A Bit of Fragrance Always Clings to the Hand that Gives you Roses
Brandie Lea ,
Thursday, December 14, 2017 12:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Since 1986, National Philanthropy Day has been celebrated on November 15 in the US following the signing of a proclamation by President Ronald Reagan. In 2013, the Canadian government signed into law a similar proclamation to celebrate November 15 as National Philanthropy Day in Canada. Donating and volunteering of course does not begin nor stop on that day, but it does serve the purpose of drawing attention to the importance of “giving back” to the many causes that increasingly rely on philanthropic assistance.
Should We Sit Less and Stand More? Why Sitting is NOT the New Smoking.
Dr. Jennifer Copeland ,
Thursday, December 7, 2017 12:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Many Canadians are now sitting 9 hours or more per day whether they are part of the work force or retired. There may be health risks associated with “too much sitting”, and this has given birth to the catch phrase, ‘sitting is the new smoking’. A large percentage of today’s jobs require people to work sitting in front of a computer and although increasing numbers now have the option to stand, there is little doubt that a sedentary lifestyle can affect your well-being, especially in your “golden” years.
In what way are Minimum Wage Increases and Changes to the Provincial Labour Code likely to affect Alberta's Economy?
Gil McGowan ,
Thursday, November 30, 2017 12:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Alberta’s minimum wage increased to $13.60 on Oct 1, 2017 and is scheduled for a further hike to $15 on Oct 1, 2018. As well, thanks to recent changes to the provincial Labour Code, it will now be a little easier for workers to exercise their constitutional right to join a union and bargain collectively with their employers. What will that mean for Alberta businesses and workers? Arguably, the people who light their hair on fire about unions are the same ones who said tax cuts for the rich would bring prosperity for everyone (instead, they brought rising inequality); that budget cuts could end recessions (instead, they ended up making them worse); and that de-regulation would strengthen the economy (instead, it brought us things like the global financial crisis of 2008).
Is Privacy a Thing of the Past in Today's Digital World?
James Graham ,
Thursday, November 23, 2017 12:00 PM
Country Kitchen
It is difficult to look at a newspaper, watch TV, listen to the radio, or scan the news on the internet without some reference to personal privacy being compromised. Intrusions into government and private-sector systems have often exposed sensitive information and increasingly, systems are breached with more personal information uncovered. But what happens when this complex network of digital and industrial technologies becomes so fast, so automated and so ubiquitous (everywhere) that we are no longer capable of discerning the differences between public and private, real and fake, human and machine?
Does Lethbridge need a Supervised Site for the Consumption of Harmful Drugs?
Jill Manning ,
Thursday, November 16, 2017 12:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Prompted by a drug related death epidemic that has devastated families across Alberta and indeed Canada, a former night club in Lethbridge is scheduled to become North America’s first supervised inhalation site when it opens early in 2018. To date, this facility is the only one to be granted approval by Health Canada for a site that will permit four types of drug consumption: injection, oral, intranasal and inhalation. ARCHES, the local harm reduction organization that will be operating the facility, currently support about 3,000 clients in Lethbridge and a similar number in rural areas surrounding the city.
Medical Marijuana: What are the Benefits to users and how can they be affected by Legalization of Cannabis in Canada?
Dr. Ife Abiola ,
Thursday, November 9, 2017 12:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Nearly a quarter of a million patients are signed up for medical marijuana in Canada, compared with about 30,000 just two years ago. That number is growing steadily every month, according to Health Canada. Private growers licensed by Health Canada to sell to medical users will also supply the recreational pot market. Many growers are expanding as fast as they can and Health Canada is approving licences more quickly with the department streamlining the procedure for obtaining them and hiring more staff.
Does wireless radiation affect our health: How much do we really know?
Lance Chong ,
Thursday, November 2, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Wireless devices such as cellphones, cordless landline phones, Wi-Fi routers and Bluetooth headphones, are becoming more and more popular. The wireless signals emitted from these devices, mostly in microwave spectrum, are penetrating our living spaces as well as most of the objects surrounding us. Even our newer model doorbells and electricity meters are emitting microwave signals. Wireless technology brings us convenience and the feeling of luxurious accessibility, but there has been a long time concern and more recently, heated debates regarding the impact of microwave radiation on human health.
