Sessions from 2018

Constable James DeMone and PSD Arco

Thursday, December 20, 2018 12:00 PM

Legion

The Canine Unit is an integral part of the Lethbridge Police Service. Agility, obedience, tracking, building searches, compound/area searches, evidence searches, criminal apprehension and drug detection are the main components of training a PSD (Police Service Dog) for the Lethbridge Police Service. They provide an element to police work that you can’t get anywhere else and in some cases, the PSD’s have the first interaction with subjects engaging in criminal activity, taking on a dangerous role for their human partners.

Maral Kiani Tari

Thursday, December 13, 2018 12:00 PM

Legion

Since 1982 the Lethbridge Food Bank has been operated in the community of Lethbridge and serving the surrounding area with a “food share” program. Lethbridge, is home to nearly 100,000 people and growing, making the Lethbridge Food Bank an important part of a vibrant community to ensure a food security resource for families in need. As a non-profit organization, donations from individuals and businesses are essential. During the fall of 2017, The Lethbridge Food Bank, in partnership with My City Care, began the Mindful Munchies program, providing students in need, nutritional food items to help them succeed in the classroom.

Bramwell Strain, Lethbridge City Manager

Thursday, December 6, 2018 12:00 PM

Legion

The City of Lethbridge use the council-manager form of city government i.e. city council makes laws and broad policy decisions for a city manager and staff to carry out. In other words, under the council-manager form of government a city manager fills the role of chief executive officer (CEO) of the government organization. Like a private sector CEO does for a private company, a city manager oversees the day-to-day operations of a city and serves as the chief advisor to city council.

David Kahn

Thursday, November 29, 2018 12:00 PM

Legion

Many Albertan worry about public spending, deficits and a growing debt. Does balancing the books in Alberta hinge on building pipelines to tidewater or are there other ways to achieve that goal? Are the present provincial Government’s budget predictions unrealistic? The speaker will articulate his and the Alberta Liberal Party views on deficits, pipelines, economic development, opioids and Alberta politics. David Kahn will further talk about his vision for the Alberta Liberals and argue that corporate and union donations to PACs should be barred, restrictions on out-of-province donations and setting donation limits for individuals.

Katharina Stevens, Geoffrey Capp and James Linville

Monday, November 26, 2018 12:00 PM

Lethbridge Public Library

For example, in late 2017, the Canadian government announced changes to its Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program that sparked debate over the program’s constitutionality. CSJ is a funding subsidy designed to provide students with summer work opportunities. Under the program’s new changes, organizations applying for the funding—small businesses, non-profits, and other community organizations—were required to check a box online that attested that both their core mandate and proposed summer job respected the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms [Charter] as well as “other rights.

Rudy Friesen and Michael Wuchterl

Monday, November 26, 2018 12:00 PM

Exhibition Park

For 120 years, the Lethbridge & District Exhibition has provided programming and facilities focused on agricultural, social, entertainment, cultural and economic needs of Lethbridge and Southern Alberta. Over this time the population of the area has increased dramatically and while facilities/programming have been added at Exhibition Park trying to keep pace, arguably, present buildings are old and inadequate. The Board of Directors of Lethbridge & District Exhibition approved an exciting new development plan for Exhibition Park.

Amy Spark and Jodi Lammiman

Thursday, November 22, 2018 12:00 PM

Legion

Grieving the loss or change of a cherished natural space has not always been recognized as a true form of grieving. For example, the grief First Nations Peoples in USA and Canada experienced after losing their way of life in the wake of colonization, was generally not recognized as ecological grief. Wildfires and summers filled with smoke, devastating floods and subtle changes in the seasons seems to be the new normal and following recent IPCC reports, ecological grief is now starting to become recognized as a legitimate form of mourning and anxiety.

Dr. Alina Turner, Kimberly Lyall and Michael Boh

Thursday, November 15, 2018 12:00 PM

Legion

In March 2018, the City of Lethbridge Community Social Development (CSD) Business Unit launched a Strategic Planning Initiative that will provide the comprehensive research-based social assessment required to identify Lethbridge’s priority social issues, identify Lethbridge’s range of social supports and services, bring this information to community, and inform the revisions of the City’s CSD’s 5 Year strategic plan. Project completion is targeted for early 2019, and will support the development of the City of Lethbridge 2019-20 CBO Service Delivery Plan.

