It seems like a long time ago when Jason Kenney first came to Cochrane asking voters if they would support a merger between the Wildrose and the Progressive Conservative government.

With Cochrane being pretty much the birthplace of the united movement, Kenney, is back on the road celebrating 'unity' at a gala event this Friday (March 2) at the Cochrane Lion's Event Centre. The evening celebration will include dinner and a silent auction as the UCP party moves closer to the 2019 Provincial election.

Phil Cape, VP fundraising Banff-Cochrane, United Conservative Party Constituency Association, shares besides Kenney speaking, it will be a great place to network and celebrate all the hard work that has been done thus far. "Our CA has three declared nominees so the nomination races are heating up and things are moving now. It's pretty exciting to be a Conservative in Alberta."

While Cape is anticipating to see more nominees come forward over the next while, don't expect an official nomination date to be created until after UCP Annual General Meeting. "The party will have the nomination rules after the AGM, so I am assuming it will be shortly thereafter that they'll have all the rules for the CA's and the CA's will set the nomination committees and the actual nomination selection process."

Kenney's promise of a grassroots movement has brought more people into a political party than we have seen in a number of years. Cape, says, that Alberta is leading the way in Conservatism. "When grassroots are given the opportunity to speak they have a lot to say." 

With a new provincial electoral boundary Cochrane will make up 51% of the riding, 27% from Airdrie and the remainder is from the rural area.

Cape is hoping to pack the Event Centre with 150-200 people and shares it shouldn't be hard to do as Cochrane per capita has more UCP memberships than any other riding in Alberta. The most exciting part for Cape is not just about changing the political leadership but the opportunity to see real change happen in how we govern. "From the beginning, I got involved in this because I just didn't want to see a change in government, I want to see a change in how government works. With Jason Kenney's grassroots initiative and so many people across this province getting involved, I think there is no way that there won't be a change in how politics works in this province. Too many people have answered the call to get involved and now they're invested."

If you would like to show your support and secure your ticket to celebrate Unity on March 2, from 5 to 9 pm, you will find information HERE. If you are unable to make the event don't let it deter your involvement. "This is a grassroots movement, there's room for more ideas and people. We've seen the change of how low voter turnout and apathy brought disaster in this province so you need to come out and take part; we are always welcoming new people."

READ MORE:

Peter Guthrie is the First Out of the Gate

Morgan Nagel Looks to Represent Cochrane on a Provincial Level