Did Issues or Personalities Define Lethbridge's 2017 Municipal Election Campaign?
Bonnie Farries ,
Thursday, October 26, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Win, lose or draw is a common phrase in many sports. It can be argued that in municipal elections, that phrase should read win, place or thanks for participating. At the recent 2017 Lethbridge municipal election, 29 candidates for Council and 3 candidates for Mayor put their name forward and while it was difficult for the voting public to properly assess 32 candidates, getting to know what they stood for was nevertheless possible through flyers, forums, electronic surveys, social media and newspaper articles featuring all the individual candidates.
Police Carding: Are Random Street Checks Legal – Warranted?
Miranda Hlady ,
Thursday, October 19, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Carding is the police practice of arbitrarily stopping people in public for identification and questioning. The practice has come under fire as discriminatory and a violation of civil rights. And while some jurisdictions are working to reduce or eliminate this practice, it is arguable still commonplace in Lethbridge and Alberta. Data shows black people may be nine times more likely and Indigenous people five times more likely to be stopped and asked by police to provide identification and other personal information in Lethbridge.
Reforming the Canadian Senate?
Senator Grant Mitchell ,
Thursday, October 12, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
The Senate is going through a period of remarkable change as the institution aims to become more independent, transparent, and accountable and less partisan. A significant part of this modernization process has involved the establishment of a new, non-partisan, merit-based process to advise on Senate appointments. Furthermore, the Government has created a Representative Team in the Senate, consisting of three Independent Senators, to ensure Senate business can be effectively coordinated in Parliament.
Building a Better Society: Is Liberal Education a Fundamental Pillar?
Dr Andrew Hakin ,
Thursday, October 5, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Liberal education and its role in the 21st century do not appear to be widely understood or valued in society as a whole. Many parents and prospective students are attracted to professional programs or applied studies perceiving that they are the best routes for gainful employment. The University of Lethbridge is committed to a strong liberal education program at the undergraduate level but needs to modernize and remodel the program and communicate the uniqueness of its approach and the positive outcomes of such an education.
Hell, High Water, and High Hopes
Dr. Kent Peacock ,
Thursday, September 28, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Hurricanes, typhoons, killer heat waves, droughts, floods, wildfires — these things seem to be getting worse all the time. Are these events caused by global warming? Or are they just bad weather? Climate scientists are careful to explain that one cannot attribute any particular storm or wildfire to climate change alone. But there is strong evidence that global warming is steadily increasing the chance that the intensity and sometimes the frequency of such disasters will occur.
The 2017 Lethbridge Municipal Election Forums for Mayor
Municipal Election Candidates ,
Wednesday, September 27, 2017 1:00 PM
Lethbridge Public Library
Read up on your canddiates by heading over to https://www.lethbridgeaccountability.ca Check out the live coverage of the SACPA municipal councillor candidate forum https://globalnews.ca/news/3769831/watch-live-2017-lethbridge-municipal-election-forum-for-councillors The 2017 Lethbridge Municipal Election Forum for Mayoralty Candidates The SACPA forum for mayoralty candidates is scheduled for Wednesday, September 27, at the Lethbridge Public Library Theatre Gallery 7 – 9 pm This forum is organized by SACPA in coordination with Lethbridge Public Library Please plan to attend this forum.
The 2017 Lethbridge Municipal Election Forums for Councillors
Municipal Election Candidates ,
Tuesday, September 26, 2017 1:00 PM
Fritz Sick Senior Centre
Read up on your canddiates by heading over to https://www.lethbridgeaccountability.ca Check out the live coverage of the SACPA municipal councillor candidate forum https://globalnews.ca/news/3769831/watch-live-2017-lethbridge-municipal-election-forum-for-councillors The 2017 Lethbridge Municipal Election Forum for City Councillor Candidates The SACPA forum for councillor candidates is scheduled for Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at Fritz Sick Senior Centre, 420 – 11 Street South, Lethbridge from 6:30 – 9:30 pm Please plan to attend this forum. It will be conducted using both formulated and audience questions.
Is a less partisan Canadian Senate likely to be more effective?
The Honourable Pamela Wallin, O.C., S.O.M ,
Thursday, September 21, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
At a time when The House of Commons, The Senate and all institutions generally are facing criticism, it can be argued that the long awaited reform of the Canadian Senate couldn’t come at a better time. Indeed, a group of Senators are working on reforms to make the institution less partisan and more effective. The initiative is still being defined and obviously not everyone agrees with recommended changes. However, in the face of public disillusionment with the Senate, bold and decisive reform seems appropriate.
Is the City of Lethbridge responding adequately to Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommendations?
Roy Pogorzelski ,
Thursday, September 14, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
In December 2015, Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) released their 94 “Calls to Action” calling on all forms of government to begin the process of Reconciliation. The Lethbridge Indigenous Sharing Network (LISN), which is a network of Urban Indigenous Agencies, came together to start discussing Urban Indigenous issues in Lethbridge. In 2016, Alberta Culture and Community Spirit and Native Counselling Services, led the LISN through a series of strategic planning sessions, which resulted in the creation of a community based “Urban Indigenous Community Plan”.
From a historical perspective, what is likely to happen following the recent deadly violence in Charlottesville involving White Nationalists?
Dr. Lynn Kennedy ,
Thursday, September 7, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
During a white nationalists protest rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA on August 12, 2017, a 20-year-old man allegedly accelerated his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing a woman, Heather Heyer, and wounding many others. This particular conflict over the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert Lee from Charlottesville had been brewing for months, but since the founding of the nation, racial tensions have been present. It can be argued that the confrontation by the white nationalists in Charlottesville, where Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia in 1819, was not a fluke as this is the tension the city was founded on and it has long been an ideological battleground.
2017 Annual General Meeting of Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs
SACPA ,
Thursday, June 29, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Approval of agenda and appointment of Secretary Adoption and discussion of Minutes – June 23, 2016 Annual Reports: Chairperson Finance Committee and Treasurer’s Report and Budget for 2017-2018 Program Committee Break for lunch at approx.12:30 - 1 pm followed by more reports SACPA on Campus Program Committee Policy and Bylaw Committee Administrative Manager Personnel Committee Nomination Committee 50th Anniversary Committee Appointment of Auditors and discussion on new ideas and SACPA’s future direction.
How can the 'BikeMaps.org' project improve your bike riding experience?
Karen Laberee ,
Thursday, June 22, 2017 1:00 PM
Lethbridge Public Library
BikeMaps.org is a project that collects reports about cycling collisions and related data and presents the information on an interactive online map and through visualized data (bar charts). More importantly, it also provides information about near-misses, hazards, and bicycle thefts. What makes BikeMaps.org so interesting is that in addition to the official police reports, it collects information provided by cyclists themselves. This is valuable because the data provided by police reports are often very limited and don’t show everything happening on the road and trails.
At its Roots, is Racism a Generational and Social Tendency?
Dr. Linda Many Guns ,
Thursday, June 22, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Racism is a serious world-wide issue and recently it was on display in Lethbridge, proving that racism is still alive in this community, despite efforts on many fronts to the contrary. Grad students from a local high school organized a “Cowboys and Indians” themed graduation party held off campus and images of students wearing headdresses, war paint and feathers was shared on social media. Many indigenous peoples were upset by the theme and event, which they say illustrates the brutal history of colonization and minimizes the importance of indigenous cultures.
China's Global Reach
Gordon Houlden ,
Thursday, June 15, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
SACPA is proud to present this session as part of the Gordon Campbell Memorial Speaker Series. China is achieving Great Power status based on its economic prowess, its political clout and its increasingly capable military. With the US under President Trump seemingly less willing to lead, China has shown a willingness to take onto itself a much more prominent role. President Xi Jingping and President Trump have, surprisingly, found much common ground, both on trade issues, but also in dealing with the dangerous question of North Korea’s nuclear and missile capability.
