Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

Artificial intelligence — bane or boon to humanity? Dr. Sidney Shapiro

Artificial intelligence (AI) is currently a hot topic — some people tout it as the next best thing for increasing productivity and reducing costs while others are concerned robots will be replacing workers. Every day brings a new headline, and the average person may be left to wonder whether AI is a good or bad thing.

The speaker will argue that AI is in the midst of a big transition. Companies are looking at how to innovate and deliver more value for shareholders, that is, make more money by automating everything. But that can backfire, as has happened with self-checkouts. Overall, AI is just a tool with benefits and drawbacks and the legal system hasn’t caught up with the implications of AI, so it’s unlikely it’ll take over the world anytime soon. A house builder, for example, may find some AI tools helpful with certain aspects of the work, but humans are still needed to build the home.

Until computers get much more powerful, it’s going to be difficult to have AI analyze what people want and possibly transform our lives. Reality is, there’s a lot of hype in AI right now and that hype probably overestimates what we can do with it. AI can certainly be a useful tool, but it doesn’t replace what we can do as people, which is to come up with original ideas. The speaker will elaborate

Speaker: Dr. Sidney Shapiro

Dr. Shapiro is an Assistant Professor of Business Analytics at the Dhillon School of Business. With a decade of experience in data science, he specializes in integrating business intelligence, data engineering, and machine learning. Dr. Shapiro’s academic focus includes teaching data analytics courses and conducting research in AI applications in business.

Prior to his current role, he has led data science teams and contributed to academia as a program coordinator and educator. Dr. Shapiro holds a PhD in Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies from Laurentian University focused on social network analytics. He is dedicated to equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary for the evolving field of data analytics.

Rethinking Alberta’s Electricity? with MLA Nathan Neudorf

oin us for an insightful presentation by Minister Nathan Neudorf, MLA for Lethbridge-East and Alberta’s Minister of Affordability and Utilities. Minister Neudorf will delve into the details of Alberta’s electricity market providing valuable insights into its current state and discussing key factors impacting electricity affordability.

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Alberta’s electricity sector, and discover how government initiatives are working towards ensuring a reliable and affordable electricity grid for all Albertans. Don’t miss the opportunity to stay informed and engaged on critical issues shaping our province’s electricity landscape.

Speaker: Nathan Neudorf MLA for Lethbridge East

Nathan Neudorf was first elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Lethbridge East on April 16, 2019, and was re-elected on May 29, 2023. Prior to his election, Mr. Neudorf worked in commercial construction. He has his civil and structural engineering diploma and is a red seal journeyman carpenter as well as a gold seal project manager.

An active community volunteer and leader, Mr. Neudorf served as the past president of the Lethbridge Construction Association and on the board of directors for the Alberta Construction Association, Alberta Construction Safety Association, and Worker’s Compensation Board. Nathan Neudorf was sworn in as Minister of Affordability and Utilities and Vice Chair of the Treasury Board on June 9, 2023. He previously served as Deputy Premier and Minister of Infrastructure.

Mr. Neudorf, his wife Deanne, and their five children live in Lethbridge. In his spare time, he enjoys running with his wife and pet beagle and spending time outdoors.

How Important is Tourism to our Lethbridge and Southern Alberta Region? With Erin Crane

Tourism is vital for the success of many economies around the world. It boosts revenues, creates thousands of jobs, helps to develop infrastructure and plants a sense of cultural exchange between visitors and residents. With four UNESCO World Heritage sites and the largest facilities for Sports and Business Events south of Calgary, opportunities are available to invest, grow and capture additional economic impact.

How do we accomplish this and do it in a sustainable way? The Speaker will explore some of the exciting projects happening in 2024 and look at the potential of tourism in our region over the next 10 years.

Speaker: Erin Crane

Erin Crane is the CEO for Tourism Lethbridge. She tells people that this was the position she was born to do! Erin grew up at the Grand Canyon and has spent a majority of her career working in the tourism industry. From managing performing art centres, to coordinating world championship boxing events, to working in hotels, to working aboard the Vulcan Trek Station to encourage business and event growth for the City of Lethbridge, she has seen it all! A traveler herself, Erin loves what she does and looks forward to sharing her passion for tourism with others.

Are Alberta’s proposed policies for trans youth and parents "rights" based strictly on ideology? with Katie DeLucia-Burk

The Alberta Government recently announced their intention to ban gender-affirming care for trans youth under the age of 18, despite contemporary research and internationally recognized best practices, as set out by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), agreeing that this could end up hurting many of those vulnerable youth.

Additionally proposed measures for transgender minors also includes a ban on puberty blockers and parental consent for pronoun changes. Teachers and health professionals were largely not consulted, but more importantly, trans youth have had their voices completely ignored.