Larry Elford

Thursday, November 8, 2018 12:00 PM

Legion

It can be argued there are Polite Crimes versus Impolite Crimes, Visible Crimes versus Invisible Crimes, and Crimes we can openly discuss, versus Crimes that cannot be discussed. Some crimes we intentionally ignore and instead blame the victims. Twice recently, the speaker heard the quote, “We cannot arrest our way out of the addiction problems in Southern Alberta”, once by the Chief of Police and recently repeated by an emergency room physician speaking to SACPA.

Devon Hargreaves and Jenn Takahashi

Thursday, November 1, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

Conversion therapy, sometimes referred to as reparative therapy or the ex-gay movement, is the pseudoscientific practice of trying to change an individual’s sexual orientation from queer (used here as an umbrella term for members of the LGBTQ+ rainbow) to heterosexual using psychological, physical, and/or spiritual interventions. Examples of this range from ‘talk therapy,’ to, on the extreme end, rape. Historically, lobotomies and electroshock treatments were utilized, among others. To date, only the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba—by legal statute and health regulation, respectively—have made any effort to ban conversion therapy in Canada.

Sofie Forsstrom, Joanna Skrajny, Gary Clark and Lorne Fitch

Monday, October 29, 2018 1:00 PM

Lethbridge Public Library

Are the Proposed Restrictions and Bans Appropriate for Off Highway Vehicle Riders Using Alberta’s Public Lands? In May 2018, the provincial government released long-term plans for the Livingstone-Porcupine Hills area, a vast region of mountains, foothills, valleys, rivers and creeks covering almost 2000 square kilometres in southwest Alberta. The area has been heavily used by ranchers, industry, off-road vehicle riders, campers and hikers. It’s also home to endangered species such as grizzly bears and native cutthroat trout.

Dr. Chris Kukucha

Thursday, October 25, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

The last minute new trade agreement among Mexico, Canada and the United States, the so-called USMCA, made headlines in late September. But beneath those headlines, the difference the agreement could mean for those countries are likely to be minimal. The difficult negotiating issues – Canada’s dairy market/supply management, intellectual property, and the dispute settlement mechanism between member countries as well as investors - have been controversial since the inception of NAFTA in 1994 and even earlier

Julie Young, Kamrul Islam, Celeste Barns and Pascal Ghazalian

Monday, October 22, 2018 1:00 PM

Lethbridge Public Library

Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy has invited SACPA to co-sponsor this public panel discussion, which will focus on issues such as Trade, Climate Change, Borders as well as Refugees and Asylum Seekers. The panel members will explain their views on the topics, followed by audience Q & A Speakers: Julie Young, Ph.D. Kamrul Islam, Ph.D. Celeste Barns, Graduate Student and Pascal Ghazalian, Ph.D. Moderator: Susan McDaniel Date: Monday, October 22, 2018

Steve Hypolite and Maurice Hollingsworth

Thursday, October 18, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

With 260 km/h maximum sustained wind speeds, Category 5 Hurricane Maria tore through Dominica on September 18, 2017, causing mass destruction and directly affecting some 73,000 people (the entire population). Sixty-five deaths in Dominica were attributed to Hurricane Maria. Critical infrastructure - including schools, hospitals, electrical lines, houses, public buildings and government offices, and private structures key to the economy and people’s livelihoods - was significantly damaged. Beyond the immediate impact in Dominica, the 2017 hurricane season highlighted existing gaps in the overall disaster preparedness and resilience levels - as well as forcing queries on north/south responsibilities.

Fuad Abboud and Mark Ayyash

Thursday, October 11, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

What will it take to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict? Why did the peace negotiations fail? Is the Palestine-Israel conflict beyond a negotiated solution? Is it time for a new approach? In this talk, Mark Ayyash will give the history of the conflict and Fuad Abboud will talk about Israeli law and how it has impacted the Palestinians. During more than twenty years of peace negotiations, not much have been accomplished. Through it all, Israeli settlements has escalated on occupied land and many Palestinian political adversaries are held behind bars.

