The Cochrane Community Awards were celebrated yesterday afternoon (May 28) at the RancheHouse.

An opportunity to recognize outstanding work by individuals, groups, and businesses for their hard work and efforts to make Cochrane a great community.

Valerie McCracken, Community Awards Chair, says it was another fabulous afternoon with smiles, cheers, applause, and even a few tears.

"I think every year we wonder how we're going to continue to find people to recognize and acknowledge but again we had 13 absolutely deserving recipients. It was a great afternoon it had all the heartfelt recognition and a wonderful way to celebrate our community."

Congratulations to this year's winners and nominees:

The 2017 award recipients are:

Order of Cochrane:
(Category Sponsor:  Cochrane Mayor and Council) 
Susan Flowers

Ambassador of the Year:  
(Category Sponsor:  Cochrane Community Awards Committee)
Dr. William Hanlon

Business of the Year:  
(Category Sponsor: Cochrane & District Chamber of Commerce)
Midas Cochrane

Citizen of the Year:  
(Category Sponsor: Cochrane Firefighter Community Foundation)
Ray Goodship

Community Builder of the Year:  
(Category Sponsor: Madlee Developments Ltd.)
Cochrane Home Treasures

Education Initiative of the Year: 
(Category Sponsor: Bow Valley College)
Cochrane High School - CHAT Room

Employer of the Year: 
(Category Sponsor: Cochrane & District Chamber of Commerce)
Snap Dance Studios

Equity and Inclusion Champion of the Year: 
(Category Sponsor: Town of Cochrane Equity & Inclusion Committee)
St. Andrew’s United Church, Community Lunch Program

Newsmaker of the Year: 
(Category Sponsor: Cochrane Times)
Cochrane Lions Rodeo - 50th Anniversary

Pathfinder of the Year: 
(Category Sponsor: Sustainability Partners Uniting Resources) 
Cody Wildman (Posthumous)

Senior of the Year: 
(Category Sponsor: TWO Pharmacy)
Terrance Haxton

Volunteer Group of the Year:  
(Category Sponsor: Cochrane Family & Community Support Services)
2512 King’s Own Calgary Regiment Royal Canadian Cadet Corps

Youth of the Year:  
(Category Sponsor: Boys & Girls Club of Cochrane & Area)
Kassidy Gerhardi

The 2017 nominees are:

Andy Norlander,   Bow Valley High School - Equine Assisted Learning, Cochrane Café,  Cochrane Community Learning Centre - Mental Health Outreach Program,  Cochrane Cowboys Wrestling Club, Cochrane High School - CHAT Room, Cochrane Home Treasures, Cochrane Lions Rodeo - 50th Anniversary, Cochrane Kumon, Cochrane Vision Theatre,   Cody Wildman (posthumous nomination), Dawn-Marie Cinnamon, Dr. William Hanlon, Kassidy Gerhardi, Midas Cochrane,  Mikaela Murphy,  Ray Goodship, Robert Hatch, Ron Knowles,  Snap Dance Studios, Snap Parents’ Association,  St. Andrew’s United Church – Community Lunch Program,  Susan Flowers, Terrance Haxton, The Hen House,  Your Life Out, Warren Harbeck,  2512 King’s Own Calgary Regiment Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps.