Sessions from 2016

Dr. John Harding

Thursday, December 15, 2016 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Christmas is a big deal. In the religious pluralism of multicultural Canada, it is the dominant winter holiday. There are tensions between secular and religious aspects of Christmas, as well as debates about the merits of the more inclusive greeting, “Happy Holidays,” rather than “Merry Christmas,” but Buddhist festivities are not poised to replace Christmas in seasonal plays, pageants and concerts. In fact, there is no culture war raging between Buddhism and Christianity.

Andrew Malcolm and Perry Stein

Thursday, December 8, 2016 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Lethbridge is nearing 100,000 residents which offers us a unique moment to reflect on how we grow, protect the environment, celebrate our past and plan for the next 10, 20 and even 30 years. 100k+ conversations is a way of starting thoughtful discussions that will help us understanding the growing needs of our diverse community. We’re growing up and it’s time to talk about our future. 100K+ Conversations feed into the on-going review and update of the City’s Master Plan (the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan / Municipal Development Plan or ICSP/MDP).

Dr. Jack Mintz

Thursday, December 1, 2016 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Governments are taking on assorted policies to reduce carbon emissions including regulations, green subsidies and carbon taxes. Assuming the desirability of reducing GHG emissions, what is Canada’s appropriate policy response? Are governments spending sufficient effort to find least cost effective methods? Dr. Jack Mintz will challenge the current policy framework including that used in Alberta. Speaker: Dr. Jack Mintz Dr. Jack M. Mintz is the President’s Fellow of the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary as of July 1, 2015 after serving as the Palmer Chair and Director since 2008.

Dr. Jack Mintz

Wednesday, November 30, 2016 12:00 PM

Dr. Foster James Penny Building

Governments are taking on assorted policies to reduce carbon emissions including regulations, green subsidies and carbon taxes. Assuming the desirability of reducing GHG emissions, what is Canada’s appropriate policy response? Are governments spending sufficient effort to find least cost effective methods? Dr. Jack Mintz will challenge the current policy framework including that used in Alberta. Speaker: Dr. Jack Mintz Dr. Jack M. Mintz is the President’s Fellow of the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary as of July 1, 2015 after serving as the Palmer Chair and Director since 2008.

Kathleen Sheppard

Thursday, November 24, 2016 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Lethbridge produces more waste than almost any other city in Canada. Since 2010, we have seen a decline in the amount of waste that each person in Lethbridge generates. However, our waste generation remains well above provincial and national averages. In 2014, while the average Albertan created 997 kg of waste and the average Canadian produced 706 kg, Lethbridge residents wasted 1150 kg per person. Where does our waste come from and what are the solutions?

Shannon Frank and Anna Garleff

Wednesday, November 23, 2016 12:00 PM

Lethbridge Public Library

The Oldman Watershed Council is producing a film that will become a signature communication piece for southwest Alberta. The core message is “We are all downstream.” It will not be a typical educational film. Rather, it will create a space for people to have an experience and draw their own conclusions through presentation of the story. The goal of the film is to communicate clearly where water comes from, where it goes and ultimately what happens in between.

Dr. Caroline Hodes

Thursday, November 17, 2016 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Is the judiciary sexist? Should Robin Camp be removed from the bench? Is contrition enough? These are some of the questions that have been raised in response to Justice Robin Camp’s comments and his acquittal of the accused in the 2014 R. v. Wagar sexual assault case. Unfortunately, Robin Camp’s commentary is not an isolated incident nor is it unique in sexual assault cases in Canada. Instead, it underscores what has been characterized as a much broader crisis in confidence in the criminal justice process for survivors of sexual violence.

Jennifer McManus

Thursday, November 10, 2016 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

On May 1, 2016, a wildfire began southwest of Fort McMurray, Alberta. On May 3, it swept through the community, destroying approximately 2,400 homes and buildings and forcing the largest wildfire evacuation in Alberta’s history. It continued to spread across northern Alberta into Saskatchewan, consuming forested areas and impacting Athabasca oil sands operations. The fire spread across approximately 590,000 hectares before it was finally declared to be under control on July 5, 2016.

Dr James Tagg

Thursday, November 3, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

The September 26, 2016 presidential debate between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump drew 84 million U.S. television viewers, a record for such an event and numbers rarely seen on TV in the age of digital streaming and social media. Any true understanding of this election requires an appreciation of the one huge political fault line, arguable nationalists vs. globalists, which is driving America into a period of serious political tremors, certain to jolt the political Richter scale.

Dr. Jo-Anne Fiske

Thursday, October 27, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

A serious criminal act in Lethbridge recently brought to the surface a long simmering discourse of racialized tensions in Lethbridge. When such situations are perpetrated by a person of colour, their whole culture and race are blamed. When a similar situation is perpetrated by a white person, it is seen as an individual act where culture is not held accountable. Seeing each other as individuals is a perspective that is only afforded to the dominant group.

Lesley Little and Garry Ursenbach

Thursday, October 20, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Parks Canada is investing in a new Visitors Centre in Waterton Lakes National Park. A Visitors Centre is a primary service offered in national parks and the current Waterton Lakes Visitors Centre, in its present location, can no longer support the over 400,000 annual visitors adequately. A decision to relocate the Visitors Centre to the often congested “downtown” area of Waterton village has been made despite much local opposition. Parks Canada argues that they engaged a range of stakeholders and leaseholders before the decision was made, including Improvement District #4, the Waterton Lakes Leaseholders Association, the Chamber of Commerce, the Waterton Park Community Association and individual cottage and commercial leaseholders.

Katie Huang

Thursday, October 13, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

It could cost tax payers billions of dollars to clean up the 100,000 plus abandoned oil and gas wells throughout Alberta. However, if used as geothermal energy, many of these wells can be an asset instead of a liability. Abandoned wells can cost $300,000 each to reclaim. Converting those same wells to operate as geothermal greenhouses may be much cheaper and more cost effective. The Living Energy Project at the Leduc #1 Energy Discover Centre is converting an abandoned oil well to capture geothermal energy.

Klaas Den Toom

Thursday, October 6, 2016 1:00 PM

Aquaponics Facility

Following Nick Savidov’s presentation, Current Prairie Fisherman Corp is providing an opportunity for SACPA members to visit a developing aquaponics facility nearby. Tilapia fish are already being produced there which are shipped to the Vancouver market. A large greenhouse is under construction which will work in synergy with the fish growing operation to develop a full-fledged aquaponics system. Driving instructions It is about a 45 minute drive to the aquaponics facility.

Nick Savidov

Thursday, October 6, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Aquaponics is a syntergistic growing technique in which both fish and plants are grown together in the same system. The word aquaponics comes from the combination of aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (growing plants without soil in nutrient rich water). The speaker will argue that aquaponics solves many of the problems and environmental issues associated with aquaculture and hydroponics while retaining the benefits of both. Today’s modern aquaculture systems are great at growing lots of fish in a small area, but produce lots of fish waste that must be dealt with.

Harold Jansen

Thursday, September 29, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Presently, federal elections in Canada use the first past the post (FPTP) system where the candidate with the most votes in a riding becomes its Member of Parliament. As a result, many candidates win their seats with less than 50 per cent of votes. During last year’s election campaign, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau said he would, if elected, create a committee to look at alternatives to the FPTP system and promised that next election, likely in 2019, a new system would be in place.

Leeca Sonnema, Sean Chilton and Nancy Campbell

Tuesday, September 27, 2016 1:00 PM

Lethbridge Public Library

Special panel discussion in partnership with the Lethbridge Public Library On Feb. 6, 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada sent a powerful message heard around the world. In a unanimous decision, the justices of the high court struck down the federal prohibition on physician-assisted dying, finding that the old law violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The decision, which arguably reflects Canadian values of compassion and individual freedom, has already started to reshape the way we think about death and dying.

Cosmos Voutsinos

Thursday, September 22, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Alberta has recently undertaken major changes to our electricity system. The intent is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with climate change, thereby gaining “social license” to facilitate the sale and export of our fossil fuel energy products. There is considerable controversy over the effectiveness of many aspects of proposed changes. The speaker will discuss the need to conduct more long term environmental studies which consider the decades long life cycle of alternative systems before embarking on such major changes.

Ashley Patzer Steacy, Rachel Nicol and Rob Kossuth

Tuesday, September 20, 2016 1:00 PM

Lethbridge Public Library

Panel discussion partnership with Lethbridge Public Library and Lethbridge Herald At the recent summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Canada had its second best showing ever in terms of medals won. Tied with our medal performance at the 1996 Atlanta games, only the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics (boycotted by Russia) were more productive for Canada. While the number of medals won is a measure of success for Canada’s elite athletes and a source of national pride, the larger question can be asked: What is the value to ordinary Canadians in the context of motivating them to live a healthier and more physically active lifestyle?

