4 - COCHRANE EAGLE, December 26, 2019 CochraneTODAY.ca 2020 vision through the lens of an optometrist By Cathi Arola The Eagle Fifth Avenue location until they outgrew the space in 2006.touch withMountain a realtor. View His Optometry office remained moved into thea spa - - The turn of the decade presents an uncharted realm of intriguing mysteries. alsocious operate bright officea practice in the in heart Crowfoot of Historic in . Down What does 2020 have in store for our humble town“When Cochrane we came at 404 to Cochrane 1st St. W. the Wilk population and his wife was piece of paradise at the base of Big Hill in the Valley? Wait for it. We’ll all know soon “It had been that way for awhile. Within the last enough. just over 11,000,” Wilk said. In 2000 Dr. Tom Wilk opened Mountain View that Cochrane was considered the fasted growing Optometry, then a 630 square-foot space on Fifth 10-12 years the population doubled so much so He said the population in 2006 stagnated while and, well, he’s in the business of 20/20 vision. Wilk negotiationscommunity in between North America.” the town and Rocky View seemedAvenue. likeHis officean ideal phone candidate number to isshare 403-851-2020 his 20/20 County - over annexed land from the county - vision for 2020 in Cochrane. slowed down. Two decades ago Wilk came to Cochrane to pur- “There was a lot of developers chomping at the chase a motorcycle from a couple he knew. He casu- Dr. Tom Wilk at work at Mountain View Optometry bit to build this community because everybody had ally asked them about eye care in town. His friends at 404 1st St. W. told him there were a few places, but the majority Photo by Cathi Arola said Wilk. of Cochranites still go to Calgary for optometry the“It same was ideaclose — to theyCalgary wanted and withinto move driving to Cochrane,” dis- services. tance. Once the the MD opened up additional lands Wilk says his business has lived through - and Wilk looked around, liked what he saw and got thrived - during two cycles where development

for development, boy things just skyrocketed.” population ballooned. Despite the boom Wilk says MUNICIPAL DISTRICT OF BIGHORN NO. 8 thehas townpeaked. still He feels said very between rural 2007even thoughand 2008 it’s the more urban now. PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE “The people of Cochrane are still the same as the people I started seeing way back in the day. They’re RE: BYLAW NO. 08/19, ROCKY VIEW COUNTY AND M.D. OF BIGHORN INTERMUNICIPAL very, very friendly. Very genuine and very loyal if DEVELOPMENT PLAN you give them a reason to be loyal to your business. DATE: TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020 They will certainly continue to patronize your busi- TIME: 10:00 A.M. LOCATION: M.D. OF BIGHORN MUNICIPAL OFFICE (COUNCIL CHAMBERS) Based on his experience serving our commu- 2 HEART MOUNTAIN DRIVE, , nityness you’d and give be surprisedyou that benefit.” to learn that Wilk lives in PURPOSE: Calgary and commutes every morning to work. An Intermunicipal Development Plan between the MD of Bighorn and Rocky View County was prepared to meet the requirements of Section 631, 636 and 638 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), which mandates IDPs between municipalities. An IDP is a municipal, statutory planning document defined by the Municipal Government Act that provides a framework for collaboration and coordination in the city and he wouldn’t trade the commute for with respect to development. The purpose of the Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) between Rocky View County and the Municipal anything.It’s a 20 minute Wilk used drive to from ride hishis Scenicmotorcycle, Acres buthome District of Bighorn is to set a policy framework for planning matters that includes future land use, environmental matters, transportation, and items of mutual interest as it applies to lands in proximity to the shared boundary and defined in the IDP Area. The IDP also contains after seeing deer and moose carcasses on Highway policies that define how communication, cooperation, decision-making and dispute resolution shall occur for lands within the IDP Area. Bylaw 08/19 and Schedule A – Rocky View County and MD of Bighorn Intermunicipal Development Plan may be reviewed by the public vehicle. on the municipal website (www.mdbighorn.ca) or at the Municipal District of Bighorn Municipal office in Exshaw during regular working 1A he’s opted to give himself a fighting chance in a hours (2 Heart Mountain Drive, Exshaw, AB). For website users, please search Bylaw 08/19 on the municipal website. - volvement in the town’s Rotary. Wilk was president REPRESENTATION: He attributes his affinity for Cochrane to his in The public hearing for proposed Bylaw 08/19, will provide the public with an opportunity to address Council. Oral and written comments - and suggestions are invited and should be addressed to the point of the draft bylaw. They may be made by any person or group of tion celebration he learned about the spirit that is persons, or a person acting on his, her or their behalf, who claims to be affected by the proposed draft bylaw; and from any other persons of the organization in 2013-14 and at his inaugura whom, at the hearing, Bighorn Council wishes to hear. Interested persons or groups may only make a submission or presentation once. Cochrane. Technical Documents, may also be submitted, and may include, but are not limited to, engineering reports, consultant’s studies, environmental impact assessments, geotechnical investigations, groundwater evaluations, ground/slope stability reports, flood risk enjoying a celebratory dinner at Glenbow Ranch assessments, traffic impact assessments, historical surveys, utility master plans and other similar documentation. ProvincialOn June 19,Park. 2013 Wilk Wilk said and one other of the Rotarians park’s employ were - Written submissions may be made by the persons described above and must be received in the Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8 ees approached the group and advised them of the Municipal Office, #2 Heart Mountain Drive, P.O. Box 310, Exshaw, Alberta, T0L 2C0 by the dates as indicated below: • Technical Documents and other written submissions in support of the proposed bylaw must be received no later than devastation that the Bow River was wrecking on 4:30 p.m., January 10, 2020. nearby areas. The group rose to action, changed • Technical Documents and other written submissions which are not in support of the proposed bylaw must be received no later than 4:30 p.m., January 20, 2020. their clothes, and helped sandbag the banks of the • Petitions and any other written submissions must be received by 4:30 p.m., January 20, 2020 Bow River in Cochrane. Oral presentations may be made at the hearing by individuals or groups (as described above), whether or not they have submitted a “That was a neat story to kick off my presidency written presentation. Oral presentations should be limited to five (5) minutes, except that a person speaking as a representative of a group of persons may speak for a maximum of ten (10) minutes. DOCUMENTATION: A paper copy of Bylaw No. 08/19 and Schedule A – Rocky View County and M.D. of Bighorn Intermunicipal Development Plan, may be at “PeopleRotary, butare morereally thanwilling that to it drop exemplifies everything the to inspected by the public at the Municipal District of Bighorn Municipal office in Exshaw during regular working hours. A copy of Bylaw community spirit that exists here in Cochrane.” 08/19 is also available to view or download from the M.D.’s website (www.mdbighorn.ca). For website users, please search Bylaw 08/19 on the municipal website. He said when he got to Cochrane there were hun- Similarly, Technical Documents and similar written documentation, petitions, letters and other written submissions may be inspected after dredshelp their of community fellow neighbour.” members boarding a shuttle the dates noted above at the M.D. of Bighorn office. bus and helping at the river bank. He added that For additional information, contact the M.D. of Bighorn No. 8 office at 403-673-3611 or 403-233-7678 (Calgary direct line). some went as far as to help homeowners Robert Ellis, C.A.O. clean out their damaged homes. MD of Bighorn No. 8

“It’s difficult to find a town of this size or any CochraneTODAY.ca December 26, 2019 COCHRANE EAGLE - 5

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Wishing all of my Dr. Tom Wilk Photo by Cathi Arola clients, family, and size that has the depth of community - spirit that Cochrane has.” etry Giving Sight and Operation Eye He notes that with the massive Sight.with the The Kimmet latter charity Foundation, is working Optom to friends health and population growth Cochrane has had build a hospital to do cataract surger- some challenges that will burden the ies and primary care facilities that can town into the new year. handle eye glass needs and commu- happiness in the “Obviously infrastructure is lacking. nity health in Malawi in east Africa. “I think it’s important for us that said. work with sight loss on a daily basis New Year! We“I have think a everybodyton of traffic had issues,” their hopesWilk to continue to remove barriers for ac- high that some of that was going to cess.” He notes that more than 80 per cent of learning is visual with children and in some places in the world a pair isn’tbe solved getting relatively their share soon, of but the withfunding of glasses is out of reach. toprovincial make this cutbacks, happen.” the municipality He points to the Highway 1A/22 a top secret thank you celebration for hisWilk’s longtime Cochrane and valued office customersis planning and Jack Tennent bridge project andinterchange, says when Centre those Avenue projects upgrades are says his business is still growing and complete Cochrane will be a differ- they’rein the new not year.planning As for to his change future, loca he- ent community from an accessibility tions anytime soon. As he enters 2020 Cochrane’s Homepage perspective. “We’re going to get past these chal- at his time in our town and remarks lenges. We’ll see a new and improved thatwith his the love rest for of us,our Wilk community looks back has CochraneTODAY .ca Cochrane before we know it.” grown. POWERED BY COCHRANE EAGLE In the meantime Wilk will continue “I feel like a Cochrane resident. I to immerse himself in charities. In feel like this is my community.” addition to Rotary he’s been involved [email protected]