Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

For all the wealth they potentially possess, Alberta’s vast petroleum reserves have arguably been badly mismanaged since the early 1990s both in terms of collecting proper royalties and environmental sustainability. Even some of the industry’s biggest promoters have conceded that the laborious extraction of oil from sand and clay has left the province’s economic fortunes in an unreliable economic situation, not to mention the resulting ecological degradation that bitumen mining causes. The speaker will argue that the revolving door between cabinet tables and the corporate board rooms, since Ralph Klein became Premier of Alberta, effectively allowed the oil industry to dictate public policy and thereby undermine the democratic process. He will also speculate on whether or not Alberta’s fortunes can improve with Premier Rachel Notley’s NDP Government promoting pipelines and implementing a tax on carbon as a way of taking action on climate change and environmental issues. Speaker: Dr. Kevin Taft Kevin Taft is delighted to return to Lethbridge to speak at SACPA. Kevin is the author of five books, including Oil’s Deep State, published in 2017. Taft served three terms in the Alberta legislature with the Alberta Liberal Party, and was Leader of the Official Opposition from 2004 to 2008, through two general elections. Prior to entering politics he had a long career working in public policy in the Alberta government, the non-profit sector, and the private sector. He has a PhD in Business from University of Warwick and is a distinguished research fellow at the Parkland Institute at the University of Alberta, and served as a visiting fellow at Western Sydney University in Australia. Taft grew up in Edmonton, where he and his wife still live. He is no longer involved in party politics, and is a frequent public speaker. Moderator: Cameron Howey Date: Thursday, February 15, 2018 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (below The Keg restaurant) 1715 Mayor Magrath Drive South Cost:$11 lunch (hearty soup & bun, desert & coffee/tea) or $2 coffee/tea. RSVP not required

For all the wealth they potentially possess, Alberta’s vast petroleum reserves have arguably been badly mismanaged since the early 1990s both in terms of collecting proper royalties and environmental sustainability. Even some of the industry’s biggest promoters have conceded that the laborious extraction of oil from sand and clay has left the province’s economic fortunes in an unreliable economic situation, not to mention the resulting ecological degradation that bitumen mining causes. The speaker will argue that the revolving door between cabinet tables and the corporate board rooms, since Ralph Klein became Premier of Alberta, effectively allowed the oil industry to dictate public policy and thereby undermine the democratic process. He will also speculate on whether or not Alberta’s fortunes can improve with Premier Rachel Notley’s NDP Government promoting pipelines and implementing a tax on carbon as a way of taking action on climate change and environmental issues. Speaker: Dr. Kevin Taft Kevin Taft is delighted to return to Lethbridge to speak at SACPA. Kevin is the author of five books, including Oil’s Deep State, published in 2017. Taft served three terms in the Alberta legislature with the Alberta Liberal Party, and was Leader of the Official Opposition from 2004 to 2008, through two general elections. Prior to entering politics he had a long career working in public policy in the Alberta government, the non-profit sector, and the private sector. He has a PhD in Business from University of Warwick and is a distinguished research fellow at the Parkland Institute at the University of Alberta, and served as a visiting fellow at Western Sydney University in Australia. Taft grew up in Edmonton, where he and his wife still live. He is no longer involved in party politics, and is a frequent public speaker. Moderator: Cameron Howey Date: Thursday, February 15, 2018 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (below The Keg restaurant) 1715 Mayor Magrath Drive South Cost:$11 lunch (hearty soup & bun, desert & coffee/tea) or $2 coffee/tea. RSVP not required

