Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

Several hundred people have died from fentanyl overdoses in the past few years and critics have charged that more need to be done to curb that trend. Fentanyl, an opioid painkiller prescribed to relieve chronic, intense pain—like that experienced with cancer—is increasingly being used illegally. Both the prescribed and illegally-manufactured form of the drug are being sold, and sometimes mixed with other illicit drugs like heroin and cocaine.  Fentanyl is killing users, at increasingly high rates. The 272 deaths in Alberta in 2015 represent a significant increase from the previous year, when it was tied to a total of 120 deaths. In 2011, fentanyl was implicated in just six deaths in the province. Opioid abuse has been rising in general across Canada for some years, due in part to a spike in the prescription of OxyContin and related painkillers. But the increasing availability and use of fentanyl represents a dangerous new direction because of the drug’s potency— fentanyl is up to 100 times more toxic than morphine, heroin, or oxycodone. The speaker will explain how little fentanyl it takes to cause an overdose and discuss the current health response aimed at reducing the impacts of this dangerous drug.  Speaker: Dr. Karin Goodison Dr. Karin Goodison is a Medical Officer of Health in South Zone, Alberta Health Services. She trained and worked as a family doctor, prior to going back to medical school to get her specialty training in Public Health and Preventive Medicine. Her interest areas include harm reduction, mental health, Aboriginal health and injury prevention. Moderator:   Vivien Kossuth Date: Thursday, March 24, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) 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)

Several hundred people have died from fentanyl overdoses in the past few years and critics have charged that more need to be done to curb that trend. Fentanyl, an opioid painkiller prescribed to relieve chronic, intense pain—like that experienced with cancer—is increasingly being used illegally. Both the prescribed and illegally-manufactured form of the drug are being sold, and sometimes mixed with other illicit drugs like heroin and cocaine.  Fentanyl is killing users, at increasingly high rates. The 272 deaths in Alberta in 2015 represent a significant increase from the previous year, when it was tied to a total of 120 deaths. In 2011, fentanyl was implicated in just six deaths in the province. Opioid abuse has been rising in general across Canada for some years, due in part to a spike in the prescription of OxyContin and related painkillers. But the increasing availability and use of fentanyl represents a dangerous new direction because of the drug’s potency— fentanyl is up to 100 times more toxic than morphine, heroin, or oxycodone. The speaker will explain how little fentanyl it takes to cause an overdose and discuss the current health response aimed at reducing the impacts of this dangerous drug.  Speaker: Dr. Karin Goodison Dr. Karin Goodison is a Medical Officer of Health in South Zone, Alberta Health Services. She trained and worked as a family doctor, prior to going back to medical school to get her specialty training in Public Health and Preventive Medicine. Her interest areas include harm reduction, mental health, Aboriginal health and injury prevention. Moderator:   Vivien Kossuth Date: Thursday, March 24, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) 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)

The recent influx of refugees, mainly from Syria, has kept Lethbridge Family Services (LFS) and their Immigrant Services department plenty busy since before New Year. LFS is expecting up to 240 Government-sponsored Syrian refugees by the end of 2016 in addition to the 40 or so that is privately-sponsored. About half of the expected refugees are in Lethbridge now. A steering committee of community partners including immigration services, education, health, social services, law enforcement and others, including many volunteers, are set up to help transition refugees into the city. Most of the refugees come from refugee camps in Jordan and all have passed Canada’s five-stage screening process. Questions about housing and when children can start attending school, are legitimate concerns as are, whether adults generally have the skills necessary to enter the job market and how soon. The speakers will address these questions and also outline the many cultural, economic and educational issues involved with resettling refugees. Speaker: Sarah Amies and Elma Guinto Sarah Amies has lived, worked and raised a family in Lethbridge since 1982. She graduated from the University of Lethbridge (’BA – Distinction) in 1988. For the next 13 years, she worked as the Applied Studies program coordinator and as an Arts and Science Academic Advisor for the U of L. In 2001, Sarah started working with Lethbridge Family Services as the Program Director for the Immigrant Services department. In this capacity, Sarah is involved in community development and educational initiatives as well as overseeing the daily operations of the settlement office. Sarah is very dedicated working with the City and its citizens in order to develop a community that is supportive of and welcoming to our newest neighbours. In 2012, Sarah received YWCA’s Women of Distinction award and she was named a U of L Alumni Honour Society Inductee in 2013. Elma Guinto has been a teacher for 40 years, most of that time as an ESL teacher. For the past 25 years, she has owned and operated Flexibility Learning Systems, an English as a Second Language school, in downtown Lethbridge which provides language classes and employment assistance to immigrants and refugees coming to Canada. Elma received her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Lethbridge, and has taught in elementary and junior high school, and in a correctional centre before focusing her teaching on Adult Basic Education and English as a Second Language. She also trained elementary school teachers in Nigeria for two years, and volunteered with an elementary school in Siem Reap, Cambodia. In her spare time, she loves to read, garden, and travel, and has visited more than 60 countries. Moderator: Knud Petersen Date: Thursday, March 17, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) 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)