Dr. Sean Wilde MD, CCFP-EM

Thursday, October 4, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

As our city continues to grapple with a growing crisis of drug abuse and seeks solutions to address addiction and its associated negative effects on the community, it may be helpful to take a step back and review some of the root causes of addiction and why this insidious disease is so challenging to treat. From the perspective of someone who has worked in the local emergency department during the onset and evolution of the current opioid crisis, we look at some of the challenges experienced and insights gained in working with this high-risk population.

Robert Harvie, Cyndi Starzyk-Frey and Harvey Labuhn

Thursday, September 27, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

Divorce is hard. It just is. Even an amicable divorce is a traumatic experience – and where conflict exists, that trauma is magnified. What “was” no longer “is”, and what tomorrow brings is uncertain and frightening – for both parties. So, then, what to do? Well, keeping in mind that no divorce is easy, there are a few tips than can help you move from a difficult past and present to a less difficult and frightening tomorrow.

Joel French

Thursday, September 20, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

Alberta’s budget documents show that our tax system is grossly inferior to that of every other province in the country at raising revenue. Applying the tax system of any other province to Alberta would raise us a minimum of $11.2 billion in additional annual revenue, more than covering the projected $8.8-billion deficit in this year’s budget. Protecting our public services from cuts is perhaps the most important reason to fix our tax system, but there are also other good reasons to do so.

Mark Sakamoto

Saturday, September 15, 2018 1:00 PM

University of Lethbridge

Mark Sakamoto’s 2017 memoir, Forgiveness: A Gift from My Grandparents, beautifully chronicles the stories of his grandparents and their struggles during the war years. Forgiveness intertwines the compelling stories of Ralph MacLean and the Sakamotos as the war rips their lives and their humanity out of their grasp. But somehow, despite facing such enormous transgressions against them, the two families learned to forgive. Without the depth of their forgiveness, the book’s author, Mark Sakamoto, would never have existed.

Tom Sindlinger

Thursday, September 13, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

While most will agree the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games was an overall success and good for the City, Alberta and Canada, the bidding cost alone for the 2026 Games will be at least $30 million and the expenses for hosting the Games if Calgary is chosen, could top $8 billion, including interest, considering all three levels of Government are running deficits – hosting the 1988 Games cost less than $1 billion and turned a profit.

Lavonn Mutch, Rob Miyashiro, Joanne Blinco and Erin Vogt

Thursday, September 6, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

Elder abuse is any action or inaction by self or others that jeopardizes the health or well –being of an older adult. Elder abuse can take several forms including financial, emotional, physical, sexual, medication and neglect, with more than one type of abuse often occurring at the same time. Elder abuse can include the infliction of physical injury, restraint, financial exploitation, threats, ridicule, insult or humiliation, withholding medication, unwanted touching or sexual contact, forced isolation (physical or social), or forced change in living arrangements.

Knud Petersen

Thursday, June 28, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

Approval of Agenda and appointment of Secretary Adoption and discussion of Minutes – June 29, 2017 Annual Reports: Chairperson Finance Committee and Treasurer’s Report and Budget for 2018-2019 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 Appointment of Auditors and discussion on new ideas and SACPA’s future direction. Adjournment at 1:30 pm

Al Barnhill

Thursday, June 21, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

Alcohol abuse and addiction are two of the most complex and costly challenges facing Canadian society. According to the Washington Post, alcohol kills more people than HIV, AIDS, TB and violence combined. Heavy or even regular alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, breast, colon and rectum. In 2013, alcohol-related health care, law enforcement and lost productivity cost Canadians $14.6 billion. Globally, more than 3 million people die yearly from causes related to alcohol consumption.

Ricardo Acuna

Thursday, June 14, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

Presently Canada is engaged in a highly conflictual national struggle over pipelines, to build or not to build. Ricardo Acuna of the Parkland Institute argues that a proper debate on the merits and pitfalls of pipelines would be a good thing for Albertans to engage in. Such a debate should include the impact on the provincial economy and our climate change targets. The problem is that the elevated rhetoric from both sides of the debate, along with a constant barrage of inflated, unsourced and questionable stats and data from both sides makes a healthy debate next to impossible.

George Porter

Thursday, June 7, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

Ambulance service in Alberta is a borderless system designed to respond as needed, with urban areas using rural ambulances during shortages, and in turn helping those communities when shortages occur. However, that system is problematic as rural areas potentially can go for hours without proper emergency services. One of the primary reasons for lack of ambulance services in rural areas are inter-facility transfers or appointments that draw ambulances out of those communities and sometimes causing long waits for ambulance service during emergencies.

