COVID denialism and the Alberta context

Originally published on Jan. 16, 2021 at CBC Calgary. In the summer, with half of Memorial Drive in Calgary shut down to traffic, a group of protesters set up near the Peace Bridge to draw attention to a bewildering array of grievances. One sign attacked Justin Trudeau, another warned of 5G networks, some supported oil and … Continue reading COVID denialism and the Alberta context

With pandemic travel scandal, Kenney faces conservative kryptonite: elitism

(Monty Kruger/CBC) Originally published Jan. 5, 2021 at CBC Calgary. How long do Albertans remember a scandal? It sort of depends. How long do Albertans remember missing out on their mom's funeral?  In the midst of a pandemic that has forced governments around the world to initiate sweeping invasions into the personal and professional lives … Continue reading With pandemic travel scandal, Kenney faces conservative kryptonite: elitism

Alberta government wants to rewrite the water use rules along eastern slopes of Rockies

This article was originally published on Dec. 7, 2021 at CBC Calgary. The Alberta government wants to rewrite the rules on water use along the eastern slopes of the Rockies as part of its economic recovery plan, including a push for new coal developments in the area.   Water use is highly restricted in southern Alberta due … Continue reading Alberta government wants to rewrite the water use rules along eastern slopes of Rockies

Personal responsibility, government inaction and Alberta’s COVID response

This article was originally published on Nov. 24, 2020 at CBC Calgary. When COVID-19 first appeared and spread across the globe, people and governments reacted with alarm. Action was swift.  In Alberta, businesses shuttered as the government imposed restrictions, some for good. People mostly stayed inside. Premier Jason Kenney said it was a generational challenge … Continue reading Personal responsibility, government inaction and Alberta’s COVID response

Looking back on Calgary’s year as Cultural Capital

Let’s get one thing out of the way right at the beginning. Calgary 2012, as in the people who form the organization, had an impossible task. How do you organize, create, fund and promote Calgary’s year as a cultural capital of Canada and please everybody? Well, you don’t. It’s one of the flaws of the … Continue reading Looking back on Calgary’s year as Cultural Capital

Pennies for culture: Transformation Calgary wants to build a better city

George Brookman isn’t the kind of guy you’d expect to be advocating for a sales tax. He’s a dyed-in-the-wool conservative, the typical Calgary businessman who’s, well, all business. Down-to-earth and direct, he realizes that he and his organization, Transformation Calgary, have a lot of selling to do in order to win over this city’s tax-averse … Continue reading Pennies for culture: Transformation Calgary wants to build a better city