Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

Since 1982 the Lethbridge Food Bank has been operated in the community of Lethbridge and serving the surrounding area with a “food share” program. Lethbridge, is home to nearly 100,000 people and growing, making the Lethbridge Food Bank an important part of a vibrant community to ensure a food security resource for families in need. As a non-profit organization, donations from individuals and businesses are essential. During the fall of 2017, The Lethbridge Food Bank, in partnership with My City Care, began the Mindful Munchies program, providing students in need, nutritional food items to help them succeed in the classroom. The program started with 11 schools and agencies and 600 lunches a week. However, within a few months, that number grew to 16 schools/agencies and close to 1,100 lunches a week. As of September 2018, the numbers were 19 schools/agencies with 1400 lunches a week. Child poverty in Canada is no illusion and Lethbridge Food Bank is trying to help remove barriers to learning by aiding children and youth with food. Within the food bank numbers, out of the approximately 1600 individuals served on a monthly bases, 40% are children. The speaker will detail the myriad of services food banks provide and highlight the need to support children and youth with an opportunity to succeed and for people to support agencies who are investing in children’s future. Speaker: Maral Kiani Tari Maral Kiani Tari graduated from the University of Calgary with a BA in Law & Society and furthered her education at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, completing her Master of Public Administration (MPA) in 2014. Mrs. Kiani Tari moved to Lethbridge in fall of 2015 to be closer to her family. Mrs. Kiani Tari became the Executive Director of the Lethbridge Food Bank on October 17, 2016 and has enjoyed every moment giving back to the community and establishing the lunch program. Christmas is her favorite time of the year and she enjoys every moment of the festive spirit with her husband and beautiful three-year-old daughter named Aurora. Moderator: Knud Petersen Date: Thursday, Dec 13, 2018 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 Donations of non-perishable food items will gratefully be received by SACPA for Lethbridge food banks

The City of Lethbridge use the council-manager form of city government i.e. city council makes laws and broad policy decisions for a city manager and staff to carry out. In other words, under the council-manager form of government a city manager fills the role of chief executive officer (CEO) of the government organization. Like a private sector CEO does for a private company, a city manager oversees the day-to-day operations of a city and serves as the chief advisor to city council. In supervising daily operations of a city, a manager is responsible for effective and efficient government service. All city employees ultimately answer to a city manager and such can hire and fire staff as appropriate and allowable by law. As a council’s chief policy advisor, a city manager can recommend city policy for consideration by council. A manager has a professional obligation to give complete and unbiased information to council. A manager should consult with department heads and the city solicitor to ensure the advice he or she gives is sound. Bramwell Strain, Lethbridge’s new City Manager, will describe his experience in Lethbridge (so far) followed by an outline of his immediate and future priorities, as well as his vision for the City of Lethbridge. Speaker: Bramwell Strain, Lethbridge City Manager In his various roles prior to becoming City Manager in Lethbridge, August 2018, Mr. Strain had direct responsibility for more than 2,000 employees in unionized environments and has overseen public programming and capital budgets of up to $1.8 billion. Since 2016, he served as a deputy minister in the Government of Manitoba in the ministries of infrastructure as well as education, training and immigration. Previous to 2016, Mr. Strain had a background with the Federal Government serving as Assistant Deputy Minister for Western Economic Diversification, Regional Director General for Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Director General for Service Canada, and Associate Regional Director General for Veterans Affairs. Moderator: Councillor Jeffrey Coffman Date: Thursday, Dec 6, 2018 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 City of Lethbridge use the council-manager form of city government i.e. city council makes laws and broad policy decisions for a city manager and staff to carry out. In other words, under the council-manager form of government a city manager fills the role of chief executive officer (CEO) of the government organization. Like a private sector CEO does for a private company, a city manager oversees the day-to-day operations of a city and serves as the chief advisor to city council. In supervising daily operations of a city, a manager is responsible for effective and