxury living is only the beginning at Cooper’s Crossing


Words hardly do John Morris’s golden moment justice.

One of Canada’s premier curlers, on perhaps Canada’s most legendary curling team,

Johnny Mo — as he’s known to friends and fans alike — stood on the podium at the 2010 Winter Olympics in a state of ecstatic satisfaction that few people will ever know.

“It’s hard to describe,” says the 33-year-old third on the Kevin Martin team that won Olympic gold on home soil.

“You’re on the podium and you’ve only seen this sort of stuff on TV — athletes with Olympic gold around their neck — but you’re not really prepared because you’ve spent all your time thinking about the process and not the result.”

Winning gold marked the pinnacle for Morris, who had spent long hours on the ice, traveling tens of thousands of kilometres over the course of more than two decades

“I remember being 15 years old‚ and that was right when the Olympics was starting out for the sport — and dreaming about it then,” he says.

“It has always been in the back of my mind: ‘I want to win an Olympic gold medal one day.’”

Being atop the podium with his teammates was a

Chesteremere’s golden boy isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty in growing community

Story by Joel SchleSingerPhotoS by eStelle beSSerer

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reality that most certainly had a dreamlike quality. While Martin’s team of Morris, lead Ben Hebert and second Marc Kennedy had been together since 2006, and winning Olympic gold was their only objective, nothing could have prepared them for the emotional impact of actually achieving that goal.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to top that feeling again in life,” he says. “That would be tough to top.”

Still, some feelings do come close, he admits. A resident of Chestermere, Morris says he and Hebert, also a resident, have enjoyed celebrity status in the lakeside community about 10 minute’s drive east of Calgary. It’s a kind of support that can only be found in an Alberta town where connections with the com-munity run deep, he says.

Despite moving there only a few years ago, Chestermere is more than just a bedroom community — away from the crowd and traffic — for Morris to call home. And for the community, Morris is more than just an Olympic athlete. When he’s not crisscross-ing the country, playing at major curling events, Morris is a full-time firefighter for Rocky View County.

Besides the obvious firefighter duties, Morris often visits schools in the community, educating children on fire prevention and safety — one of the most enjoyable parts of the job, he says.

And it’s those visits that have led to some of his most memorable and rewarding experiences as a resident of the town.

One event stands out. Before the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, he visited Rainbow Creek Elementary School and gave the school a Team Canada jersey. It turned out he had found himself a rock-solid fan-base.

“They knew our team’s whole schedule and ended up watching every game,” he says.

In fact, every school in the town was tuning in to watch the team play.

Winning gold may have been the height of Morris’s life experiences, but returning to a community of adoring fans certainly ranks up there too, he says

“I’ve never heard the applause so loud coming back into that school after the Olympics. I still get goosebumps going into Rainbow Creek School.”

That Morris ended up living in the town of about 14,000 people and developed a fondness for all things Chestermere may seem like an odd fit.

The town has a curling facility at its recreational centre, but it’s hardly a curling mecca like many other Western Canadian towns. Furthermore, Morris was born in Winnipeg, raised in Ottawa and only moved to Calgary when he realized that to develop as a curler, he needed to go where the action was.

“The depth of curling out here — curling in general — is stronger out west,” he says. “The two national training centres are in Edmonton and Calgary, so if you really want to further your career, you have to make the jump out west.”

On paper, Morris and Hebert train with Martin in Edmonton at the Saville Sports Centre.

“When we have training camps, we go to Edmonton, but Ben and I will throw rocks here in Chestermere as well,” he says. “We work out at the gym here.”

Originally, Morris moved to Calgary after finishing his kinesiology degree at Wilfred Laurier University about a decade ago.

Despite living most of his life in large urban areas, Morris says he’s always preferred the laid-back lifestyle and close-knit feel of smaller communities.

“It was hard to feel part of the community in Calgary because it’s such a big city,” he says. “It was important for me to feel like I was part of a community when I moved west, and I found Chestermere provided that.”

The town also offered Morris close proximity the outdoors — a must, he says.

Curling may be his passion, but Morris’s second love is fishing.

In the summer, he can often be found in his boat, a fishing line in the water on Chestermere Lake — which lies at the heart of the community.

“It’s my release,” he says. “When I’m on the lake fishing, I don’t really think about anything else.”

The lake, sunny skies and a clear view of the Rockies may be the ideal setting to pass the long summer days, but Morris’ sanctuary year-round is his custom-built home in Chestermere’s neighbourhood of Westmere Estates.

It’s actually Morris’s second home in the town, and the third he’s owned in Alberta.

“I got really lucky in 2004. I bought a house in Calgary and did well in real estate,” he says.

Morris’s first two homes were what he calls “cookie-cutter houses” — not much different from what you’d find in any newer suburb across Canada. But his third is a “Johnny Mo” original.

“One of my passions is building, so I was really meticulous in how my home was constructed.”

The two-storey, 2,600-square-foot home with a walkout basement is a sports enthusiast’s fantasy land.

“I love sports so I have a putting green in the back-yard,” he says. >>


<< Then there’s the trophy room filled with mementos he’s gathered throughout career, including Brier championships and medals from skipping a junior team to back-to-back world championships.

The centrepiece, however, is his Olympic experience. Surprisingly, however, the focus isn’t all on curling. There’s a large homage to hockey, too. Morris says he and his teammates were fortunate enough to spend time with Sidney Crosby.

“We got to know him pretty well, and he is very nice guy,” Morris says. “He even gave us a signed game-used stick and jersey, and I made a whole locker about that in my home.”

His home also includes a number of other unique features, including a steam room, land-scaping that incorporates the natural habitat of the surrounding area and a garage that he calls his “man-cave.”

While his trophy room may contain a price-less collection of curling and Olympic memo-rabilia, it’s not the home’s most distinguishing feature.

That, instead, is a design element that can only be called “firefighter chic,” which sets his home apart from even the most triumphant of Olympic athletes.

“I have a fire pole that goes down from the second storey to the walkout basement outside,” Morris says.

Morris’s roots in Chestermere, however, run deeper than his custom-built, dream-home. Even if he were to move away, he’d still have left his mark. He recently had a street named after him: John Morris Way.

Of course, Morris says he’s not going any-where soon. If anything, he wants to deepen his connection. The hope is one day he and his team will call Chestermere their home base.

While the Martin team trains in Edmonton — where Martin lives — Morris says that will likely change after 2014.

“I would say in about two years, Kevin will retire after the Olympics, so our plan is to base our team here,” he says.

In the meantime, the focus is on a golden repeat at the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Along the way, Morris will continue to soak in the experience of playing with Martin — a legend in the sport.

“Just hearing all the stories from him and playing with him have allowed me to evolve my

own curling skills and career as well,” Morris says.

Of course, the road to the Games is long and nothing is guaranteed. Just qualifying is diffi-cult, especially considering their fiercest compe-tition is homegrown.

But Morris says his team is used to defying the odds and proving the naysayers wrong.

“There were some doubters out there when we first hooked up because we had both been skips and a lot of times two skips together can be like oil and water,” he says. “But it worked out really well and we’ve had a great tenure together so far.”

Chestermere has been an equally good match for Morris. He says he never felt as much a part of a community.

“It’s just a great all-around town,” he says.And Morris certainly isn’t shy about talking

up Chestermere’s many benefits. He’s even con-vinced a few people to call it home.

“Whenever I talk to my friends who come from other places to Calgary — like a lot of people do — and they come out to Chestermere, they look into moving here,” he says.

“I’ve had about four or five friends move here and they really enjoy it.”

One of my passions is building, so I was really meticulous in how my home was constructed.