A historic treaty to bring back bison (buffalo) was signed in 2014 in Montana by First Nations and tribes on both sides of the Canada-United States border. The Northern Tribes Buffalo Treaty — the first of its kind in 150 years — is meant to work to establish inter-tribal alliances for the restoration of bison on reserves or co-managed lands within the U.S. and Canada. Bison may bring about better ecological balance by allowing plants, animals and birds that disappeared with the demise of the bison in the mid to late 1800s. The first wild bison to roam Banff National Park in more than a century was reintroduces last year and will eventually graze the eastern slopes of that park. The speaker will address the many issues related to reintroduction of bison to this area. He will also explain the cultural importance that bison plays in the lives of First Nations Peoples. Speaker: Dr. Leroy Little Bear Renowned as an international scholar, speaker and leader, Dr. Leroy Little Bear is a pioneer in the field of Indigenous education and the winner of the 2017 University of Lethbridge Speaker Research Award. A mentor and instructor of students and an esteemed advisor on Aboriginal matters at the local, provincial, national and international level, Little Bear was a founder of the University’s Department of Native American Studies, one of the first such departments in Canada. Little Bear breathed life into Indigenous scholarship by developing ethical, respectful and rigorous Aboriginal programs. His educational service did not end with his formal retirement, but rather transitioned into the role of mentor and advisor, guiding Indigenous programming and establishing a legacy of inclusivity. Little Bear now serves as the Special Assistant to the President and has played an integral role in breaking boundaries between traditional Indigenous and western sciences, and his writings have influenced legal and policy realms. He and his wife, Amethyst First Rider, were major proponents in bringing about the signing of the Buffalo Treaty between American and First Nations. He has received the key to the City of Lethbridge, an Urban Aboriginal Lifetime Achievement Award, an honorary Doctor of Arts and Science from the U of L, an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Northern British Columbia and was recently inducted into the Alberta Order of Excellence. Moderator: Cody Spencer Date: Thursday, February 8, 2018 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (below The Keg restaurant) 1715 Mayor Magrath Drive South Cost: $11 lunch (hearty soup & bun, desert & coffee/tea) or $2 coffee/tea. RSVP not required

A historic treaty to bring back bison (buffalo) was signed in 2014 in Montana by First Nations and tribes on both sides of the Canada-United States border. The Northern Tribes Buffalo Treaty — the first of its kind in 150 years — is meant to work to establish inter-tribal alliances for the restoration of bison on reserves or co-managed lands within the U.S. and Canada. Bison may bring about better ecological balance by allowing plants, animals and birds that disappeared with the demise of the bison in the mid to late 1800s. The first wild bison to roam Banff National Park in more than a century was reintroduces last year and will eventually graze the eastern slopes of that park. The speaker will address the many issues related to reintroduction of bison to this area. He will also explain the cultural importance that bison plays in the lives of First Nations Peoples. Speaker: Dr. Leroy Little Bear Renowned as an international scholar, speaker and leader, Dr. Leroy Little Bear is a pioneer in the field of Indigenous education and the winner of the 2017 University of Lethbridge Speaker Research Award. A mentor and instructor of students and an esteemed advisor on Aboriginal matters at the local, provincial, national and international level, Little Bear was a founder of the University’s Department of Native American Studies, one of the first such departments in Canada. Little Bear breathed life into Indigenous scholarship by developing ethical, respectful and rigorous Aboriginal programs. His educational service did not end with his formal retirement, but rather transitioned into the role of mentor and advisor, guiding Indigenous programming and establishing a legacy of inclusivity. Little Bear now serves as the Special Assistant to the President and has played an integral role in breaking boundaries between traditional Indigenous and western sciences, and his writings have influenced legal and policy realms. He and his wife, Amethyst First Rider, were major proponents in bringing about the signing of the Buffalo Treaty between American and First Nations. He has received the key to the City of Lethbridge, an Urban Aboriginal Lifetime Achievement Award, an honorary Doctor of Arts and Science from the U of L, an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Northern British Columbia and was recently inducted into the Alberta Order of Excellence. Moderator: Cody Spencer Date: Thursday, February 8, 2018 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (below The Keg restaurant) 1715 Mayor Magrath Drive South Cost: $11 lunch (hearty soup & bun, desert & coffee/tea) or $2 coffee/tea. RSVP not required

Maintaining healthy landscapes has benefits that extend well beyond the boundaries of a given property. These ecological services include things like water filtration and storage, healthy wildlife populations, and aesthetic values which support tourism and the preservation of our heritage. The economic value of these ecological services is enormous and once compromised they are often irreplaceable. In southwest Alberta a significant portion of the lands that provide these important ecological services are private lands. As our population grows, so does the demand for these services. And while demand continues to grow, the intact land base that provides these services is shrinking. Based on historic rates, “business as usual” will see much of the private land in our foothills developed over the next 50 to 100 years. This is occurring through a continual process of subdivision, road and residential development, and industrial activity. The result will be further loss of iconic vistas, fresh water, wildlife, and the working ranches of our foothills communities. This ever-expanding human footprint in rural areas will also have measurable impacts on resources that we rely on in neighbouring communities, such as clean water. The speaker will argue that protection of private lands in the Oldman River Watershed is crucial to the health and economic well-being of rural communities but also all downstream including Lethbridge. He will also highlight many of the exciting initiatives that are going on not only to increase awareness but also to protect valuable areas in the watershed. Speaker: Justin Thompson Justin is the Executive Director of Southern Alberta Land Trust Society (SALTS). He spent much of his childhood and youth exploring the foothills of southern Alberta, including his family’s ranch land west of Pincher Creek. This clearly influenced his decision to pursue a B.Sc. in Biology and a Master’s in Public Administration, with an eye to influencing a change in environmental practices. Justin got to know SALTS when he started looking for options to preserve wildlife habitat and watersheds on his own land. He, along with his family and several of their neighbours, ended up doing conservation easements with SALTS. His positive experience with SALTS and his passion for preserving Alberta’s natural landscapes led to him working full time on private land conservation. Prior to SALTS, Justin had a varied career in wildlife conservation, renewable energy development, and his own energy efficient home-building business. He also continues to run a small cow/calf operation on his land in partnership with a local rancher. This combination of experiences is helpful in his role as he directs and implements the work of the organization. Moderator: Cheryl Bradley Date: Thursday, February 1, 2018 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (below The Keg restaurant) 1715 Mayor Magrath Drive South Cost: $11 lunch (hearty soup & bun, desert & coffee/tea) or $2 coffee/tea. RSVP not required

