Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

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

Is anything actually working in public education? Kristina Larkin

There’s no question our communities face major struggles within the K-12 education system in Alberta - unfunded students, overwhelmed staff, crowded classrooms, and insufficient inclusive learning supports. So is anything actually working in education? Here’s the answer key: “Yes”.

Creating a vision for a successful learning for every student is a critical part of developing our communities. Kristina Larkin advocates for change and also celebrations, and will explore school and education system successes, promising practices, and the excellent learning that takes place in Alberta schools - and ways to encourage more.

Speaker: Kristina Larkin

Kristina Larkin is a Trustee with Lethbridge School Division, Director of Community Programs at the YMCA of Lethbridge, Board Co-Chair at Opokaa’sin Early Intervention Society, and Auntie to wonderful kiddos. She has worked with and cared for thousands of students through her work in schools, community tutoring and education support programs, supporting refugee students to settle in Lethbridge, working alongside Indigenous education programs, and leading social programs including child care, out of school care, academic and mental health programs, and youth drop ins. She works to make sure their voices are heard at every table.

How Can We Get More Water? Speaker Kevin van Tighem

Dams don’t make water. They store it. Water actually comes from the headwaters landscape and we are squandering our future because of a collective failure to see that the most important water management decisions are actually land use decisions. There is more water to be found, but only if we demand changes to how our Eastern Slopes are managed. And time is running out.

Speaker: Kevin Van Tighem

Kevin has worked in landscape ecology and conservation for four decades, mostly in western Canada’s national parks. His family roots in what is now Alberta go back to 1875.

Since retiring as superintendent of Banff in 2011, he has served on the boards of the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Livingstone Landowners Group and has been active in support of numerous conservation causes.

Kevin is the award-winning author of fifteen books on wildlife and nature including Our Place/Changing the Nature of Alberta, Heart Waters/Sources of the Bow River. and Wild Roses Are Worth It. He was granted an honorary Doctor of Science by the University of Lethbridge in 2022 and was honoured that same year with a Blackfoot name that translates to Rough Rapid Water.

In what way are Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) experiences different in the context of rural living? with Dr. Julia Brassolotto

In a 2015 ruling, the Supreme Court of Canada unanimously voted that the prohibition on assisted death in the Criminal Code was unconstitutional. This led to Parliament passing Bill C-14 in 2016, amending the Criminal Code to allow legal exemptions for MAiD. Since its passage, MAiD usage has increased every year, with a total of 10,064 MAID provisions in 2021 alone, accounting for 3.3% of all deaths in Canada.

Public polling suggests that the majority of Canadians support MAiD, but their opinions about the service are nuanced and complex. There continues to be stigma, taboo, logistical and procedural challenges, as well as ethical and equity concerns about the practice. In debates about MAiD, very little attention has been paid to the rural parts of the country. There is of course no singular, agreed-upon definition of rural, but the concept often includes a combination of geography, culture, population size or density, and qualitative experience.

Given that rurality is a significant and often overlooked determinant of health, it is arguably important to examine the distinct conditions for MAiD in rural settings. For instance, there are concerns that in rural settings where health services often are limited, residents might feel compelled to use MAiD as a default option. Some scholars have suggested that MAiD may be seen as a good solution for rural and remote patients who want to die at home. Others have called for caution to ensure that geographically isolated individuals are not placed in a position where MAiD will be seen as their only source of respite from end-stage disease. The speaker will elaborate on her research.

Speaker: Dr. Julia Brassolotto

Julia is an Associate Professor in the Public Health Program at the University of Lethbridge Faculty of Health Sciences. She recently held a 7-year Alberta Innovates Health Solutions (AIHS) Research Chair in Rural Health and Well-being.

Julia’s research program looks at aging and dying (as they pertain to continuing care settings, age-friendly communities, and MAiD). She completed her doctorate and post-doctoral fellowship at York University in the Health Policy & Equity program. By training, Julia is an interdisciplinary social scientist and a qualitative health services researcher.