If legislated into law, these measures could have serious consequences and make Alberta similar to most U.S. states controlled by Republican politicians. The speaker will contend this is blatant government overreach and legislated bias.

Speaker: Katie DeLucia-Burk

Katie DeLucia-Burk (she/her), is a registered social worker with a BSW from the University of Calgary. She is the sole consultant and educator for Queer Consulting YQL, through which she works with an array of service providers and institutions to foster belonging, transform systems and spaces, and address the systemic oppression of 2SLGBTQ+ folks.

A self-identified queer, trans woman, Katie’s work centers around community-based advocacy, trans feminist theory and research, and developing resources and policies to support marginalized communities. She has spoken at several national conferences on topics related to gender and sexuality, including the 2023 Moving Trans History Forward Conference at the University of Victoria where she presented on a teaching resource manual, of which she is a co-author, entitled Teaching Beyond the Gender Binary: A Resource Manual.

The MPE Link Pathway: Are more active living options important in today's society? With Henry Doeve and Alvin Fritz

The ability to ride your bike off highway and jog or walk safely along a 15 km paved pathway between Lethbridge and Coaldale is something the LINK Regional Pathway Society is working towards. And they have the support of the City and Lethbridge County, St. Mary Irrigation District (SMRID) and the Town of Coaldale. The society has been working on a vision to connect the Henderson Lake area with the Birds of Prey Centre in Coaldale using the SMRID canal easement running through irrigated farm land.

The total cost of the project, including picnic shelters along the pathway, will be more than $5 million, of which $2 million has been raised so far. It is hoped that within a few years, enough money will be found to complete this pathway, which recently received Trans Canada Trail designation. Construction of the pathway from Coaldale to Hwy 512 started in the fall of 2023 and should be ready for use this year. Funding is also in place to complete crossing under Hwy 512 and further along past Vista Meadows.

The speakers will articulate the LINK Regional Pathway Society’s plans for this exciting, but challenging project and argue that active living options such as this pathway, are increasingly important for our mental and physical well-being.

Speakers: Henry Doeve and Alvin Fritz

Henry Doeve moved to Coaldale from Agassiz, BC in 1981 to operate a dairy farm. Together with his family he ran that farm for 36 years retiring from the dairy industry in 2017. Henry has been an active member of the Southern Alberta community for 20 years, serving on many community boards and among them, Lethbridge County Councilor from 2007 until 2017. Henry quit smoking 18 years ago and bought a bicycle. One thing led to another and the year that Henry turned 50, he had run a full marathon, 3 half marathons and cycled across BC. Henry is currently chairman of the Link Pathway Society, a local not for profit grassroots initiative with the goal of linking the Lethbridge-Coaldale communities with multi use walking and biking trail.

Being the son of a prolific masonry contractor, Alvin Fritz began reading architectural drawings at age 12 in the context of working for his father’s construction company, Otto Fritz Masonry Construction (Leth) Ltd. Alvin began his post-secondary studies at the University of Lethbridge majoring in Fine Arts and received his Bachelor of Arts and Science degree 1980. Alvin chose to pursue his career in architecture at University of British Columbia from where he graduated in 1983, receiving the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Gold Medal, awarded to the graduate with the highest academic standing.

After winning the Deutsche Akademische Austausch Dienst (DAAD) scholarship to study Heritage preservation and restoration in Munich, Alvin moved with his family to Germany for one year to complete his studies at the Technische Universitat Munchen. Upon his return to Canada he gained a broad range of experience in all aspects of the architectural profession. Alvin was employed in numerous architectural offices, offering his strengths in design, building technology and graphic representation. In 1989, he founded his own independent comprehensive practice.

Who, What, Where and Why the ALERT ICE Teams investigates predators in our community and around the world? With Cst. Heather Bangle

ALERT’s (Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams) ICE (Internet Child Exploitation) teams investigate a range of criminal offences involving child pornography, any computer-related child sexual abuse, child luring over the internet, voyeurism involving underage victims, and child sex trade/tourism. ICE teams also investigate sextortion involving minors.

Intakes and case referrals have nearly tripled over a 6 year period. Since last year, ICE experienced over an 8% increase, in a continued upward trend since the pandemic and continued increase in youth digital dependency. New provincial funding has allowed ALERT to address the increased pressure with additional resources.

Speaker: Heather Bangle

Cst. Heather Bangle has been a member of the RCMP for over 22 years. She served 6 ½ years in general duties before transferring to the ALERT Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit in 2008. In 2011 Heather transferred within ALERT to the Southern Alberta ICE unit and has years of experience investigating all child exploitation offences committed online here in Canada and around the world. Heather has received extensive training in regards to ICE, including the Digital Technologies for Investigators course, the Canadian Internet Child Exploitation course and the Advance Internet Child Exploitation course, all hosted by the Canadian Police College.

