Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

Pressure on Alberta''s water resources is growing by the day.

Limits on water availability have brought about Canada''s first market for water. This is a controversial topic but is not well understood by many Albertans.

The Alberta government is considering changes to this water market as well as fundamental changes to water use and allocation.

The speaker will provide an overview of Alberta''s current water allocation system, key issues on the table and alternatives for the future.

Speaker: Danielle Droitsch

Danielle Droitsch is the Executive Director of Water Matters, an Alberta non-governmental organization founded in 2007 to address province-wide watershed issues.

Danielle has been working on river conservation since 1995. She founded the Tennessee Clean Water Network, a state-wide organization focused on implementation of the Clean Water Act. She has also acted as a policy director for American Rivers’ Hydropower Reform Coalition in Washington DC.

Ms. Droitsch has worked for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. She is a former member of the Alberta Water Council and is Chair of the Alberta Environment Network Water Caucus, which comprises up to 50 groups.

Danielle holds a degree in law from the University of Tennessee and a Bachelor of Science from James Madison University.

Pressure on Alberta''s water resources is growing by the day.

Limits on water availability have brought about Canada''s first market for water. This is a controversial topic but is not well understood by many Albertans.

The Alberta government is considering changes to this water market as well as fundamental changes to water use and allocation.

The speaker will provide an overview of Alberta''s current water allocation system, key issues on the table and alternatives for the future.

Speaker: Danielle Droitsch

Danielle Droitsch is the Executive Director of Water Matters, an Alberta non-governmental organization founded in 2007 to address province-wide watershed issues.

Danielle has been working on river conservation since 1995. She founded the Tennessee Clean Water Network, a state-wide organization focused on implementation of the Clean Water Act. She has also acted as a policy director for American Rivers’ Hydropower Reform Coalition in Washington DC.

Ms. Droitsch has worked for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. She is a former member of the Alberta Water Council and is Chair of the Alberta Environment Network Water Caucus, which comprises up to 50 groups.

Danielle holds a degree in law from the University of Tennessee and a Bachelor of Science from James Madison University.

Domestic violence doesn''t stay home when its victims and perpetrators go to work. It often follows them, resulting in some kind of violence at the workplace, including threatening phone calls and other harassment from their partners, contributing to less productivity.

With nearly one-third women in North America reportedly being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives, the speaker believes it’s a certainty that in any mid-to-large sized company domestic violence is negatively affecting their employees.

The speaker will argue it is crucial that domestic abuse be seen as a serious, recognizable and preventable problem like any other workplace health and safety issue, which affect businesses and their bottom line. Do you know what to do if a co-worker lives with abuse?

Speaker: Jan Reimer

Jan Reimer served as Edmonton’s first woman mayor from1989 to 1995. Prior to that, she was a City Councilor for 9 years. Some of her initiatives included: A waste management plan to solve Edmonton’s land fill crises (including curbside recycling, composting and toxic round-up) and improving the water quality of the North Saskatchewan River as well as preservation of the City’s River Valley.

Jan Reimer was born and raised in Edmonton and graduated with a BA from the University of Alberta in 1972, after which she travelled and worked for several years in SE Asia, India and Australia. Jan is presently the Provincial Coordinator for the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters.

Among her many awards, Jan received a Women of Distinction Special Award from the YWCA and the Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case (2006) for her contributions to women’s equality.

Domestic violence doesn''t stay home when its victims and perpetrators go to work. It often follows them, resulting in some kind of violence at the workplace, including threatening phone calls and other harassment from their partners, contributing to less productivity.

With nearly one-third women in North America reportedly being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives, the speaker believes it’s a certainty that in any mid-to-large sized company domestic violence is negatively affecting their employees.

The speaker will argue it is crucial that domestic abuse be seen as a serious, recognizable and preventable problem like any other workplace health and safety issue, which affect businesses and their bottom line. Do you know what to do if a co-worker lives with abuse?