In real estate, as always, it’s all about location, location, location. For cover story subject John Morris, for example, that location was Chestermere.Appropriately enough, location is a key theme throughout Suburbs & Satellites. This quarterly publication by the Calgary Herald regularly focuses on locations where homeowners want to live — whether on the banks of the Sheep River or in the shadows of the Canadian Rockies. For 2012, the Calgary Herald is bringing location to the forefront once again with a new digital offering.Launched in conjunction with the February issue, calgaryherald.com/subs is our attempt to paint a better picture of where Calgary’s suburbs and sat-ellites are located in rela-tion to where you live now. This new website features an interactive map to help visitors find featured communities, and catch up on the latest news and photos.In addition, this new site aims to connect potential homebuyers with build-ers like never before. Find out who is building in your city, town or neigh-bourhood through online builder/community profiles. Discover what makes them the right fit for you. It’s all just a click away atcalgaryherald.com/subs.

NOW ONLINE!

SUBURBS & SATELLITESat a glance


For as long as many can remember, Calgarians have been making the short trip out to the Chestermere

area for its idyllic lake or bountiful pathways.

Today, however, many Calgarians are going from day-tripper to full-time resi-dent.

“You’re so close to the city, but at the same time you still have that small-town atmosphere,” says Chestermere

resident and ReidBuilt sales manager Dave Abbey.

“It’s a very quiet, very safe community. It is a very neighbourly community. It takes you back to the old days when you knew your neighbours and you let the kids go out and play and they’d come home when the lights went on.”

ReidBuilt is currently offering a range of newly released lots in the latest phase of its Westmere community. The award-

winning builder has 15 different home styles to choose from, including a number of functionally stylish bungalows and two-storey homes that offer both luxury and affordability.

As an added example of just what ReidBuilt offers, potential buyers are in-vited to visit the newly opened Westmere show home.

This glamorous, custom-designed bungalow fulfils the promise of what

life in Chestermere is all about, featuring the finest luxury furnishings, and a location that’s a short walk to Chestermere Lake.

ReidBuilt’s designs start around 2,000 square feet for two-storey homes, or 1,350 for bungalows. Prices start around $399,000.

For more information, call area manager Jennifer Skapin at 403-204-3994, or visit www.rbhcalgary.com.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Westmere creates believers with Chestermere community


by Joel SchleSinger

I f Chestermere were a company traded on a stock exchange, its investors would be very pleased about its growth in the last decade.

The lakeside town that touches Calgary’s eastern has seen its population grow by more than 300 per cent since 2001. And its mayor says you haven’t seen anything yet.

“We are on our way to becoming Alberta’s relaxation and recreation capital,” says Chestermere Mayor Patricia Matthews.

Of course, its residents have been enjoying the return on their investment for many years. Matthews says Chestermere offers affordable family living with the best of both worlds: that laid-back lake lifestyle, but close enough to an urban centre.

Its reputation for recreation, however, certainly isn’t new. The town of 14,682 has always been known as a place for outdoor pleasures.

Built along the railway, Chestermere was envisioned by its founders as a resort village. But for most of its 120-plus-year-history, it grew very slowly, known by Calgarians as a quaint summer village surrounding Chestermere Lake, a man-made reservoir built in the 1880s.

Yet that steady-but-slow growth came to an

end in the 1990s as Alberta’s economy started to heat up, Matthews says.

“We were growing fast enough that we went from summer village, skipped the village status and became a town,” she says. “As far as I know, we’re the only municipality in southern Alberta to do that.”

Today, Chestermere is big enough to be considered a small city, but Matthews says residents want it to remain a town to preserve its unique character.

“It feels like a small town despite its size and residents are really keen on making sure that stays in place.”

The town’s defining feature is unquestionably the lake. Covering more than 2.6-square-kilometres, Chestermere Lake is home to the Calgary Yacht Club and one of the few bodies of water in southern Alberta where motorized watercraft are permitted.

Throughout the summer, Chestermere’s beaches, paths, parks and the lake itself bustle with families and hundreds of day-trippers from the city, who often ride bikes along a path that connects Calgary with the town.

“It’s a really great place to raise kids, and

it’s close enough to the city that if you have to work there, you can commute back and forth without any great pains,” Matthews says.

While a popular choice for folks who enjoy fishing, windsurfing or simply walking along the pathways amidst a vista of bulrushes, prairie sky and mountains, Chestermere is really an ideal home for families

more than anything else, adds Matthews.

“We have six schools and it’s a safe community,” she says. “There’s excellent youth programming.

The town also has plenty of green space, including John Peake Park. The park recently underwent a facelift and now has a pavilion beside the water, making it the perfect location for summer concerts and weddings, Matthews says.

Building Chestermere’s reputation as a recreational oasis is an ongoing project, she adds.

“In the future, we plan to have even more recreational offerings that will bring people to chill out outside of the city,” Matthews says. “It’s an excellent place to just have that ‘Ahh’ factor.”

CHESTERMERE

Lifestyle, leisure and lakeThree ‘L’s’ help make Chestermere one of Alberta’s fastest growing communities

Population: 14,682 (2011, municipal census).Location: Trans-Canada Highway, about 18 kilometres east of downtown Calgary.Online: chestermere.ca

Chestermere Fine Arts Guild: 403-569-0516

Chestermere Historical Society: 403-272-9280

In the News: Earlier this year, the Town of Chestermere and Rocky View Country mutually decided to dissolve their current Fire Service Agreement, meaning Chestermere would be responsible for its own fire-protection services. The move took effect Feb. 19. The decision was based on the town’s recent growth, and the need to meet residents’ needs, said the town.

CHESTERMEREat a glance

Despite being big enough to be classified as a city, Chestermere has retained its town status. Mayor Patricia Matthews says residents feel it’s one way to preserve the municipality’s community character. Calgary Herald photo.

Chestermere Mayor Patricia Matthews


Skyview Ranch is truly the heart and soul of Calgary’s “new north.”

With its location a short drive from so many amenities it’s difficult to count, this growing community by Walton Development and Management LP has fast gained a reputation as one of Calgary’s premier suburban neighbour-hoods.

“The northern edge of Calgary has really seen significant growth — there’s a lot of energy and optimism and activi-ties going on,” says marketing manager Kendra Milne. “And our buyers realize there is tremendous long-term value in owning a home in Skyview Ranch.”

Skyview Ranch focuses on Arts and Crafts-themed architecture — meaning lots of earth tones and classic details — with many housing types, including semi-detached, single-family, townhomes and apartment-style condos.

A new phase of semi-detached homes launches March 3.

“Two of our builders will be opening new homes: Creations by Shane Homes and Lionsworthe Homes,” says Milne.

“There is huge market demand for lifestyle-oriented residences. These homes start in the $270,000s, and the value is impeccable, especially now that so many amenities have started to open up.”

This includes several community shops and landscaping of the community’s sports fields. Plus, Metis Trail now con-nects through to 36th Street, and Milne notes Skyview Ranch is the closest Calgary neighbourhood to CrossIron Mills mall, only five minutes away.

Add to that the new Genesis Centre of Community Wellness in nearby Saddle Ridge, and plans for another major shopping district across Metis Trail from Skyview Ranch, and everything you need is (or will soon be) virtually on your door-step.

The new show homes join nearly two dozen homes already on display in the community.

For more information, visit www.liveatskyview.com.

Sky is the limit for premier suburban

neighbourhood

ADVERTISING FEATURE


by Shawn hoUlt

To an outside observer, Strathmore would appear to be a quaint prairie town built on cattle and oil.

