Legacy of Cochrane's fallen Grandfather Tree will live on through new bench

The Town of Cochrane has found a way to pay tribute to its most treasured tree.
The Grandfather Tree, an estimated 300-year-old white spruce in Cochrane Ranche, was toppled by high winds during a storm in January.
Now through a proposal reminiscent of Shel Silverstein's book The Giving Tree, it will live on in the form of a commemorative bench made with its salvaged wood.
WATCH | Grandfather Tree mourned by Cochranites:
This tree outlived generations until high winds took it down
4 months ago
Duration 2:04
The bench was chosen over two other options presented to Cochrane town council on Monday: a children's book authored by a local author and the production of wooden key chains made from the tree.
"In the weeks that followed [the tree's collapse], we saw an incredible outpouring of community sentiment," said Michelle Delorme, the town's director of parks and active living.
"Residents left reflections, drawings and stories in a temporary mailbox and journal placed at the site, showing us how much this landmark meant to so many people."
The tree is currently commemorated through two public art installations at The Station in downtown Cochrane.
The bench will include infographic interpretive signage and a mailbox where visitors can share their Grandfather Tree stories and reflections.
Calling the bench project "a meaningful, long-lasting tribute that can be delivered within our parks and active living budget," Delorme said it would cost from $7,000 to $10,000.
Some council members balked at that estimate.
Price tag not popular
Coun. Patrick Wilson said he was "amazed" and "kind of disgusted" by the proposed cost.
When asked by Wilson, Delorme said the price is in line with that of other municipal benches in Cochrane's parks, with those costing anywhere from $5,000 to $7,000.
"I can't believe that number. I'm absolutely aghast that we pay that," he said.
Stacey Loe, community services executive director with the Town of Cochrane, said that while the cost would continue to be evaluated, this particular bench will likely be more expensive than others due to the labour involved with creating it from the Grandfather Tree.
Delorme added that the entire bench won't be made from the Grandfather Tree's wood, but that the goal is for "at least half" of it to be.
"We will have to piece everything back together," she said.
Coun. Marni Fedeyko said that "unless it's made out of, like, African rainforest wood, it seems kind of on the high side."
She supported the motion but emphasized that hiring local artists and contractors for the bench's construction should be prioritized.
Coun. Morgan Nagel acknowledged that the project sounds "a little too expensive," but said it was a reasonable proposal, likening it to "an artisan project off of the woods."
Councillors floated the idea of combining the bench proposal with the children's book idea, but ultimately approved the construction of the bench at the proposed price. Six of seven council members voted in favour of the motion, leaving Wilson as the sole dissenter.

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