Speaker: Jan Reimer

Jan Reimer served as Edmonton’s first woman mayor from1989 to 1995. Prior to that, she was a City Councilor for 9 years. Some of her initiatives included: A waste management plan to solve Edmonton’s land fill crises (including curbside recycling, composting and toxic round-up) and improving the water quality of the North Saskatchewan River as well as preservation of the City’s River Valley.

Jan Reimer was born and raised in Edmonton and graduated with a BA from the University of Alberta in 1972, after which she travelled and worked for several years in SE Asia, India and Australia. Jan is presently the Provincial Coordinator for the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters.

Among her many awards, Jan received a Women of Distinction Special Award from the YWCA and the Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case (2006) for her contributions to women’s equality.

Universities and colleges are economic drivers; the more educated the populace, the greater the opportunity for success and prosperity, both for individuals and their communities. As Alberta moves towards the “next generation economy”, critical thinkers, researchers and “technopreneurs” will be the human capital underpinning our competitive advantage both on the national and international stage.

But are our post-secondary institutions able to produce the knowledge for workers of the future? Are they positioned to change and adapt to the shifting demands of employers? To paraphrase Wayne Gretzky: “Can they learn to skate to where the puck is going to be?”

Based on 25 year’s experience in the college environment both in Canada and the United States, the speaker will present her predictions for the future of post-secondary education in Alberta and beyond.

Speaker: Tracy Edwards, Ed.D.

Dr. Edwards has been the President of Lethbridge College since 2005. She started her career as a faculty member of Nova Scotia Community College and was also Academic Vice-President of Valencia Community College in Orlando, Florida, which grants the largest number of Associate Degrees in the United States. With doctoral work in college leadership, she is a regular speaker at national and international conferences. Her passion revolves around creating a positive cultural environment where she believes faculty and staff can do their best work.

Universities and colleges are economic drivers; the more educated the populace, the greater the opportunity for success and prosperity, both for individuals and their communities. As Alberta moves towards the “next generation economy”, critical thinkers, researchers and “technopreneurs” will be the human capital underpinning our competitive advantage both on the national and international stage.

But are our post-secondary institutions able to produce the knowledge for workers of the future? Are they positioned to change and adapt to the shifting demands of employers? To paraphrase Wayne Gretzky: “Can they learn to skate to where the puck is going to be?”

Based on 25 year’s experience in the college environment both in Canada and the United States, the speaker will present her predictions for the future of post-secondary education in Alberta and beyond.

Speaker: Tracy Edwards, Ed.D.

Dr. Edwards has been the President of Lethbridge College since 2005. She started her career as a faculty member of Nova Scotia Community College and was also Academic Vice-President of Valencia Community College in Orlando, Florida, which grants the largest number of Associate Degrees in the United States. With doctoral work in college leadership, she is a regular speaker at national and international conferences. Her passion revolves around creating a positive cultural environment where she believes faculty and staff can do their best work.

While the federal government has finally acknowledged that Canada is not immune to the effects of the global economic crisis, and Boomtown Alberta has just unveiled its first deficit budget in 16 years, how are we faring in Lethbridge?

What is happening to major infrastructure projects that affect the development of Lethbridge and its hinterland?

And what about unemployment? While not as high as in Ontario and B.C., last month’s figures show that unemployment in Alberta is running at a 7-year high.

Cheryl Dick, the CEO of Economic Development Lethbridge will speak to these issues and to the unusual stability of this region’s economy during these troubled times. She will also touch on the strategic priorities of Economic Development Lethbridge over the next 3 years.

Speaker: Cheryl Dick, APR, MBA

Cheryl Dick has been the CEO of Economic Development Lethbridge since June 2005. Her 10 years of corporate experience ranged from employee communications with Canadian Airlines International to investor and media relations with international oil and gas firm Norcen Energy Resources.

Cheryl is an alumna of Lethbridge College as well as a former employee. She has a double major in Print Journalism and Public Relations/Advertising from the college and she completed her MBA from Royal Roads University in 2003. Prior to working in public relations, Cheryl was a news anchor/reporter for CFCN Television in Lethbridge.