And while that may be true to some extent, it doesn’t begin to describe the current changes going on within the municipality’s growing small businesses sector that are helping to set it apart.

Behind much of this change in recent years has been Community Futures Wild Rose. The federally funded program gives small business owners throughout the 15 shareholder communities in the area east of Calgary access to the information and resources that they need.

Also offered throughout the province and the country, the 20-year-old program assists individuals, small business, and organizations through lending, community economic development services, and business and advisory training services.

Essentially, Community Futures Wild Rose looks to give small business owners access to the information and resources that they need.

“We’ve lent millions of dollars to small business which wouldn’t have otherwise been lent,” says Jennifer Brooks, Community Futures Wild Rose community economic development officer.

“From that, we’ve created thousands of jobs and have helped communities stay viable.

“When sometimes it seems large corporations are growing at an ever-increasing speed we’re here to help the small businesses and those entrepreneurs really try to gain some footing or help link them into the information to make sure that they’re successful.”

Ry-Dan Strathmore Glass is a father-and-son

owned-and-operated home renovation company that was already up and running before its owners got in touch with Community Futures.

Ry-Dan owner Dan Belanger says an opportunity to expand the business and add a storefront became available, but it was difficult at the time as a self-employed business owner to get the loan he needed from the banks. So he went to Community Futures.

“It made a huge difference — we’re still here,” he says.

Belanger says the loan not only helped the

business expand, but it put it on a path to being named 2010 Small Business of the Year by the Strathmore and District Chamber of Commerce.

“For small businesses like me, it’s like a hand up. It’s very important,” says Belanger.

“For me and Ryan as a small business, Community Futures understood what we needed and gave us the money we needed to keep going. They basically set us on the path of success.”

For more information about Community Futures, visit www.cfwildrose.ca.

Business is bloomingLocal organization is giving Strathmore’s small businesses the tools to thrive

Ryan and Dan Belanger of Ry-Dan Strathmore Glass credit the loan they received from Community Futures for their current success. Photo courtesy Ry-Dan Strathmore Glass

STRATHMORE

Population: 12,139 (2010, municipal census).Location: 50 kilometres east of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway.Online: strathmore.ca

Strathmore Farmers’ Market: strathmorefarmersmarket.ca

Strathmore Heritage Days Stampede: strathmorerodeo.com

Strathmore Theatre Players: [email protected]

In the News: Strathmore-based Rocking Horse Energy Service recently caught the attention of editors at Alberta Venture, being ranked number two on the magazine’s annual list of Alberta’s fastest growing businesses. The company, incorporated in 1989, is a wire line and conventional coring company.

STRATHMOREat a glance

> OIL and gas is one of the largest industries in the Strathmore area. A number of large energy companies have set up shop in the area, including Encana.

> RanChIng has always been a large part of Strathmore and continues to be with livestock moving through the busy Calgary Stockyards located just west of town.

> Between the Golden Hills School Division, Strathmore General Hospital and town services, the PubLIC seCTOR offers a number of employment opportunities for residents.

> The area is also home to a number of large feedLOTs, including several that feed over 20,000 head of cattle and others that house between 8,000 and 10,000.

> Between the many small businesses and larger chain stores such as Wal-Mart and Calgary Co-op scattered throughout Strathmore, ReTaIL remains a large employer in Strathmore

what makeS it tick? Strathmore’S toP five indUStrieS


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”

by andrea tombrowSki

To say dr. emmanuel gye’s road to airdrie has been unconventional would only downplay a remarkable journey

that has taken the nigerian-born physician around the world and back again.

before moving to alberta, gye spent four years practising medicine in Manchester, england.

he first came to airdrie in 2009 as part of the Rural Locum Program organized by the alberta Rural Physician action Plan, which sets up 90-day work opportunities for visiting doctors. gye, 42, was matched to airdrie.

It didn’t take long, however, for the city of some 43,000 residents to grow on gye.

“I was impressed with the small-town feel of airdrie, where people are quite friendly and welcoming,” he says, adding he appreciated the how clean the city was, its low crime rate, and proximity to Calgary and its airport.

gye returned to airdrie in 2010, and hasn’t looked back since. Today, he’s a family

physician at the associate Medical Clinic and a member of the airdrie health Care Committee, a task force set up to improve airdronians’ access to immediate health care.

gye’s story is one airdrie officials hope to hear more often. The city, like many smaller alberta centres, is seeking more physicians as it attempts to respond to the demand for 24-hour health services. airdrie’s health-care system currently operates from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., meaning residents have to travel to Calgary or didsbury for after-hours emergency health care.

The airdrie health Care Committee, formed in 2011, is seeking to change that. a few of the initiatives the committee is exploring include enabling physicians to make after-hours house calls; better harnessing the expertise of nurses; and supporting doctors with in-kind assistance.

for doctors new to Canada, gye admits the idea of setting up a new practice can be daunting.

“If the physician knows there is a place they can come into and work for awhile until they are comfortable to move into their own premises,

then it will be more attractive,” says gye.While the current doctor shortage isn’t

necessarily a municipal matter, it cannot be ignored, either, says airdrie Mayor Peter brown.

“There’s a lot of people who say airdrie can be the third largest city in alberta in the next 50 years,” says brown. “We need to attack this and we need the province to realize this is a huge need and we need their support.”

Just what the doctor orderedCity takes the initiative to bring more physicians into its borders

AIRDRIE

Population: 43,155 (2011, municipal census).Location: 32 kilometres north of downtown Calgary on the Queen Elizabeth 2 Highway.Online: airdrie.com

In the News: Airdrie’s population increased 8.37 per cent in 2011 over 2010 levels. New communities experienced the bulk of that population growth. This includes develop-ments Windsong and King’s Heights, which became the home to 607 and 415 new residents, respectively.

AIRDRIEat a glance

Dr. Emmanuel Gye. Wil Andruschak photo


by andrea tombrowSki

Linda bruce needs no introduction to airdrie residents. The former two-term mayor has ties to the city that date back to 1991.

Yet after losing her bid for a third term nearly two years ago, some might have thought they’d seen the last of bruce.

boy, were they wrong.bruce is not letting her time out of the political

spotlight stop her from making her presence felt in the community she has grown to love.

she’s currently vice-chair of the airdrie 2014 alberta summer games bid Committee; director of the airdrie Chamber of Commerce, director of the alberta Triathlon association, and executive director of the Creative airdrie society.

so what continues to drive her passion for community involvement?

“I used to joke all the time and say I’m just naturally nosy,” says bruce, laughing.

“but the reality is I do love being part of a growing community. When I first moved here, you could see that this community was destined to take off.”

bruce is particularly proud of the work of Creative airdrie, a non-profit organization formed in 2010 responsible for developing the city’s arts and culture master plan.

“This community is overwhelmingly young families,” says bruce, who lives in airdrie with husband, Pat, and their three sons, age 19, 16 and 13. “We have to make sure that as we try to build the arts community, we are feeding their thirst. because if we’re trying to bring something that families can’t access, it’s just going to be a complete failure.”

despite leaving the local political arena, bruce still remains connected to the political scene. Most recently, she volunteered on the policy committee for gary Mar’s 2011 bid as leader

of the alberta Progressive Conservative party. she also ran as airdrie’s PC candidate, losing to alderman Kelly hegg.

In the end, bruce says, it’s about community ownership. she cites the WestJet motto “We are all owners.”

“That’s what we should behave like.”