Gord Tait

Thursday, May 31, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

Hutterites are taxed under section 143 of the Income Tax Act. Colonies are taxed as if they were a trust so the collective income of the community gets allocated to colony members who are 18 years of age and older Section 143 does not allow Hutterite colonies to allocate income to community members under the age of 18 while other farmers are allowed to do so. For example, a regular farmer can pay his child who is under the age of 18 up to $ 10,000 tax free, while Hutterites cannot.

Stephen Mandel

Thursday, May 24, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

The Alberta Party is a political movement dedicated to transforming government through citizen engagement. Instead of representing a particular segment of the traditional political spectrum, the Alberta Party seeks out the best ideas regardless of whether they are perceived to be from the left or the right. As a result, they are attracting thousands of Albertans from all regions, urban and rural, of all ideological backgrounds including those who have never been involved in a political party.

Judy Shapiro, Jared Shore and Jeffrey Smith

Thursday, May 17, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

Seventy years after Israel’s establishment as an independent state, its accomplishments in high tech, medical research and innovation has far exceeded expectations of a country its size. Some might be surprised to learn that Israel consistently ranks in the top 15 countries on the “Happiness Index.” All this despite the fact that Israel has been at war with its neighbours since its inception – and the threats to its security are as real today as they were in 1948.

Dr. Danny Le Roy

Thursday, May 10, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

The United States has repeatedly indicated that a key tension in NAFTA renegotiations is Canada’s continued protection of dairy, poultry and egg producers. These protectionist policies, known as supply management, were also an irritant in the Trans-Pacific free trade negotiations. The question for Canadians is why broad trade agreements, which benefit almost all Canadians, are being jeopardized to continue to protect a small subset of farmers in Canada—estimated at 13,500 nationwide.

Dr Trevor Harrison

Thursday, May 3, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

Basic income in Canada has been debated since at least the 1930s during the Social Credit movement, but as in other parts of the western world, the discussion has increased during the last decades. Different models can be considered such as a Guaranteed Annual Income (GAI), Social Dividend or Basic Income. William Aberhart, Premier of Alberta, was inspired by Major C. H. Douglas Social Credit theory and tried to implement a basic income for Albertans during the 1930s but was thwarted in his attempts by the Federal Government.

Dr. Chris Kukucha

Thursday, April 26, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

In 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came into effect, creating one of the world’s largest free trade zones at that time and arguably laying the foundations for strong economic growth and rising prosperity for Canada, the United States, and Mexico. However, since Donald Trump became US President last year, renegotiating NAFTA along with other trade deals, has been high on his agenda The original NAFTA took 14 months to negotiate and just as long to ratify.

Sabrina Hacker

Thursday, April 19, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

The FASD Adult Justice Program was developed as a partnership under the umbrella of the South Alberta FASD Service Network and the 10-year strategic plan, in response to a need identified by the Alberta Government. The Program works collaboratively with a number of service providers, community agencies and professionals committed to effecting change within the Justice System for individuals and families affected by FASD. The FASD Justice Program operation model is based, in part on the FASD Youth Justice Project which has been operating successfully in South Western Alberta since 2000.

Dr. Chris Hopkinson and Dr. Laura Chasmer

Thursday, April 12, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

The terrestrial biosphere is under increasing pressure as a result of climatic changes, human disturbance, and secondary effects of these, including fire and pathogen/insect outbreaks. In many regions, land surface changes may be occurring more rapidly than expected. The Advanced Resolution Terradynamics Monitoring System Laboratory (ARTeMiS) is dedicated to the characterization of process feedbacks through the 3D environment in both space and time, and from plant to region. The fusion of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) research, spectral and active remote sensing tools, in situ measurements, and long-term environmental monitoring of ecosystems provides process-based understanding at scales that are relevant for making decisions.

Dr. Bryan Kolb

Thursday, April 5, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

One of Bryan Kolb’s most memorable talks was a public lecture in Lac La Biche, AB, attended by many First Nations elders. Kolb spoke about how stress and abuse during childhood can cause certain genes in the brain to be turned on or off, and how these changes can be passed from one generation to another — altering the behaviour of the offspring. Through this explanation, the elders began to see the problem of residential schools in an entirely new light.