While the federal government has finally acknowledged that Canada is not immune to the effects of the global economic crisis, and Boomtown Alberta has just unveiled its first deficit budget in 16 years, how are we faring in Lethbridge?

What is happening to major infrastructure projects that affect the development of Lethbridge and its hinterland?

And what about unemployment? While not as high as in Ontario and B.C., last month’s figures show that unemployment in Alberta is running at a 7-year high.

Cheryl Dick, the CEO of Economic Development Lethbridge will speak to these issues and to the unusual stability of this region’s economy during these troubled times. She will also touch on the strategic priorities of Economic Development Lethbridge over the next 3 years.

Speaker: Cheryl Dick, APR, MBA

Cheryl Dick has been the CEO of Economic Development Lethbridge since June 2005. Her 10 years of corporate experience ranged from employee communications with Canadian Airlines International to investor and media relations with international oil and gas firm Norcen Energy Resources.

Cheryl is an alumna of Lethbridge College as well as a former employee. She has a double major in Print Journalism and Public Relations/Advertising from the college and she completed her MBA from Royal Roads University in 2003. Prior to working in public relations, Cheryl was a news anchor/reporter for CFCN Television in Lethbridge.

What is the legitimacy and status of a political coalition assuming power from a government that has lost the confidence of the House of Commons?

Senator Tommy Banks says that this is not a new invention and is perfectly in order in our Parliamentary system. It has, in fact, twice been suggested over the past five years by political coalitions, he argues.

Senator Banks also questions the role of Parliament in the governance of Canada, with a particular emphasis on matters of public spending and of framework legislation.

Speaker: Senator Tommy Banks

Tommy Banks was appointed for two consecutive terms to the Board of the Canada Council for the Arts, and to a further term as policy adviser to the Board, during the administration of the Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney.

Under the Rt. Hon. Joe Clark he served as Alberta spokesman in the campaign for the national referendum on constitutional amendment and, with Professor Kathleen Mahoney, argued the “yes” side, opposing Stephen Harper and Mel Hurtig on the referendum’s televised debate.

During the administration of the Rt. Hon. Jean Chrétien, and following a fifty-year international career as a musician, Tommy Banks was summoned to the Senate of Canada on 7 April 2000. He is a member of the Liberal Parliamentary Caucus.

The multi-talented (Senator) Tommy Banks (jazz musician, conductor and host) is the recipient of the Juno Award, the Gemini Award, the Grand Prix du Disques-Canada, several ARIA Awards, and is a member of the Edmonton Cultural Hall of Fame.

What is the legitimacy and status of a political coalition assuming power from a government that has lost the confidence of the House of Commons?

Senator Tommy Banks says that this is not a new invention and is perfectly in order in our Parliamentary system. It has, in fact, twice been suggested over the past five years by political coalitions, he argues.

Senator Banks also questions the role of Parliament in the governance of Canada, with a particular emphasis on matters of public spending and of framework legislation.

Speaker: Senator Tommy Banks

Tommy Banks was appointed for two consecutive terms to the Board of the Canada Council for the Arts, and to a further term as policy adviser to the Board, during the administration of the Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney.

Under the Rt. Hon. Joe Clark he served as Alberta spokesman in the campaign for the national referendum on constitutional amendment and, with Professor Kathleen Mahoney, argued the “yes” side, opposing Stephen Harper and Mel Hurtig on the referendum’s televised debate.

During the administration of the Rt. Hon. Jean Chrétien, and following a fifty-year international career as a musician, Tommy Banks was summoned to the Senate of Canada on 7 April 2000. He is a member of the Liberal Parliamentary Caucus.

The multi-talented (Senator) Tommy Banks (jazz musician, conductor and host) is the recipient of the Juno Award, the Gemini Award, the Grand Prix du Disques-Canada, several ARIA Awards, and is a member of the Edmonton Cultural Hall of Fame.