Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

What will it take to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict? Why did the peace negotiations fail? Is the Palestine-Israel conflict beyond a negotiated solution? Is it time for a new approach? In this talk, Mark Ayyash will give the history of the conflict and Fuad Abboud will talk about Israeli law and how it has impacted the Palestinians. During more than twenty years of peace negotiations, not much have been accomplished. Through it all, Israeli settlements has escalated on occupied land and many Palestinian political adversaries are held behind bars. Palestinian rights – including Palestinian refugees’ right to return – are no closer to implementation. Arguably, conditions in the Gaza Strip can be likened to a prison camp with Israel controlling access from land, sea and air. It can also be argued that Jews for centuries have been subjected to Anti-Semitic sentiments all over the world, but particulary in Europe, which has created a deep felt fear. Such Jewish fear is real and has been even more deeply felt since the Pogroms and the Holocaust and as such, Israel feels the need to exert its power on anyone standing in their way. This sad reality will have to be addressed in the context of negotiating for peace in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Speakers: Fuad Abboud and Mark Ayyash Fuad Abboud was born in Haifa, Palestine. His family fled to Lebanon during the fighting in 1948 and grew up as a Refugee in Lebanon. He studied law at UBC and practiced law in Calgary until retirement. He lives in Calgary. Mark Ayyash is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the John de Chastelain Peace Studies Initiative at Mount Royal University. He teaches and writes in the areas of social and political theory, the study of violence, decolonial movements, as well as culture and politics in the Middle East, particularly focusing on the Palestinian-Israeli struggle. He has published several academic articles and has a co-edited book on Protests and Generations. His forthcoming book is titled A Hermeneutics of Violence. In his capacity as Director of Peace Studies, Mark oversees and organizes the Annual Calgary Peace Prize Ceremony. Moderator: Trevor Page Date: Thursday, October 11, 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

As our city continues to grapple with a growing crisis of drug abuse and seeks solutions to address addiction and its associated negative effects on the community, it may be helpful to take a step back and review some of the root causes of addiction and why this insidious disease is so challenging to treat. From the perspective of someone who has worked in the local emergency department during the onset and evolution of the current opioid crisis, we look at some of the challenges experienced and insights gained in working with this high-risk population. Recurrent patterns of self-destructive behavior in the face of compounding negative personal consequences underscores the impaired ability to make rational choices that is the hallmark of addiction. The collateral effects of all manner of substance addictions continue to cause tremendous harm to users, their families, and the surrounding community, both in visibly drug abusing populations, and in those with a less visible substance abuse problem. Understanding the factors that predispose to addiction and the personal and socioeconomic conditions that impair efforts for meaningful recovery can point towards paradigms to guide future community-based approaches to managing this complex and pervasive problem. Negative impacts on the community such as crime, violence and discarded drug paraphernalia can be seen in this context as symptoms of the greater problem that cannot be adequately addressed without a concerted effort to tackle the underlying contributors to addiction and barriers to recovery. This will continue to require the cooperative efforts of multiple community stake holders, levels of government, local experts in their respective fields and will not come with quick or simple solutions. Speakers: Dr. Sean Wilde MD, CCFP-EM Sean Wilde grew up in small town central Alberta, and later moved to Lethbridge where he began university studies and met his future wife. He graduated from U of L in 2003 with a degree in biochemistry, and later attended medical school at University of Calgary, graduating in the class of 2009. He completed family medicine residency training in U of C's Rural Family Medicine program, where he trained in Lethbridge and several surrounding rural communities. This was followed by one year of additional residency training in Emergency Medicine in the City of Calgary. He currently works in the Emergency Department at Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge where he has been working since July of 2012. He lives in Lethbridge with his wife and three children who keep him busy when he is not working. Moderator: Mark Goettel Date: Thursday, October 4, 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