efficient government service. All city employees ultimately answer to a city manager and such can hire and fire staff as appropriate and allowable by law. As a council’s chief policy advisor, a city manager can recommend city policy for consideration by council. A manager has a professional obligation to give complete and unbiased information to council. A manager should consult with department heads and the city solicitor to ensure the advice he or she gives is sound. Bramwell Strain, Lethbridge’s new City Manager, will describe his experience in Lethbridge (so far) followed by an outline of his immediate and future priorities, as well as his vision for the City of Lethbridge. Speaker: Bramwell Strain, Lethbridge City Manager In his various roles prior to becoming City Manager in Lethbridge, August 2018, Mr. Strain had direct responsibility for more than 2,000 employees in unionized environments and has overseen public programming and capital budgets of up to $1.8 billion. Since 2016, he served as a deputy minister in the Government of Manitoba in the ministries of infrastructure as well as education, training and immigration. Previous to 2016, Mr. Strain had a background with the Federal Government serving as Assistant Deputy Minister for Western Economic Diversification, Regional Director General for Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Director General for Service Canada, and Associate Regional Director General for Veterans Affairs. Moderator: Councillor Jeffrey Coffman Date: Thursday, Dec 6, 2018 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

Many Albertan worry about public spending, deficits and a growing debt. Does balancing the books in Alberta hinge on building pipelines to tidewater or are there other ways to achieve that goal? Are the present provincial Government’s budget predictions unrealistic? The speaker will articulate his and the Alberta Liberal Party views on deficits, pipelines, economic development, opioids and Alberta politics. David Kahn will further talk about his vision for the Alberta Liberals and argue that corporate and union donations to PACs should be barred, restrictions on out-of-province donations and setting donation limits for individuals. Donations to PACs above $250 and PAC expenditures should be made transparent to the public. He will further contend that Alberta’s Government has a golden opportunity to be a national leader in democratic accountability and electoral finance reforms by implementing these recommendation. Speaker: David Kahn, Leader of the Alberta Liberal Party David Khan was elected Leader of the Alberta Liberal Party in June 2017. He believes strongly in the liberal values of individual rights and freedoms, equality of opportunity for all, and fairness for future generations in fiscal, economic, and environmental terms. David is committed to building a sustainable forward-looking economy that will serve us today and tomorrow. Since becoming Leader David has consistently highlighted the inadequate response of the NDP government to the economic challenges facing Alberta. He has been in the forefront of the fight to get dark money out of politics and bring greater regulation to Political Action Committees and he has championed several other important issues such as the critical situation facing EMS and Red Alerts, Special Needs Education Supports and the Opioid Crisis. David was born and raised in Calgary. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of British Columbia and a Juris Doctor degree in Law from the University of Toronto. He studied international and European human rights and constitutional law at Central European University (CEU) in Budapest, Hungary, and French at l'Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC) in Chicoutimi, Québec. David is fluent in both English and French. Currently, as a lawyer licensed in Alberta, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories, David practises primarily in the field of Indigenous rights and land claims. He has represented clients at all levels of court in numerous Canadian jurisdictions, including the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Appeal, and superior and appellate courts in numerous provinces, as well as before regulatory and administrative tribunals and in private arbitrations. Moderator: Susan Giffen Date: Thursday, Nov 29, 2018 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

Many Albertan worry about public spending, deficits and a growing debt. Does balancing the books in Alberta hinge on building pipelines to tidewater or are there other ways to achieve that goal? Are the present provincial Government’s budget predictions unrealistic? The speaker will articulate his and the Alberta Liberal Party views on deficits, pipelines, economic development, opioids and Alberta politics. David Kahn will further talk about his vision for the Alberta Liberals and argue that corporate and union donations to PACs should be barred, restrictions on out-of-province donations and setting donation limits for individuals. Donations to PACs above $250 and PAC expenditures should be made transparent to the public. He will further contend that Alberta’s Government has a golden opportunity to be a national leader in democratic accountability and electoral finance reforms by implementing these recommendation. Speaker: David Kahn, Leader of the Alberta Liberal Party David Khan was elected Leader of the Alberta Liberal Party in June 2017. He believes strongly in the liberal values of individual rights and freedoms, equality of opportunity for all, and fairness for future generations in fiscal, economic, and environmental terms. David is committed to building a sustainable forward-looking economy that will serve us today and tomorrow. Since becoming Leader David has consistently highlighted the inadequate response of the NDP government to the economic challenges facing Alberta. He has been in the forefront of the fight to get dark money out of politics and bring greater regulation to Political Action Committees and he has championed several other important issues such as the critical situation facing EMS and Red Alerts, Special Needs Education Supports and the Opioid Crisis. David was born and raised in Calgary. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of British Columbia and a Juris Doctor degree in Law from the University of Toronto. He studied international and European human rights and constitutional law at Central European University (CEU) in Budapest, Hungary, and French at l'Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC) in Chicoutimi, Québec. David is fluent in both English and French. Currently, as a lawyer licensed in Alberta, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories, David practises primarily in the field of Indigenous rights and land claims. He has represented clients at all levels of court in numerous Canadian jurisdictions, including the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Appeal, and superior and appellate courts in numerous provinces, as well as before regulatory and administrative tribunals and in private arbitrations. Moderator: Susan Giffen Date: Thursday, Nov 29, 2018 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

For 120 years, the Lethbridge & District Exhibition has provided programming and facilities focused on agricultural, social, entertainment, cultural and economic needs of Lethbridge and Southern Alberta. Over this time the population of the area has increased dramatically and while facilities/programming have been added at Exhibition Park trying to keep pace, arguably, present buildings are old and inadequate. The Board of Directors of Lethbridge & District Exhibition approved an exciting new development plan for Exhibition Park. This plan represents 3 years of comprehensive examination which included a financial review, facility condition audit of all buildings, needs and market assessments, and finally a multiple accounts evaluation framework study to arrive at the preferred site for redevelopment. Along with conceptual designs of a new Trade Centre, the redevelopment plan contains a thoroughly vetted business case which demonstrates long term sustainability. The speakers will contend that the next step of the plan involves community engagement and gathering letters of support for the project and that success will ultimately depend on funding support from all three levels of government. Speakers: Rudy Friesen and Michael Wuchterl Rudy Friesen was raised on a farm south of Saskatoon. After attending the University of Saskatchewan, his career in the exhibition industry began in Saskatoon as Prairieland’s Agriculture Manager in 1993. He served as President of the Board of the Saskatchewan Association of Agricultural Societies and Exhibitions in 1995/96. In 1999, Rudy moved to the Swift Current Exhibition as General Manager and in 2002 he became General Manager at Exhibition Park in Lethbridge, a position he still holds today. Michael Wuchterl was born and raised in Edmonton, AB. He played hockey in the WHL from 2003-08 with the Silvertips, Giants and Hurricanes. Mike won a Memorial Cup with the Vancouver Giants in 2007 and then moved on to play with University of Lethbridge Pronghorns, where he suffered a career ending injury. From then on, Mike transitioned into working as a business professional in marketing and promotions with Clear Sky Radio in Lethbridge. In 2015, he became Supervisor of Marketing & Sales at Exhibition Park. Moderator: Taren Hager Date: Monday, Nov 26, 2018 Time: Doors open 11:30 am, Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 – 1:30 pm Location: Exhibition Park, Main Pavillion Saddle Room, 3401 Parkside Drive South Lethbridge Cost: $10 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required Many thanks to Exhibition Park for kindly donating the lunch making it possible for SACPA to charge a minimal $10 per person, which in turn will support SACPA’s annual Xmas donation to community groups. SACPA will donate the total amount to the Lethbridge’s food banks Christmas Food Hamper program.

