Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

Alberta has recently undertaken major changes to our electricity system. The intent is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with climate change, thereby gaining “social license” to facilitate the sale and export of our fossil fuel energy products. There is considerable controversy over the effectiveness of many aspects of proposed changes. The speaker will discuss the need to conduct more long term environmental studies which consider the decades long life cycle of alternative systems before embarking on such major changes. Speaker:     Cosmos Voutsinos Cosmos Voutsinos is a mechanical engineer graduated from the University of Waterloo and McMaster University. He specializes in energy conversion systems, in particular conversion to electrical energy. He has worked in various capacities in the design, construction and manufacturing of equipment and operation of energy conversion facilities for most energy technologies. This list includes nuclear and fossil fuel fired power plants as well as a variety of renewable energy projects. In nuclear power he has participated as a design engineer, as a construction manager, as a manufacturer of nuclear equipment and as a techno-economic consultant. His work has brought him from Canada, to USA, Taiwan, China, S. Korea, Japan and Belgium. He has been a member of the Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA), Organization of Candu Industries (OCI) and the Canadian Nuclear Society (CNS). At present he retains his Alberta P. Eng. membership. Over his 40 year working career Cosmos has got to know not only the energy technologies involved but also the people and the social structures behind them. He has recently returned from presenting a paper titled; “The Clash of Energy Supply and Climate Change” at the 2016 International Conference on Environmental Science and Engineering held in China this year. He will share his experience with us. Moderator: Duane Pendergast Date: Thursday, September 22, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $12.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea)

Alberta has recently undertaken major changes to our electricity system. The intent is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with climate change, thereby gaining “social license” to facilitate the sale and export of our fossil fuel energy products. There is considerable controversy over the effectiveness of many aspects of proposed changes. The speaker will discuss the need to conduct more long term environmental studies which consider the decades long life cycle of alternative systems before embarking on such major changes. Speaker:     Cosmos Voutsinos Cosmos Voutsinos is a mechanical engineer graduated from the University of Waterloo and McMaster University. He specializes in energy conversion systems, in particular conversion to electrical energy. He has worked in various capacities in the design, construction and manufacturing of equipment and operation of energy conversion facilities for most energy technologies. This list includes nuclear and fossil fuel fired power plants as well as a variety of renewable energy projects. In nuclear power he has participated as a design engineer, as a construction manager, as a manufacturer of nuclear equipment and as a techno-economic consultant. His work has brought him from Canada, to USA, Taiwan, China, S. Korea, Japan and Belgium. He has been a member of the Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA), Organization of Candu Industries (OCI) and the Canadian Nuclear Society (CNS). At present he retains his Alberta P. Eng. membership. Over his 40 year working career Cosmos has got to know not only the energy technologies involved but also the people and the social structures behind them. He has recently returned from presenting a paper titled; “The Clash of Energy Supply and Climate Change” at the 2016 International Conference on Environmental Science and Engineering held in China this year. He will share his experience with us. Moderator: Duane Pendergast Date: Thursday, September 22, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $12.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea)

Historic persons, places and events are commemorated every day, from plaques and monument to the naming of sites. How are decisions made as to what is commemorated? While this presentation will discuss commemoration in a broader sense, the timing of it coincides with Lethbridge City Council’s recent designation of the Galt Mine No. 6 site near Hardieville in north Lethbridge as a Municipal Historic Resource. The mine got its name from Sir Alexander Galt, who with his son Elliott started the coal mining industry in Lethbridge in the 1880s. Galt Mine No. 6 was active from 1908 to 1935 (its tipple was then moved to newly build Galt Mine No.8) and not much remains of the mine aside from the boiler hoist base, tipple foundation and drift tunnel. Lethbridge Historical Society is working with a developer of the adjacent Legacy Ridge neighbourhood to turn the land into a visitor attractive interpretive park. Obviously, turning every one of the many coal mines in Lethbridge and area into a tourist friendly historic park is not feasible. However, the west-side Galt Mine No. 8, built in 1935, with its landmark tipple and water tower, near the iconic high level bridge, is arguably a more visible and commercially attractive location for an interpretive historic park than the Galt Mine No. 6 site. The speaker will give a background on how commemoration has been done historically in Lethbridge, provide her perspective on how decisions are arrived at and explain some of the background work that goes into the commemoration of local history. Speaker:     Belinda Crowson Belinda Crowson is a member of the Lethbridge Historical Society's Heritage Conservation Committee and sits as the LHS representative on the City of Lethbridge's Heart of Our City Committee. The LHS Heritage Conservation Committee, one of many initiatives of the historical society, is designed to advocate for historic buildings. Currently, Belinda is the President of Lethbridge Historical Society, she is also past President of the Historical Society of Alberta and the author of four books on local history Moderator: TBA Date: Thursday, September 15, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $12.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea)