Beyond the officeFormer Airdrie mayor Linda Bruce maintains strong ties to growing city

AIRDRIE

Genesis Place: airdrie.ca/genesis_place

Ironhorse Park: rionhorsepark.net

Airdrie Pro Rodeo: airdrieprorodeo.net

Airdrie BMX: airdriebmx.com

Rock View Schools: rockyview.ca.ca

Creative Arts Society: creativeairdrie.ca

AIRDRIEat a glance

Linda Bruce. Carl Patzel photo

If you think buying a new home in one of Airdrie’s top new communities is out of your reach, think again. Just $5,000 gets you started on your way

to living the lifestyle you want at Gardenwalk in King’s Heights, the latest development from Creations by Shane Homes.

“Gardenwalk features semi-detached homes, but they aren’t your traditional ‘duplex’ — they look like estate homes,” says area manager Karen Kotchar. “They are beautiful designs with high roof lines, lots of detailed stonework and a lot of attention to detail on the inside.

“These are a new generation of semi-detached home — and, best of all, no condo fees.”

Five two-storey designs are now available in Gardenwalk ranging from 1,372 to 1,594 square feet. All have three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths, with the option to develop the basement and add a 19-by-23-foot detached double garage.

“People nowadays are so busy. They don’t have time to drive all over the city to choose flooring or go hunting for paint. Our homeowners meet with

an interior designer at our Expressions Design Studio and everything is selected at one time in one convenient location.”

Features include granite countertops in the kitchen and baths, tile flooring, six-piece appliance package, a

concrete parking pad and even a $500 landscaping certificate.

Prices start in the $280,000s (house lot and taxes included). “That’s about $30,000 less than a similar home in northwest Calgary,” says Kotchar.

For a limited time, Creations by Shane Homes is offering an additional incentive. All you need is to pay $5,000 down, and then the balance of the five per cent down payment can be split into easy payments.

“We have people who can help co-ordinate financing and, in some cases, help you co-ordinate your own down payments as well,” says Kotchar.

Gardenwalk is in the heart of Airdrie’s fast-growing southeast side, just minutes from the Sierra Springs shopping centre and Genesis Place. It’s also one of the closest Airdrie communities to CrossIron Mills and the new Costco.

“I’ve lived out in Airdrie for five years, and Airdrie still has that small-town feel, but at the same time you’re so close to the big city, yet it’s still arm’s-length away,” says Kotchar.

Immediate possessions are currently available on a few homes. For more information, visit creationsbyshane.com, call 403-536-2306 or drop by one of the four show homes at 1100 King’s Heights Rd. (follow Kingsview Boulevard south from Yankee Valley Boulevard and follow the signs).

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Estate-like living is a walk in the garden in Airdrie community

WWW.CALGARYHERALD.COM/SUBS SUBURBS + SATELLITES FEBRUARY 2012 13www.creationsbyshane.com* Pricing as of February 1, 2012. Subject to change without notice. See area manager for complete details.

Follow us: twitter.com/shanehomeliving Find us: facebook.com/shanehomes

Showhome Location:

1100 King’s Heights Rd SE

Airdrie

Showhome Hours:

Mon - Thurs: 2 - 8 pm

Sat, Sun & Hol: noon - 5 pm

Call Karen for more info:

403-536-2306

$5,000 DOWN GETS YOU STARTED!

Community Highlights . . .

• extensive pathway system • parks and green space

• 15 minutes to international airport • 15 minutes from Calgary

• minutes to CrossIron Mills Mall • close to major shopping & amenities

Quick PossessionHomes Available!

4 Showhomes Available to Viewin King’s Heights in Airdrie!

Starting from:

Includes house, lot & GST

$284,900*

DUPLEX HOMES RANGING IN SIZE FROM:1372 - 1594 SQ. FT. | NO CONDO FEES

CRAFTED WITH PREMIUM SPECIFICATIONS THROUGHOUT:

• granite countertops • 6 appliances • tile flooring • energy efficient

specifications • ensuites with walk-in closets • and much more


southern comfortCalgary’s southeast communities are teeming with opportunities, and homeowners are eager to take advantageStory and Photo by gerald vander PylADDITIONAL PHOTOS BY CALGARY HERALD


The sun is shining on another mild winter day in Calgary as the Williams family enjoys an outing at their local playground in the southeast community of Walden.

Janine and Brent watch as their two children frolic on the colourful, new playground equipment that is an easy walk from the home they recently purchased in the community.

Janine Williams says southeast Calgary was their first priority when looking at areas to buy a home, due to the convenient location and having friends and families living in the area.

She says they wanted to buy in a new community, because of the affordability, and liked the fact Walden was quite secluded and did not have a lot of through traffic like some other areas they had seen.

Since Brent Williams works in south Calgary, his daily commute is now only about 15 minutes depending on traffic. And when he gets home, the neighbourhood is nice and quiet.

Not too far away in another new southeast Calgary community, people are flocking to the lake in Auburn Bay to enjoy some winter activities.

A pair of ice fishermen are dragging a sled with their gear to set up on the lake in hopes of catching the big one, while a group of young children takes part in skating lessons on a pond as their parents relax around a bonfire.

On a nearby pathway, Auburn Bay resident Hillary Newman is enjoying her regular weekend walk in the warm sun.

Newman says she moved to the community last year from northeast Calgary and choose the area because of the many amenities that it offers. In addition to having the outdoor recreation opportunities, there is plenty of shopping a close drive away, not to mention easy access to Deerfoot Trail.

Newman says there was also a nice choice of real estate, and she found a perfect townhome for a very good price, considering the attractions of the community.

Many Calgarians are discovering similar good things about the new communities of southeast Calgary, including the fact that quadrant is home to three-quarters of the city’s lake communities.

Access from Marquis of Lorne Trail and Deerfoot Trail will get a further boast when construction is complete on the southeast leg of Stoney Trail at the end of 2013.

Southeast Calgary is also home to the new South Health Campus that includes a hospital and will be the size of Chinook Centre when completed later in 2012. The campus in the new community of Seton will become the hub of a major commercial and retail centre and a mini-downtown in the south end of the city. >>

southern comfort

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A remarkable lifestyle awaits in Mahogany, the newest and most exciting neighbourhood from

Hopewell Residential Communities.Nestled in southeast Calgary,

Mahogany stands apart from other communities with its huge urban lake, mix of home styles and amenities that appeal to buyers in every stage of life.

And it’s all about location. Mahogany is located southeast of Marquis of Lorne Trail and 52nd Street, close to the new South Health Campus.

“We’ve always seen huge demand from those wanting close proximity to the hospital, and from a value perspective, in Mahogany you have that proximity,” says Scott Hamilton, senior manager of marketing and community relations with Hopewell.

“Plus there’s the commercial area around the hospital, and in 2013 the southeast Stoney Trail will connect at 52nd Street.

Also, within the next year, Mahogany will begin developing its own urban core, with smaller shops offset with big-box stores in an area with wide boulevards.

A new show home parade is scheduled to open in May, featuring eight front-garage homes in the move-up category.

“We have also just released a new phase of lots backing onto a 74-acre (30-hectare) wetland preserve area,” says Hamilton. “It’s in the northeast corner of the community, a naturalized wetland. When it’s complete, there will

be aquatic landscaping and pathways running around the area, and a platform overlooking the wetland. It’s really an interactive feature of the community.”

Meanwhile, Mahogany’s man-made lake covers 63 acres (25 hectares) and winds through the community via three interconnected sections; the first is already complete.

“It’s the largest freshwater man-made lake in Calgary,” says Hamilton.

But it takes more than lakes to be named New Community of the Year by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association — Calgary region, or Best New Community in the Calgary Herald Readers’ Choice Awards. You also need quality homes.

