City's multi-family mandate for recycling drawing nearer

The City is urging landlords to start thinking about recycling sooner than later as the deadline nears for new mandatory recycling rules in multi-family units.

"What we're trying to do right now is encourage all the building owners or their designated management group to find a recycling option for their residents that works best for them and their building type," said Parnell Legg, waste diversion specialist with the City.

Calgary's neighbouring towns look ahead to 2015

Riding right along with their larger sibling, the towns around Calgary enjoyed a banner year for real estate in 2014. Topping the 4,439 sales seen in 2013, 2014 saw sales rise to 5,513, an increase of 24.2 per cent.

Airdrie was one market that posted particularly good sales activity in 2014, increasing annually by nearly 28 per cent to a new all-time record high of 1,695 units. Okotoks recorded 770 sales, narrowly beating out the 748 sales seen in Cochrane.

When looking for a reason so many communities outside of Calgary are seeing such a pronounced increase in sales, the relative affordability available in centres like Airdrie, Okotoks and Cochrane could be pointed out as a key factor.

A recent survey for the Town of Cochrane, conducted by Ipsos, found quality of life for the more than 17,500 residents is high.

The survey found:

• 99 per cent of residents said overall quality of life is good or very good


• 72 per cent said they good good value for their municipal tax dollars


• 93 per cent said they are satisfied with the overall level and quality of Town services

Affordability driving sales growth in Airdrie, Cochrane and Okotoks

Calgary's surrounding communities and their respective residential resale housing markets are continuing their torrid pace in 2014, with 4,449 homes overall exchanging hands for the first nine months of the year, a 26 per cent increase compared with 2013, according to CREB®.

Airdrie, Cochrane and Okotoks all saw double-digit sales growth on a year-over-year basis.

$45-million centre highlights town's continued growth

Big things are in store for Calgary's western neighbour.

The Town of Cochrane voted 6-1 in favour of a new $45-million aquatic and curling centre last week – the largest project ever approved in the growing community.

Financed by the town, Rocky View County, provincial/federal grants, developer fees and a fundraising campaign, the design plans for the new 130,000 square-foot facility call for a 25-metre lap pool, a wave pool, hot tub, "lazy river" and an outdoor splash park.

Town to celebrate Doors Open and share behind-the-scenes of 17 sites

Cochrane has joined Calgary in baring all with its own version of Doors Open Sept. 25 – 27.

"We've been looking for a way to show people behind the scenes at municipal government because we think it's a great way to engage with our community," said Laurie Drukier, senior communications advisor for the Town of Cochrane.

Residents in Cochrane who live in condos, apartments and townhouses will soon have access to home recycling.

In a release, the Town is changing its Waste Management Bylaw to include multi-family complexes.

"The revisions to the bylaw help multi-family complexes include recycling in their waste service," said Sharon Howland, manager of waste and recycling. "It's about making it easier for people in Cochrane to recycle, and to move us closer to the goals in the Zero Waste Framework.

Communities surrounding Calgary see double-digit sales growth in the first quarter of the year

Getting more for less can mean a lot to a first time homebuyer.

When it came to the purchase of their first home, engaged couple Kristie Bogle and Erin Dorscht set their sights on Bogle's hometown of Airdrie.

"I just kept seeing all these signs, crazy cheap new developments throughout [Airdrie] and I came home one day and was like 'Look how cheap this is compared to what we're paying in Calgary'," said Dorscht.

Less than 20 minutes away from Calgary's city limits, the town of Cochrane has managed to maintain its strong sense of western history and culture while growing into one of the most modern and bustling towns in the province.

According to building stats from December 2011, the town's current population sits at 18,646 — quite the jump considering the town was home to a mere 900 people as of 1969.