Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

In response to calls for action from Indigenous families, communities and organizations, as well as non-governmental and international organizations, the Government of Canada launched an entirely independent National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) in September 2016. The National Inquiry’s Final MMIWG Report released June 3, reveals that persistent and deliberate human and Indigenous rights violations and abuses are the root cause behind Canada’s staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people. The two volume report calls for transformative legal and social changes to resolve the crisis that has devastated Indigenous communities across Canada. The Final Report is comprised of the truths of more than 2,380 family members, survivors of violence, experts and Knowledge Keepers shared over two years of cross-country public hearings and evidence gathering. It delivers 231 individual Calls for Justice directed at governments, institutions, social service providers, industries and all Canadians. As documented in the Final Report, testimony from family members and survivors of violence spoke about a surrounding context marked by multigenerational and intergenerational trauma and marginalization in the form of poverty, insecure housing or homelessness and barriers to education, employment, health care and cultural support. Experts and Knowledge Keepers spoke to specific colonial and patriarchal policies that displaced women from their traditional roles in communities and governance and diminished their status in society, leaving them vulnerable to violence. The speaker will elaborate and offer thoughts on future actions Speaker: Terri-Lynn Fox Oki, Niistoo’akoka Aapiihkwi’komotakii, my English name is Terri-Lynn Fox. I am a member of the Kainai Nation, which is part of the Blackfoot Confederacy. My academic credentials include a B.A. in Psychology, an M.A. in Sociology, and I am currently completing a Ph.D. in Education. I am Director of the Kainai Wellness Centre, which is one branch of the Blood Tribe Department of Health, located on the Kainai Nation. I practice our Siksikaitsitapi ways and envision this to be at the forefront of our healing methods, in addition to an avenue for our way forward, as we think about, participate in, and actively change the Canadian landscape for the betterment of all – to justly reach reconciliation. Moderator: Knud Petersen Date: Thursday, June 13, 2019 Time: Doors open 11:30 am, Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 – 1:30 pm Location: Royal Canadian Legion (north door) 324 Mayor Magrath Dr. S. Lethbridge Cost: $14 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required

In 2004 Dale Thacker got involved as a 1/3 owner in Rangeland Helicopters with Larry Elford and Ian McLeod. Their wish was to bring effective helicopter EMS to the southeastern part of Alberta. They recognized that STARS Air Ambulance was available, but from a trauma perspective considering the “golden hour”, it wasn’t sufficient, and wanted better coverage for the people who call this southern region home. The Southern Alberta MedicAir Society had also come to similar conclusions about STARS coverage. The combined synergy of these two groups allowed a new project to take flight in the summer of 2007. Dale sold his shares in Rangeland Helicopters at that time and became a volunteer on the fundraising side of the operation now known as HALO (Helicopter Air Lift Operation) He has been a board member for 13 years and Chairman for the last three. HALO has recently become an Alberta Health Services approved helicopter EMS provider, allowing them a chance to work together and demonstrate ways to help reduce costs of medical emergency trauma services. He will speak on his journey and experiences helping this service in southeastern Alberta become a reality. Speaker: Dale Thacker Dale was born in Taber and other than a spell at SAIT College studying Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, he has lived his entire life on a multi-generational farm 2 miles west of Bow Island. It’s an innovative farming operation that grows Spearmint and Peppermint Essential Oils for Wrigley’s, Colgate and other companies and produces dill oil for Vlasics and Oscar Meyer. They have held the contract to supply the flavoring for the dill pickle at McDonalds for the last 11 years. They also grow wheat, along with Hybrid Seed canola, peas, beans, lentils, hemp and are now even trying out hops. Dale is the Chairman of the Mint Industry Research Councils “distillation committee” and is tasked with improving on-farm distillation across North America. Dale got his fixed wing pilots license in 1975 and then upgraded to a helicopter license in 1999. This is where he discovered the helicopters unique ability to get to remote locations quickly. He currently flies an Enstrom helicopter on his farm and it allows for crop surveillance and irrigation scheduling using infra-red photography as well as weed scouting and crop maturity checks. Moderator: Larry Elford Date: Thursday, June 6, 2019 Time: Doors open 11:30 am, Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 – 1:30 pm Location: Royal Canadian Legion (north door) 324 Mayor Magrath Dr. S. Lethbridge Cost: $14 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required

In 2004 Dale Thacker got involved as a 1/3 owner in Rangeland Helicopters with Larry Elford and Ian McLeod. Their wish was to bring effective helicopter EMS to the southeastern part of Alberta. They recognized that STARS Air Ambulance was available, but from a trauma perspective considering the “golden hour”, it wasn’t sufficient, and wanted better coverage for the people who call this southern region home. The Southern Alberta MedicAir Society had also come to similar conclusions about STARS coverage. The combined synergy of these two groups allowed a new project to take flight in the summer of 2007. Dale sold his shares in Rangeland Helicopters at that time and became a volunteer on the fundraising side of the operation now known as HALO (Helicopter Air Lift Operation) He has been a board member for 13 years and Chairman for the last three. HALO has recently become an Alberta Health Services approved helicopter EMS provider, allowing them a chance to work together and demonstrate ways to help reduce costs of medical emergency trauma services. He will speak on his journey and experiences helping this service in southeastern Alberta become a reality. Speaker: Dale Thacker Dale was born in Taber and other than a spell at SAIT College studying Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, he has lived his entire life on a multi-generational farm 2 miles west of Bow Island. It’s an innovative farming operation that grows Spearmint and Peppermint Essential Oils for Wrigley’s, Colgate and other companies and produces dill oil for Vlasics and Oscar Meyer. They have held the contract to supply the flavoring for the dill pickle at McDonalds for the last 11 years. They also grow wheat, along with Hybrid Seed canola, peas, beans, lentils, hemp and are now even trying out hops. Dale is the Chairman of the Mint Industry Research Councils “distillation committee” and is tasked with improving on-farm distillation across North America. Dale got his fixed wing pilots license in 1975 and then upgraded to a helicopter license in 1999. This is where he discovered the helicopters unique ability to get to remote locations quickly. He currently flies an Enstrom helicopter on his farm and it allows for crop surveillance and irrigation scheduling using infra-red photography as well as weed scouting and crop maturity checks. Moderator: Larry Elford Date: Thursday, June 6, 2019 Time: Doors open 11:30 am, Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 – 1:30 pm Location: Royal Canadian Legion (north door) 324 Mayor Magrath Dr. S. Lethbridge Cost: $14 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required

Southern Alberta, including the MD of Pincher Creek, is one of Canada’s windiest regions and the area’s rich wind resources are extremely attractive to developers. This renewable potential, however, is having an unexpected negative environmental impact – wind farms and associated transmission infrastructure are threatening one of the last remaining areas in Alberta with large tracts of native grassland and unique ecosystems of critical importance to preserving the unique bioversity of the plains. The Livingstone Landowners Group (LLG) is concerned about the cumulative impact of continued wind and transmission development on these environmentally sensitive areas of southwestern Alberta. The LLG represents ranchers and landowners dedicated to the responsible planning, use and protection of rare and irreplaceable species as well as land and water resources between the Livingstone Range and the Porcupine Hills. The speaker will argue the cumulative impact of wind-related projects in sensitive areas is excessive and only Government intervention will allow the beauty and unique biodiversity of this region to remain. Speaker: Bobbi Lambright Bobbi Lambright is a former utility executive with significant expertise in all aspects of the electricity industry in Alberta and abroad. Bobbi worked for the ATCO Group of companies for more than 30 years in a variety of companies and roles including President of the ATCO Electric distribution company in Alberta as well as its electricity operations in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Most recently she served as ATCO’s Managing Director for Australia. In that role she was responsible for managing all of ATCO’s Australia business interests including operating the largest gas distribution company in western Australia as well as several large electric generation assets. During her time in Australia she represented the company in discussions with government and industry on the integration of renewables and transitioning from a traditionally coal generation electricity market. Retired for just over a year, Bobbi is still actively involved in understanding and interpreting industry policy and direction in Alberta and is actively involved with the Livingstone Landowners Group. She has conducted considerable research into the Alberta Renewable Energy Program, the status of wind generation and associated transmission development particularly as they relate to southwestern Alberta and the MD of Pincher Creek. Moderator: Trevor Page Date: Thursday, May 30, 2019 Time: Doors open 11:30 am, Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 – 1:30 pm Location: Royal Canadian Legion (north door) 324 Mayor Magrath Dr. S. Lethbridge Cost: $14 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required

Southern Alberta, including the MD of Pincher Creek, is one of Canada’s windiest regions and the area’s rich wind resources are extremely attractive to developers. This renewable potential, however, is having an unexpected negative environmental impact – wind farms and associated transmission infrastructure are threatening one of the last remaining areas in Alberta with large tracts of native grassland and unique ecosystems of critical importance to preserving the unique bioversity of the plains. The Livingstone Landowners Group (LLG) is concerned about the cumulative impact of continued wind and transmission development on these environmentally sensitive areas of southwestern Alberta. The LLG represents ranchers and landowners dedicated to the responsible planning, use and protection of rare and irreplaceable species as well as land and water resources between the Livingstone Range and the Porcupine Hills. The speaker will argue the cumulative impact of wind-related projects in sensitive areas is excessive and only Government intervention will allow the beauty and unique biodiversity of this region to remain. Speaker: Bobbi Lambright Bobbi Lambright is a former utility executive with significant expertise in all aspects of the electricity industry in Alberta and abroad. Bobbi worked for the ATCO Group of companies for more than 30 years in a variety of companies and roles including President of the ATCO Electric distribution company in Alberta as well as its electricity operations in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Most recently she served as ATCO’s Managing Director for Australia. In that role she was responsible for managing all of ATCO’s Australia business interests including operating the largest gas distribution company in western Australia as well as several large electric generation assets. During her time in Australia she represented the company in discussions with government and industry on the integration of renewables and transitioning from a traditionally coal generation electricity market. Retired for just over a year, Bobbi is still actively involved in understanding and interpreting industry policy and direction in Alberta and is actively involved with the Livingstone Landowners Group. She has conducted considerable research into the Alberta Renewable Energy Program, the status of wind generation and associated transmission development particularly as they relate to southwestern Alberta and the MD of Pincher Creek. Moderator: Trevor Page Date: Thursday, May 30, 2019 Time: Doors open 11:30 am, Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 – 1:30 pm Location: Royal Canadian Legion (north door) 324 Mayor Magrath Dr. S. Lethbridge Cost: $14 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required

The crisis of the global political-economy continues to sharpen. Trade wars—the precursors of military wars—involving the United States, the European Union, China, India, Mexico and Canada are intensifying. The United States has unilaterally abrograted the Trans Pacific Partnership, Intermediate Nucler Forces Agreement and North America Free Trade Agreement. Social inequality and wealth concentration are at record levels. The major central banks are realizing even more “ultra-accommodative” monetary policy for stock markets and more austerity for workers. Militarization is omnipresent. The European Union is talking about increasing military spending by 50 per cent. Japan is moving to revise its pacifist constitution. Sweden has reimposed military conscription. Fascistic movements are increasingly empowered in societies such as Canada, the United States, Germany, Italy, Brazil, the Philippines and Hungary. This crisis has myriad expressions in the societies of the Middle East: imperial wars in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen and Palestine; United States’ negation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the so-called “Iran deal”) and escalation of war on Iran; the further institutionalization of fascism in Israel; revolts in Algeria and Sudan; and currency deflation and immiserating inflation in Turkey and Egypt. The speaker will locate the crises of the societies of the Middle East in the global political-economy; conceptualize wars, state policies and social dynamism as regional and national processing(s) of global relations in crisis. Speaker: Dr. Sean McMahon Dr. Sean McMahon is a visiting assistant professor of political science at the University of Lethbridge and a tutor of labour studies and economics at Athabasca University. From 2007-2018, he was a post-doctoral fellow and assistant professor of political science at the American University in Cairo (AUC). His primary fields of research are international relations/global political economy and comparative politics of the Middle East. Dr. McMahon is the author of Crisis and Class War in Egypt: Social Reproduction, Factional Realignments and the Global Political Economy (Zed Books, 2017) and The Discourse of Palestinian-Israeli Relations (Routledge, 2010) and editor, with Dan Tschirgi and Walid Kazziha, of Egypt’s Tahrir Revolution (Lynne Rienner, 2013). Moderator: Heather Oxman Date: Thursday, May 23, 2019 Time: Doors open 11:30 am, Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 – 1:30 pm Location: Royal Canadian Legion (north door) 324 Mayor Magrath Dr. S. Lethbridge Cost: $14 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required Visit the SACPA website: http://www.sacpa.ca

The crisis of the global political-economy continues to sharpen. Trade wars—the precursors of military wars—involving the United States, the European Union, China, India, Mexico and Canada are intensifying. The United States has unilaterally abrograted the Trans Pacific Partnership, Intermediate Nucler Forces Agreement and North America Free Trade Agreement. Social inequality and wealth concentration are at record levels. The major central banks are realizing even more “ultra-accommodative” monetary policy for stock markets and more austerity for workers. Militarization is omnipresent. The European Union is talking about increasing military spending by 50 per cent. Japan is moving to revise its pacifist constitution. Sweden has reimposed military conscription. Fascistic movements are increasingly empowered in societies such as Canada, the United States, Germany, Italy, Brazil, the Philippines and Hungary. This crisis has myriad expressions in the societies of the Middle East: imperial wars in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen and Palestine; United States’ negation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the so-called “Iran deal”) and escalation of war on Iran; the further institutionalization of fascism in Israel; revolts in Algeria and Sudan; and currency deflation and immiserating inflation in Turkey and Egypt. The speaker will locate the crises of the societies of the Middle East in the global political-economy; conceptualize wars, state policies and social dynamism as regional and national processing(s) of global relations in crisis. Speaker: Dr. Sean McMahon Dr. Sean McMahon is a visiting assistant professor of political science at the University of Lethbridge and a tutor of labour studies and economics at Athabasca University. From 2007-2018, he was a post-doctoral fellow and assistant professor of political science at the American University in Cairo (AUC). His primary fields of research are international relations/global political economy and comparative politics of the Middle East. Dr. McMahon is the author of Crisis and Class War in Egypt: Social Reproduction, Factional Realignments and the Global Political Economy (Zed Books, 2017) and The Discourse of Palestinian-Israeli Relations (Routledge, 2010) and editor, with Dan Tschirgi and Walid Kazziha, of Egypt’s Tahrir Revolution (Lynne Rienner, 2013). Moderator: Heather Oxman Date: Thursday, May 23, 2019 Time: Doors open 11:30 am, Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 – 1:30 pm Location: Royal Canadian Legion (north door) 324 Mayor Magrath Dr. S. Lethbridge Cost: $14 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required Visit the SACPA website: http://www.sacpa.ca

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is Canada's leading national land conservation organization. A private, non-profit organization, partnering with individuals, corporations, other non-profit organizations and governments at all levels to protect our most important natural treasures — the natural areas that sustain Canada’s plants and wildlife. NCC secures properties (through donation, purchase, conservation agreement and the relinquishment of other legal interests in land) and manages them for the long term. Since 1962, NCC and its partners have helped to conserve 2.8 million acres (more than 1.1 million hectares) of ecologically significant land from coast to coast. NCC’s work in the Prairie Grasslands is contributing to the conservation of our planet’s most endangered ecosystem. People often think of rainforests and coral reefs as the planet’s most critical habitats in need of conservation, but in fact grasslands, including those in Alberta, are the world’s most endangered ecosystem. Grasslands are also important to prevent flooding, and as well, for carbon storage and sequestration in its deep and extensive root networks. Grasslands are a working landscape that support a wide range of animals and economies, from large grazers like cattle, which are an integral land management tool for NCC, to many species at risk. The speaker will expand on the role NCC plays in protecting Alberta’s Prairie Grasslands and will elaborate and highlight ways farmers, ranchers and the general public can assist conversation efforts. Speaker: Leta Pezderic, Nature Area Manager – Prairie Grasslands, AB Leta Pezderic is responsible for the delivery of conservation programs in the Nature Conservancy of Canada's (NCC’s) natural areas, specifically the Prairie Grasslands of Alberta. She works with local landowners, partner organizations, conservation volunteers, funders, and other stewards of the land. Leta grew up in Claresholm, AB, but moved to Lethbridge to pursue her post-secondary education. She received her diploma in Renewable Resource Management as well as her certificate in Fish and Wildlife Technology from the Lethbridge College. From there she transferred to the University of Lethbridge where she obtained her Degree in Environmental Science. Leta spent her summers working in Waterton Lakes National Park. After graduating she was fortunate to work at a variety of places including Cows and Fish, Lethbridge College, and Alberta Environment. She spent nearly seven years with the Oldman Watershed Council as their Program Coordinator before joining the NCC team in 2015 as the Natural Area Manager for Prairie Grasslands. She is passionate about all things nature and tries to capture its beauty through photography; you’ll rarely find her without her camera in hand. Moderator: Curtis Goodman Date: Thursday, May 16, 2019 Time: Doors open 11:30 am, Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 – 1:30 pm Location: Royal Canadian Legion (north door) 324 Mayor Magrath Dr. S. Lethbridge Cost: $14 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is Canada's leading national land conservation organization. A private, non-profit organization, partnering with individuals, corporations, other non-profit organizations and governments at all levels to protect our most important natural treasures — the natural areas that sustain Canada’s plants and wildlife. NCC secures properties (through donation, purchase, conservation agreement and the relinquishment of other legal interests in land) and manages them for the long term. Since 1962, NCC and its partners have helped to conserve 2.8 million acres (more than 1.1 million hectares) of ecologically significant land from coast to coast. NCC’s work in the Prairie Grasslands is contributing to the conservation of our planet’s most endangered ecosystem. People often think of rainforests and coral reefs as the planet’s most critical habitats in need of conservation, but in fact grasslands, including those in Alberta, are the world’s most endangered ecosystem. Grasslands are also important to prevent flooding, and as well, for carbon storage and sequestration in its deep and extensive root networks. Grasslands are a working landscape that support a wide range of animals and economies, from large grazers like cattle, which are an integral land management tool for NCC, to many species at risk. The speaker will expand on the role NCC plays in protecting Alberta’s Prairie Grasslands and will elaborate and highlight ways farmers, ranchers and the general public can assist conversation efforts. Speaker: Leta Pezderic, Nature Area Manager – Prairie Grasslands, AB Leta Pezderic is responsible for the delivery of conservation programs in the Nature Conservancy of Canada's (NCC’s) natural areas, specifically the Prairie Grasslands of Alberta. She works with local landowners, partner organizations, conservation volunteers, funders, and other stewards of the land. Leta grew up in Claresholm, AB, but moved to Lethbridge to pursue her post-secondary education. She received her diploma in Renewable Resource Management as well as her certificate in Fish and Wildlife Technology from the Lethbridge College. From there she transferred to the University of Lethbridge where she obtained her Degree in Environmental Science. Leta spent her summers working in Waterton Lakes National Park. After graduating she was fortunate to work at a variety of places including Cows and Fish, Lethbridge College, and Alberta Environment. She spent nearly seven years with the Oldman Watershed Council as their Program Coordinator before joining the NCC team in 2015 as the Natural Area Manager for Prairie Grasslands. She is passionate about all things nature and tries to capture its beauty through photography; you’ll rarely find her without her camera in hand. Moderator: Curtis Goodman Date: Thursday, May 16, 2019 Time: Doors open 11:30 am, Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 – 1:30 pm Location: Royal Canadian Legion (north door) 324 Mayor Magrath Dr. S. Lethbridge Cost: $14 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required

With the UCP gaining power in Alberta’s recent provincial election, Jason Kenney became premier of Alberta and for the first time since 2008, no women preside over a Canadian provincial or territorial legislature. And that’s unlikely to change anytime soon. Until 1991, when Rita Johnston became British Columbia premier, because of a scandal involving then Premier Bill Vander Zalm, Canadian provinces had been ruled by male premiers. Since then, 11 women has held that position, but not one of those premiers, even those who led their government to a majority mandate, has had the support required to stay in office for more than a full term after being elected. Instead, some women were forced to resign within 2 years of leading their parties to majority government re-election victories. This presentation examines the context in which women are selected to lead political parties – a key step to becoming a premier or prime minister – to determine if women are selected to lead parties that were in crisis or decline. Evidence shows that this is not the case for most women to serve as provincial premiers; given this, we must think seriously about the other factors that keep women out of the premier’s (and prime minister’s) office. Speaker: Dr. Melanee Thomas Melanee Thomas is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Calgary. Her research focuses on the causes and consequences of gender-based political inequality in Canada and other post-industrial democracies. She has published research in journals such as Politics & Gender, Electoral Studies, and the Canadian Journal of Political Science. Dr. Thomas earned her first degree at the University of Lethbridge and served as U of L Students’ Union President. Moderator: Chelsea Sherbut Date: Thursday, May 9, 2019 Time: Doors open 11:30 am, Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 – 1:30 pm Location: Royal Canadian Legion (north door) 324 Mayor Magrath Dr. S. Lethbridge Cost: $14 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required