“We’re very proud of our builder group,” says Hamilton, adding builders involved in the upcoming show home parade are Stepper Homes, Sabal Homes, Trico Homes and Jayman MasterBUILT.

“It’s amazing how quickly the demand for housing in the southeast has driven development,” says Hamilton. “We’ve been conservative in our expectations, but we have continually exceeded them.

The front-garage show home models, part of the Lakeland Collection, start in the $420,000s (including lot) plus GST, with floor plans ranging from 1,800 to 2,500 square feet. The homes feature character-rich interiors and timeless detailing, and generous front and backyards.

For more information, including an interactive map of the community, visit mahoganyliving.com, or call 403-457-5070.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Mahogany offers a home for every stage of life

<< Here’s a look at some of the new communities in southeast Calgary:

AUBURN BAYTouted as Cottage Country in the city,

Auburn Bay is built around a 17-hectare lake and includes a private community club for residents called Auburn House set in the midst of 13 acres of parkland.

Housing choices include townhomes, duplex homes, starter single-family, move ups, and estate homes. Prices start in the mid $200,000s.

Auburn Bay is reached via Seton Boulevard S.E. from Deerfoot Trail.

CHAPARRAL VALLEYA new community directly east of Lake

Chaparral, Chaparral Valley is tucked beneath

the Bow River escarpment in an area that takes full advantage of its location.

Community trails link with the Bow River Pathway system, while abundant green space is preserved on several sides of the community, including the neighbouring Blue Devil golf course.

A range of real estate options are available, including townhomes, semi-detached, starter homes and move-up homes, with prices starting in the $200,000s.

Access is from 194th Avenue S.E. off Chaparral Boulevard or Macleod Trail.

CRANSTONAlready a popular community in southeast

Calgary, Cranston is home to Cranston

Market, a retail development, and two new schools, adding to the appeal of its location near parks and the Bow River.

New phases of development are underway south of the current community, with a wide range of housing choices. They include apartment-style condominiums, duplex and semi-detached homes, move-ups and estate homes, with prices starting in the mid-$200,000s.

Cranston is located west of Deerfoot Trail via the Cranston Avenue exit.

MAHOGANYWith what will eventually become Calgary

largest residential lake, Mahogany was already named new community of the year by the Canadian Home Building Association — Calgary Region, and will soon lay claim to the city’s first “island living” with home sites located on two islands in the lake linked by causeways.

The community will also have a five-hectare Central Park adjacent to the lake and an urban village.

Homes start in price from the $330,000s and will include attached homes, laned and front-drive homes, lakeside estate homes, and exclusive island estate homes.

To reach Mahogany, take 52nd Street S.E. south from Marquis of Lorne Trail.

WALDENA residential oasis inspired by nature,

Walden was designed to include abundant parks, open spaces and a naturalized wet pond and clear-water pond.

Walden’s village centre will include a variety of retail and service amenities, while more shopping is available in nearby Lake Chaparral and the Shawnessy shopping area.

Real estate offerings include starter homes, semi-detached, and move up homes, priced starting from the $290,000s.

Access to Walden is from 194th Avenue S.E. off either Macleod Trail or Chaparral Boulevard.


Since its inception, the southeast community of Cranston has proven to be popular among homeowners

looking to move up, but not too far away from the city’s core.

Though its location just off Deerfoot Trail makes Cranston a quick 20-minute drive from downtown, being on the edge of Fish Creek Park’s natural beauty allows residents to truly get away from it all.

While any point in Cranston offers easy access to the surrounding park, those living on the community’s ridge have a window to nature that is a step above.

That is why Baywest Homes is so proud to offer The Summit of Cranston Ridge. This collection of 32 exclusive home sites, which include a number of walkout-basement lots overlooking Fish Creek Park, is located in phase 52 on the ridge’s highest point.

“It’s a special place to live,” says Baywest marketing vice-president Ryan Hall. “It is a very attractive feature to that whole neighbourhood.

“And what’s great about the ridge is

everybody in the community has easy access to it and also down to Fish Creek Park.”

The new home sites have proven to be exceptionally popular, with close to a quarter sold in the first month alone.

Stoking the fires of those early sales is

the fact that though the lots are among the most attractive in Cranston, pricing is lower than many others in comparison, A well-appointed Baywest home on an interior lot, for example, starts as low as $570,000 with GST.

Baywest offers six premium home styles,

including both two-storey and bungalow layouts. Yet the floor plan is just the starting point, as the builder empowers homebuyers to alter the design to fit their needs.

“The advantage we have over some of our competitors is we do custom, that’s what we’re known for,” says Hall.

“We’ll customize any plan or you can build the standard plan. What most people will do is they’ll just tweak it structurally. They can move walls around and tailor their house to suit their needs.”

The Summit of Cranston Ridge also offers close proximity to a variety of amenities. The community is only a five-minute drive from the new South Calgary Health Campus, and offers easy access to a number of shopping, dining and recreation services.

For more information about The Summit of Cranston Ridge, contact area manager Jodi Hodgson at 403-257-1366 or visit www.baywesthomes.com.

Baywest is selling The Summit from its Cranston estates show homes located on Cranarch Circle S.E.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Cranston community reaches summit of premium living

by gerald vander Pyl

southeast Calgary is home to some of the city’s best new communities, it also has some great amenities and

worthwhile attractions, from parks to what will eventually be one of the province’s largest commercial developments.

here are some attractions to check out in the southeast, which might just factor into whether you make the area your new home.

BEAVERDAM FLATS/ CARBURN PARK

The bow River Pathway that winds through southeast Calgary leads to many parks, none more enjoyable than beaverdam flats and Carburn Park. The beautiful wooded parks offer everything from fishing in two ponds to outdoor

fire pits, picnic tables, playgrounds and a picnic shelter.

They are also a great location to view many natural riverbank plants and animals, or watch fishermen float past in boats, trying their luck on the world-famous stretch of fly fishing on the bow River.

SIKOME LAKEnot only does southeast Calgary have

most of the city’s residential lakes, it also has the only public lake open for swimming and beach activities every summer.

sikome Lake is located in fish Creek Provincial Park, and on hot summer days is popular with people from across the city, who makes use of the sandy beach, playgrounds, change rooms and concession

stand. a little slice of lake life in the city, sikome is also the site of numerous beach volleyball leagues and casual recreation games.

SOUTHCENTRE MALLWith new shopping areas springing up

throughout the southeast quadrant of Calgary, a wealth of stores and services is never far away.

for indoor shopping, southcentre remains a favourite of many local residents with its 180 stores, two kids’ play areas, huge food court and south Calgary’s only Ticketmaster outlet.

some highlight retailers include a new hs by henry singer, davidsTea, Crate & barrel, Coach, bose and bath & body Works.

SOUTH HEALTH CAMPUSLocated in the future community of

seton, a 148-hectare urban development situated south of auburn bay, the south health Campus will be one of the first facilities to open in the area when it begins offering outpatient clinics by this summer.

Roughly the size of Chinook Centre, the $1.31-billion health facility will follow with other services in 2013, including an emergency department, inpatient services, day surgery, labour and delivery, and neonatal intensive care.

by late 2013, the south health Campus is expected to have about 2,400 full-time positions and 180 physicians supporting 298 beds and bed equivalents, along with 11 operating rooms.

Must-sees in the S.E.From lakes to malls, amenity-rich Calgary quadrant offers plenty for its residents


WELCOME,TO THE SUMMIT

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Introducing a new collection of 32 beautiful home-sites offeredexclusively by Baywest Homes.The Summit of Cranston Ridge is perched in phase 52amongst the highest point of southeast Calgary’s Cranston.Baywest has chosen a select group of its new designs to takeadvantageof theexquisitearchitectural stylings, andcapitalizeon the expansive views of the Bow River Valley and theRocky Mountains.

