Cruising to remind seniors and caregivers they're still top of mind

Cruise Cochrane is kicking off their season with a May 8th cruise by the four major seniors living accommodations in town.

Organizer Jim Messner says they'll be reminding seniors living there, as well as their dedicated caregivers, that they haven't been forgotten.

"Last year, it was really popular to thank the seniors and the staff with drive-bys with horns honking and that sort of thing, but it seems that since we've entered the second year of the pandemic, people aren't really talking about that much anymore."

"We want to make sure that those folks in those lodges know that we still care, and we haven't forgotten about them.,." says Messner.

They'll be cruising by Points West Living Cochrane, Big Hill Lodge, Grand Avenue Village, and Bethany Cochrane.

The staging area opens at 11:30 a.m.at Cochrane GM, located at 2 Westside Dr., and the cruise begins at 1 p.m. There will be food trucks at the staging area.

Messner says it will be a COVID-19 compliant event, and there's still plenty of fun to be had.

Participants will need to stay in their vehicles at the staging area but can head to the washroom or grab some food from one of the food trucks on site.

With a large number of motorists expected to participate, Messner says they are looking for a handful of volunteers to help on the day of the event. They would man the major turning points on the route to keep everyone going in the right direction. He points out, should one vehicle make a wrong turn, it could mean many more will head off in the wrong direction.

Those able to lend a hand can email cruisecochrane@gmail.com or phone him at 403-681-3858.

The cavalcade will return to Cochrane GM to wrap up the event with some closing announcements and a chance to win door prizes.

So to follow COVID-19 safety protocols, participants will be able to listen while sitting in their vehicles through the app Zello.

Pre-registration is required by midnight on Wednesday, May 5. Go here to register.

Organizers stop counting after 200 vehicles in last year's cavalcade on May 16. Cruise Cochrane held many other cruises last season, but this one was by far the largest.