Premier Rachel Notley

Thursday, March 29, 2018 1:00 PM

Southminster United Church

The Honourable Premier Rachel Notley has graciously made herself available to Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA) for a speaking event. After 50 years of trying, SACPA is very happy to finally host a sitting Premier of Alberta. Rachel previously spoke at SACPA in 2011 and 2014 as an MLA. Premier Notley will explain some of the items in last week’s Alberta budget and the importance of pipelines and transportation in getting Alberta resources to tidewater.

Chris Hunt

Thursday, March 22, 2018 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

There are several significant shifts underway in Alberta’s electricity sector including: the phase-out of coal power plants, the Renewable Energy Program, development of micro and community generation, the design of the capacity market, changes to the regulated rate option (RRO) including a price cap, and banning of door-to-door energy sales. In addition, rapid technological change continues to impact all aspects of the electricity sector from generation to transmission and distribution, to how consumers use their electricity.

Mack Andrews

Tuesday, March 20, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

Please note that this is a special Tuesday session at the Royal Canadian Legion The Alberta Cannabis Framework has outlined what Albertans can expect when cannabis becomes legal in Canada on July 1, 2018. After months of engagement with Albertans, stakeholders and partners, extensive research of other jurisdictions, and consideration of existing liquor and tobacco laws, the framework sets the stage for the responsible use of cannabis in Alberta . Aspects of this framework will be implemented through various pieces of legislation introduced during the fall of 2017 and spring of 2018, including substantive changes to the Gaming and Liquor Act that will address oversight, distribution and licensing for non-medical cannabis.

Sarah Amies

Thursday, March 15, 2018 1:00 PM

Country Kitchen

It can be argued that one of Lethbridge’s greatest assets is its diverse and dynamic population, which continues to grow at a steady pace and now sits at over 100.000 with more than 25 percent of the adult population age 35 or less. Over the past several years, Lethbridge’s population has grown by an average of nearly two per cent per year. That’s around 150 new arrivals each month including immigrants and refugees.

Ingrid Hess

Tuesday, March 13, 2018 1:00 PM

Legion

Canada’s justice system is working poorly for Indigenous peoples. Not-guilty verdicts arrived at recently in two separate murder cases involving First Nations victims, Tina Fontaine and Colten Boushie, have arguably yet again exposed Canada’s justice system as failing Indigenous peoples. Indigenous people have been murdered or gone missing for a long time without due diligence from law enforcement and only now are we starting to expose these patterns of neglect in a meaningful way.

Dr. Jennifer Mather

Thursday, March 8, 2018 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Although much of the world’s scientific research have been done by women, science is arguably still dominated by men, even though a sizable number of women enter the science and engineering fields. Their work however, is seldom recognized in a meaningful way and numerous women leave the profession before they become well established. Why is this still happening in 2018? Women do not enter or do not thrive in careers in science and engineering, not just because babies get in the way (although they do), but because women often are made and seen to be unimportant.

Hon. Shannon Phillips

Thursday, March 1, 2018 12:00 PM

University of Lethbridge

The speaker will discuss some of the Alberta Governments tensions, balances, successes, and failures, of managing, conserving, and using the natural resources, wildlife, and lands of Alberta. This lecture is mainly for the benefit of a Liberal Education 3010 class on “The Land” (the course’s title). Speaker: Hon. Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment, Parks and Climate Change Shannon Phillips was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta on May 5, 2015 representing the constituency of Lethbridge-West.

Dr. Katharina Stevens

Thursday, March 1, 2018 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

The Canada Summer Jobs Program now states that In order to receive federal Canada job grants, employers must attest that both the job and the organization’s core mandate respect Canada’s individual human rights, including the values underlying the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as other rights. These include reproductive rights and the right to be free from discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, race, national or ethnic origin, colour, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.

Hon. Danielle Larivee, Minister of Children's Services

Thursday, February 22, 2018 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

In April 2017, Alberta announced Phase 1 of the Early Learning and Child Care Centres (ELCC) pilot program capping fees at 22 quality child care centres at $25 per day per child. ELCC Centre’s offers flexible child care for parents who work part-time or shifts that are outside typical day care hours or offers care in accessible settings such as co-location with other public buildings. These centres will provide support for children with diverse needs and implement an early learning child care curriculum.