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by SUZanne beaUbien

He may not want you to know it, but David Legg really loves Cochrane.

It’s not that the Mount Royal University professor doesn’t have enough good things to say about the community northwest of Calgary where he moved with his wife and three sons two years ago.

It’s just that Legg, a respected researcher in the field of adapted physical activity, doesn’t miss the lineups and traffic that city living brings — and he’s worried if the secret gets out, people will flock to the community that’s so low-key he refers to his house as his “vacation home.”

“When we lived in Calgary we would plan our trips to the Superstore for 8 a.m. Sunday morning,” laughs Legg. “Now when you need milk, you can go whenever you want — and you can walk there.”

Legg may be somewhat justified in his fears. At 15,424 residents and counting, Cochrane continues to be one of the fastest growing communities in Canada.

And for families like Legg’s who enjoy the outdoors, it’s not surprising: located just 18 kilometres northwest of Calgary limits, Cochrane also offers easy access to a number of nearby provincial parks.

Though his commute to Mount Royal University is much longer now than from Calgary (about 40 minutes), the sport and recreation professor still manages to juggle his busy family life and teaching duties with a roster of volunteer positions that attest to his commitment to creating opportunities for people with disabilities to get active: Legg is president of the Canadian Paralympic Committee and a board member for the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games in Toronto. He’s also chairman for the Alberta Youth Olympic Symposium, board member of Sport Alberta and a member of the International Journal of Sport Management’s editorial board.

In December 2011, Legg received the Gary McPherson Leadership Award, a distinction reserved for individual Albertans

who display outstanding leadership in enhancing the lives of people with disabilities.

A firm believer in the myriad benefits of sport (both he and his wife have physical education degrees and both competed in varsity sports), Legg and his family spend much of their spare time enjoying outdoor sports in Cochrane.

“I can run for an hour in three different directions without crossing a road (on the municipal pathway system),” says Legg.

His boys, ages 6, 9 and 11, are avid cross-country skiers, taking off across their backyard as soon as they get home from school. His eldest son competes in biathlon, and their home is an easy five-minute drive from the hockey arena.

But opportunities like these don’t always come easily to people with disabilities — and there’s where Legg’s research and teaching have made a difference in Cochrane, Calgary and beyond.

By raising awareness among his students — many of whom will go on to lead sports organizations, fitness centres and recreation facilities throughout the province — Legg hopes to expand the opportunities for people with disabilities to enjoy the activities able-bodied Albertans take for granted.

“I’m trying to open their eyes to the need and the awareness of people with disabilities,” adds Legg.

Legg says his interest in adapting physical activity to make it accessible for people with disabilities grew out of the experience of watching his father’s mobility gradually deteriorate as the result of multiple sclerosis.

In the 14 years he has taught at Mount Royal, Legg has helped introduce a number of programs to benefit both students with disabilities and others in the community.

Somehow, he’s still finding time to enjoy his new home in Cochrane.

“I’m fortunate that my job and my volunteering are so mixed. There is very little that I do that I don’t enjoy.”

Let’s get physicalCochrane’s outdoor allure draws noted advocate for people with disabilities

Mount Royal University professor David Legg at the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre in Cochrane. Michelle Hofer photo.

COCHRANE

Population: 15,424 (Alberta Municipal Affairs, 2010).Location: Junction of highways 1A and 22, 18 km northwest of Calgary.Online: cochrane.ca

Cochrane RancheHouse: cochraneranchhouse.ca

Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre: slssportscentre.com

Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park: tpr.alberta.ca/parks/glenbow

In the News: Cochrane resident Janice Rieger was recently recognized by the City of Calgary for her work on universal accessibility design. Rieger, an assistant pro-fessor of interior design at Mount Royal University, was awarded the Access Recognition Award for her role in organizing a symposium on advancing accessibility.

COCHRANEat a glance



Single Family Beacon Heights Cranston Evanston MahoganyMontreux Nolan Hill Redstone Sage Hill




tricohomes.com


New Lots Just Released!

Visit our showhome today8 Heritage Green, Cochrane, AB403.981.0048

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A new phase is expected to create new opportunities for homeowners looking to get

into the picturesque Cochrane community of Heritage Hills.

Trico Homes will be offering a selection of 41 lots in the new phase, including several that back onto the wide-open green space of both the municipal and environmental reserves.

While Heritage Hills has a lot to offer, gorgeous views and access to wide open space have always been at the top of the list. The community sits on Cochrane’s west edge, allowing for stunning mountain views from the bonus rooms of level lots.

Along with the south-facing walkout lots that back onto green space, Trico also offers back-to-front lots with lane access.

Lots range in size from 38 to 56 feet wide, with homes available for as low as $370,000.

“A lot of the people who are coming out here now are moving up into their next home,” says Trico area sales manager Erin Reeves.

“They want bigger and better, and

they realize they can get a lot more house out in Cochrane as opposed to in the city. You’re not really going to see lots and homes this size in the city too much unless you’re going to

pay an arm and a leg for it.” Floor plans range from 1,425 to 2,925

square feet, including two-storey and bungalow designs.

Beyond the community itself, Cochrane

truly is a location unlike any other. Hiking, fishing, camping, skiing, boating, and countless other outdoor adventures sit steps away.

Ghost Lake and the Bow River are both mere minutes from Heritage Hills, while Banff, Kananaskis and Canmore all wait less an hour away.

Reeves says one of the things that impresses her the most about Cochrane is despite being so close to the west edge of Calgary, the town has been able to maintain a distinctly small-town charm.

It’s quiet and friendly, but also active in a way you don’t often see within the city limits, she says.

“Out here, I know all of the neighbours. It’s a different feel out here, for sure,” says Reeves.

The Trico Homes show home is located at 8 Heritage Green, open Mondays to Thursdays 2 to 8 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from noon to 5 p.m.

For more information visit www.tricohomes.com, www.heritagehillscochrane.com, or call 403-981-0048.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

New phase creates added excitement at Heritage Hills


by Shawn hoUlt

Cochrane was built around ranching — literally. The site of the historic Cochrane Ranche still sits in the town’s centre and downtown stores still

offer the kind of rustic facades one might have expected during the ranch’s heyday.

So it is only fitting that this hotbed of ranching history should be home to one of the country’s largest collections of ranching documents and artifacts.

The Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation was founded in 1980 with the goal of protecting Western Canada’s ranching heritage. More than three decades later, it has become a treasure trove of history tying Cochranites, Calgarians and Western Canadians to their region’s past.

The foundation’s collection features tens of thousands of artifacts, including magazines, rodeo programs, photos, sheet music, poetry, posters, videos, maps and even cancelled brand files.

The collection is housed at the Bert Sheppard

Stockmen’s Foundation Library and Archives in the Cochrane RancheHouse.

“It was created to celebrate and make people aware of the ranching history in Alberta,” says head librarian Jana Wilson.

The library annually welcomes more than 3,000 guests through its doors, with visitors ranging from field trips to history buffs.

“We have all sorts of people coming in here and tracing their family history back through their pedigreed livestock,” says Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation president Don Hepburn.

The majority of the foundation’s collection has been donated either by the government, other organizations or private citizens. Though library contents can’t be checked out, visitors are welcome to view artifacts and enjoy a collection that spans more than a century and includes a number of one-of-a-kind pieces.

The Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation also works with other organizations, including the Town of Cochrane, to bring the region’s history

to life. Society volunteers take part in various town events such as the recent Heritage Day and the Calgary Stampede.

