The Heartland Community Association is not only promoting 'Neighbour Day' but holding a safety rally as well on June 16. 

Holding their first official event as a registered association, Carly Dudley, Vice President, says she is excited to get to know neighbours and the community at large. 

The community association is not only offering up free burgers and freezies but a chance to hear presentations from our town's first responders, such as Cochrane Fire Services, Cochrane RCMP and our EMS workers. This is the second time the Heartland community has held a safety rally and, although, the weather tanked during the first on, feedback was great. "The feedback that we did get from the safety rally was awesome so we decided to throw that again. It's been kind of crazy how we've had two fires in Cochrane just a few weeks before the safety rally, so I think it's on everyone's minds."

Dudley shares many community members have been discussing what they would do in the case of an evacuation situation and it seems to be on a lot of minds. "You know, what do we do if we do have an evacuation or if there is a fire and you have to leave your home really quickly?! I think it is just more top of people's minds, especially with what's happened in Cochrane the past few weeks."

Each department will present a brief safety chat and answer a couple questions the association felt was important to the board. "After each of the reps of the departments finished talking, we're going to have a moderator run a question and answer period. If people arrive late, people will always be on hand to answer one on one."

Hoping the weather holds, Dudley shares the event runs from 1- 4 pm (safety rally at 2 pm) at Paint Horse Drive Park (more close to Horse Creek Road). The community get-together will feature a face painter, bouncy house (if the weather holds), BBQ and an ice pop truck donated by Excel Homes.

It will also provide an opportunity to pick up your annual Heartland Community Association membership for $20 per household. "It's going to allow us to put on more cool community events.  We have had a brainstorm session with the board and we really want to to do a movie in the park this summer, we would love to do another BBQ and we have a bunch of events we want. We have a lot of young families in this neighbourhood and we just want to do a lot of family-friendly events."

Community events are valuable, adds Dudley. "Connecting with your neighbours allows you to have a collective voice and connect with your neighbours. It's just more valuable to have a unified group of people who want similar things."