In 2008 I decided to start making a long-term dream a reality. I've wanted to create an arts and business village.

Since I live in Cochrane and am familiar with the arts scene here, I came up with the idea of seeing what I could do to bring attention to the arts and to promote them.

I began with setting up a website called Arts Cochrane in July. Then I asked Jack & Ian Tennant at The Cochrane Eagle if I could write an arts column again. They graciously agreed.

I very much enjoyed the next six months or so as I reached out to the arts community to find out what was going on and what the needs were.

By September we had our first arts social. By October and November we were meeting to start forming an umbrella organization for the arts in Cochrane.

But by year end I was facing the realization that I was going to need to step out of this because of health issues my husband was facing. That was a tough choice to make, but one that needed to be made.

I was immensely relieved to have Maxine Herbert step up to take over from me. And I have been so proud of what she and the rest of the team have done since with Arts Cochrane - now officially known as the Arts & Culture Foundation of Cochrane.

Please do check the arts column in The Eagle, as I still write that. And do check out their website - Arts & Culture Foundation of Cochrane.

Evelyn Grace Marinoski