China's Global Reach
Gordon Houlden ,
Thursday, June 15, 2017 1:00 PM
Dr. Foster James Penny Building
China is achieving Great Power status based on its economic prowess, its political clout and its increasingly capable military. With the US under President Trump seemingly less willing to lead, China has shown a willingness to take onto itself a much more prominent role. President Xi Jingping and President Trump have, surprisingly, found much common ground, both on trade issues, but also in dealing with the dangerous question of North Korea’s nuclear and missile capability.
Canada: Long a Refugee Haven – a Model for Other Countries?
Dr. Susan McDaniel ,
Thursday, June 8, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Canada has a long and sometimes forgotten history of accepting refugees dating back to its founding. This history connects with present-day refugee approaches and challenges that are in contrast with the emerging policies and attitudes south of our border and in many other countries. It is not only Canada’s reliance on a provision in the 1976 Immigration Act that allows for groups of individuals to privately sponsor refugees that makes Canada a possible model for other countries, but our distinction as an accepting and supportive home for refugees.
Drug Addiction, Crime and the role of the Police Service in Harm Reduction
Rob Davis, Lethbridge Police Chief ,
Thursday, June 1, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
As police services struggle to address addictions and spin-off crime, it has become clear the days of a law and order-only approach are over. Crime and disorder are the effect, not the cause and while the concept of harm reduction may seem contrary to the fundamental principles of law enforcement, the reality is we cannot arrest our way out of this situation. There will always be a need for traditional proactive and reactive policing, but it’s important for the public to understand that only about 20 per cent of the incidents police deal with are actually criminal in nature.
Lethbridge College at 60: Past, Present and Future Challenges and Opportunities
Dr. Paula Burns ,
Thursday, May 25, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
A number of factors contributed to the creation of Canada’s first public community college here in Lethbridge. A growing population, the prosperity of post-war southern Alberta with the size and wealth of the City, and the lack of post-secondary educational opportunities in the southern part of the province all factored into the formation of Lethbridge Junior College as it opened in 1957 with 38 students enrolled for classes in space leased at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute high school.
U of L at 50: Past, Present and Future Challenges and Opportunities
Dr. Mike Mahon ,
Thursday, May 18, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
From its humble beginning at Lethbridge College in 1967 with 825 undergraduate students, the University of Lethbridge is now home to over 8400 students, including graduate students, at its campuses in Lethbridge and Calgary. The growth has been fairly steady – almost 4300 students at its 25th anniversary – but heavily driven by students from afar, particularly Calgary. Founded on the principals of a liberal education, U of L still aspires to that ideal and recently just approved a new School of Liberal Education.
Civil War, Bloodshed and Refugees: Why did it happen in Syria and why did it go so Horrible Wrong?
Mohammad Abushaban ,
Thursday, May 11, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
As the Syrian conflict enters its seventh year, almost half a million Syrians have been killed in the fighting, more than a million injured and nearly half the country’s prewar population of 25 million have been displaced from their homes. What became known as the “Arab Spring” in 2011, toppled presidents of Tunisian, Egypt, Libya, Yemen and is ongoing. Peaceful protests also erupted in Syria, but the Syrian government, led by President Bashar al-Assad, responded to the protests by killing hundreds of demonstrators and imprisoning many more.
web-link live conversation with Edward Snowden
Edward Snowden ,
Tuesday, May 9, 2017 1:00 PM
University of Lethbridge
The University of Lethbridge is pleased to present a special live conversation via web-link with the former American intelligence officer and whistleblower Edward Snowden. The U of L is joining with the University of Winnipeg and Brandon University to present this unique and engaging opportunity. The University of Lethbridge School of Liberal Education presentation with Edward Snowden takes place Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at 4:45 pm in the University Theatre. The doors open at 4:30 pm, with the program to begin at 4:45 pm.
Uniting Alberta's Wildrose and PC Parties: What are the Obstacles?
