The Honorable Greg Rickford, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, was in Cochrane this morning announcing FedNor’s most recent investment in local infrastructure. While FedNor will be directing an unspecified amount to a Cochrane business park, the big news was the $250,000 slated for expanding and improving the Tim Horton Event Centre, and the $400,000 destined for the Polar Bear Habitat upgrade. The goal of these investments will be the expansion of Cochrane’s regional draw, allowing the town to host large crowds for regional conferences and festivals. Mayor Politis estimates that, when completed, the various new facilities being constructed could bring as many as 8000 people a year to Cochrane’s hotels, restaurants and other local businesses.
