Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

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.  Speaker: Jaisie Walker Jaisie Walker is the Awareness & Public Education Coordinator at Safe Haven Women's Shelter Society in Taber, and a dedicated community activist. They graduated with a degree in Sociology from the University of Lethbridge, with a minor in Women and Gender studies. In the past, Jaisie was a coordinator for the Campus Women's Centre, a SACPA publication editor, and an LPIRG Board member.  Moderator: Kristin Krein Date: Thursday, January 11, 2018 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (below

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.  Speaker: Jaisie Walker Jaisie Walker is the Awareness & Public Education Coordinator at Safe Haven Women's Shelter Society in Taber, and a dedicated community activist. They graduated with a degree in Sociology from the University of Lethbridge, with a minor in Women and Gender studies. In the past, Jaisie was a coordinator for the Campus Women's Centre, a SACPA publication editor, and an LPIRG Board member.  Moderator: Kristin Krein Date: Thursday, January 11, 2018 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (below

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 Is park protection an outdated approach to biodiversity conservation?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. Speaker: Kevin Van Tighem Kevin Van Tighem is a landscape ecologist, author and retired park superintendent whose family roots in southern Alberta go back to 1875. He currently chairs the Science and Stewardship Committee for the Nature Conservancy of Canada and serves on the boards of the Livingstone Landowners Group and Alberta Backco

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. Speaker: Kevin Van Tighem Kevin Van Tighem is a landscape ecologist, author and retired park superintendent whose family roots in southern Alberta go back to 1875. He currently chairs the Science and Stewardship Committee for the Nature Conservancy of Canada and serves on the boards of the Livingstone Landowners Group and Alberta Backco

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. Almost half of Canada’s population over 15 years of age volunteer an average of 150 hours per year or nearly 2 billion hours in total donated. Yearly monetary donations to Canadian charitable and non-profit organizations amount to approx. $15 billion. Of that total, two-thirds of the donations were made by the most generous 10 percent of the donors. Around 40 percent of all financial donations went to religious organizations while health and social service groups received nearly 25 percent of the t

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. Almost half of Canada’s population over 15 years of age volunteer an average of 150 hours per year or nearly 2 billion hours in total donated. Yearly monetary donations to Canadian charitable and non-profit organizations amount to approx. $15 billion. Of that total, two-thirds of the donations were made by the most generous 10 percent of the donors. Around 40 percent of all financial donations went to religious organizations while health and social service groups received nearly 25 percent of the t

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. For the majority of the speaker’s research life, the focus was directed towards studies of physical activity across the lifespan and healthy aging. Now she is interested in also studying the opposite end of the movement spectrum – sedentary behaviour. There has been a shift away from looking at physical activity in isolation, because we now know that all daily movement behaviours interact to influence your health. The speaker will talk about her latest research into how sedentary time affects our overall he

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. For the majority of the speaker’s research life, the focus was directed towards studies of physical activity across the lifespan and healthy aging. Now she is interested in also studying the opposite end of the movement spectrum – sedentary behaviour. There has been a shift away from looking at physical activity in isolation, because we now know that all daily movement behaviours interact to influence your health. The speaker will talk about her latest research into how sedentary time affects our overall he

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). It can be said too that the process of collective bargaining between workers and employers is good for both workers and the economy. The International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the OECD have all concluded that jurisdictions who su

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). It can be said too that the process of collective bargaining between workers and employers is good for both workers and the economy. The International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the OECD have all concluded that jurisdictions who su

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? And what if that process of technological change is so rapid and disruptive that we lose the very capability and/or willingness to even care? New Media Professor James Graham will argue that we are currently on the doorstep of this new era - a “perfect storm” of new technologies and systems – that will so completely automate and accelerate our physical and digital environment as to risk placing it beyond our a

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? And what if that process of technological change is so rapid and disruptive that we lose the very capability and/or willingness to even care? New Media Professor James Graham will argue that we are currently on the doorstep of this new era - a “perfect storm” of new technologies and systems – that will so completely automate and accelerate our physical and digital environment as to risk placing it beyond our a

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. So far, Health Canada has approved six supervised consumption sites in Alberta, including four in Edmonton and one in Calgary. The latest provincial data from January to August, 2017 shows 315 individuals in Alberta died from an apparent drug overdose related to fentanyl, up more than 50 per cent from the same period last year. Per capita, Lethbridge’s drug overdose death rate exceeds that of both Calg

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. So far, Health Canada has approved six supervised consumption sites in Alberta, including four in Edmonton and one in Calgary. The latest provincial data from January to August, 2017 shows 315 individuals in Alberta died from an apparent drug overdose related to fentanyl, up more than 50 per cent from the same period last year. Per capita, Lethbridge’s drug overdose death rate exceeds that of both Calg

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. Considering there may not be enough marijuana for everyone by July 2018, when the federal government has promised recreational pot will be legal, should supply be prioritized for users of medical marijuana? The speaker will outline the benefits medical marijuana, in its many forms, provides for people to manage pain and suffering – and its limitations. He will also address potential issues concerning the pending legalization of cannabis in Canada. Speaker: Dr. Ife Abiola Dr. Abiola began his postseconda

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. Considering there may not be enough marijuana for everyone by July 2018, when the federal government has promised recreational pot will be legal, should supply be prioritized for users of medical marijuana? The speaker will outline the benefits medical marijuana, in its many forms, provides for people to manage pain and suffering – and its limitations. He will also address potential issues concerning the pending legalization of cannabis in Canada. Speaker: Dr. Ife Abiola Dr. Abiola began his postseconda

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. The center of such concern is that the national safety standards of many countries, including Canada, may not be adequate for protecting human safety from the astonishing level of increase in man-made microwave radiation all around our habitat. Trained in Industrial Design and currently a New Media educator at the University of Lethbridge, the speaker has been following this matter closely for the past three year

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. The center of such concern is that the national safety standards of many countries, including Canada, may not be adequate for protecting human safety from the astonishing level of increase in man-made microwave radiation all around our habitat. Trained in Industrial Design and currently a New Media educator at the University of Lethbridge, the speaker has been following this matter closely for the past three year

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. The speaker will analyze the election results focusing on what defined the campaign overall. She will also speculate on whether or not different personalities on Council may hamper the 2017-21 Lethbridge City Council from performing at an optimal level. Also added to the challenge will be to find ways for Council to work with a new City Manager starting in January 2018 following Garth Sherwin’s retirement. Speaker: Bonnie Farries Bonnie is a Political S

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. The speaker will analyze the election results focusing on what defined the campaign overall. She will also speculate on whether or not different personalities on Council may hamper the 2017-21 Lethbridge City Council from performing at an optimal level. Also added to the challenge will be to find ways for Council to work with a new City Manager starting in January 2018 following Garth Sherwin’s retirement. Speaker: Bonnie Farries Bonnie is a Political S