Belinda Crowson

Thursday, September 15, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Historic persons, places and events are commemorated every day, from plaques and monument to the naming of sites. How are decisions made as to what is commemorated? While this presentation will discuss commemoration in a broader sense, the timing of it coincides with Lethbridge City Council’s recent designation of the Galt Mine No. 6 site near Hardieville in north Lethbridge as a Municipal Historic Resource. The mine got its name from Sir Alexander Galt, who with his son Elliott started the coal mining industry in Lethbridge in the 1880s.

Lorne Fitch, Professional Biologist

Thursday, September 8, 2016 1:00 PM

Lethbridge College

In the business of conservation we are often so intent on staring into the fog called tomorrow, we rarely turn around and look back at the pathway called yesterday stretching behind us. This presentation will use archival images and information to paint a picture of the slippery hordes of native fish in Alberta’s past. The current status of fish populations in the Eastern Slopes cannot be appreciated until we acknowledge where we were, by reviewing historical abundance and distribution.

Thursday, June 23, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Approval of agenda and appointment of Secretary Adoption and discussion of Minutes – June 18, 2015 Annual Reports: Chairperson Finance Committee (Treasurer’s Report and Budget for 2016-2017) Break for lunch at approx.12:30 - 1 pm followed by more reports Program Committee SACPA on Campus Program Committee Policy and Bylaw Committee Administrative Manager Personnel Committee Nomination Committee Appointment of Auditors and discussion on SACPA’s future direction, including an update on our planned 50th anniversary book.

Barbara Silva and Lisa Turner

Thursday, June 16, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Alberta has a complex educational system that includes public schools, charter schools, and private schools. Recent action in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and by some school boards, as well as the current review of legislation, demonstrate a need for a provincial conversation. What makes for an equitable educational system that serves diverse learning needs and provides for quality schooling? Historical reasons for this complexity will be explored detailing the various school systems and how each are funded.

Brian Jean

Thursday, June 9, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Alberta’s official opposition has criticized the recent provincial NDP budget, expressing concern about the huge anticipated provincial deficit. They have called for cuts to provincial staff levels and some programs. Official opposition leader, Brian Jean will speak to this. He will outline the Wildrose Party vision for Alberta and his party’s view on a better fiscal management plan of Alberta’s finances. We will hear where a Wildose government would take Alberta.

Don Harfield

Thursday, June 2, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

The Alberta Biochar Initiative (ABI) was established on December 15, 2011 to develop and demonstrate technologies that will enable the large scale commercial deployment of biochar products and applications for the benefit of Albertans. Significant progress has been made including CFIA approval for Air Terra supplied biochar as a soil supplement, and the development of value added products including activated carbons from biochar. Biochar has particular benefits including the improvement of marginal soils, the reclamation of soils damaged by human activity, and its affinity to adsorb toxic organic extractive compounds from oil sands tailings water and the potential to capture mercury from coal fired power generating stations.

Ric McIver

Thursday, May 26, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Early in April the Alberta Progressive Conservative Caucus launched an initiative, “ENGAGE – A Conversation with Albertans”. ENGAGE will invite Albertans into a conversation about budget, finances and where our province is heading. With low oil prices, increasing budgetary pressures, and job losses in industries across the province, Alberta is experiencing many challenges. ENGAGE will seek public input on a variety of policy issues facing Alberta. Ric McIver will address these issues, and invite response as to future directions for our province.

Harsha Walia

Thursday, May 19, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

The speaker will be discussing the current global refugee crisis and its implications for Canada. What are the root causes of the refugee crisis and how are governments responding? What are the limitations of the current government’s announcement to welcome Syrian refugees? What are the systemic barriers to inclusion, access, permanent residency and full rights and dignity for all migrants, refugees, and migrant workers in Canada? How can we oppose all forms of displacement and affirm the inherent human right to stay, freedom to move, and right to return.

Don McIntyre, Professor of Indigenous Governance and Business Management

Thursday, May 12, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Because the Royal Proclamation of 1763 stated that the Crown must negotiate and sign treaties with the indigenous people before land could be ceded to a colony, the Numbered Treaties were negotiated in most parts of the Prairie Provinces. The Government of the Colony of British Columbia however, largely failed to negotiate treaties and as a result, most of the province’s land is not covered by treaties. The Numbered Treaties (or Post-Confederation Treaties) are a series of eleven treaties signed between the Aboriginal peoples in Canada (or First Nations) and the reigning monarch of Canada from 1871 to 1921.

