Cochrane, Ontario: A Small Town with Big Ambitions

Blending rural charm with progressive growth, Cochrane is shaping its future through strategic development, strong industries, and a thriving community.

Located in northern Ontario along the vital Highway 11 corridor, Cochrane is a small town with a big vision. Combining economic progress with a strong sense of community, the town is home to thriving mining, forestry, and secondary industries, while also prioritizing infrastructure, housing, and local business growth. With a commitment to innovation and sustainability, Cochrane continues to evolve, ensuring that economic opportunities and quality of life go hand in hand.

Living, Working, and Growing in Cochrane

Cochrane offers the perfect balance of small-town charm and urban progress, setting itself apart as a unique hub within rural Canada. While many small communities rely on a single industry, Cochrane boasts a diverse economy, making it an attractive place to live, work, and invest.

“Generally speaking, in terms of small-town Canada and rural Canada, Cochrane brings not just the rural aspect to it, but also has an urban side,” says Mayor Peter Politis. “It’s more like a small urban center than it is a typical rural community that relies on one industry.” The town benefits from being in close proximity to North America’s largest gold mine and Canada’s largest base metal mine, along with two major forestry mills that support local employment and economic stability.

Beyond industry, Cochrane has made socioeconomic development a priority, ensuring that residents enjoy a high quality of life. “We’re very progressive in how we manage the facility of the municipality, we not only look at the economic development part of the socioeconomic fabric, but also the social development part,” Politis explains. “At one time, we were the only municipality in the province that was providing a free bike share program and book share programs.” The town also features a central lake and beach, offering recreational opportunities that enhance the social and lifestyle appeal of the community.

With a growth study projecting Cochrane’s population to double in the next 10 to 15 years, the town is preparing for a future where economic expansion and community well-being go hand in hand.

Breathing New Life into Cochrane’s Downtown

Cochrane’s downtown core remains the heart of the community, serving as both a social hub and economic center. The town has implemented strategic initiatives to enhance walkability, business development, and infrastructure, ensuring that downtown remains vibrant and welcoming.

“The downtown is core to all of the social development plans that we have,” explains Politis. A key part of this vision is the Active Transportation Master Plan, which connects trail networks, the central lake, and downtown businesses to encourage foot and bike traffic. “We have a boardwalk that goes around a lake, a walking trail… Those trails are all connected to the downtown to drive traffic,” Politis adds.

To support local businesses, Cochrane launched a Community Improvement Program, which offers 11 different grants to assist with facade enhancements, accessibility upgrades, and signage improvements. Devon Prevost, Economic Development Officer, highlights the impact: “The municipality initiated this program about six years ago in order to help downtown businesses elevate their storefronts.” Cochrane also provides tax incentives, including the TIEG (Tax Increment Equivalent Grant) program, which encourages commercial growth.

With a mix of small businesses, service industries, and long-standing establishments like a pharmacy that has operated for over 60 years, Cochrane’s downtown is evolving into a modern yet community-oriented space that reflects the town’s commitment to growth and sustainability.

From Mining to Entrepreneurship: A Town on the Rise

Cochrane’s economy is rapidly evolving, with new business developments, industrial growth, and strategic partnerships fueling expansion. While the town has long been supported by mining and forestry, it is now seeing a surge in homegrown businesses and commercial investment, particularly along Highway 11.

“The business sector is actually changing now,” says Politis. “We’re shifting from the downtown to the highway corridor, and we have a community improvement plan driving that as well.” This shift has led to major commercial developments, including hotels, plazas, and restaurants, positioning Cochrane as a key economic hub in the region.

Local businesses are also thriving, reinforcing Cochrane’s entrepreneurial spirit. “Expedition Group of Companies, which is the largest helicopter company in Northern Ontario and one of the more prominent camp logistics companies, is right on the highway,” Politis states. In addition to Fortier Beverages, he also highlights Dig-A-Lot Services and North Rock Construction, noting, “it started with a loader and now has millions upon millions of dollars of equipment that are serving the mining industry.”

The town is also strengthening economic ties with First Nations communities. “The local First Nations community is looking at establishing businesses in this area to serve not only the mining industry but also their own side companies that are coming off of that,” Politis explains. With a growing industrial sector and strong partnerships, Cochrane is solidifying its place as a leader in Northern Ontario’s economy.

Building for the Future: Infrastructure and Housing Growth

Cochrane has taken a unique approach to infrastructure development, setting itself apart from other small municipalities by owning its own utilities and implementing forward-thinking housing initiatives to accommodate future growth.

