While 2020 has certainly been an unprecedented year, the Cochrane Immigrant Services Committee has been able to successfully maintain a large community presence.

They have continually adapted their major events this year, so they could still happen in a COVID compliant way with community participation.

Sandra Scott with the Cochrane Immigrant Services Committee says that the last time the committee was able to physically get together for a large event was back in March and just weeks before the COVID lockdown.

"It was right before we all shut down. It was our first-ever fundraiser and we felt that we really succeeded and we didn't want to lose the momentum of that event even though we were into COVID-19," says Scott. "So, we had a meeting and we talked about if we were going to step back and shut down or what we wanted to do and we decided really early on that if anything we wanted to be more active and try to engage with people in the community and be there in case they needed us."

Their next event was a Mother's Day colouring contest which had widespread involvement from Cochrane youth.

A community clean-up was later planned and executed safely, with socially distant volunteers dressed in face coverings and gloves, cleaning up Cochrane neighbourhoods.

Scott says that while Cochrane is a "small Alberta town" it is one with an extremely diverse and multicultural population. She says that it was crucial for the organization to find a new way to celebrate Cochrane Culture Days this year and shine a light on Cochrane's vibrant cultural communities.

The committee came up with a fun, interactive scavenger hunt in lieu of CULTUREfest called The Amazing Cochrane Culture Hunt. With 40 vehicles in participation, Cochranites were taken to nine locations throughout Cochrane where they were introduced to a different culture.

The Cochrane Immigrant Services Committee is hosting yet another event today. The annual Jingle and Mingle Over Soup Event will look different this year as it moves to a drive-thru form.

Scott says that while guests won't be able to actually mingle together this year, they can still feel connected to the greater Cochrane community. "On Christmas day from 11 until 1 you can drive through at Cochrane Alliance Church," says Scott. "We'll have it set up so you get gift bags and you'll get soup and a bun and cookies and some treats, and there will be some entertainment there as you drive through as well."

Looking ahead to 2021, Scott says that the committee will be holding its first AGM in January, which will be held virtually. She says they are also planning an exciting fundraising online auction in March and to stay tuned for details.