Maintaining healthy landscapes has benefits that extend well beyond the boundaries of a given property. These ecological services include things like water filtration and storage, healthy wildlife populations, and aesthetic values which support tourism and the preservation of our heritage. The economic value of these ecological services is enormous and once compromised they are often irreplaceable. In southwest Alberta a significant portion of the lands that provide these important ecological services are private lands. As our population grows, so does the demand for these services. And while demand continues to grow, the intact land base that provides these services is shrinking. Based on historic rates, “business as usual” will see much of the private land in our foothills developed over the next 50 to 100 years. This is occurring through a continual process of subdivision, road and residential development, and industrial activity. The result will be further loss of iconic vistas, fresh water, wildlife, and the working ranches of our foothills communities. This ever-expanding human footprint in rural areas will also have measurable impacts on resources that we rely on in neighbouring communities, such as clean water. The speaker will argue that protection of private lands in the Oldman River Watershed is crucial to the health and economic well-being of rural communities but also all downstream including Lethbridge. He will also highlight many of the exciting initiatives that are going on not only to increase awareness but also to protect valuable areas in the watershed. Speaker: Justin Thompson Justin is the Executive Director of Southern Alberta Land Trust Society (SALTS). He spent much of his childhood and youth exploring the foothills of southern Alberta, including his family’s ranch land west of Pincher Creek. This clearly influenced his decision to pursue a B.Sc. in Biology and a Master’s in Public Administration, with an eye to influencing a change in environmental practices. Justin got to know SALTS when he started looking for options to preserve wildlife habitat and watersheds on his own land. He, along with his family and several of their neighbours, ended up doing conservation easements with SALTS. His positive experience with SALTS and his passion for preserving Alberta’s natural landscapes led to him working full time on private land conservation. Prior to SALTS, Justin had a varied career in wildlife conservation, renewable energy development, and his own energy efficient home-building business. He also continues to run a small cow/calf operation on his land in partnership with a local rancher. This combination of experiences is helpful in his role as he directs and implements the work of the organization. Moderator: Cheryl Bradley Date: Thursday, February 1, 2018 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (below The Keg restaurant) 1715 Mayor Magrath Drive South Cost: $11 lunch (hearty soup & bun, desert & coffee/tea) or $2 coffee/tea. RSVP not required

Pollinators are insects and animals that carry pollen from one plant to another. These include honey bees, wild bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, ants, birds and more. In recent years, most people have become aware that a large portion of the foods we eat — fruits, nuts, vegetables, and herbs — depend on pollinators to reproduce. Pollinators also increase the yield of our crops, improve the quality of our produce and are an essential puzzle piece in keeping our growing population fed. We’ve also been hearing over the last few decades about threats to pollinators, with special attention on the plight of the honey bee. Should we be worried about bees? If so, about what, exactly? And is there anything we can do about it? The speaker will open our eyes to the breadth of diversity of bees, and contend that they are worthy of our consideration besides the economic benefit we humans derive from them. Moreover, she will describe what it would take to make Lethbridge a bee paradise. Speaker: Chelsea Sherbut Chelsea Sherbut is a beekeeper, and has kept honey bees commercially and recreationally with her husband, Jeff, for the past 8 years. She completed her Bee Master certificate through the BC Ministry of Agriculture in 2012. In 2016, Chelsea helped start the Lethbridge Bee Enthusiasts, which is an informal club that meets monthly to share their passion for bees. Although she is most familiar with honey bees, she is an admirer of all other kinds of bees and believes native bees are especially worth our attention and conservation efforts. Outside of her bee interests, Chelsea works as the Volunteer & Fund Development Coordinator for Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization, is a passionate volunteer for the Canadian Red Cross and Environment Lethbridge and loves to play disc golf and hike. She is a graduate of Simon Fraser University where she minored in Dialogue (School of Communication). Moderator: Erin McIlwraith Date: Thursday, January 25, 2018 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (below The Keg restaurant) 1715 Mayor Magrath Drive South Cost: $11 lunch (hearty soup & bun, desert & coffee/tea) or $2 coffee/tea. RSVP not required