“From a commercial standpoint, we have ownership stake in the local phone company and the local electrical distribution company, we provide the electrical power not only for Cochrane, but for the town of Iroquois Falls and Kapuskasing,” says Politis.

“We have a cogeneration plant that is getting back online now too that will be generating green power to a large extent and we’re looking at a micro-grid that will come off of that as well to where we can possibly provide all the power directly to the town. The micro-grid would be us using the cogeneration plant and similar facilities to generate our own power, so we won’t have to actually buy it from OPG (Ontario Power Generation) and then provide it,” he explains.

By maintaining control over these essential services, the town is ensuring greater reliability, affordability, and sustainability in its energy supply.

One of its most ambitious initiatives is the $10 Lot and Property Rebate Program, designed to make homeownership more accessible. “We’ve started a program that’s going to allow us to provide municipal properties to folks who are going to build a home for $10 and offer a municipal property tax credit worth three years of free taxes over a five-year period,” explains Politis. Though the program has yet to officially launch, interest has been overwhelming. “We have well over 4,000 expressions of interest, and we haven’t even launched yet,” he adds.

Infrastructure capacity is another strength. “Our water plant is at 60% capacity, and there’s room for several thousand more homes from a wastewater treatment standpoint,” says Politis. With a 400-lot subdivision already developed, Cochrane is well-positioned to accommodate new residents while maintaining its commitment to affordable, sustainable living.

Bridging the Talent Gap for Long-Term Success

Cochrane recognizes that attracting and retaining a skilled workforce is critical to sustaining its economic and industrial growth. As industries expand, the town is focusing on education, training partnerships, and housing initiatives to support both employers and workers.

“It’s going to be a logistical challenge to ensure we have the labor and the workforce,” says Politis. To address this, the town is working closely with colleges and training institutions to equip workers with in-demand skills, particularly in the trades. “Northern College at Timmins does a terrific job and are focusing on training the trades,” he explains.

Cochrane’s education system is another major draw for families, with four school boards serving the community and providing both French and English public and Catholic education. By fostering a strong education system, Cochrane continues to attract families seeking a high-quality community to call home.

Developers are also playing a role in workforce growth. “Berkshire Hathaway have a lot of different ideas on how they can bring the labor up and get that work done,” Politis states. “It is a chicken and egg thing. You’ve got to drive the excitement for development and you’ve got to create the sense that there’s a development and financial opportunity. Development leads to development,” he adds.

“We’re creating an environment to not only incentivize that opportunity but to provide the easiest path for you to realize that opportunity, which means we’re trying to become less regulatory and more enabling,” Politis explains.

By creating an ideal environment through education, workforce training, and housing expansion, Cochrane is laying the foundation for long-term economic stability and job creation.

Expanding Opportunities While Preserving Community

As Cochrane prepares for significant growth, town leaders are focused on expanding housing, strengthening economic corridors, and maintaining the town’s identity. A newly developed six-pillar strategic plan will guide Cochrane’s future, with priorities including healthcare, infrastructure, way of life, economic development, and communication.

A major focus is the continued development of the Highway 11 corridor, which is driving new business opportunities. “Geographically, we’re very fortunate we’re the cornerstone of Highway 11. We have thousands of vehicles going through our community on a daily basis,” Prevost emphasizes.

Housing remains a top priority, with Politis stressing the need to address the entire housing continuum, from affordable housing to senior living. “We’re working with Habitat for Humanity to pilot new models, including tiny homes and high-density apartments, and allow people who maybe are on the line or just before the line to be able to afford a place to live,” Politis states. This initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure housing remains accessible as the town grows.

While expansion is essential, Cochrane is committed to preserving its small-town charm. By aligning economic expansion with community values, Cochrane is positioning itself as a model for small-town development in Northern Ontario.

A Bright Future for Cochrane

Cochrane is proving that small towns can have big ambitions, blending economic growth, infrastructure expansion, and community-driven initiatives to create a sustainable future.

“We just completed a strategic plan that has six different pillars within our community to guide us over the next number of years,” says Prevost. “My focus will be on growth in housing and commercial development along our Highway 11 corridor.”

Mayor Politis echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that housing remains the town’s top priority. “We need to develop housing to facilitate all of this growth. You can have all these great ideas, but if you can’t house people, you’re not able to realize them,” he states.

As the town continues to evolve, its leadership remains focused on ensuring that Cochrane’s growth is as sustainable as it is ambitious.

At a Glance

Who: The Town of Cochrane.
What: A dynamic northern Ontario community blending industrial strength with strategic economic and infrastructure development.
Where: Cochrane, Ontario.
Website: cochraneontario.com