Dr. James Daschuk

Wednesday, February 21, 2018 12:00 PM

Southminster United Church

Examining how Canada gained control of western Canada, it can be argued that they did it without regard by taking advantage of a famine caused mainly by the loss of bison populations, but also due to an overwhelming influx of settlers. Using harsh legislation regarding Indians, Canadian leaders coerced indigenous leaders into signing treaties allowing federal control—all in an attempt to exterminate indigenous peoples from the national consciousness. In other words, Indians were forcibly and willfully manipulated, removed, and killed for the sake of “progress.

Dr. Kevin Taft

Thursday, February 15, 2018 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

For all the wealth they potentially possess, Alberta’s vast petroleum reserves have arguably been badly mismanaged since the early 1990s both in terms of collecting proper royalties and environmental sustainability. Even some of the industry’s biggest promoters have conceded that the laborious extraction of oil from sand and clay has left the province’s economic fortunes in an unreliable economic situation, not to mention the resulting ecological degradation that bitumen mining causes.

Dr. Kevin Taft

Thursday, February 15, 2018 12:00 PM

University of Lethbridge

For all the wealth they potentially possess, Alberta’s vast petroleum reserves have arguably been badly mismanaged since the early 1990s both in terms of collecting proper royalties and environmental sustainability. Even some of the industry’s biggest promoters have conceded that the laborious extraction of oil from sand and clay has left the province’s economic fortunes in an unreliable economic situation, not to mention the resulting ecological degradation that bitumen mining causes.

Dr. Leroy Little Bear

Thursday, February 8, 2018 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

A historic treaty to bring back bison (buffalo) was signed in 2014 in Montana by First Nations and tribes on both sides of the Canada-United States border. The Northern Tribes Buffalo Treaty — the first of its kind in 150 years — is meant to work to establish inter-tribal alliances for the restoration of bison on reserves or co-managed lands within the U.S. and Canada. Bison may bring about better ecological balance by allowing plants, animals and birds that disappeared with the demise of the bison in the mid to late 1800s.

Justin Thompson

Thursday, February 1, 2018 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Maintaining healthy landscapes has benefits that extend well beyond the boundaries of a given property. These ecological services include things like water filtration and storage, healthy wildlife populations, and aesthetic values which support tourism and the preservation of our heritage. The economic value of these ecological services is enormous and once compromised they are often irreplaceable. In southwest Alberta a significant portion of the lands that provide these important ecological services are private lands.

Chelsea Sherbut

Thursday, January 25, 2018 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Pollinators are insects and animals that carry pollen from one plant to another. These include honey bees, wild bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, ants, birds and more. In recent years, most people have become aware that a large portion of the foods we eat — fruits, nuts, vegetables, and herbs — depend on pollinators to reproduce. Pollinators also increase the yield of our crops, improve the quality of our produce and are an essential puzzle piece in keeping our growing population fed.

Dr. Claudia Malacrida

Thursday, January 18, 2018 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

A top priority of Canada’s Liberal government has been – after a long period of stagnation – to reassess Canada’s federal funding of university-based research. Dr. Claudia Malacrida was a key member of a red ribbon Ministerial panel struck to investigate the current state of research in Canada. In her talk, she will provide insights into why research matters not only to universities and researchers, but to students, the community, and local, national and global economies.

Jaisie Walker

Thursday, January 11, 2018 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Recognition and discussion around violence and abuse has recently been prominent in social media campaigns, particularly with the #metoo campaign. Why are these age-old topics still today so easily being brushed under the rug? What ideas and systems maintain this silence? Join us for an intersectional analysis of the barriers and myths that continue the injustices of violence and abuse, with stories and statistics from frontline crisis and educational work at Safe Haven.

Kevin van Tighem

Thursday, January 4, 2018 12:00 PM

Country Kitchen

Controversy over new parks in the Castle area has been as intense and divisive as ongoing debates over development in Banff and Waterton. Is park protection an outdated approach to biodiversity conservation? Are there better ways to protect nature or are we just thinking about parks in the wrong ways? The speaker will illustrate this thought-provoking talk with excerpts from his recently released book Our Place: Changing the Nature of Alberta, a collection of writings spanning a third of a century that chronicle the ecology, conservation history, missed opportunities and emerging possibilities of a place that should have been about so much more than resource exploitation.