The Town of Cochrane will soon be unveiling Cochrane currency.

Community members are invited to attend the official unveiling on May 19, and be one of the first to put Cochrane dollars in their wallet.

Robert Kalinovich with Economic Development, says it is hard to believe the day is drawing near, "to get to this point is an accomplishment for our community." He is hopeful Cochranites and retailers will embrace this unique project.

Cochrane dollars are paper dollars which will circulate just as Canadian dollars do, with the purpose to keep Cochranites shopping local and encourage tourism.

Kalinovich says business response has been good so far, and he is only anticipating it to grow.

"I have a feeling once they see and feel the bills and realize what security features are in them and that people are going to be carrying these around and looking for places to spend them; I think we're going to get a lot more businesses on board in the coming weeks and over the summer as well."

Kalinovich says a project of this magnitude will take time to grow, as many retailers and community members may not understand the full scope or potential of the program.

"This whole project takes a lot of explaining because there isn't something like this around here. There has been other sort of token currencies or something symbolic or some kind of coin commemorating an event but to actually have a circulating currency that is on par with the Canadian dollar in a community, there really isn't. I haven't heard of anything in Alberta like this before."

Kalinovich says on their website you will find updated information, videos for consumers and business owners, as well as list of retailers currently signed up to participate in the program, and you can find that information here.

The celebration will take place 10 a.m. at ATB; you can have your photo taken with some large Cochrane dollars as well as get your hands on some of the first Cochrane bills to circulate the community.

READ MORE:

Who Should Adorn Cochrane Currency

Some Uncertainty About Cochrane's Currency

Cochrane Gets Its Own Currency