The recent influx of refugees, mainly from Syria, has kept Lethbridge Family Services (LFS) and their Immigrant Services department plenty busy since before New Year. LFS is expecting up to 240 Government-sponsored Syrian refugees by the end of 2016 in addition to the 40 or so that is privately-sponsored. About half of the expected refugees are in Lethbridge now. A steering committee of community partners including immigration services, education, health, social services, law enforcement and others, including many volunteers, are set up to help transition refugees into the city. Most of the refugees come from refugee camps in Jordan and all have passed Canada’s five-stage screening process. Questions about housing and when children can start attending school, are legitimate concerns as are, whether adults generally have the skills necessary to enter the job market and how soon. The speakers will address these questions and also outline the many cultural, economic and educational issues involved with resettling refugees. Speaker: Sarah Amies and Elma Guinto Sarah Amies has lived, worked and raised a family in Lethbridge since 1982. She graduated from the University of Lethbridge (’BA – Distinction) in 1988. For the next 13 years, she worked as the Applied Studies program coordinator and as an Arts and Science Academic Advisor for the U of L. In 2001, Sarah started working with Lethbridge Family Services as the Program Director for the Immigrant Services department. In this capacity, Sarah is involved in community development and educational initiatives as well as overseeing the daily operations of the settlement office. Sarah is very dedicated working with the City and its citizens in order to develop a community that is supportive of and welcoming to our newest neighbours. In 2012, Sarah received YWCA’s Women of Distinction award and she was named a U of L Alumni Honour Society Inductee in 2013. Elma Guinto has been a teacher for 40 years, most of that time as an ESL teacher. For the past 25 years, she has owned and operated Flexibility Learning Systems, an English as a Second Language school, in downtown Lethbridge which provides language classes and employment assistance to immigrants and refugees coming to Canada. Elma received her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Lethbridge, and has taught in elementary and junior high school, and in a correctional centre before focusing her teaching on Adult Basic Education and English as a Second Language. She also trained elementary school teachers in Nigeria for two years, and volunteered with an elementary school in Siem Reap, Cambodia. In her spare time, she loves to read, garden, and travel, and has visited more than 60 countries. Moderator: Knud Petersen Date: Thursday, March 17, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) 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)

Harassment occurs when a person is subjected to unwelcome verbal or physical conduct. This can include threats and intimidation, one time or over an extended period. When the harassment is based on a protected ground of discrimination, it is contrary to the Alberta Human Rights Act or the Canadian Human Rights Act. In Alberta, protected grounds include race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religious beliefs, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, physical disability, mental disability, marital status, family status, source of income, and sexual orientation. Employers are responsible for providing a workplace that is free of harassment. How is harassment defined? How often does it occur in workplaces and boardrooms? What options do victims of harassment have? The speaker will discuss these questions and relate to the benefits of having harassment-free workplaces and boardrooms? Speaker: Raj Hari Bio: Raj worked as an officer for Citizenship and Immigration Canada for 17 years and for the past ten years has worked as a Regional Representative for the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) the union that represents most Federal Public Service employees among others. Moderator:   Christina Cuthbertson Date: Thursday, March 10, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) 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)