As our city continues to grapple with a growing crisis of drug abuse and seeks solutions to address addiction and its associated negative effects on the community, it may be helpful to take a step back and review some of the root causes of addiction and why this insidious disease is so challenging to treat. From the perspective of someone who has worked in the local emergency department during the onset and evolution of the current opioid crisis, we look at some of the challenges experienced and insights gained in working with this high-risk population. Recurrent patterns of self-destructive behavior in the face of compounding negative personal consequences underscores the impaired ability to make rational choices that is the hallmark of addiction. The collateral effects of all manner of substance addictions continue to cause tremendous harm to users, their families, and the surrounding community, both in visibly drug abusing populations, and in those with a less visible substance abuse problem. Understanding the factors that predispose to addiction and the personal and socioeconomic conditions that impair efforts for meaningful recovery can point towards paradigms to guide future community-based approaches to managing this complex and pervasive problem. Negative impacts on the community such as crime, violence and discarded drug paraphernalia can be seen in this context as symptoms of the greater problem that cannot be adequately addressed without a concerted effort to tackle the underlying contributors to addiction and barriers to recovery. This will continue to require the cooperative efforts of multiple community stake holders, levels of government, local experts in their respective fields and will not come with quick or simple solutions. Speakers: Dr. Sean Wilde MD, CCFP-EM Sean Wilde grew up in small town central Alberta, and later moved to Lethbridge where he began university studies and met his future wife. He graduated from U of L in 2003 with a degree in biochemistry, and later attended medical school at University of Calgary, graduating in the class of 2009. He completed family medicine residency training in U of C's Rural Family Medicine program, where he trained in Lethbridge and several surrounding rural communities. This was followed by one year of additional residency training in Emergency Medicine in the City of Calgary. He currently works in the Emergency Department at Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge where he has been working since July of 2012. He lives in Lethbridge with his wife and three children who keep him busy when he is not working. Moderator: Mark Goettel Date: Thursday, October 4, 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

Divorce is hard. It just is. Even an amicable divorce is a traumatic experience – and where conflict exists, that trauma is magnified. What “was” no longer “is”, and what tomorrow brings is uncertain and frightening – for both parties. So, then, what to do? Well, keeping in mind that no divorce is easy, there are a few tips than can help you move from a difficult past and present to a less difficult and frightening tomorrow. With that in mind, in 32 years of divorce work, and the speaker having gone through a divorce himself, there are tips to help you move from where you are, to where you may want to be collaboratively. If you have children, allow them to be free to love both their parents. Nothing is worse than submitting your children to a high conflict divorce between their parents and sending them a message that they are not free to love both their parents equally. This can be difficult and it can be tempting to want to “hold on to” your children, and fear separation from them – even for brief periods of time. If children experience joy with the other parent, encourage those feelings and congratulate yourself on allowing them that opportunity – because not every child gets that chance. Its important to deal with your angst or anger on your own, with supportive friends, or a counselor out of the children’s presence the speakers will argue. They will futher describe how an ugly divorce conflict can severely damage children. Speakers: Robert Harvie, Cyndi Starzyk-Frey and Harvey Labuhn Robert Harvie has practiced law in Lethbridge for the past 27 years since graduating with a law degree from the University of British Columbia in 1985. He practices solely in the area of Family Law Litigation and Family Law Dispute Resolution with emphasis on Property and Financial Disputes. Rob’s past practice in Real Estate and Commercial/Corporate transactions has contributed to his expertise in dealing with these disputes Cyndi Starzyk-Frey, M.Ed., R.S.W. has been a Child and Family Therapist in Lethbridge for over 18 years. She is a trained Child Specialist/Parenting Coach in the Collaborative Divorce Model and is a member of the Lethbridge Collaborative Divorce Group. Cyndi is a Psychology/Sociology instructor at Lethbridge College Harvey Labuhn is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Business Valuator with over 35 years of public accounting experience. He has extensive experience as a financial professional in Collaborative Divorce. Primary areas of expertise include valuation of companies, calculation of settlement structures and of guideline income. Strong record of success in achieving settlements that avoids the need to go to court. Moderator: Mary Shillington Date: Thursday, September 27, 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 desert & coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required

Divorce is hard. It just is. Even an amicable divorce is a traumatic experience – and where conflict exists, that trauma is magnified. What “was” no longer “is”, and what tomorrow brings is uncertain and frightening – for both parties. So, then, what to do? Well, keeping in mind that no divorce is easy, there are a few tips than can help you move from a difficult past and present to a less difficult and frightening tomorrow. With that in mind, in 32 years of divorce work, and the speaker having gone through a divorce himself, there are tips to help you move from where you are, to where you may want to be collaboratively. If you have children, allow them to be free to love both their parents. Nothing is worse than submitting your children to a high conflict divorce between their parents and sending them a message that they are not free to love both their parents equally. This can be difficult and it can be tempting to want to “hold on to” your children, and fear separation from them – even for brief periods of time. If children experience joy with the other parent, encourage those feelings and congratulate yourself on allowing them that opportunity – because not every child gets that chance. Its important to deal with your angst or anger on your own, with supportive friends, or a counselor out of the children’s presence the speakers will argue. They will futher describe how an ugly divorce conflict can severely damage children. Speakers: Robert Harvie, Cyndi Starzyk-Frey and Harvey Labuhn Robert Harvie has practiced law in Lethbridge for the past 27 years since graduating with a law degree from the University of British Columbia in 1985. He practices solely in the area of Family Law Litigation and Family Law Dispute Resolution with emphasis on Property and Financial Disputes. Rob’s past practice in Real Estate and Commercial/Corporate transactions has contributed to his expertise in dealing with these disputes Cyndi Starzyk-Frey, M.Ed., R.S.W. has been a Child and Family Therapist in Lethbridge for over 18 years. She is a trained Child Specialist/Parenting Coach in the Collaborative Divorce Model and is a member of the Lethbridge Collaborative Divorce Group. Cyndi is a Psychology/Sociology instructor at Lethbridge College Harvey Labuhn is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Business Valuator with over 35 years of public accounting experience. He has extensive experience as a financial professional in Collaborative Divorce. Primary areas of expertise include valuation of companies, calculation of settlement structures and of guideline income. Strong record of success in achieving settlements that avoids the need to go to court. Moderator: Mary Shillington Date: Thursday, September 27, 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 desert & coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required

