I had an excellent evening out in Regina with my wife, family, and friends. I met some Ward 1 residents too along the way, including Joe and his wife. Joe’s writing a book about Regina, and it may be available by the end of this year. He also had very
Continue readingTag: Calgary
Calgary’s RiverWalk gains international recognition
Two main ideas contend for how rivers should be treated as they flow through cities. One says they should be left as natural as possible, bordered by grass and trees and unobtrusive pathways. The other says they should be urbanized with paved walks, viewpoints and other urban amenities. Personally, I
Continue readingFive of Five: Shen Yung And Not Your Father’s PC Party
The Shen Young Performing Arts troupe recently had their Alberta 2013 performance dates thrown into question when the Alberta Government revoked an agreement to use the Jubilee Auditoriums in Edmonton and Calgary. The troupe celebrates Chinese Culture in a spectacular show of music and dance. In their own words: Based
Continue readingCalgaryLiberal: Renewing Raj’s Contract
I’ve been thinking. I want to renew Raj’s contract–for leader of the Alberta Liberals. He has a nose for politics, knows exactly what the party needs to build in terms of organization and skill sets, and he was key to the reason why the party did so well. Rather than
Continue readingTerahertz: No, I don’t
Look at this photo. What do you see? I see the moon, some clouds, a tree, and an over-exposed light post in the foreground. The Calgary Herald wants to know if you’re as pareidolia-susceptible as their reader L. Wolanski and see Jesus in the clouds. Nevermind how angry this story
Continue readingFive of Five: Morton, Hinman and Some Bickering
The last pre-election message on Ted Morton’s website: To our Supporters: Thank you for supporting me and the PC Party—a party that has madeAlbertathe best place to work, to live and to raise a family. As your MLA for Chestermere-Rocky View, I will work for you to keep it that
Continue readingFive of Five: ABVOTE: Play the Obama Card.
Donna Kennedy-Glans, election flyer 2012 This was in my mailbox on Friday. Donna Kennedy-Glans is running as the PC candidate in my riding of Calgary Varsity. It’s quite impressive, the production values are great. It looks like it cost a lot. Not surprising from a governing party that spares no penny on self-promotion.
Continue readingCalgaryLiberal: No Debate: FawcettFails To Attend Forum
A question that burned through my mind on Tuesday during the Calgary-Klein forum was “How did this guy ever get elected?” How did this guy get in? Fawcett wasn’t prepared. He fumbled. He didn’t have answers, didn’t have positions, and shared very little. This has to end. This Tory didn’t stand
Continue readingA. Picazo: Link Byfield – Another Thorn On The Wildrose
Though it took longer than I anticipated, it seems Wildrose leader Danielle Smith, gag order and all, has failed to contain the radical views held by some in her party from seeping out into the public sphere. These views would have been discovered eventually, mind you, as Smith cannot muzzle
Continue readingMy two cents on Calgary’s Peace Bridge
It’s finally done. Over budget and overdue, but it’s done. One of the most controversial pieces of infrastructure in Calgary’s history, the Peace Bridge, a pedestrian walkway over the Bow River, is finally open for traffic. I am a strong supporter of the compact city as a more efficient city,
Continue readingRusty Idols: Danielle Smith: Wrong for Alberta
What happens if a rigid, far right ideologue who’s only experience in a public service role is a tale of obstruction, fundamental lack of understanding of the facts, radical disdain for the role of the public sector, childish spats and a seeming inability to compromise or work with anyone who disagrees with her
Continue readingSlap Upside The Head: Calgary Radio Station Tackles Bullying
Kool 105.5, a Calgary-based radio station, is tackling bullying with a pretty novel incentive: A contest. The school that signs the most pledges asserting that everyone has “the right to feel safe, respected, valued, and accepted” will get a free concert performed during school hours. Of course, if anyone breaks
Continue readingCalgaryLiberal: Where has Vincent been?
Everywhere, that’s where this one blogger has been. Last month’s convention in Ottawa was a roaring success–with the open primary system that the Alberta Liberal championed and now the federal Liberals have chosen to adopt the next leader in 2013–that I supported and fought for on the convention floor for
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: That Annoying Twitter Access
I’ve seldom seen a journalist whine so much about politicians who are too accessible to the public. Look no further, you can find them in the Calgary Herald. Mayor Nenshi has even replied to a tweet from me, and I don’t even live in Calgary, so obviously he must be
Continue readingFive of Five: What the Mayor Said
Story Here.
Continue readingPublic transit blossoms in Calgary
When Calgary’s GoPlan, the blueprint for the city’s transportation development for the next 30 years, was created in the mid-1990s, it predicted that by 2024, 50 per cent of commuters would be using public transit to get downtown to work. Only 33 per c…
Continue readingCalgary’s main attraction
What is Calgary’s most popular attraction? The Calgary Stampede, you say? Flames games, perhaps? The Calgary Zoo? Wrong, wrong and wrong.According to an article in Fast Forward Magazine, in 2010 the Calgary Public Library system “had more visits than t…
Continue readingA. Picazo: #OccupyWallStreet – Calgary edition
So much has been written about the Occupy movement, it’s difficult to discuss it further without a sense of redundancy. At the same time, it’s difficult for the apolitical to fully appreciate the scope of the protests without understanding the motivation behind it. It’s also difficult to examine the #OccupyCalgary
Continue readingA message from Forest Lawn for workers everywhere
The workers at Sobeys’ Forest Lawn supermarket, the only unionized Sobeys in Calgary, are currently on strike. The pickets have been on duty for two weeks. Doug Smith of the United Food and Commercial Workers union says the action resulted from the com…
Continue readingCities—the provincial option
The possibility of Toronto becoming a province has popped up in the news again. The idea has floated around for years, supported by a variety of civic thinkers including the urban guru Jane Jacobs.The idea has considerable merit and not only for Toront…
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