The Cochrane Activettes are once again on a mission to spread holiday cheer and help local families in need.

Last year the Activettes packed 300 holiday hampers as part of the Share Your Christmas Program, which in turn helped brighten the holiday season for about 3,400 Cochranites. 

Kathy Hubman has been an active member of the Cochrane Activettes for the past 15 years, and she says that holiday initiatives like this one, will be more of a challenge this year.

"There are new challenges this year with COVID of course," says Hubman. "We have to be sure that we keep all of our volunteers safe, and we make it a safe process for our recipients so that has brought some new challenges this year."

To help ensure the safety of all involved, this year the Activettes will be getting some help from some familiar faces in the Cochrane community. Cochrane's first responders.

"Cochrane parades will be going through the Cochrane neighbourhoods starting this week on Wednesday in Heritage Hills," says Hubman. "They'll be coming to visit the communities and they'll be collecting food and gift items for our hamper initiative."

During the early days of the COVID-19 lockdown residents from every corner of Cochrane participated in a string of parades to show their appreciation for our first responders and support the local food bank.

The parades proved to shine a light throughout Cochrane during a dark and uncertain time and helped to bring the community together while navigating a new and unfamiliar socially distant chapter.

Hubman says that in the midst of an ongoing pandemic, they anticipate that more families will be in need of food and essentials this holiday season.

"Families that are in need can call us," says Hubman. "We will arrange for a Christmas hamper for them that will include food and gifts for their kids if they have some."

Cochranites are encouraged to turn on their Christmas lights and make some noise as Cochrane fire trucks, ambulances and RCMP cruisers parade through your community.  

In addition to non-perishable food donations, crews will be accepting unwrapped toys, gift cards, new clothing, books, games and toiletries.

The parades will take place on the main roads of each community from now until December 11, and they will start at 5 pm.

Be sure to check the schedule below for a list of parade dates in participating neighbourhoods.

  • Wednesday, November 18- Heritage Hills/Heartland
  • Friday, November 20- Sunset Ridge
  • Monday, November 23 - GlenEagles
  • Wednesday, November 25 - Riversong/Willows/Riviera
  • Friday, November 27 - Cochrane Heights/Sunterra
  • Monday, November 30 - Riverview
  • Wednesday, December 2 - Jumping Pound/Bow Ridge
  • Friday, December 4 - West Valley
  • Monday, December 7 - Glenbow
  • Wednesday, December 9 - Fireside
  • Friday, December 11 - East End