Why do we need advocacy?
Many decisions that affect Cochrane are made outside the Town's direct authority, including decisions related to legislation, policy and funding.
Municipal advocacy helps ensure Cochrane's needs are understood by other orders of government, regional partners and organizations that influence decisions affecting our community. Advocacy is how Council and Administration advance local priorities.
Council's 2026-2030 advocacy priorities
Council sets Cochrane's advocacy direction, and the 2026-2030 advocacy priorities are organized into three focus areas.
Transportation networks and economic connectivity
Cochrane is a regional gateway, a growing community within the Calgary metropolitan region and a key access point to the Rocky Mountains. Transportation networks are essential to how residents move through the community , connect to employment and services, access amenities and support regional economic activity.
Focus areas include:
Community infrastructure
Cochrane's growth creates increasing demand for core infrastructure, recreation amenities, utilities and transit. Municipalities are responsible for delivering many of these services, but local property taxes alone cannot support the full cost of growth-related infrastructure.
Focus areas include:
Community wellbeing
A community requires more than roads and infrastructure. Residents also need access to health care, emergency response, schools, housing and support services. Many of these services are delivered or funded by other orders of government, which makes advocacy an important part of supporting community wellbeing.
Focus areas include:
Advocacy in action
Cochrane's advocacy work happens in many ways, including:
- Meetings with provincial and federal elected officials
- Participation in municipal associations and regional forums, such as Alberta Municipalities and Mid-size Cities Mayors' Caucus
- Collaboration with neighbouring municipalities and regional partners, such as through the Greater Calgary Regional Table and our Intermunicipal Committee with Rocky View County
- Grant applications and funding strategy
- Sharing Cochrane-specific data, growth information and community impacts
- Public communication on advocacy priorities and progress
Cochrane also undertakes responsive advocacy when emerging issues or time-sensitive opportunities arise. This allows Council and Administration to respond to new matters while maintaining focus on the long-term priorities approved by Council.
Advocacy wins
Advocacy takes time, but it works. Cochrane has seen progress on important priorities through sustained effort, strong relationships and clear communication about local needs.
Water licensing
Cochrane reached a major milestone in its long-term water strategy, officially securing the licensing and approvals that ensure future access to water. In 2024, Cochrane partnered with the Girl Guides of Canada, which transferred a non-consumptive licence from Camp Jubilee to the Town of Cochrane, in exchange for site servicing.
In 2025, Cochrane acquired the required consumptive licence to pair with the Girl Guides licence. This progress was only possible thanks to the collaboration of partners like the Girl Guides of Canada; the Government of Alberta, especially the Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas; and the conservation efforts of our residents.
Together, we've built a future where every drop counts.
Highway 1A / Highway 22 interchange
Through sustained advocacy, Cochrane has seen the completion of the Highway 1A / Highway 22 interchange, a long-standing transportation priority for the community. The Government of Alberta invested $100 million into this interchange, and we appreciate the support from Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors.
Construction began in May 2023 and was completed in the summer of 2026. The project included:
- Expanding Highway 1A from two to four lands (2 lanes in each direction) from just west of Highway 22 to 6th Avenue (east of Big Hill Creek)
- Two new bridges on Highway 1A over Big Hill Creek
- Replacing the Highway 22 CP Rail overpass over Highway 1A with a new larger overpass structure
- New interchange ramps and roundabouts connecting highways 1A and 22 as part of the interchange
The project supports safety, mobility, regional connectivity and more efficient movement through one of Cochrane's key transportation corridors.
Addition of third active-response ambulance
Through sustained advocacy by the Cochrane EMS Crisis Citizen Action Club, with support from the Town, Cochrane is being served by increased ambulance capacity from two active response units to three. The change replaces the previous model of two response units and one transfer unit, strengthening frontline emergency care and better aligning services with the needs of our community. The addition of a third dedicated response unit is expected to reduce pressure on the system, help keep ambulances in the community, and improve overall service reliability.
Stay informed
The Town will continue to share updates as advocacy work progresses.