Dr. Duane Bratt ,
Thursday, May 4, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Former MP and federal Conservative cabinet minister Jason Kenney became the new leader of Alberta’s Progressive Conservative (PC) Party on March 18, 2017. Kenney ran on a platform to unite Alberta conservatives by dissolving the PC Party and creating a single right-wing party under a new constitution combining with the Wildrose Party of Alberta. Wildrose Leader Brian Jean has roughly the same goal as Kenney but may differ on how to get there.
What are the Barriers & Strengths of Today's Newcomer Youth?
Douhouk Dabbas & Kristina Larkin ,
Thursday, April 27, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Our city and communities continue to welcome newcomer youth from around the world. These young people embody unique barriers and strengths, and bring their experiences to the systems that operate in our community. To support the healthy development and active participation of newcomer youth, we must listen to the stories of youth’s experiences and hopes for their new lives and examine our work and actions as a community. Newcomer youth bring with them a variety of strengths including incredible resilience, unique skills and interests, as well as being emergent multilinguals.
Can Genomics and Big Data Help Feed Cattle Much More Efficiently?
Dr. Erasmus Okine ,
Thursday, April 20, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
In the ever-changing landscape of Canadian agriculture, efficiency is the new buzzword. If cattle feeding efficiency can be increased by about five per cent, Alberta livestock producers can save approx. $100 million a year, even if only one-third of them adopt those efficiency improvements. With about three billion people moving into the middle class in emerging economies like China and India, the demand for meat is likely to increase substantially over the next decades.
Cuts to Public Service or Deficit Financing: What are Alberta's best Options?
Dr. Chris Nicol ,
Thursday, April 13, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
The Alberta NDP government’s 2017 budget was presented on March 16 and projects a $10.3 billion deficit this year on revenue of $45 billion. While the budget will see Alberta go further into the red, despite its implementation of a carbon levy, it also promises hospital spending, new schools and other infrastructure along with more money for seniors and social services. Opposition leaders have loudly been calling for the government to curb pending, saying that the cost of a growing debt load will handicap future generations unfairly.
Bill 6, the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act: How's it Working?
Mike Rappel, CRSP, EMT-P (ret), OHS Officer ,
Thursday, April 6, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Bill 6, the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act: How’s it Working? On December 10, 2015, the Government of Alberta passed Bill 6, the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act. Bill 6, much of it implemented on Jan 1, 2016, has generated considerable controversy in the Province. Bill 6 repeals the exemptions for farm and ranch workers that are found in a range of legislation. Generally speaking, Bill 6 affects four aspects of the employment relationship: general working conditions, the right to organize, worker safety, and WCB coverage for non-family workers by repealing earlier exemptions.
Beyond the Binary: What can the West learn from Non-Western Approaches to Gender Diversity?
Dr. Paul Vasey ,
Thursday, March 30, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
In many cultures, worldwide, more than two genders are recognized. In such places, individuals exist that are perceived as being neither men, nor women. Instead, such individuals are recognized as “third” genders. The speaker works in two such cultures. Since 2003, he has conducted research in the south Pacific island nation of Samoa, where feminine same-sex attracted males are recognized as a third gender, known locally as fa’afafine. Since 2015, he has worked in the Istmo region of Oaxaca, Mexico, where feminine same-sex attracted males are recognized as a third gender, known locally by the indigenous Zapotec as muxes.
Fair Climate Policy for Canada: Let's Follow the Science
F. Larry Martin ,
Thursday, March 23, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Canada’s economy and energy independence relies heavily on the fossil fuels we extract within our own national borders. However, our global environmental reputation has allegedly taken a hit over the past few decades as CO2 emissions per capita have the singular focus for environmentalists. As a result, we have been labeled everything from “corrupt petro state” to “colossal fossil” for our perceived inaction on climate change. Now, the governments of Canada and Alberta have opted for carbon taxation in order to fight climate change embarrassment.