Harassment occurs when a person is subjected to unwelcome verbal or physical conduct. This can include threats and intimidation, one time or over an extended period. When the harassment is based on a protected ground of discrimination, it is contrary to the Alberta Human Rights Act or the Canadian Human Rights Act. In Alberta, protected grounds include race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religious beliefs, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, physical disability, mental disability, marital status, family status, source of income, and sexual orientation. Employers are responsible for providing a workplace that is free of harassment. How is harassment defined? How often does it occur in workplaces and boardrooms? What options do victims of harassment have? The speaker will discuss these questions and relate to the benefits of having harassment-free workplaces and boardrooms? Speaker: Raj Hari Bio: Raj worked as an officer for Citizenship and Immigration Canada for 17 years and for the past ten years has worked as a Regional Representative for the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) the union that represents most Federal Public Service employees among others. Moderator:   Christina Cuthbertson Date: Thursday, March 10, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) 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)

On June 1, 2015, Alberta’s Bill 10 became law. The content of this bill has twofold implications for policy within school districts. The first impact is that Gay Straight Alliances (GSA’s) must be allowed in any school where students request to have them. The second is that “gender identity” and “gender expression” are now included in Alberta’s Bill of Rights. In December, 2015, those rights were also added to Alberta’s Human Rights Act through Bill 7. In the fall of 2015, Alberta’s Minister of Education released Guidelines for Best Practices: Creating Learning Environments that Respect Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression for all publicly funded schools and gave each Alberta school board until March 31, 2016 to come up with their own policy to accommodate the provincial guidelines. However, the question has been asked: Why not draft the same LGBTQ policy for all school boards? The speaker will elaborate on that question and explain more details of Bill 7 and 10. Speaker: Maria Fitzpatrick, MLA for Lethbridge East Maria Fitzpatrick was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Lethbridge-East, on May 5, 2015. She currently serves as deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing and as a member of the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future. Born and educated in Newfoundland, Maria attended Memorial University in St. John's between 1966 and 1972 and received a diploma in education from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia in 1988. Her work career began as a teacher with the Catholic school board in St. John's, but she dedicated over 30 years of her life in the field of corrections, finishing her career working for National Headquarters of the Correctional Service of Canada working in policy and project management. Ms. Fitzpatrick's extensive community service spans over several decades and involves participation on several boards and in numerous associations, including United Way Ottawa, the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the National Association of Federal Retirees. In addition, she served as chair of the Lethbridge Regional Women's Committee, as vice-president of the Canadian Federation of University Women and as an event organizer with the Ottawa Regional Women's Committee. She is also a member of the McKillop United church choir. Moderator:   Courtney Reiger Date: Thursday, March 3, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) 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)

On June 1, 2015, Alberta’s Bill 10 became law. The content of this bill has twofold implications for policy within school districts. The first impact is that Gay Straight Alliances (GSA’s) must be allowed in any school where students request to have them. The second is that “gender identity” and “gender expression” are now included in Alberta’s Bill of Rights. In December, 2015, those rights were also added to Alberta’s Human Rights Act through Bill 7. In the fall of 2015, Alberta’s Minister of Education released Guidelines for Best Practices: Creating Learning Environments that Respect Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression for all publicly funded schools and gave each Alberta school board until March 31, 2016 to come up with their own policy to accommodate the provincial guidelines. However, the question has been asked: Why not draft the same LGBTQ policy for all school boards? The speaker will elaborate on that question and explain more details of Bill 7 and 10. Speaker: Maria Fitzpatrick, MLA for Lethbridge East Maria Fitzpatrick was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Lethbridge-East, on May 5, 2015. She currently serves as deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing and as a member of the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future. Born and educated in Newfoundland, Maria attended Memorial University in St. John's between 1966 and 1972 and received a diploma in education from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia in 1988. Her work career began as a teacher with the Catholic school board in St. John's, but she dedicated over 30 years of her life in the field of corrections, finishing her career working for National Headquarters of the Correctional Service of Canada working in policy and project management. Ms. Fitzpatrick's extensive community service spans over several decades and involves participation on several boards and in numerous associations, including United Way Ottawa, the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the National Association of Federal Retirees. In addition, she served as chair of the Lethbridge Regional Women's Committee, as vice-president of the Canadian Federation of University Women and as an event organizer with the Ottawa Regional Women's Committee. She is also a member of the McKillop United church choir. Moderator:   Courtney Reiger Date: Thursday, March 3, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) 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)