Cochrane Coun. Joann Churchill says the area’s rich ranching tradition has long played an important role in Cochranites’ lives, and that heritage continues today.

Having a resource like the Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation has been important in allowing residents to connect with their past, share that past with others, and carry on many of the traditions that have made the town what it is today, she says.

“From Cochrane’s perspective, it’s a real draw for attracting tourists and folks who are interested in our western heritage,” says Churchill.

“The Stockman’s Foundation and the memorial library itself could be anywhere and they chose to have it in Cochrane. I think it’s very fitting because of our history, and it helps to instil our roots because it’s here.”

Home sweet home on the rangeCochrane houses one of Canada’s largest ranching history collections

Given Cochrane’s rich ranching roots, it made sense for the town to house the Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation, say officials. Calgary Herald photo.

COCHRANE

Mackays Ice Cream: mackaysicecream

Footstock: footstock.ca

The Links of GlenEagles: gleneaglesgolf.com

In the News: Cochrane Mayor Truper McBride is staying put. McBride was narrowly edged out by Canmore Mayor Ron Casey for the Progressive Conservative nomination in the Banff Cochrane riding. Casey replaces Janis Tarchuck in what’s expected to be a spring provincial election. Tarchuck represented the riding since 1997.

COCHRANEat a glance


Jumping Pound Ridge is proud to introduce twonew custom builders to Cochrane’s premieredevelopment. Cornerstone Homes and GalleryHomes are excited to help you build a legacy thatwill last for generations, on a ridge view that willlast a lifetime. With ridge homes from the $500’s,and central homes starting in the low $400’s, yourdream home is within reach!Come visit us at Jumping Pound Ridge!

Jumping PoundRidge is proud to introduce twonewcustom builders!

Wouldn’t it be great to go home to a quiet neighbourhood, drive up a peaceful street to a distinctly

crafted home, have a chat with friendly neighbours and then look out at the sur-rounding wooded natural reserve?

If you said yes, then Jumping Pound Ridge is the community you have been looking for.

Perched atop a ridge in the southwest

corner of Cochrane, Jumping Pound Ridge is surrounded on three sides by the Toki Nature Reserve.

The 170-home community includes an array of lots that sit on the ridge, offering gorgeous views that will remain unspoiled for decades to come.

With such an amazing setting, one of the biggest problems for a developer is finding builders that can create homes that do jus-

tice to the surroundings. Both Cornerstone Homes and Gallery Homes have recently joined the community’s builder team, join-ing WestView Builders.

The community features a Craftsman-style theme that embraces the area’s western heri-tage while adding upscale modern features.

All three builders excel in creating custom homes. The philosophy is every dream set-ting should come with a dream home. And

with ridge lots offering 52 feet of space and starting from $500,000, building that perfect home is even easier.

To see Jumping Pound Ridge first hand, visit the show home parade currently featuring both Cornerstone and WestView, with further show homes expected from both Cornerstone and Gallery this spring.

For more information visit www. jumpingpoundridge.com.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Dreams come true at Jumping Pound Ridge in Cochrane


by aleX fraZer-harriSon

Location is taking a back seat to education as two Okotoks-area schools are reversing the traditional flow of traffic between the town and its big-city neighbor

“We’ve always had 40 to 50 per cent of our students from Calgary,” says Beth Chernoff, headmistress at Edison School, off Highway 2A north of Okotoks.

Edison, whose 170 students cover kindergarten to Grade 12, focuses on education that promotes character development and self-confidence, says Chernoff.

“We also offer something that as far as we know no other school offers — as young as Grade 9 you can take university courses and complete them via the Advanced Placement program,” she says. “We have one student (graduating this year) with essentially a year of university already finished.”

Being a smaller school has its advantages. “If we hear about something exciting

happening at the science centre, we can go within an hour,” says Chernoff. “Canoe trips, hiking trips — they’re easier to plan and execute.”

Being located in a rural area is also an advantage. “There’s a lot of merit to the fact the kids

can’t just walk to the store; we’re very safe,” says Chernoff. “We know every single person that comes by the school, every grandparent.”

This added safety of a rural environment similarly appeals to Calgary parents who are sending their kids to Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School, located several kilometres south of Calgary’s city limits off Range Road 12.

“About 75 per cent of our student body comes from Calgary,” says Bruce Mutch, director of admissions at the school, which has 670 students.

Mutch says the school used to be located

in inner-city Calgary, but moved to its present location in 1971 after a land donation by a student’s family; originally on a 65-hectare site, the school recently expanded its campus to cover more than 89 hectares.

“We have over five kilometres of walking trails, which we use for everything from cross-country skiing to running, and a pretty large pond where kids get to do things like canoeing and kayaking,” says Mutch.

“It’s an area where, if the kids come in for the day, they’re here for the entire day and parents don’t have a lot to be concerned with.”

Both Edison and Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School offer busing to and from Calgary.

“I think a lot of parents are surprised by our proximity to the city,” says Mutch. “If there’s no traffic, it’s only about 20 minutes from downtown. And that’s often doing a ‘reverse commute’ against traffic.”

Mutch says growing demand spurs expansions at Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School every decade or so, and another is on the horizon.

“There’s increased demand from families in general, and we want to make our building more conducive to 21st-century learning,” he says.

Get out of townOkotoks-area schools spur Calgary families to head in a different direction

Edison School teacher Tracy Gilluley with students Alister Salmon and Kessler Bishop. Wil Andruschak photo.

OKOTOKS

Population: 23,981 (2011, municipal census).Location: Junction of Highways 2A and 7, 23 kilometres south of Calgary.Online: okotoks.ca

Okotoks Art Gallery: okotoksculture.ca

Okotoks Dawgs: dawgsbaseball.ca

Olde Towne Okotoks: okotoks.ca/downtown

In the News: Drake Landing Solar Community in Okotoks has been named overall winner of the Energy Globe World Award by the Austrian-based Energy Globe Foundation. The project is a neighbourhood of 52 two-storey homes, each containing about 1,600 square feet of space. The houses were built by Sterling Homes of Calgary starting in 2003.

OKOTOKSat a glance

> david Pierce: Composer/arranger and record producer who has worked with Michael Buble, Avril Lavigne and Andrew Lloyd Webber and was musical director of Alberta’s Centennial concert in 2005.> albert schultz: Gemini Award-winning stage and

TV actor known for his roles in Street Legal and Side Effects; founding member of the Soulpepper Theatre Co.> harvey Locke: Environmentalist and founder of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.> nick graham: Businessman who created the Joe Boxer brand.> Michael a. Pierce: Producer of the Oscar-nominated film The Cooler.

notable alUmni from Strathcona-tweedSmUir School



Calgary Beacon Heights Cranston Evanston MahoganyMontreux Nolan Hill Redstone Sage Hill




tricohomes.com


New Home. BIG Savings. Small Town Charm.

Great selection of double front garagehomes with laned lots, walkout andgreen space lots.

Homes in Cimarron starting from $369,900*

*Price includes home, lot and GST. Prices subject to change without notice.

As the Calgary housing market continues to strengthen, the Okotoks market is following suit.

And with more than 15 years under its belt, the community of Cimarron is ideally positioned to fill the coveted three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom, under-$400,000 home that homebuyers want.

Located south of the Sheep River overlooking the rolling foothills of southern Alberta, this vibrant neighbourhood is at the hub of everything Okotoks has to offer. Shopping, dining, recreation, entertainment, schools and services are just outside your front door.

Just announced is that Cimarron will be in the boundary for the upcoming K-9 Westmount School, which is expected to open this fall.

