Town of Cochrane Strategic Plan – Final Report October 2014
Potential Funding Sources
• FedNor’s Community Development Fund, page 95.
• NOHFC’s Strategic Economic Infrastructure Program, page 100.
• Funding for this initiative may be available through the BEAM program114 managed by
NEOnet. Although BEAM specifically supports small business, this project may qualify. We
suggest you discuss this with a NEOnet project officer to determine eligibility.
7.4.1.2 Develop a Resident Attraction Package
The resident recruitment campaign should focus on encouraging long-haul truckers, the spouses of
Detour workers, and other prospective employees to visit and settle in Cochrane.
This initiative builds on the Cochrane’s original Detour Worker Attraction strategy, which was
developed in anticipation of the Detour goldmine’s redevelopment in 2012. The original attraction
strategy and related materials could be modified to target truckers, the spouses of Detour workers,
and other prospective employees.
It may be possible to target truckers who regularly
carry freight from Toronto on trans-Canada routes
via Cochrane with posters, information, website
addresses, etc. A more direct communications
strategy
involves
training
“community
ambassadors” to initiate personal conversations
with truckers at rest areas – i.e. rest area staff can
be trained and provided with information and
materials to distribute when appropriate. The
information should h ighlight the low cost of
living (e.g. home ownership) in Cochrane, as
opposed to the cost of living in Toronto. Other
key messages include: the likelihood of spousal
employment,
relatively
higher
disposable
income, and more frequent nights at home for
truck drivers that are enroute to load pickup and
delivery.
Multi-lingual Public Signage
Demonstrates Respect for Diversity
The Municipality is currently reviewing a policy
that would see all new community signage in
English, French and Cree. While Statistics
Canada finds that there are currently just
4,245 people in Ontario who speak Cree, 1
public signage that features all three of the
town’s major language groups demonstrates a
welcoming
and
respectful
approach
to
diversity.
The spouses of Detour workers are also prospective candidates for relocation. Given the fact the
drive-in-drive-out Detour worker has employment, is on shift rotation, and has not yet relocated to
Cochrane, the next logical step is to target the spouse of the worker. The specific benefits to
communicate are the local employment opportunities (Jobs in Cochrane website), the excellent
recreational opportunities, and the access to health and education services.
114
Neonet. (n.d). Beam (Broadband for E-Business and Marketing). Available at:
http://www.neonet.on.ca/projects/current-projects/broadband-for-e-business-and-marketing/
66