Historic persons, places and events are commemorated every day, from plaques and monument to the naming of sites. How are decisions made as to what is commemorated? While this presentation will discuss commemoration in a broader sense, the timing of it coincides with Lethbridge City Council’s recent designation of the Galt Mine No. 6 site near Hardieville in north Lethbridge as a Municipal Historic Resource. The mine got its name from Sir Alexander Galt, who with his son Elliott started the coal mining industry in Lethbridge in the 1880s. Galt Mine No. 6 was active from 1908 to 1935 (its tipple was then moved to newly build Galt Mine No.8) and not much remains of the mine aside from the boiler hoist base, tipple foundation and drift tunnel. Lethbridge Historical Society is working with a developer of the adjacent Legacy Ridge neighbourhood to turn the land into a visitor attractive interpretive park. Obviously, turning every one of the many coal mines in Lethbridge and area into a tourist friendly historic park is not feasible. However, the west-side Galt Mine No. 8, built in 1935, with its landmark tipple and water tower, near the iconic high level bridge, is arguably a more visible and commercially attractive location for an interpretive historic park than the Galt Mine No. 6 site. The speaker will give a background on how commemoration has been done historically in Lethbridge, provide her perspective on how decisions are arrived at and explain some of the background work that goes into the commemoration of local history. Speaker:     Belinda Crowson Belinda Crowson is a member of the Lethbridge Historical Society's Heritage Conservation Committee and sits as the LHS representative on the City of Lethbridge's Heart of Our City Committee. The LHS Heritage Conservation Committee, one of many initiatives of the historical society, is designed to advocate for historic buildings. Currently, Belinda is the President of Lethbridge Historical Society, she is also past President of the Historical Society of Alberta and the author of four books on local history Moderator: TBA Date: Thursday, September 15, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $12.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea)

In the business of conservation we are often so intent on staring into the fog called tomorrow, we rarely turn around and look back at the pathway called yesterday stretching behind us. This presentation will use archival images and information to paint a picture of the slippery hordes of native fish in Alberta’s past. The current status of fish populations in the Eastern Slopes cannot be appreciated until we acknowledge where we were, by reviewing historical abundance and distribution. Only then, will we be ready to see where we need to be. By reviewing what was, perhaps we can see what can be. Fish populations were reduced and lost because our understanding and comprehension of aquatic systems was so rudimentary. We rarely measured, we didn’t monitor and we didn’t pay attention. If a view of the past has taught us anything, it is if we don’t pay attention, things go missing. We do not feel the need to mourn that which we do not understand enough to miss. A fundamentally important task is to provide perspectives on changes over time in ecosystem integrity and in biodiversity to avoid the syndrome of shifting benchmarks- like being satisfied with fewer and fewer native fish, poorer water quality and an industrialized landscape.  Speaker:     Lorne Fitch Lorne Fitch grew up on a mixed farm in west central Alberta. He left the farm but the experience of growing up in semi-wild circumstances never left him. Lorne has been a biologist for over 40 years, working mostly in Alberta but also in other parts of Canada and internationally with the many issues related to use of land and water. Those experiences have allowed Lorne to conclude that how we treat the land and water is a result of how we see these elements, how we value them, and what our vision is for their future. It has led him to understand how knowledge levels affect people’s environmental opinions and has caused him to become an educator because if we want a future with clean water, productive soil, fish, wildlife and space, we must make proper choices now. Lorne is the Provincial Riparian Specialist with the Alberta Cows and Fish program. He is also an adjunct professor with the University of Calgary Moderator: Knud Petersen Date: Thursday, September 8, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $12.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea)

