Whether or not Cochrane should seek city status is a no-start discussion in the mind of Mayor Jeff Genung.

The recently completed municipal census has placed the town's population at 29,277 people, almost 20K above the minimum population required to become a city. Nine Alberta cities have lesser populations than Cochrane

Speaking from Quebec City, where he is attending the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference, Genung says there is no advantage to becoming a city. In fact, it could be more costly for the municipality. He says the town would inherit the cost of the Hwy. 1A-22 interchange project in addition to maintenance costs of the entire provincial highway infrastructure within the community. That means, he points out, taking on the cost of snow removal and bridge and road repairs.

"We've looked at this in the past, but there isn't any advantage, in fact, it would be more costly," says Genung. "Now funding is now provided on a per capita basis."

With an estimating 99 per cent of residents participated in the census, up from 97 per cent last year, Genung believes Cochranites understand it's important to participate.

"Every time somebody fills in the census to let us know they live in town it means more provincial funding. I'm super happy residents take the time out and do their civic duty to provide that feedback and get us more funding from the province."

Genung recently spoke with Okotoks mayor Bill Robertson about how Cochrane was poised to surpass that community as the largest town in Alberta. The 2008 Okotoks census pegs that community's population at 29,002.

Cochrane's population grew 4.7 per cent, down from the 5.9 per cent recorded last year but higher than the 4.5 per cent in 2017. Genung says he believes some residents may find comfort in knowing our growth has eased slightly.

"One of the things that I’ve heard from quite a few residents is they wanted to see a bit of a slow down in growth and this was a little bit of a slow down from years prior."

Still, the growth is healthy and Cochrane remains a popular place to work, live and play.

"It's positive. The alternative is that we are shrinking, which isn't the case around here but is something being faced by some municipalities. I think Cochrane is still lucky to remain on the upswing."

While we are a town, Cochrane has been pro-active in the mid-sized cities caucus for several years. Cochrane attracted leaders from all four major Alberta political parties to speak here at a mid-sized cities caucus meeting, Jan. 31.