Mr. David Hill

Thursday, May 5, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

The University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge College are now partners in a project designed to further cooperation between the institutions in the delivery of agriculture-related programming. The agreement is a commitment between the university and college to collectively advance learning, research and innovation opportunities in agriculture and agribusiness, including the development of the Centre for Agricultural Research and Agribusiness Innovation (CARAI) and the implementation of the Cor Van Raay Southern Alberta Agribusiness Program.

Dr. David Swann

Thursday, April 28, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

At some point in the life of every Albertan they are touched by mental illness and addiction. Released in February 2016, an Alberta report (co-authored by Dr. David Swann) on addictions and mental health, highlights the system changes which are critically needed to reduce wait times, improve quality care, and reduce the cost of our current systems of care. Psychiatrists do play a vital role dealing with severe mental illness along with teams of supporting professionals.

Dr. Trevor Harrison

Thursday, April 21, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

It is conventional wisdom in Alberta that bringing in a sales tax would be political suicide, but there is nothing unusual about sales taxes. They are part of the fiscal fabric everywhere else in Canada, many U.S. states, and throughout Europe. A provincial sales tax of five percent could net Alberta $5 billion yearly and still be one of the lowest taxed provinces. The Alberta Taxpayer Protection Act, introduced by Premier Ralph Klein in 1995, states that a referendum must be held before a Provincial Sales Tax can be introduced.

Larry Elford

Thursday, April 14, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Financial mismanagement by financial institutions and brokers is affecting individuals, municipalities, universities, retirement plans and pension funds in Canada. Seniors have been hardest hit since low interest rates have reduced their retirement investment income, forcing them into potentially risky investments. Arguably, there are systemic methods by which Provincial Securities Commissions violate or “exempt” Provincial Securities Act laws for the benefit of investment firms and brokers. This costs Canadians billions of dollars each year and has gone on for years without notice to the investing public.

Constable Dan Shurtz

Thursday, April 7, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

How many times have you answered the phone only to hear a voice telling you that you have won something fabulous. You know it is a scam and you hang up. Fraudsters know that people are getting smarter, so they are becoming craftier and are fine tuning their methods to get our money. Constable Dan Shurtz will alert us to a variety of scams aimed to separate us from our hard earned money: Some of the things he will cover in his talk are: Phishing, Overpayment scams, the CRA scam, the Grandparent scam, the Microsoft scam and Lottery schemes.

Dr. Sienna Caspar

Thursday, March 31, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

The movement away from task-oriented care toward person-centered care (i.e., care based on residents’ individualized care needs and preferences) is considered by many to be essential to both the quality of care and quality of life of people residing in long-term care (LTC) facilities, especially of those who have Alzheimer disease or a related dementia. The consistent provision of person-centered care is widely recognized as the goal of the residential care culture change movement.

Dr. Karin Goodison

Thursday, March 24, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Several hundred people have died from fentanyl overdoses in the past few years and critics have charged that more need to be done to curb that trend. Fentanyl, an opioid painkiller prescribed to relieve chronic, intense pain—like that experienced with cancer—is increasingly being used illegally. Both the prescribed and illegally-manufactured form of the drug are being sold, and sometimes mixed with other illicit drugs like heroin and cocaine. Fentanyl is killing users, at increasingly high rates.

Sarah Amies and Elma Guinto

Thursday, March 17, 2016 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

The recent influx of refugees, mainly from Syria, has kept Lethbridge Family Services (LFS) and their Immigrant Services department plenty busy since before New Year. LFS is expecting up to 240 Government-sponsored Syrian refugees by the end of 2016 in addition to the 40 or so that is privately-sponsored. About half of the expected refugees are in Lethbridge now. A steering committee of community partners including immigration services, education, health, social services, law enforcement and others, including many volunteers, are set up to help transition refugees into the city.

Raj Hari

Thursday, March 10, 2016 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Harassment occurs when a person is subjected to unwelcome verbal or physical conduct. This can include threats and intimidation, one time or over an extended period. When the harassment is based on a protected ground of discrimination, it is contrary to the Alberta Human Rights Act or the Canadian Human Rights Act. In Alberta, protected grounds include race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religious beliefs, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, physical disability, mental disability, marital status, family status, source of income, and sexual orientation.

Maria Fitzpatrick, MLA for Lethbridge East

Thursday, March 3, 2016 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

On June 1, 2015, Alberta’s Bill 10 became law. The content of this bill has twofold implications for policy within school districts. The first impact is that Gay Straight Alliances (GSA’s) must be allowed in any school where students request to have them. The second is that “gender identity” and “gender expression” are now included in Alberta’s Bill of Rights. In December, 2015, those rights were also added to Alberta’s Human Rights Act through Bill 7.

