Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

Seniors Housing facilities in Alberta have undergone landmark changes over the past decade. The needs of seniors have expanded and become more complex, often leaving loved ones confused and overwhelmed as they seek to find accommodation appropriate to these incremental needs. Health and housing standards and levels of supportive living are being developed with the intention of simplifying this process for Albertans. Dennis, who has worked on provincial committees assisting in developing these standards, will present:

… an historical overview of seniors housing in Alberta

… the changing realities and perceptions

… the challenges and benefits of implementing the new standards

… costs of Seniors Housing, and

… a belief that, together, we can make the Seniors Housing system in Alberta better for today and tomorrow.

SPEAKER: Dennis King, Past President Alberta Senior Citizens¹ Housing Association

After retirement in 2000 as a Principal with the Palliser School Division, Dennis became actively involved in issues affecting Seniors:

… Green Acres Foundation 1999 ­ 2006 (Board member and Chair)

… Seniors Advisory Council of Alberta 2000 - 2005

… Lethbridge Seniors Community Forum 2004 to present

… Alberta Seniors Citizens¹ Housing Association 2003 ­ 2006 (Board member and President)

… Providence Home Homeowners¹ Association, Coaldale 2003 ­ 2006 (Board member and President)

… ASCHA Health and Housing Standing Committee, 2005 to present (Chair)

MODERATOR: Diane Poynter

DATE: January 4, 2007

The ecological goods and services provided by the southwest Alberta foothills are assets that contribute significantly to our economy and our quality of life. These headwaters of southern Alberta rivers comprise an exceptionally beautiful landscape and provide us clean water, clean air, biodiversity and carbon capture, as well as being the basis for a regenerative economy. If we protect the golden goose we can have its eggs forever.

Increasingly, however, land use pressures including oil and gas development, mining, residential subdivision, timber harvest and off-road vehicle use threaten the watershed and sustainable livelihoods. So why are we so unsatisfied with the steady stream of golden eggs? Why are we so eager to trade assets for immediate cash flow? What does a sustainable society really mean?

In their struggle to answer these questions, the people who live in our headwaters initiated the Southern Foothills Study. The study quantifies the slow and declining health of the goose. Do we really want to kill the golden goose?

Speakers: Gordon Cartwright and Alan Gardner

Gordon Cartwright is a successful third generation rancher in the Pekisko watershed living near where his grandfather settled in 1889. He has served on the Board of the Southern Alberta Land Trust Society (SALTS) and on the Citizens Advisory Committee for Public Lands. He is highly knowledgeable on energy flows within the biological systems of the native grassland. As a conservation easement donor he has made a significant personal contribution to sustaining the watershed.

Alan Gardner is the executive director of SALTS. Alan has a long business background in Architecture and the Computer Industry. Most recently he was Consulting Director for Computer Associates, running their pre-sales, post-sales and web design organizations for Western Canada. Previous to entering the computer field he spent a dozen years as a practicing Architect in Calgary and Edmonton. His family has lived in the Pekisko country for over 100 years.

Moderator: Cheryl Bradley

Location: Sven Ericksen’s Family Restaurant (lower level)

1715 Mayor Magrath Drive S., Lethbridge, Alberta

Time: Noon to 1:30 p.m. / Cost: $8.00 includes lunch

Visit the SACPA website: http://www.sacpa.ca

The ecological goods and services provided by the southwest Alberta foothills are assets that contribute significantly to our economy and our quality of life. These headwaters of southern Alberta rivers comprise an exceptionally beautiful landscape and provide us clean water, clean air, biodiversity and carbon capture, as well as being the basis for a regenerative economy. If we protect the golden goose we can have its eggs forever.

Increasingly, however, land use pressures including oil and gas development, mining, residential subdivision, timber harvest and off-road vehicle use threaten the watershed and sustainable livelihoods. So why are we so unsatisfied with the steady stream of golden eggs? Why are we so eager to trade assets for immediate cash flow? What does a sustainable society really mean?

In their struggle to answer these questions, the people who live in our headwaters initiated the Southern Foothills Study. The study quantifies the slow and declining health of the goose. Do we really want to kill the golden goose?

Speakers: Gordon Cartwright and Alan Gardner

Gordon Cartwright is a successful third generation rancher in the Pekisko watershed living near where his grandfather settled in 1889. He has served on the Board of the Southern Alberta Land Trust Society (SALTS) and on the Citizens Advisory Committee for Public Lands. He is highly knowledgeable on energy flows within the biological systems of the native grassland. As a conservation easement donor he has made a significant personal contribution to sustaining the watershed.

Alan Gardner is the executive director of SALTS. Alan has a long business background in Architecture and the Computer Industry. Most recently he was Consulting Director for Computer Associates, running their pre-sales, post-sales and web design organizations for Western Canada. Previous to entering the computer field he spent a dozen years as a practicing Architect in Calgary and Edmonton. His family has lived in the Pekisko country for over 100 years.

Moderator: Cheryl Bradley

Location: Sven Ericksen’s Family Restaurant (lower level)

1715 Mayor Magrath Drive S., Lethbridge, Alberta

Time: Noon to 1:30 p.m. / Cost: $8.00 includes lunch

Visit the SACPA website: http://www.sacpa.ca

In recent history there have been huge public debates about the truth of theories that are widely supported by scientific inquiry. Evolution, the connection between cigarette smoking and cancer, and climate change due to human activity have all been subject to denial by a large segment of society even in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence. Part of the doubt can be attributed to misrepresentation of the science by vested interests. However, a large part of doubt can also be attributed to a lack of understanding of, and trust in, scientific process.

Bryson Brown will argue that science has lot to teach us about successful inquiry. A little modesty, a little curiosity and an open but critical mind are all we need to learn a lot about the world, including some surprising and beautiful truths. But to appreciate them properly, we need to understand what makes scientific evidence so convincing. Will human society be better served with this knowledge?

Speakers: Bryson Brown, PhD

Bryson Brown earned his PhD from the University of Pittsburgh in 1985. His thesis was entitled "Science in Conflict". His academic positions have included Universities in Houston, Halifax, Melbourne and Lethbridge where he has taught since 1986. Research interests are focused on History and Philosophical Science. His latest book is entitled "Truth and Probability, Essays in Honour of Hugues Leblanc” (2006).

Moderator: Klaus Jericho

Klaus is a Research Scientist retired from Health Canada into new inquiries.

Location: Sven Ericksen’s Family Restaurant (lower level)

1715 Mayor Magrath Drive S., Lethbridge, Alberta

Time: Noon to 1:30 p.m. / Cost: $8.00 includes lunch

In recent history there have been huge public debates about the truth of theories that are widely supported by scientific inquiry. Evolution, the connection between cigarette smoking and cancer, and climate change due to human activity have all been subject to denial by a large segment of society even in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence. Part of the doubt can be attributed to misrepresentation of the science by vested interests. However, a large part of doubt can also be attributed to a lack of understanding of, and trust in, scientific process.

Bryson Brown will argue that science has lot to teach us about successful inquiry. A little modesty, a little curiosity and an open but critical mind are all we need to learn a lot about the world, including some surprising and beautiful truths. But to appreciate them properly, we need to understand what makes scientific evidence so convincing. Will human society be better served with this knowledge?

Speakers: Bryson Brown, PhD

Bryson Brown earned his PhD from the University of Pittsburgh in 1985. His thesis was entitled "Science in Conflict". His academic positions have included Universities in Houston, Halifax, Melbourne and Lethbridge where he has taught since 1986. Research interests are focused on History and Philosophical Science. His latest book is entitled "Truth and Probability, Essays in Honour of Hugues Leblanc” (2006).

Moderator: Klaus Jericho

Klaus is a Research Scientist retired from Health Canada into new inquiries.

Location: Sven Ericksen’s Family Restaurant (lower level)

1715 Mayor Magrath Drive S., Lethbridge, Alberta

Time: Noon to 1:30 p.m. / Cost: $8.00 includes lunch

Even George Bush concedes the Americans and Brits got into Iraq for all the wrong reasons. But, he (perhaps rightly) argues, it doesn''t follow that they should get out, because, well, if you break it you might need to stick around long enough to fix it. Similarly, most Canadians believe we got into Afghanistan for all the RIGHT reasons. But it doesn''t follow from that we ought to stay, because our presence there might be doing more harm than good. Philosophers of War have had much to say about this conundrum. In this brief talk, I''ll be rehearsing some of what they''ve had to say.

Speaker: Dr. Paul Viminitz

Dr. Paul Viminitz has been a member of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Lethbridge since 1997, specializing in, among other things, the Philosophy of War. In this regard his most provocative publication is probably his "Defence of Terrorism" which, to date at least, has yet to get him arrested when entering either the United States or Great Britain.

Moderator: Bob Campbell

Bob is Director of Population Health for the Chinook Health Region. He is currently President of the Alberta Public Health Association and Past National President of the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Location: Sven Ericksen’s Family Restaurant (lower level)

1715 Mayor Magrath Drive S., Lethbridge, Alberta

Time: Noon to 1:30 p.m. / Cost: $8.00 includes lunch

Even George Bush concedes the Americans and Brits got into Iraq for all the wrong reasons. But, he (perhaps rightly) argues, it doesn''t follow that they should get out, because, well, if you break it you might need to stick around long enough to fix it. Similarly, most Canadians believe we got into Afghanistan for all the RIGHT reasons. But it doesn''t follow from that we ought to stay, because our presence there might be doing more harm than good. Philosophers of War have had much to say about this conundrum. In this brief talk, I''ll be rehearsing some of what they''ve had to say.

Speaker: Dr. Paul Viminitz

Dr. Paul Viminitz has been a member of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Lethbridge since 1997, specializing in, among other things, the Philosophy of War. In this regard his most provocative publication is probably his "Defence of Terrorism" which, to date at least, has yet to get him arrested when entering either the United States or Great Britain.

Moderator: Bob Campbell

Bob is Director of Population Health for the Chinook Health Region. He is currently President of the Alberta Public Health Association and Past National President of the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Location: Sven Ericksen’s Family Restaurant (lower level)

1715 Mayor Magrath Drive S., Lethbridge, Alberta

Time: Noon to 1:30 p.m. / Cost: $8.00 includes lunch

What is an Income Trust? How are they structured and why did they come about? Controversial changes have happened as a result of the announcement by the Government of Canada on October 31, 2006. What effect will this have on the average investor and the market as a whole?

Speaker: Bob Thompson

Bob is a Vice President and Investment Advisor with RBC Dominion Securities. He has been there since 1989. Prior to that he was a Bank Manager and Trust Company Manager for about 20 years. He specializes in management of Investment Portfolios. Bob is a Certified Financial Planner and is a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute. He is married with four children and six grandchildren.

Moderator: Einard Haniuk

Einard is retired from a career as director of research for several universities in the United States and Canada, most recently University of Lethbridge.

Location: Sven Ericksen’s Family Restaurant (lower level)

1715 Mayor Magrath Drive S., Lethbridge, Alberta

Time: Noon to 1:30 p.m. / Cost: $8.00 includes lunch

What is an Income Trust? How are they structured and why did they come about? Controversial changes have happened as a result of the announcement by the Government of Canada on October 31, 2006. What effect will this have on the average investor and the market as a whole?

Speaker: Bob Thompson

Bob is a Vice President and Investment Advisor with RBC Dominion Securities. He has been there since 1989. Prior to that he was a Bank Manager and Trust Company Manager for about 20 years. He specializes in management of Investment Portfolios. Bob is a Certified Financial Planner and is a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute. He is married with four children and six grandchildren.

Moderator: Einard Haniuk

Einard is retired from a career as director of research for several universities in the United States and Canada, most recently University of Lethbridge.

Location: Sven Ericksen’s Family Restaurant (lower level)

1715 Mayor Magrath Drive S., Lethbridge, Alberta

Time: Noon to 1:30 p.m. / Cost: $8.00 includes lunch

The role of the Canadian Wheat Board is being challenged by the Harper Government. There are implications for the future of grain farming and the security of the Canadian food supply. This is your opportunity to listen to and question candidates for the CWB District 3 directorship as they debate their visions for the future of the Canadian Wheat Board.

Speakers:

Larry Wayne Hill

Incumbent director Larry and his wife Sandra are full time farmers in the Swift Current area of Saskatchewan. In his role as Chair of CWB Trade Committee, Larry has represented the CWB at WTO (world trade organization) discussions, and has worked on US trade challenges on Canadian grain exported to US. Larry supports the single-desk selling power of the CWB.

Conrad Johnson

Conrad and his wife Fay have been farming in the Bracken area of Saskatchewan for over 30 years. Conrad is a director of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers and the Chairman of the Board of Great Western Railway. Conrad believes in making the CWB voluntary.

Stephen John Vandervalk

Stephen is a fourth generation farmer from the Ft. McLeod area. Stephen is a director of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers and the Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission. Stephen believes in making the CWB voluntary.

SESSION PRESENTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH LETHBRIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY

7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in the Theatre Gallery

Admission free, donations gratefully received