Heather Bangle has received training for Online Covert Investigations, Peer to Peer Investigations and Search Warrant Drafting through the RCMP and is a qualified Child Forensic Interviewer. She has also attended several conferences and workshops specific to Internet Child Exploitation across North America where ICE investigators and other agencies committed to the protection of children are able to network and learn best practices for the always evolving world of the Internet and technology.

What is Restorative Justice? With Debbie Melting Tallow, Sherry Tailfeathers and Leon Day Chief

Through Kainai Peacemaking we continue to strive for quality of life and provide an orderly and acceptable way of conducting our lives within the Kainai community by providing opportunities for individuals to resolve conflicts with the law.

Speakers: Debbie Melting Tallow, Sherry Tailfeathers and Leon Day Chief

Debbie Melting Tallow is administrative support/Intake worker for the Kainai Peacemaking Program. She was employed as the administrative assistant when the program started 15 years ago and as time went on and referrals increased, she attended Cardston court for such referrals, assisted as a facilitator for peacemaker/elder counseling, wrote completion reports, and updated the Crown, Defence lawyers and Native Counseling regarding the referrals.

Sherry Tailfeathers has been employed by the Kainai Peacemaking Program since 2009 and serves as Community Liaison/Facilitator.

Leon Day Chief, MHD, IBSW, is the program supervisor. He facilitates peacemaking and elder counseling and manages the inner workings of the Kainai Peacemaking Program, so that it runs as efficiently as possible.

After Notley, What is next for Alberta's NDP? with Dr. Trevor Harrison

In January 2024, Rachel Notley announced that she’s stepping down as leader of the Alberta NDP. Notley, the daughter of former NDP leader Grant Notley, was elected to the Alberta Legislature in 2008, representing Edmonton – Strathcona. She won the provincial party leadership in October 2014 and subsequently served as premier of Alberta from 2015 - 2019 after the NDP won the 2015 provincial election.

No matter who follows Notley, her resignation will leave a gaping hole in Alberta politics. The speaker will reflect on Notley’s legacy in Alberta and speculate on where a new leader may take Alberta’s NDP.

Speaker: Trevor W. Harrison

Trevor Harrison is a Professor Emeritus of sociology at the University of Lethbridge. He is also a former Director of the Parkland :Institute (2011 - 2021), an Alberta wide research organization, of which he is a founding member. He is best known for his studies in political sociology, political economy and public policy. Harrison is the author, co-author or co-editor of ten books, not including a self-published book of poetry, as well as numerous journal articles, chapters, and reports. He is a frequent contributor to public media, including radio and television.

Kenneyism? - Jason Kenney's Pursuit of Power with speaker Jerremy Appel

Combining firm ideological commitments with shrewd political tactics, Jason Kenney was a key figure in bringing right-wing populism to the mainstream of Canadian politics, but in doing so he unleashed forces he couldn’t control, which eventually produced his downfall.

The speaker will argue that from Jason Kenney’s days as an anti-abortion activist at the University of San Francisco, and through his years as a Canadian Taxpayers Federation lobbyist, Reform MP, top cabinet minister in the Harper government, and Alberta premier, Kenney has been single-mindedly driven to bring his harsh moralistic worldview into the mainstream.

Kenney took on the old guard of Canada’s liberal consensus and won, playing a key role in shifting the country’s political discussion to the right. But the very right-wing populist forces Kenney cultivated would come back to haunt him.

Speaker: Jeremy Appel

Jeremy Appel has observed Alberta politics and reported on various aspects of Kenney’s agenda since 2017, when Kenney made his way across the province in his big blue pickup truck to rile up aggrieved conservatives. Appel’s book, Kenneyism: Jason Kenney’s Pursuit of Power examines Kenney’s political beliefs, his rise through federal political ranks, and his ultimate resignation from the leadership of the United Conservative Party.

ScienceUpFirst: What is Misinformation in the Digital Age? With Amanda Bigford

Sometimes it’s difficult to tell if what we’re seeing online is true. With so much information coming from countless different sources the internet can be an overwhelming landscape. There are a lot of tactics misinformers can use to catch us off guard and no one is excluded from getting caught up in it from time to time. ScienceUpFirst is an initiative from the Canadian Association of Science Centres. Our mission is to share good science, giving people the tools that they need to spot misinformation for themselves. I will be discussing this topic and answering any questions that you might have about us, misinformation and being a good digital citizen.

Speaker: Amanda Bigford - English Content Creator, Canadian Association of Science Centres | Association canadienne des centres de sciences