There have been many community events throughout the month of July, and it’s been great to see so many residents participate. A heartfelt “THANK YOU” to those that make these events happen.

These events play a large role in forming our culture as a community. How we celebrate and reflect on our shared space, history, art (you get the idea) is important. Ensuring that forms of these are represented in our gathering times and spaces help us realize where we came from and where we’re going. I was recently in a local business in the Cochrane area and on the wall were several of the historic cattle brands uniquely displayed on the wall. I appreciated the fact that they were honouring part of the history in the area. It enforces an aspect of the culture of the community, and it made what was primarily a waiting area to something of a unique space. This display comes at a cost as do the events that we participate in as a community. One could ask, “Is it worth it?” I would argue, absolutely! We can’t afford not to. I recently attended Residents Day hosted by Rocky View County. I’ll admit it was a bit of a drive to get there, but I felt I should go. By attending, it provided a point of connect with several people I know and work with. With so much of our interactions conducted electronically, having points of real connection are becoming more important than ever. We can’t afford to lose these points of connectivity.

The gathering of our community can also be reflected on a smaller scale with our family and friends. Hopefully you can reflect on how you can enhance the culture of your community as you continue to participate and contribute to your local space.

We want to thank the many people who write and contribute the various community updates and articles on a regular basis. As we don’t rely on any government funding, your financial support is and has been appreciated in order to provide the not-for-profit organizations an effective means of reaching their community.