Societal responsibility is an ethical framework which suggests that an entity, be it individual, corporate or governmental, has an obligation to act for the benefit of society at large. Societal responsibility is arguable a duty every individual has to perform so as to maintain a balance between the economy and our ecosystem. A trade-off may exist between economic development, in the material sense, and the welfare of the society though this is increasingly being challenged because of pollution and climate change issues. To what degree should societal responsibility include sustainable development? Should it pertain mainly to corporations and governments, or to everyone whose action may impact the environment and society? Should this responsibility be passive, by avoiding socially harmful acts and or active, by performing activities that directly help advance societal goals? The speakers were finalists in the recent 2016 U of L Student Speaker Challenge and they will give their perspective on societal responsibilities and how this globalized world ideally can be sustainable for all. Speakers: Kristin Krein and Scott Huff Kristin Krein is a first year Women & Gender Studies Major. She is an active member in the U of L Sociology Club, Lethbridge Girls Rock Camp Vice President, Electric Eye Music Festival Volunteer Coordinator, Blueprint Records Art Gallery curator, Theatre Outré board member, CKXU board member and sits on the CKXU Justice & Advocacy committee. Kristin was named YWCA Women of Distinction in 2015 and is incredibly passionate about social justice and leaving this world better than she found it. She is thankful for the opportunity to work towards a community we can all be proud of. Scott Huff hails from the southeastern U.S. He was born in Alabama, raised in Georgia and most recently resided in Tennessee. Now he is loving Canada and he is here to study archaeology with friends and professors with whom he became associated while volunteering at the excavation of Tel Beth-Shemesh in Israel. He hopes to earn a doctorate one day through studying the ancient religious building that is being unearthed there. Despite his young age, Scott has learned that while life is not always easy to handle, other people are always an incontrovertibly important, powerful, and wonderful part of it. Moderator:   Emma Ladouceur Date: Thursday, February 25, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) 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)

Societal responsibility is an ethical framework which suggests that an entity, be it individual, corporate or governmental, has an obligation to act for the benefit of society at large. Societal responsibility is arguable a duty every individual has to perform so as to maintain a balance between the economy and our ecosystem. A trade-off may exist between economic development, in the material sense, and the welfare of the society though this is increasingly being challenged because of pollution and climate change issues. To what degree should societal responsibility include sustainable development? Should it pertain mainly to corporations and governments, or to everyone whose action may impact the environment and society? Should this responsibility be passive, by avoiding socially harmful acts and or active, by performing activities that directly help advance societal goals? The speakers were finalists in the recent 2016 U of L Student Speaker Challenge and they will give their perspective on societal responsibilities and how this globalized world ideally can be sustainable for all. Speakers: Kristin Krein and Scott Huff Kristin Krein is a first year Women & Gender Studies Major. She is an active member in the U of L Sociology Club, Lethbridge Girls Rock Camp Vice President, Electric Eye Music Festival Volunteer Coordinator, Blueprint Records Art Gallery curator, Theatre Outré board member, CKXU board member and sits on the CKXU Justice & Advocacy committee. Kristin was named YWCA Women of Distinction in 2015 and is incredibly passionate about social justice and leaving this world better than she found it. She is thankful for the opportunity to work towards a community we can all be proud of. Scott Huff hails from the southeastern U.S. He was born in Alabama, raised in Georgia and most recently resided in Tennessee. Now he is loving Canada and he is here to study archaeology with friends and professors with whom he became associated while volunteering at the excavation of Tel Beth-Shemesh in Israel. He hopes to earn a doctorate one day through studying the ancient religious building that is being unearthed there. Despite his young age, Scott has learned that while life is not always easy to handle, other people are always an incontrovertibly important, powerful, and wonderful part of it. Moderator:   Emma Ladouceur Date: Thursday, February 25, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) 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)