Fair Climate Policy for Canada: Let's Follow the Science
F. Larry Martin ,
Wednesday, March 22, 2017 1:00 PM
Dr. Foster James Penny Building
Canada’s economy and energy independence relies heavily on the fossil fuels we extract within our own national borders. However, our global environmental reputation has allegedly taken a hit over the past few decades as CO2 emissions per capita have the singular focus for environmentalists. As a result, we have been labeled everything from “corrupt petro state” to “colossal fossil” for our perceived inaction on climate change. Now, the governments of Canada and Alberta have opted for carbon taxation in order to fight climate change embarrassment.
Using Virtual Reality Technology: What are the Benefits and Risks?
Kris Hodgson ,
Thursday, March 16, 2017 1:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Virtual reality (VR) typically refers to computer technologies that use software to generate the realistic images, sounds and other sensations that replicate a real environment, and simulate a user’s physical presence in this environment. VR can be defined as a realistic and immersive simulation of a three-dimensional environment, created using interactive software and hardware, and experienced or controlled by movement of the body or as an immersive, interactive experience generated by a computer.
The Wonder of You: What Near-Death Experiences Tells You about Yourself
Lynn K Russell ,
Monday, March 13, 2017 1:00 PM
Lethbridge Public Library
After researching 2,500 cases of near-death experiences (NDE’s), the speaker will share the in-depth understandings she has gained. Through her research she discovered deeply hidden messages about the world, life and the paths we all travel. During her research she uncovered marvelous stories she wants to share with others from her recent book THE WONDER OF YOU: What the Near-Death Experience Tells You about Yourself The speaker will offer answers to the questions, “What is our reality and why do we exist?
Has the Recognition, Celebration and Actions of International Women's Day Inspired Equality?
Glenda Bonifacio and Caroline Hodes ,
Thursday, March 9, 2017 12:00 PM
Country Kitchen
The first International Women’s Day (IWD) was observed on March 19, 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. More than one million women and men showed their support of women by participating in public events. In 1977, following the long-standing movements for women to participate equally in society, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed a day for women’s rights and international peace. Following the United Nations’ lead, Canada chose March 8 as IWD and it has grown to become a global day of recognition, celebration and action.
What Parameters should be Considered in Drafting a Management Plan for the Castle and Wildland Provincial Parks?
Andrea Hlady and Connie Simmons ,
Thursday, March 2, 2017 12:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Many Albertans identify with wild landscapes and in southwestern Alberta, the Castle region is iconic. The struggle for protection dates back more than a century, when the young government of Canada set aside much of the Eastern Slopes in Alberta as a forest reserve to protect water sources and to benefit future generations on the Prairies. For several decades in earlier times, the Castle was part of Waterton Lakes National Park.
The Student Speaker Challenge
Students ,
Wednesday, March 1, 2017 12:00 PM
University of Lethbridge
Canadian Values: What are They? The eight annual Student Speaker Challenge will kick off on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 with a total of eight students competing in this year’s event, addressing the wide-ranging and emotional topics of what “Canadian Values” are. Round 1: What are Canadian values? Round 2: How are social movements evolving? Round 3: Is democracy working? Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA), Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group (LPIRG) and University of Lethbridge Student Union (ULSU) are collaborating to supply financial and promotional support for this annual Student Speaker Challenge in addition to the encouragement University of Lethbridge provides.
At what Cost will Renewables and Natural Gas keep the Lights on in Alberta after Phasing out Coal?
David Gray ,
Thursday, February 23, 2017 12:00 PM
Country Kitchen
There are two stories from Alberta that illustrate the unintended consequences of utilities trying to beat the returns available from full regulation. One is the story of the phase-out of coal-fired generation. The other is the story of the treatment of regulatory assets that are not used and useful. In both cases, utilities have sought to get better than normal returns but are now paying the price for the chain of events they set in motion.
At what Cost will Renewables and Natural Gas keep the Lights on in Alberta after Phasing out Coal?
David Gray ,
Thursday, February 23, 2017 12:00 PM
Dr. Foster James Penny Building
There are two stories from Alberta that illustrate the unintended consequences of utilities trying to beat the returns available from full regulation. One is the story of the phase-out of coal-fired generation. The other is the story of the treatment of regulatory assets that are not used and useful. In both cases, utilities have sought to get better than normal returns but are now paying the price for the chain of events they set in motion.