Pollinators are insects and animals that carry pollen from one plant to another. These include honey bees, wild bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, ants, birds and more. In recent years, most people have become aware that a large portion of the foods we eat — fruits, nuts, vegetables, and herbs — depend on pollinators to reproduce. Pollinators also increase the yield of our crops, improve the quality of our produce and are an essential puzzle piece in keeping our growing population fed. We’ve also been hearing over the last few decades about threats to pollinators, with special attention on the plight of the honey bee. Should we be worried about bees? If so, about what, exactly? And is there anything we can do about it? The speaker will open our eyes to the breadth of diversity of bees, and contend that they are worthy of our consideration besides the economic benefit we humans derive from them. Moreover, she will describe what it would take to make Lethbridge a bee paradise. Speaker: Chelsea Sherbut Chelsea Sherbut is a beekeeper, and has kept honey bees commercially and recreationally with her husband, Jeff, for the past 8 years. She completed her Bee Master certificate through the BC Ministry of Agriculture in 2012. In 2016, Chelsea helped start the Lethbridge Bee Enthusiasts, which is an informal club that meets monthly to share their passion for bees. Although she is most familiar with honey bees, she is an admirer of all other kinds of bees and believes native bees are especially worth our attention and conservation efforts. Outside of her bee interests, Chelsea works as the Volunteer & Fund Development Coordinator for Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization, is a passionate volunteer for the Canadian Red Cross and Environment Lethbridge and loves to play disc golf and hike. She is a graduate of Simon Fraser University where she minored in Dialogue (School of Communication). Moderator: Erin McIlwraith Date: Thursday, January 25, 2018 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (below The Keg restaurant) 1715 Mayor Magrath Drive South Cost: $11 lunch (hearty soup & bun, desert & coffee/tea) or $2 coffee/tea. RSVP not required

A top priority of Canada’s Liberal government has been – after a long period of stagnation – to reassess Canada’s federal funding of university-based research. Dr. Claudia Malacrida was a key member of a red ribbon Ministerial panel struck to investigate the current state of research in Canada. In her talk, she will provide insights into why research matters not only to universities and researchers, but to students, the community, and local, national and global economies. Speaker: Dr. Claudia Malacrida Claudia Malacrida is Associate Vice President Research at the University of Lethbridge. She served as the Chair of the Sociology Department from 2011 to 2015 and is emeritus Board of Governors Research Chair in Sociology. Dr. Malacrida is internationally recognized as a leading scholar in the fields of disability studies and the sociology of the body. She is the author of five books on disability/body issues and has published many articles, chapters and papers on a wide range of related topics. She is a sought-after speaker on qualitative research methods, the history of medicine, childbirth and medicalization, the social construction of difference, and the history of institutionalization and eugenic sterilization in Canada. Moderator: Shannan Little Date: Thursday, January 18, 2018 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (below The Keg restaurant) 1715 Mayor Magrath Drive South Cost: $11.00 (includes soup and bun) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea) RSVP is not necessary

A top priority of Canada’s Liberal government has been – after a long period of stagnation – to reassess Canada’s federal funding of university-based research. Dr. Claudia Malacrida was a key member of a red ribbon Ministerial panel struck to investigate the current state of research in Canada. In her talk, she will provide insights into why research matters not only to universities and researchers, but to students, the community, and local, national and global economies. Speaker: Dr. Claudia Malacrida Claudia Malacrida is Associate Vice President Research at the University of Lethbridge. She served as the Chair of the Sociology Department from 2011 to 2015 and is emeritus Board of Governors Research Chair in Sociology. Dr. Malacrida is internationally recognized as a leading scholar in the fields of disability studies and the sociology of the body. She is the author of five books on disability/body issues and has published many articles, chapters and papers on a wide range of related topics. She is a sought-after speaker on qualitative research methods, the history of medicine, childbirth and medicalization, the social construction of difference, and the history of institutionalization and eugenic sterilization in Canada. Moderator: Shannan Little Date: Thursday, January 18, 2018 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (below The Keg restaurant) 1715 Mayor Magrath Drive South Cost: $11.00 (includes soup and bun) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea) RSVP is not necessary