Cochrane's first responders will once again be teaming up to hold a series of parades through Cochrane neighborhoods to collect nonperishable food and gifts for the Share Your Christmas Hamper program of the Cochrane Activettes.

On Oct. 1, they treated the residents of Cochrane's East End to a barbecue as their prize for being selected as the best-decorated neighbourhood at Christmastime last year. About 200 people were served.

Town councillor Marni Fedeyko, who heads up the parades, says they'll take place from Dec. 2 to 10. She says it's a tighter schedule than last year to better accommodate the shifts of first responders.

"We're hitting every neighbourhood again like we did the last couple of years," she says. "We're going to try and hit every street that we can."

She says some streets simply aren't possible to navigate, but most will be travelled.

The aim is to spread the Christmas spirit while collecting nonperishables and gifts. Last year, the Activettes distributed over 300 hampers of food and gifts that touched the lives of over 1,100 people.

Fire Inspector Jeff Avery says Cochrane Fire Services is once again thrilled to be part of the parades.

"This event just keeps getting bigger and bigger because everybody is more and more in need right now. The importance of this is at an all-time high, so we're more than happy to be part of this with the RCMP, AHS, Town Bylaw, Activettes, and, of course, Marni Fedeyko. Things wouldn't happen without her. She's putting endless hours into this."

Once again, first responders in the parade will select one neighbourhood as the best decorated and host a barbecue for them in 2023.

The parades were established during the pandemic to help raise spirits and assist the Christmas hamper program.

A map of their route will be released soon, but the dates are as follows:

  • Dec 2   - Sunset Ridge
  • Dec 3   - Heritage Hills/Heartland/Fireside
  • Dec 6   - Gleneagles/East End/Cochrane Heights/Sunterra
  • Dec 7   - Riverview/Glenbow/Bow Ridge/Meadows/Jumping Pound
  • Dec 9   - West Valley
  • Dec 10 - Riversong