The push to fill the Chute with nonperishable foods begins tonight, Monday, Aug. 31, in Cochrane's east end neighbourhoods.

Mounted on a trailer with a rodeo theme it travels through Glen Eagles, and the east end with the aim of helping keep the shelves stock at the Cochrane Activettes Food Bank. Lions Rodeo Queen Breanna will be making appearances on Aug. 31 and Sept. 3.

The rest of the week unfolds like this:

  • Tuesday, Sept 1: Fireside, Riversong, Willows, Riviera, Bow Ridge, Bow Meadows, Jumping Pound Ridge
  • Wednesday, Sept 2: Sunset Ridge, Heritage Hills, Heartland, Sunterra, Cochrane Heights
  • Thursday, Sept 3: Glenbow, West Valley

It will also be located at Cochrane businesses during the day, starting with Cochrane Dodge, 6 River Heights Dr., on Tuesday, Sept. 1. 

"Some of them are going to dressed up Western, just the same as they would be during the rodeo," says Cochrane Lions Rodeo co-chair Kevin Firkus.

The chute will be located at the stationary parade at the Spray Lakes Sawmills Family Sports Centre on Labour Day Monday (Sept. 7) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

As well, cash donations from rodeo sponsors are also being provided to veterans with the assistance of Cochrane's branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. 

Fireworks are currently scheduled for the evening on Labour Day Monday but whether they go ahead depends upon the weather. Currently, there is a fire ban in place for the Town of Cochrane.

The Cochrane Lions Labour Weekend Rodeo has been the largest single event of the year in Cochrane for 54 years, says Firkus. While organizers are disappointed it had to be cancelled this year, the Western spirit it encapsulates lives on.

"It's all working out," says Firkus. "Everybody seems to be getting back into the spirit. It's disappointed we had to cancelled it, but we're doing the best we can to get that Western spirit back into town."

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