In the business of conservation we are often so intent on staring into the fog called tomorrow, we rarely turn around and look back at the pathway called yesterday stretching behind us. This presentation will use archival images and information to paint a picture of the slippery hordes of native fish in Alberta’s past. The current status of fish populations in the Eastern Slopes cannot be appreciated until we acknowledge where we were, by reviewing historical abundance and distribution. Only then, will we be ready to see where we need to be. By reviewing what was, perhaps we can see what can be. Fish populations were reduced and lost because our understanding and comprehension of aquatic systems was so rudimentary. We rarely measured, we didn’t monitor and we didn’t pay attention. If a view of the past has taught us anything, it is if we don’t pay attention, things go missing. We do not feel the need to mourn that which we do not understand enough to miss. A fundamentally important task is to provide perspectives on changes over time in ecosystem integrity and in biodiversity to avoid the syndrome of shifting benchmarks- like being satisfied with fewer and fewer native fish, poorer water quality and an industrialized landscape.  Speaker:     Lorne Fitch Lorne Fitch grew up on a mixed farm in west central Alberta. He left the farm but the experience of growing up in semi-wild circumstances never left him. Lorne has been a biologist for over 40 years, working mostly in Alberta but also in other parts of Canada and internationally with the many issues related to use of land and water. Those experiences have allowed Lorne to conclude that how we treat the land and water is a result of how we see these elements, how we value them, and what our vision is for their future. It has led him to understand how knowledge levels affect people’s environmental opinions and has caused him to become an educator because if we want a future with clean water, productive soil, fish, wildlife and space, we must make proper choices now. Lorne is the Provincial Riparian Specialist with the Alberta Cows and Fish program. He is also an adjunct professor with the University of Calgary Moderator: Knud Petersen Date: Thursday, September 8, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $12.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea)

Alberta has a complex educational system that includes public schools, charter schools, and private schools. Recent action in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and by some school boards, as well as the current review of legislation, demonstrate a need for a provincial conversation. What makes for an equitable educational system that serves diverse learning needs and provides for quality schooling? Historical reasons for this complexity will be explored detailing the various school systems and how each are funded. The speakers will also explain differences between the systems in terms of accessibility and governance and describe how an equitable and fair education system ought to function in today’s Alberta. Speakers: Barbara Silva and Lisa Turner Barbara Silva is a Public Education Advocate and Communications Director for Support our Students Alberta. Born in Ontario but raised all over Canada she attended 11 different public and separate schools in Alberta & Ontario.  She holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary.  She worked in the Oil & Gas industry for 6 years before pursuing her Master of Education from the University of Western Ontario in London.  After working in the Rockyview School Division for four years, she now volunteers her time to advocate for children’s rights to an accessible, quality and equitable public education with the organization “Support Our Students Alberta”, which was the proud recipient of Alberta Teachers Association’s 2015 Public Education Award for outstanding contribution to Public Education Lisa Turner is the Policy Director for Support our Students Alberta and a passionate public education advocate.  Born and raised in Saskatchewan, she had the pleasure of attending public schools in the Regina Board of Education.  She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Regina and a diploma in Nuclear Medicine Technology from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.  After working in acute care medicine, Lisa moved to the not-for-profit sector, whetting her advocacy chops at the Canadian Cancer Society through initiatives to bring smoke-free spaces to Alberta. Now a serial volunteer and mom, Lisa enjoys supporting important community initiatives like accessible and equitable public education. Moderator: Shannan Little Date: Thursday, June 16, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $11.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea)