For 120 years, the Lethbridge & District Exhibition has provided programming and facilities focused on agricultural, social, entertainment, cultural and economic needs of Lethbridge and Southern Alberta. Over this time the population of the area has increased dramatically and while facilities/programming have been added at Exhibition Park trying to keep pace, arguably, present buildings are old and inadequate. The Board of Directors of Lethbridge & District Exhibition approved an exciting new development plan for Exhibition Park. This plan represents 3 years of comprehensive examination which included a financial review, facility condition audit of all buildings, needs and market assessments, and finally a multiple accounts evaluation framework study to arrive at the preferred site for redevelopment. Along with conceptual designs of a new Trade Centre, the redevelopment plan contains a thoroughly vetted business case which demonstrates long term sustainability. The speakers will contend that the next step of the plan involves community engagement and gathering letters of support for the project and that success will ultimately depend on funding support from all three levels of government. Speakers: Rudy Friesen and Michael Wuchterl Rudy Friesen was raised on a farm south of Saskatoon. After attending the University of Saskatchewan, his career in the exhibition industry began in Saskatoon as Prairieland’s Agriculture Manager in 1993. He served as President of the Board of the Saskatchewan Association of Agricultural Societies and Exhibitions in 1995/96. In 1999, Rudy moved to the Swift Current Exhibition as General Manager and in 2002 he became General Manager at Exhibition Park in Lethbridge, a position he still holds today. Michael Wuchterl was born and raised in Edmonton, AB. He played hockey in the WHL from 2003-08 with the Silvertips, Giants and Hurricanes. Mike won a Memorial Cup with the Vancouver Giants in 2007 and then moved on to play with University of Lethbridge Pronghorns, where he suffered a career ending injury. From then on, Mike transitioned into working as a business professional in marketing and promotions with Clear Sky Radio in Lethbridge. In 2015, he became Supervisor of Marketing & Sales at Exhibition Park. Moderator: Taren Hager Date: Monday, Nov 26, 2018 Time: Doors open 11:30 am, Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 – 1:30 pm Location: Exhibition Park, Main Pavillion Saddle Room, 3401 Parkside Drive South Lethbridge Cost: $10 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required Many thanks to Exhibition Park for kindly donating the lunch making it possible for SACPA to charge a minimal $10 per person, which in turn will support SACPA’s annual Xmas donation to community groups. SACPA will donate the total amount to the Lethbridge’s food banks Christmas Food Hamper program.

Grieving the loss or change of a cherished natural space has not always been recognized as a true form of grieving. For example, the grief First Nations Peoples in USA and Canada experienced after losing their way of life in the wake of colonization, was generally not recognized as ecological grief. Wildfires and summers filled with smoke, devastating floods and subtle changes in the seasons seems to be the new normal and following recent IPCC reports, ecological grief is now starting to become recognized as a legitimate form of mourning and anxiety. But like all forms of grief, ecological grief is personal, unique and often does not follow a logical pattern. The speakers will argue that recognizing and working with ecological grief is an experience familiar to many, but is only now beginning to be understood. How to connect the dots is a work in progress with a multitude of nuances. Grieving a loss of natural space or build environment may or may not be similar to other forms of personal loss. Speakers: Amy Spark and Jodi Lammiman Amy Spark is an environmental scientist and advocate focused on the intersection between ecological and mental health. Her research in the Ghost River Valley highlighted patterns of ecological grief – the emotional experience after the loss of cherished natural spaces. She loves her work as the Sustainability Coordinator at Bow Valley College, where she collaborates on environmental solutions that also aid in social cohesion and well-being. She is an amateur urban homesteader, budding writer, and lover of all things X-files. You will usually find her happily exploring Calgary by bike or digging into a good book. Jodi Lammiman is a lover of life, beauty, art, stimulating conversation and wilderness spaces. With a formal education in Sacred Literature, Leadership and Spiritual Direction, Jodi became interested in the intersections between social and environmental justice, spirituality and the human psyche. She lived and worked in an intentional retreat community for four years where she was immersed in the practices of hospitality, active listening and contemplative living. She is a spiritual director, retreats facilitator, and an avid reader. Moderator: Kristina Larkin Date: Thursday, November 22, 2018 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