Kristin Krein and Scott Huff

Thursday, February 25, 2016 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Societal responsibility is an ethical framework which suggests that an entity, be it individual, corporate or governmental, has an obligation to act for the benefit of society at large. Societal responsibility is arguable a duty every individual has to perform so as to maintain a balance between the economy and our ecosystem. A trade-off may exist between economic development, in the material sense, and the welfare of the society though this is increasingly being challenged because of pollution and climate change issues.

Petra DeBow

Thursday, February 18, 2016 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Canada’s spanking laws may be heading for an overhaul as part of the government’s promise to adopt all of the recommendations stemming from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. One of the 94 “calls to action” after the six-year inquiry into widespread abuse at residential schools for indigenous children is to repeal section 43 of the Criminal Code. The Canadian Law, under section 43 of the Criminal Code, offers Canadian parents and caregivers a defence to use reasonable force to discipline a child.

Dan Berdusco and Mark Brave Rock

Thursday, February 11, 2016 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

“Where is Home” is a documentary film focused on homelessness and the complex social issues facing the city of Lethbridge, Alberta and many other communities across Canada. The film presents unique perspectives from numerous individuals, including members of the homeless population, municipal government, law enforcement, service providers, doctors, mental health professionals, as well as members of the local business community and the general public. Through these perspectives, the film presents a thoughtful, respectful look at history, the reality of the current situation, and hope for what can be done to make things better for everyone in the future.

Alex Schadenberg

Thursday, February 4, 2016 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

In February 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) ruled that people with “grievous and irremediable medical conditions” have the right to ask a doctor to help them die. The court gave the Federal Government one year to develop new laws and guidelines. Recently, a panel appointed by the previous Conservative Government released a report with recommendations on how to implement physician-assisted death in Canada. The present Liberal Government has yet to act on the SCC directive and were recently given a four month extendtion of the deadline.

Jim Byrne

Thursday, January 28, 2016 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Leading-edge researchers forecast wind, solar and water power will become our primary energy sources. CanGEA, the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association, suggests geothermal energy can be a mainstay in our future energy grid. Ground-based heat pumps, often called geothermal energy exchange, are used to heat and cool many Canadian homes. Deep geothermal energy produces electricity and provides heat derived several thousand metres below the Earth’s surface. Canada has no commercial geothermal power plants, despite CanGEA Reports stating we have abundant potential and expertise.

Abdie Kazemipur

Wednesday, January 27, 2016 12:00 PM

Lethbridge Public Library

The recent wave of terrorist attacks in France, the United States, Canada, and Australia has sent a shockwave throughout the western world, and has triggered a legitimate quest for answers on such questions as: Why are these terrorist attacks happening? Who is at fault here? Who can/should do anything about them, and what is to be done? In the extremely sensationalized and highly politicized environments immediately after such attacks, an array of overly simplistic answers and emotional responses emerge, most of which can only exacerbate the existing problems rather than helping with finding solutions.

Debbie Hubbard

Thursday, January 21, 2016 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) is an initiative under the World Council of Church’s Ecumenical Campaign to end the illegal occupation of Palestine in the Middle East. Its mission is to accompany churches and others in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory in their non-violent actions and concerted advocacy efforts to end the occupation and support a just peace between Israel and Palestine. Participants monitor and report violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, support acts of non-violent resistance alongside local Palestinians of all faiths and Israeli peace activists, offer protection through non-violent presence, engage in public policy advocacy and in general, stand in solidarity with the churches and all those struggling against the occupation.

Mackenzie Becker and Adam Greaves

Thursday, January 14, 2016 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Recent statistics indicate the suicide rate in Alberta has increased dramatically concurrent with mounting job losses across the province. The most recent data indicate that 30 per cent more Albertans took their lives in 2015 compared to 2014. Some attribute this grim statistic to the downturn in oil prices and the economy, but what really lies behind these suicide statistics? What are the causes of depression, and why does Alberta have such a high suicide rate?

Cal Clark

Thursday, January 7, 2016 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Benga Mining Ltd has applied to the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) and Canada Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) for approval to develop a 4 million tonne per year metallurgical coal mine at Grassy Mountain, 8 km north of Blairmore, Alberta. The site of the proposed Grassy Mountain Coal Project is a historical open pit mine that operated from the late 1940’s to the early 1960’s. It will be the first coal mine in the Crowsnest Pass in 50 years and arguable bring much needed economic and social stimulus to the area over an anticipated 20 some years.