What does the Future Hold in Terms of New Job Opportunities?
Dr. Richard Mueller ,
Thursday, February 16, 2017 12:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Disappearing jobs have become a major political issue in recent years, and clearly a factor in the election of Donald Trump in the recent US presidential election. As automation and globalization continue to wipe out many conventional jobs, politicians, voters and the general public wonder where the jobs of the future will come from. The speaker will weigh in on what strategies governments and businesses could adopt to tackle these issues from the perspective of current economic realities.
What Makes an Airport Fly? Is Air Service to and from Lethbridge Suffering from "Small Airport Mentality"?
Dale Leier ,
Thursday, February 9, 2017 12:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Lethbridge faces many challenges in regards to its airport. At one time, when governments owned and operated airports, and regulated air service levels, a small city could count on being served under all circumstances. In the deregulated world however, lower prices tend to prevail. This also means carriers must pay very close attention to their revenues and expenses while the same hold true for the airports they fly into. Much has been made of the availability of cheap flights from Great Falls and the frequency of flights from Calgary.
Neo-Liberalism, Trump, and the Return of Populism
Dr. Trevor Harrison ,
Thursday, February 2, 2017 12:00 PM
Country Kitchen
The recent US election, following on the heels of the UK’s referendum on Brexit and the rise of right-wing movements throughout Europe, has been widely attributed to a rise in populism. This talk examines the concept of populism in its various historic manifestations, while also situating its recent reemergence within the theoretical tradition of Karl Polanyi’s work on the politically destabilizing nature of self-regulating markets, a.k.a., the thirty year experiment known as neo-liberal globalization.
Racism Post-Conflict; Reflections on Japanese-Canadian Experiences 75 years after their Internment
George Takashima ,
Thursday, January 26, 2017 12:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Before WW II, Japanese people had long suffered the sting of racism in Canada. Ever since the first Japanese person, a man named Manzo Nagano, stepped ashore in 1877 at New Westminster, white settlers in British Columbia tried to exclude people whom they considered to be “undesirables.” In so doing, they passed laws to keep Japanese people from working in the mines, to prevent them from voting and to prohibit them from working on provincially funded projects.
Why Doesn't Lethbridge have a Performing Arts Centre? A Vision for a Cultural Future
Dawn Leite ,
Thursday, January 19, 2017 12:00 PM
Country Kitchen
The City of Lethbridge Capital Improvement Program, or CIP, is a plan that identifies required capital projects and provides a planning schedule and financing plan. The City of Lethbridge is currently in the process of planning for its next CIP (2018-2027) and has identified there is only $5.5 million available for community projects. The Performing Arts Centre Advocacy Group (PACAG) is working to ensure the Performing Arts Centre remains on the next CIP.
Vital Signs: Taking the Pulse of Southwestern Alberta
Charleen Davidson ,
Thursday, January 12, 2017 12:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Have you ever wondered what some of the big issues in southwestern Alberta are? With its annual Vital Signs report, the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta presents important issues, topics, and themes in six key impact areas. The Community Foundation uses Vital Signs to build local knowledge, set strategic priorities, inform granting, and connect donors with causes close to their hearts. One of the issues identified in this year’s report is the high rate of interpersonal violence in Alberta, the highest in the country, and the resulting demand on local women’s emergency shelters, which are increasingly forced to turn away women and children in distress due to a lack of space.
U of L at 50: How did the University End up Being Built in the Coulees across the River?
Michael Perry ,
Thursday, January 5, 2017 12:00 PM
Country Kitchen
Many factors played into the 1968 decision to build U of L’s new campus in what is now West Lethbridge. University administration, faculty, students and the City of Lethbridge all agreed the west-side location was well suited and autonomous from their temporary Junior College campus home. The Provincial Government however, did not agree and instead proposed a City referendum to determine where the university campus should be build. Student activists in particular fought that idea and took to the streets protesting in front of Lethbridge’s MLA.