Have you ever wanted to see behind the scenes of some town departments and local businesses? Well tomorrow and Saturday (June 8 and 9) you will have your chance at Doors Open.

Doors open allows community members to investigate the side of businesses and facilities you usually don't have an opportunity to. Participants will be toured around and educated on what they are all about and what services they provide.

Mike Korman, Manager of Economic Development shares he is excited to see a record amount of businesses and municipal departments take part this year making it the largest Doors Open event since they started in 2014. "It gives people the opportunity to see the back end of businesses that you don't necessarily get to see. In the town, you get to see how the water facilities plant works or at the fire hall you get to check out the trucks and see how they operate. A lot of times you don't see that underbelly of businesses, and we have some that do some really neat work in town, and they want to showcase themselves."

Another bonus of doors open is all about awareness. "It provides an opportunity for businesses to spread the word that they're here and doing neat and creative things."

While Cochrane got the idea of Doors Open from Calgary, our town puts a slightly different spin on the event as we see more businesses than municipal departments participate. While Korman isn't exactly sure why we have such a substantial increase, he feels it could just be a new marketing tool for some. "It's a different type of advertising and marketing and Economic Development wants to be able to showcase businesses in many different ways. I think because this has been successful in the past and continues to grow, we are hoping it will help businesses get their word out."

If you have a business that may want to get involved in 2019's Door Open, you can register anytime after the New Year and up until May.

It is anticipated that approximately 1200 visitors took part last year. 

Doors Open Cochrane has 24 participating sites, and additional information can be found HERE:

  • Aeron E. King, Goldsmith
  • Boys and Girls Club of Cochrane and Area
  • Cafe Roubaix Bicycle Studio
  • ClubHouse Activity Centre
  • Cochrane Coffee Traders
  • Cochrane Family History Centre
  • Cochrane Lanes
  • Cochrane RCMP (Tomorrow only)
  • Cochrane Protective Services Centre
  • CSN Cochrane Image Auto Body
  • Half Hitch Brewing
  • Ideal Weight Management (Saturday only)
  • Ink'd Graphics
  • King Solomon Masonic Lodge
  • Krang Spirits (Tomorrow only)
  • McDonald’s Restaurant
  • Saffron Collective Studios
  • Snap Dance Studio
  • Studio West Bronze Foundry & Gallery
  • Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre (Tomorrow only)
  • The Rustic Olive Bar
  • The Corner Coworking Inc
  • Visitor Information Centre
  • Water Treatment Plant (Saturday only)