For Immediate Release
Cochrane, AB, Canada
May 6, 2026

In celebration of Mental Health Week (May 4-10, 2026), Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre joins with efforts in Cochrane and across the country to celebrate and highlight the importance of taking care of our mental health – this week, and all year round.

With funding support from the Cochrane Home Treasures Community Grant Program, and in partnership with Bike Cochrane, Mount St. Francis has installed new interpretive panels along Brother Sun trail on the iconic big hill. The panels focus on mental and spiritual health, the benefits of being active, and the impact of being outside. The panels are located beside new benches, ideal for taking time for reflection and enjoying the view.

“Our mission is to be a place of peace, healing, and prayer for all. We believe a natural space to encourage thoughtful reflection is useful not just for our retreatants, but also for the entire community. Thoughtful interpretive panels along with benches have made the trails established in 2024 even better”, said Leah Perrault, who is the Executive Director at Mount St Francis Retreat Centre.

The Brother Sun and Sister Moon trail names are tied to the St Francis of Assisi hymn Canticle of Creatures.  In this hymn, St Francis calls out all creatures, whether minerals, plants, or animals, as siblings to praise their Creator.  The beauty of this space allows all to enjoy this gift.  This year, Bike Cochrane will add the Secret Ravine Trail that goes down into town to its maintained trail network.

Through a formal Trail Stewardship Agreement established in 2022, Bike Cochrane has been volunteering hundreds of hours in building, upgrading and maintaining Brother Sun and Sister Moon trails and assisting on other projects on behalf of the Retreat Centre.  Bike Cochrane’s Trail Director Paul Perrault commented, “We are so honoured to work with Mount St Francis on this project.  These trails access some of the most beautiful terrain in the Cochrane area, and we’re thrilled that the Friars have allowed public access to their private land.  We all have a responsibility for respectful use and Bike Cochrane is pleased to be a part of expanding trail access to all Cochranites.” Bike Cochrane’s Trail Steward for Mount St Francis Ryan Sheehan added, “The Mount St Francis land is special.  It is a privilege to work towards these common goals alongside the Retreat Centre and we look forward to continuing this relationship and the projects we are doing together.”

While much of the Mount St Francis Retreat Centre’s 500-acre property is closed for silent retreat activities and spiritual growth, they’ve opened public trails on both the sunny southern bench of the Big Hill, along with a beautiful creekside trail along the Bighill Creek (see map). St. Francis was deeply moved by the presence of God in nature, and the Franciscan Friars at Mount St. Francis want the community to have the opportunity to enjoy these beautiful places on the land.

Although there isn’t a parking area that services these two trails, using the Cochrane Ranche or Cochrane Ranche House parking lot and trailhead allows access to this area along the Cochrane Ranche Trails and then up the new Sunterra Trail 1 trail to the Cochrane cemetery road.

Trail users are required to stay on marked trails and obey all trail signs.  Due to the friars’ silent retreats, well-behaved pets are permitted only ON leash, and both trail running, walking, and biking are permitted activities.  Any trail issues and fallen trees can be reported to trails@bikecochrane.com.

Community members are invited to use the trails as part of their ongoing mental, physical and spiritual wellness. Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre also has regular retreat programming – from a spiritual perspective and serving the recovery community with 12-step retreats. “We welcome anyone looking for rest and silence to join us for programs at the Retreat Centre,” said Br. Guylain Prince, one of the Friars who serves on the Retreat Team. “I have also started a free Tuesday evening program called Journeying into Silence: Christian Contemplative Prayer. I welcome anyone who wants to learn more to join us at 7 pm any Tuesday that works for you.”

To learn more about the retreats, please contact Mount St Francis Retreat Centre at 403.932.2012 or review the Retreat Calendar at www.mountstfrancis.ca.  If you are interested in supporting these trails, please consider supporting the Mount St Francis Retreat Centre through a charitable donation here: https://mountstfrancis.ca/donations-and-payments/.

Images follow below. For further questions, contact:

Leah Perrault, Executive Director
Mount St Francis Retreat Centre
executivedirector@mountstfrancis.ca
403.932.2012 x 107
306.291.3458 (cell)