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Cochrane Heights, Cochrane, Alberta

(The Community of Cochrane Heights overlooks Cochrane Ranch)

The town  of Cochrane Alberta was named in 1884 by the Canadian Pacific Railway for Senator Matthew Henry Cochrane, who established the Cochrane Ranche Limited nearby in 1881. He began the first large-scale ranching in the area in the 1880's. He would raise cattle in the area and drive them to the stockyards beside the railroad in Calgary.  Cochrane Hill, north east of the town, has an incredible view south over the town, the Bow River, across the foothills and west to the Rocky Mountains. The Stoney Indians called the prominent hill "Manachaban" (the Big Mount) where they collected their bows and arrows.

Cochrane Heights is...

 One of the older established districts in Cochrane.  After Cochrane High School was built in 1962, the district built up around it with the first 138 of 177 homes.  The Cochrane Arena followed in 1974, along with Elizabeth Barrett Elementary School and Manachaban School.  

The last 39 homes were built in stages with final completion in the early 90’s.  This Tri-School area provides education for all ages, from Grade 1 through Continuing Education for adults.  The Arena is a busy place throughout the hockey season in winter, is home to the Bearspaw Fair in August, and hosts other events both on and off the ice.

 A prominent building above 4^th A venue leading up to Cochrane Heights is St. Mary’s Catholic Church.  The original church was built downtown in 1895, and because it had been hit several times by wayward vehicles off the highway, was rebuilt close to the same location in 1959.  The growing population meant a new church was needed and the Franciscan Fathers, from Mt. St. Francis Retreat above Sunterra Ridge, made land available to the diocese so a new church could be built in Cochrane Heights 20 years later.  

Continued growth in the Town’s population has St. Mary’s on the move again, this time to the southern edge of Town, and the congregation from All Saints Anglican Church will make the old building their new home in the Fall of 2006.

(Cochrane Heights is walking distance to many amenities including downtown Cochrane)

Access through Cochrane Heights and Sunterra Ridge leads to Cochrane’s Cemetery, where many of the old family names can be found:  Copithorne, Wearmouth, Kerfoot, and Sibbald among many others.