New communities and developments in bustling town offer more choices for would-be residents

The explosive growth that Cochrane continues to enjoy is evident when Mayor Ivan Brooker reels off the names of more than a dozen new communities either under development or in the planning stages in the scenic town west of Calgary.

"We've had huge growth – we were the second-fastest growing community in all of Canada from 2011 to 2016," said Brooker.

"People love the location. We're a beautiful community, you're on your way to the mountains, and we're not a small town necessarily, in the aspects of not having services. We have everything you would expect in a big city. The amenities are there for anything you might want to entertain as a family."

Q&A with surrounding communities

Calgary's satellite communities and their respective housing markets saw economic conditions play out in different ways this past year.

CREB®Now spoke with the mayors of Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks and Chestermere to get their perspectives on 2016. Here's what they had to say:

Cochrane is a town on the move, with new amenities such as The Quarry development and construction of a new aquatic and curling centre. Providing diverse options for recreation is important to the town and its residents, said Mayor Ivan Brooker, who recently sat down with CREB®Now to talk about everything from new projects to why the kitchen is his favourite room in the house.

CN: How do homeowners stand to benefit from recent infrastructure announcements such as the new school in Sunset Ridge and new pool?

IB: Amenities such as our new pool and curling centre greatly enhance our resident's quality of life. Providing diverse options for recreation is very important to the Town of Cochrane.