Grieving the loss or change of a cherished natural space has not always been recognized as a true form of grieving. For example, the grief First Nations Peoples in USA and Canada experienced after losing their way of life in the wake of colonization, was generally not recognized as ecological grief. Wildfires and summers filled with smoke, devastating floods and subtle changes in the seasons seems to be the new normal and following recent IPCC reports, ecological grief is now starting to become recognized as a legitimate form of mourning and anxiety. But like all forms of grief, ecological grief is personal, unique and often does not follow a logical pattern. The speakers will argue that recognizing and working with ecological grief is an experience familiar to many, but is only now beginning to be understood. How to connect the dots is a work in progress with a multitude of nuances. Grieving a loss of natural space or build environment may or may not be similar to other forms of personal loss. Speakers: Amy Spark and Jodi Lammiman Amy Spark is an environmental scientist and advocate focused on the intersection between ecological and mental health. Her research in the Ghost River Valley highlighted patterns of ecological grief – the emotional experience after the loss of cherished natural spaces. She loves her work as the Sustainability Coordinator at Bow Valley College, where she collaborates on environmental solutions that also aid in social cohesion and well-being. She is an amateur urban homesteader, budding writer, and lover of all things X-files. You will usually find her happily exploring Calgary by bike or digging into a good book. Jodi Lammiman is a lover of life, beauty, art, stimulating conversation and wilderness spaces. With a formal education in Sacred Literature, Leadership and Spiritual Direction, Jodi became interested in the intersections between social and environmental justice, spirituality and the human psyche. She lived and worked in an intentional retreat community for four years where she was immersed in the practices of hospitality, active listening and contemplative living. She is a spiritual director, retreats facilitator, and an avid reader. Moderator: Kristina Larkin Date: Thursday, November 22, 2018 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 March 2018, the City of Lethbridge Community Social Development (CSD) Business Unit launched a Strategic Planning Initiative that will provide the comprehensive research-based social assessment required to identify Lethbridge’s priority social issues, identify Lethbridge’s range of social supports and services, bring this information to community, and inform the revisions of the City’s CSD’s 5 Year strategic plan. Project completion is targeted for early 2019, and will support the development of the City of Lethbridge 2019-20 CBO Service Delivery Plan. The speakers will outline what priorities are important for the City of Lethbridge in terms of Community Social Development and as well, about the trends throughout Alberta, and what the pressure points on communities look like on a broader scale. They will share the Lethbridge map of social assets and services currently in development, and ask the audience to share their perspectives on social challenges and potential solutions. Speakers: Dr. Alina Turner, Kimberly Lyall and Michael Boh Alina is recognized as a leading researcher and thinker on social issues with proven implementation results. Her work on system planning is recognized as a leading practice and often called upon as a model across communities. Her drive and passion for this work is grounded in her lived experience of the social issues she continues to challenge in her professional work. Alina is a Fellow at The School of Public Policy, University of Calgary and serves on HomeSpace's Board of Directors as Chair of the Governance Committee. She recently joined the Alberta Rural Development Rural Advisory Board on housing and homelessness. Kimberly is a visionary business leader who’s able to inspire and motivate, and who faces adversity with determination. Her corporate experience includes extensive work in tourism marketing and development, not-for-profit organization management, business consultation and community development. Her strengths are in strategic planning, communications, and sustainable development. She has managed several award-winnig projects including the Coyote Flats Oral History Project. In addition to consulting Kimberly is a motivational speaker, and an instructor for Lethbridge College Corporate and Continuing Education. Kimberly was named a Lethbridge YWCA Young Woman of Distinction in 2000. Michael has been an engineer with the City of Lethbridge for nearly a decade since returning with his family to his hometown of Lethbridge. Michael began work in the Infrastructure Department before ultimately moving to Community Services where, as a Project Engineer, he currently leads and supports various Community Services Projects and initiatives, including the Lethbridge Asset Mapping Project. Michael’s passion for the community of Lethbridge extends into his volunteer work, such as Project Management of École Agnes Davidson’s Dragon Park, Lethbridge’s largest playground, as well as past and present seats on various community boards such as the Lethbridge Hurricanes Hockey Club. Moderator: Terry Shillington Date: Thursday, Nov 15, 2018 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