Alberta has a complex educational system that includes public schools, charter schools, and private schools. Recent action in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and by some school boards, as well as the current review of legislation, demonstrate a need for a provincial conversation. What makes for an equitable educational system that serves diverse learning needs and provides for quality schooling? Historical reasons for this complexity will be explored detailing the various school systems and how each are funded. The speakers will also explain differences between the systems in terms of accessibility and governance and describe how an equitable and fair education system ought to function in today’s Alberta. Speakers: Barbara Silva and Lisa Turner Barbara Silva is a Public Education Advocate and Communications Director for Support our Students Alberta. Born in Ontario but raised all over Canada she attended 11 different public and separate schools in Alberta & Ontario.  She holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary.  She worked in the Oil & Gas industry for 6 years before pursuing her Master of Education from the University of Western Ontario in London.  After working in the Rockyview School Division for four years, she now volunteers her time to advocate for children’s rights to an accessible, quality and equitable public education with the organization “Support Our Students Alberta”, which was the proud recipient of Alberta Teachers Association’s 2015 Public Education Award for outstanding contribution to Public Education Lisa Turner is the Policy Director for Support our Students Alberta and a passionate public education advocate.  Born and raised in Saskatchewan, she had the pleasure of attending public schools in the Regina Board of Education.  She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Regina and a diploma in Nuclear Medicine Technology from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.  After working in acute care medicine, Lisa moved to the not-for-profit sector, whetting her advocacy chops at the Canadian Cancer Society through initiatives to bring smoke-free spaces to Alberta. Now a serial volunteer and mom, Lisa enjoys supporting important community initiatives like accessible and equitable public education. Moderator: Shannan Little Date: Thursday, June 16, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $11.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea)

Alberta’s official opposition has criticized the recent provincial NDP budget, expressing concern about the huge anticipated provincial deficit. They have called for cuts to provincial staff levels and some programs.   Official opposition leader, Brian Jean will speak to this. He will outline the Wildrose Party vision for Alberta and his party’s view on a better fiscal management plan of Alberta’s finances. We will hear where a Wildose government would take Alberta.   Speaker:     Brian Jean, Alberta’s Official Opposition leader Brian Jean was elected as Wildrose Leader on March 28, 2015 and has served as leader of the Official Opposition and MLA for Fort McMurray-Conklin since May 5, 2015. Raised in his home riding of Fort McMurray, Brian understands what makes Alberta the best place to live in the world. With extensive experience in construction, communications, farming, business and as a lawyer, Brian knows what it takes to get Alberta working again.   Brian holds a Bachelor of Science, an MBA and an LLB. But Brian isn’t just book smart – he’s people smart. He knows that the backbone of Alberta is the hardworking and entrepreneurial spirit of its people. To this end, Brian has worked in numerous trades including logging and being a registered trapper. As a committed fiscal manager, Brian knows that low taxes and smaller government spur economic prosperity and unleash the Alberta Advantage. His goal is to build an Alberta that we can be proud of – one where all Albertans can enjoy a high quality of life. Moderator: Ed Bardock Date: Thursday, June 9, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $11.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea)

Alberta’s official opposition has criticized the recent provincial NDP budget, expressing concern about the huge anticipated provincial deficit. They have called for cuts to provincial staff levels and some programs.   Official opposition leader, Brian Jean will speak to this. He will outline the Wildrose Party vision for Alberta and his party’s view on a better fiscal management plan of Alberta’s finances. We will hear where a Wildose government would take Alberta.   Speaker:     Brian Jean, Alberta’s Official Opposition leader Brian Jean was elected as Wildrose Leader on March 28, 2015 and has served as leader of the Official Opposition and MLA for Fort McMurray-Conklin since May 5, 2015. Raised in his home riding of Fort McMurray, Brian understands what makes Alberta the best place to live in the world. With extensive experience in construction, communications, farming, business and as a lawyer, Brian knows what it takes to get Alberta working again.   Brian holds a Bachelor of Science, an MBA and an LLB. But Brian isn’t just book smart – he’s people smart. He knows that the backbone of Alberta is the hardworking and entrepreneurial spirit of its people. To this end, Brian has worked in numerous trades including logging and being a registered trapper. As a committed fiscal manager, Brian knows that low taxes and smaller government spur economic prosperity and unleash the Alberta Advantage. His goal is to build an Alberta that we can be proud of – one where all Albertans can enjoy a high quality of life. Moderator: Ed Bardock Date: Thursday, June 9, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $11.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea)