Our community certainly has experienced much tragedy as of late and this past weekend Cochrane lost another incredible individual.

It didn't take long for social media to light up with the news that longtime Cochranite, Jack Tennant passed away.

Dedicating much of his life to sharing 'news' with the community he represented, the media world lost a great storyteller. Whether you were in Jack's good books or not, everyone respected Jack for his unyielding passion.

Ian Tennant, Jack's son, shares his dad loved this town and out of all places, Cochrane is where Jack would have wanted his journey to end. Calling Cochrane home since the 80's, Ian says Jack's impact could be felt no matter where they were. "You go for coffee with him and people always stopped by to say hello. He was so involved, not just in the newspaper over the years but involved with the Humane Society, Grandparent program, Cochrane Foundation and all the things he was doing behind the scenes."

No matter which medium of media you work in Jack's impact on local news is something all of us news reporters strive for. Reporting on the news is much more than sharing a catchy headline or a great photo, it becomes part of who you are and no one embodied that more than Jack. "He loved being a columnist whether it was with the Cochrane Eagle or the Calgary Sun, interacting with people and pushing the buttons of people that maybe didn't want their buttons pushed... but he loved doing that stuff. He thought it was important, too, for small communities to have the local news media. He saw journalism not only as a business but a very important part of the community and the fabric that holds the community together." 

Volunteering and giving back to the community was part of Jack's DNA. "With him, it was about getting involved and not looking for the accolades, he was always willing to help if help was needed. I think he would really want to instil that in people, that you have to get involved in your community and it may involve lots of long hours, no pay, but that's where you live."

Another area of importance to Jack was creating friendships and making inroads with our neighbours on the Stoney First Nation.

82-year-old, Jack didn't have the easiest life, shares Ian, but he impacted many along the way. "He lived a hard life in his younger years. He was a bad drinker and he quit, he was sober for 50-51 years. He quit smoking, he was a two pack a day, 17 cups of coffee kind of a guy but he quit all that stuff and lived a good, long, productive life."

Despite being diagnosed with diabetes and other health complications, Jack was generally positive although that shifted in the days leading up to his passing. "In talking to my brother and Brenda who were the last ones to see him the last couple of days, I guess he appeared slower and maybe not as chipper as he usually was. He was always very positive, even when you knew he was hurting; but on Sunday (May 21) it just looked like his heart didn't have enough and that was it."

While details surrounding a service are still being discussed by the family it was recommended that in lieu of flowers, donations to the Cochrane Humane Society would be greatly appreciated.

Our sincerest condolences go out to the Tennant family and their close friends. Jack's departure from this world will certainly leave a gigantic hole in the hearts of many throughout our community, the surrounding area and all the stories he inspired others to tell.