Criminal activity happens in every area, but one Cochrane community is taking action to help prevent it and promote safety of all kinds at the same time.

The Heartland Community Association is hosting a Community Safety Rally tomorrow (October 14) from 10:00 am 'til noon at the Paint Horse Drive Park.

The association's President Anya Wharton says they've noticed an increasing trend of car prowlings and petty thefts in the neighbourhood, which led them to the idea of the Safety Rally.

"We have had quite a lot of problems with theft and break ins and these things are upsetting to our residents.  I know we're not the only community experiencing those things right now.  I've got a number of friends in other ocmmunities surrounding us who are experiencing the same incidents."

Once the community association started thinking about hosting an event, they thought, why stop with crime?

Wharton says, "It's not just about crime.  We want to educate people about how to protect themselves and their families, homes and vehicles from that kind of crime but if we're going to do it we might as well bring in the fire department and EMS and teach our children at the same time how to act in an emergency situation.  It's an exciting opportunity to be able to educate people and bring them together."

So Saturday's safety rally will include representatives from the RCMP, Cochrane Fire Department and EMS.  Wharton also hopes to have some town bylaw officers there to talk about animal safety.  She feels the event will go a long way toward bringing the Heartland community closer together.  

"How can we as neighbours as well as a community association instill security in our neighbourhood and ways to keep our childrne and our homes and belongings safe from crime.  The fire department are going to bring their truck out and speak to us and the children about how to be safe in a fire emergency.  This is a cool time to be doing this during fire prevention week.  If we're going to call it a safety rally we don't want to leave anything out."

People should bring along a lawn chair or blanket to sit on.  The community association will be providing coffee and hot chocolate.  

Wharton says they've also received word that Mayor Ivan Brooker and several members of town council, as well as several candidates in the October 16th election are planning to be there as well.