Alberta’s budget documents show that our tax system is grossly inferior to that of every other province in the country at raising revenue. Applying the tax system of any other province to Alberta would raise us a minimum of $11.2 billion in additional annual revenue, more than covering the projected $8.8-billion deficit in this year’s budget. Protecting our public services from cuts is perhaps the most important reason to fix our tax system, but there are also other good reasons to do so. Universal pharmaceutical coverage could become part of our public health-care system and would actually be a net saving for Albertans while improving the health of our population. Classroom sizes in our schools have gradually increased over time, so fixing our revenue shortage and hiring more teachers would improve the student-teacher ratio to provide higher quality education for Alberta’s children. The speaker will argue that reliance on non-renewable resource revenues and the present tax regime is unsustainable. There are two clear paths in front of us and Albertans will need to choose one sooner or later. One path is massive cuts to our public services, meaning big drops in the quality and accessibility of our health-care and education systems. Alternatively, our tax system can be renovated to raise significantly more revenue by implementing a sales tax and making changes to our personal income tax system. Speaker: Joel French Joel is the Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta, a position he has held since 2015. He previously served as the organization’s Communications Coordinator and has also served in staff positions with Friends of Medicare and former Alberta NDP Leader Brian Mason. He has a degree in Middle Eastern and African Studies and Religious Studies from the University of Alberta and a diploma in Computer Systems Technology from Lakeland College. He has worked on election campaigns at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels for progressive candidates. He also currently serves in positions that help guide the work of the Parkland Institute, the Next Up youth leadership program, and the Alberta Green Economy Network. Moderator: Shannan Little Date: Thursday, September 20, 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 desert & coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required Visit the SACPA website: http://www.sacpa.ca

Alberta’s budget documents show that our tax system is grossly inferior to that of every other province in the country at raising revenue. Applying the tax system of any other province to Alberta would raise us a minimum of $11.2 billion in additional annual revenue, more than covering the projected $8.8-billion deficit in this year’s budget. Protecting our public services from cuts is perhaps the most important reason to fix our tax system, but there are also other good reasons to do so. Universal pharmaceutical coverage could become part of our public health-care system and would actually be a net saving for Albertans while improving the health of our population. Classroom sizes in our schools have gradually increased over time, so fixing our revenue shortage and hiring more teachers would improve the student-teacher ratio to provide higher quality education for Alberta’s children. The speaker will argue that reliance on non-renewable resource revenues and the present tax regime is unsustainable. There are two clear paths in front of us and Albertans will need to choose one sooner or later. One path is massive cuts to our public services, meaning big drops in the quality and accessibility of our health-care and education systems. Alternatively, our tax system can be renovated to raise significantly more revenue by implementing a sales tax and making changes to our personal income tax system. Speaker: Joel French Joel is the Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta, a position he has held since 2015. He previously served as the organization’s Communications Coordinator and has also served in staff positions with Friends of Medicare and former Alberta NDP Leader Brian Mason. He has a degree in Middle Eastern and African Studies and Religious Studies from the University of Alberta and a diploma in Computer Systems Technology from Lakeland College. He has worked on election campaigns at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels for progressive candidates. He also currently serves in positions that help guide the work of the Parkland Institute, the Next Up youth leadership program, and the Alberta Green Economy Network. Moderator: Shannan Little Date: Thursday, September 20, 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 desert & coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required Visit the SACPA website: http://www.sacpa.ca