“One of the nice things about Cimarron is it’s so conveniently located beside all of the major amenities in Okotoks,” says Trico Homes area sales manager Neil Donnelly.

“You’re only 10 to 15 minutes from

the larger southern Calgary communities, however all of the amenities are far closer than you’ll ever find in any of those communities.

“It’s like living in one of those communities, but you’ve got a Costco, you’ve got a Home Depot, you’ve got everything right there and you don’t have to leave the town of Okotoks to get it.”

Other area amenities include the Okotoks Recreation Centre, more than half a dozen nearby golf courses, child-care and day-care facilities, retail, restaurants, and easy access to the town’s pathway system and Sheep River Valley.

Within the community of Cimarron itself is news of its newest phase, which will feature, among others, a number of walkout lots backing onto green space, as well as some highly sought-after cul-de-sac lots.

Along with the new phase will be a new show home parade that will include offerings from Trico Homes.

While the new show homes are in construction, Trico Homes customers can also view the full array of home models in the current show home parade.

Trico Homes currently offers a wide range of spacious lots throughout Cimarron, starting at just over 1,700 square feet and ranging up to more than 2,500.

Each Cimarron home comes complete with hardwood and ceramic flooring in select areas, as well as nine-foot main floor ceilings and standard builders railing.

Each home also comes with a large selection of standard kitchen cabinets and a custom finishing package.

Prices start in the $385,000s.The homes in this market are ideal

for families wanting to move up from their first homes, says Donnelly. Architectural guidelines are also in place to maintain the value of the homes.

Trico Homes’ show homes are located at 458 and 462 Cimarron Blvd., open Mondays to Thursdays, 2 to 8 p.m., and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, noon to 5 p.m.

For more information, call 403-995-0335, or visit www.tricocommunities.com.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Quality and affordability put Cimarron in league of its own


With most new communities, homebuyers have to sacrifice amenities and convenience

as they wait, sometimes years, for the neighbourhood to develop around them.

Not so with Jagerhaus’ Emerald Estates of Evergreen Ridge.

Being the hotly anticipated final phase of Evergreen Ridge means Emerald Estates offers the best of both worlds: a brand-new home in a well-established community that already offers all the services and amenities you need at your fingertips.

“These are the lots everyone is waiting for,” says Annette Nielsen, development consultant with El Condor Developments Limited Partnership.

“Most of the 140 lots remaining back onto park, pond and pathways, as well as many cul-de-sac lots.”

About 140 estate lots are available in these final phases. Nielsen says a huge selling feature is all of the services and amenities for the community are in place.

“One of the schools is already built; it is a K-6 separate school, Our Lady of

the Evergreens, and it is within walking distance of these lots,” she says, adding a second school site is just to the north of Emerald Estates.

“Fish Creek Park is within walking distance, there’s a Tim Hortons and gas station within walking distance, 37th Street connects to Anderson

Road, and there’s all the shopping down on Macleod Trail and Shoppes of Bridlewood.”

On top of all this, you’re only minutes away from the LRT and the South Fish Creek Recreation Centre.

Plus, quick access to Highway 22X means you can be on the way to the

mountains, Bragg Creek, Priddis or the Millarville Market within minutes — unless you get sidetracked first with a stop at nearby Spruce Meadows, of course.

Prices start from the $470,000s. A total of seven floor-plan options are available, ranging from the 2,016-square-foot Axis 2 design to the 2,544-square-foot Staccato.

Three-, four- and five-bedroom models are available. A limited number of homes are available for immediate possession. Model homes are now open for viewing.

Drop by the sales centre at 5 Everhollow Ave. S.W. at Everridge Drive (look for the signs off Fish Creek Boulevard) and check out the parade of model homes. Hours are Monday to Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m. and weekends from noon to 5 p.m.

You can also visit jagerhaus.ca for more information, including floor plans of the different model designs.

Or call Lee Fernando at 403-873-1915 to discuss how your future includes an Emerald Estates home in Evergreen Ridge.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Why wait when Evergreen Ridge has it all today?

Just outside Calgary, there’s a quaint town that is a perfect place to be in all seasons.

It’s a place that has long been for those looking for a break from the hectic pace of day-to-day city life.

It’s a place called Chestermere, where you can windsurf or jet-ski around the lake, cross-country ski, take a walk along the numerous paths or spend time with friends and neighbours. It is a place that demands relaxation.

Chestermere is where Mattamy will soon open its second community of new homes in the Calgary region. The new community of Lakepointe will appeal to anyone looking for a friendlier, more natural place to live and raise a family.

And a new home at Lakepointe in Chestermere has lots of appeal.

Lakepointe is a place where a maximum number of homes offer views of the lake. It is adjacent to the lake, and the space to the shores will always be preserved.

There are also walking paths that connect residents of Lakepointe to downtown Chestermere. It’s a community of natural features and green

space. It’s a place where you’ll hear lots of children’s laughter. There is so much worth exploring that video games and TVs will be left behind.

And Mattamy’s collection of homes in Lakepointe has been architecturally inspired by the local surroundings. The neighbourhood has been planned

with homes at various setbacks from the curb, which helps create attractive streetscapes. Even seemingly small things have been well thought out here. For example, phone/cable boxes have been placed so they make a minimum intrusion on the esthetics of the community.

The homes come in a nice variety of sizes and styles so just about every family requirement can be satisfied. There are single-car-garage WideLot townhomes that range in size from 1,156 to 1,619 square feet. Seven plans will be available.

There is a also selection of semi-detached homes ranging from 1,665 to 2,065 square feet. These homes have two-car garages. Four plans will be available.

The detached homes are where homebuyers will clearly see the distinctive Mattamy style. These exceptional homes will be available with two-car garages in two “Series.” There will be five plans for Series 1 and six distinctive plans for the larger, well-appointed Series 2.

Home prices in Lakepointe will be starting from the $260,000s. As with every Mattamy home, the price includes the garage, the lot and GST. If you visit Mattamy’s website,

Detailed plans and prices in Lakepointe will be posted at www.mattamyhomes.com as they become available.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Mattamy set to open new community in Chestermere


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Sales Centre Hours: Monday to Thursday 1pm-8pm; Friday 1pm-6pm; Saturday, Sunday and Holidays 11am-6pmAll illustrations are artist’s concept. All dimensions are approximate. Prices, specifications, terms and conditions subject to change without notice. E.&O.E.

The Brand New Community Of Lakepointe Overlooking Chestermere Lake.To Pre-Register For This Community, Please Visit www.mattamyhomesalberta.com

How Do You Build A Great Community?One Street At A Time.

When you are both the builder and developer of a community, (as we are in Windsong in Airdrie), you can try things that others can’t. Things such as Even-Flow construction.

This is a method of building that works on the objective of completing one street before we move on to another. Many residents of Windsong have mentioned how much betterthis is than having construction here, there and everywhere throughout the neighbourhood. Less construction noise. Less traffic. Less disorganization, dirt and dust.

It also means that the street is completed so neighbours quickly feel like part of the community and less like a work under construction.

Windsong is a well-planned community of natural park spaces, parkettes, playgrounds, walking/biking trails and lots of interesting architectural styling creating more interesting streetscapes.

If you don’t have Even-Flow construction where you live, we know where you can find it.

Windsong Streetscape.

Village Homes from $196,990

Urban Townhomes from $239,990

Single Car Garage WideLot™ Homes from $274,990

Double Car Garage WideLot™ Homes from $319,990

These prices include the lot, the home and GST.There are no condo fees on any Mattamy home.

mattamyhomesalberta.com

chestermere’s john morris is best known as a gold … · 2012. 2. 22. · the building team for...

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