I met George Lauder in grade 7 and later we became high school sweethearts and were married September 10, 1966. My Dad had passed away a year earlier and Mom was then moving to Cochrane. George and I moved into the home ranch house where we still live today. George is the son of Kay and Jack Lauder and great-grandson of Doc Lauder, a veterinarian with the Northwest Mounted Police in 1874 (histories in the Innisfail history book). 

Times were tough during the Depression years with swapping, trading and bartering the primary means of obtaining the goods etc. for survival as very little cash was available. Bill joined the Forestry Branch of the Alberta Government to fight forest fires. The net pay was 15 cents an hour after board was deducted. At least there was some cash coming in.

We have been a part of Cochrane as it grew from a town of 1,200 to a population of nearly 14,000. We are as proud to be a part of this vibrant community today as we were more than 30 years ago when we chose Cochrane as a place to live and work.

Walter Crowe was instrumental in organizing the Chapelton School District, now known as Horse Creek, and donated two acres of his homestead for the school site.

In 1916 Ernest joined the 137th Battalion C.E.F. in Calgary and served with the 10th Battalion in France, at Vimy Ridge, and Hill 70, where he was seriously wounded in 1917. Walter enlisted in the 211th Battalion and served in Canada before being honourably discharged

In January 1976, the Jumping Pound Beef Club chose the Buffalo as their symbol with brown, green and gold as their club colours. Encouraged by their leader, Dale Riddell, the emphasis was put on all round achievements in all aspects of the 4-H purpose, “Learn to Do By Doing.”

The significance of the establishment of Mr. Healy’s cheese factory lies in the fact that it marked the beginning of the industrial phase of dairying in Alberta.