While most will agree the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games was an overall success and good for the City, Alberta and Canada, the bidding cost alone for the 2026 Games will be at least $30 million and the expenses for hosting the Games if Calgary is chosen, could top $8 billion, including interest, considering all three levels of Government are running deficits – hosting the 1988 Games cost less than $1 billion and turned a profit. The Alberta and Federal Governments have made their contribution to the 2026 Calgary Olympics conditional on a Nov 13, 2018 City of Calgary plebiscite. The non-binding plebiscite will offer two choices – for or against Calgary hosting. There are other key points to be sorted out as the City can’t rely completely on its 1988 Winter Olympic infrastructure – a new hockey arena and other facilities are needed – and there are still questions about hosting some events outside of Calgary – possibly Whistler, B.C., and Edmonton. While hosting the 2026 Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games will no doubt generate a lot of economic investment and activety in the City of Calgary, the speaker will argue that all taxpayers will end up covering expenses to the tune of several billion dollars for operations, infrastructure and paying off the “mortgage” for such Olympics, including a whopping $1 billion for security measures He will also address whether or not Albertans get “bang for their buck” from such investments and if these expenses will be making proper and lasting use of tax dollars? Speaker: Tom Sindlinger Tom Sindlinger is a Canadian Economist with a focus on the marketing of natural resources and transportation, and governance. He is a former elected PC member of the Alberta Legislative Assembly and has successfully completed 18 international projects in 12 countries for both private and public entities (such as the Canadian International Development Agency; The National Democratic Institute in Washington; and, The Jimmy Carter Center in Atlanta). Moderator: Dylan Purcell Date: Thursday, September 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 desert & coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required

While most will agree the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games was an overall success and good for the City, Alberta and Canada, the bidding cost alone for the 2026 Games will be at least $30 million and the expenses for hosting the Games if Calgary is chosen, could top $8 billion, including interest, considering all three levels of Government are running deficits – hosting the 1988 Games cost less than $1 billion and turned a profit. The Alberta and Federal Governments have made their contribution to the 2026 Calgary Olympics conditional on a Nov 13, 2018 City of Calgary plebiscite. The non-binding plebiscite will offer two choices – for or against Calgary hosting. There are other key points to be sorted out as the City can’t rely completely on its 1988 Winter Olympic infrastructure – a new hockey arena and other facilities are needed – and there are still questions about hosting some events outside of Calgary – possibly Whistler, B.C., and Edmonton. While hosting the 2026 Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games will no doubt generate a lot of economic investment and activety in the City of Calgary, the speaker will argue that all taxpayers will end up covering expenses to the tune of several billion dollars for operations, infrastructure and paying off the “mortgage” for such Olympics, including a whopping $1 billion for security measures He will also address whether or not Albertans get “bang for their buck” from such investments and if these expenses will be making proper and lasting use of tax dollars? Speaker: Tom Sindlinger Tom Sindlinger is a Canadian Economist with a focus on the marketing of natural resources and transportation, and governance. He is a former elected PC member of the Alberta Legislative Assembly and has successfully completed 18 international projects in 12 countries for both private and public entities (such as the Canadian International Development Agency; The National Democratic Institute in Washington; and, The Jimmy Carter Center in Atlanta). Moderator: Dylan Purcell Date: Thursday, September 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 desert & coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required

Elder abuse is any action or inaction by self or others that jeopardizes the health or well –being of an older adult. Elder abuse can take several forms including financial, emotional, physical, sexual, medication and neglect, with more than one type of abuse often occurring at the same time. Elder abuse can include the infliction of physical injury, restraint, financial exploitation, threats, ridicule, insult or humiliation, withholding medication, unwanted touching or sexual contact, forced isolation (physical or social), or forced change in living arrangements. It may also include neglect, which is defined as the refusal or failure to care for an older person. The Lethbridge Elder Abuse Response Network (LEARN) is a collaboration of human services organizations that responds to and provides education, awareness and advocacy for everyone that may be affected by abuse. The network consists of a full-time Case Manager, a part time Coordinator, a Steering Committee made up of representatives from Alberta Health Services, Lethbridge Police Service, Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization, City of Lethbridge and representatives from 29 human support service agencies. The speakers will review what elder abuse may include. They will also detail several measures to deal with such abuse as well as preventative action that can be taken to protect potential victims and their families, friends and caregivers. Speakers: Rob Miyashiro, one of the founders of LEARN, Joanne Blinco, LEARN Case Manager, Lavonn Mutch, LEARN coordidator and Erin Vogt who is the Coordinator of Support Programs for LSCO and part of LEARN Moderator: Chelsea Sherbut Date: Thursday, September 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 desert & coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required