Town of Cochrane Strategic Plan – Final Report October 2014
suggests that people have ten times more conversations at farmers’ markets than the average
supermarket, which promotes social capital development and increases perceptions of
“community friendliness”.93
The Cochrane Farmer’s market is an established and visible connection between residents and
local food producers. It is presently housed under temporary tents; Cochrane can enhance and
leverage this community space by establishing a larger, permanent covered shelter for the market.
This could also support additional community activities and tourism events (e.g. Summerfest,
community barbecues, etc.).
Building the shelter will involve:
• Researching what other communities have done in terms of multi-use shelters.
• Building on best practices for public spaces.
• Securing funding.
• Issuing a Request for Proposals.
• Developing an ongoing maintenance and usage plan.
This could be one part of a community-wide effort to make better use of Lake Commando as a
central public space. For example, it may be possible for the municipality to encourage activities
and events here by offering small grants to local organizations, possibly as part of the Community
Improvement Plan (Project 7.3.1.1).
The municipality can also support existing farmers’ markets by:
• Revising signage by-laws to allow farms to use site-specific signage to promote the market.
• Providing easy access to permits, parking, access to electricity.
• Facilitating garbage pickup.
• Creating a market sponsorship strategy and building relationships with retailers and
restaurants to jointly promote local supply.
• Supporting local advertising and using existing social media mechanisms.
Potential Community Leaders
Town of Cochrane with EDO (See Project 7.1.1).
Potential Funding Sources
• The Ontario Trillium Foundation, page 95.
• Local businesses.
93
Deloitte for The Ontario Municipal Knowledge Network. (n.d) Best Practices in Local Food: A Guide for
Municipalities. Available at: http://www.amo.on.ca/AMOPDFs/Reports/2013/2013BestPracticesinLocalFoodAGuideforMunicipalitie.aspx
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