20 minute read
What’s Wrong with Premier Kenney?
BY SHANE WENZEL
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The answer of course depends on who’s asking and who’s answering. The worst time to win an election as a provincial leader was in the Fall of 2019. Four months into the job, the world was hit with COVID-19 which quickly got headlined as a pandemic; the world panicked. No one had any real experience with how to manage such an occurrence including the medical community who posed as having all the answers. Projections were often wrong, and for much of the public the procedures bordered on ‘overkill.’ Computer models have a way of adding to that. Everyone who became ill or worse were labelled as COVID victims and the only people taking the ‘rap’ for any outcomes were 10 Premiers. If you feel the need to dish out blame, look for a Premier. Because of flaws in Canada’s Constitution, it turns out the Prime Minister has more power than reasonably acceptable. He gave the orders – some were completely draconian – and the provincial leaders took the ‘brunt.’ Medical teams experienced infighting within their own ‘towers’ and the Premiers were tasked to try keep the peace and take the blame. Premier Kenney was no exception!
Democracies rest on the ability of the general public to hold elected officials accountable. But what happens when a large segment of voters know little about how policy evolves, their limitations and who has authority over what? Most of all they want someone to blame. Who knew who to blame for lockdowns, for masking rules, for interrupted education, for lost businesses and general all-around hardships? Stopping COVID at all costs is not a policy but it did cost much hardship. Without any real power, the Premier’s ratings fell into the ‘gutter.’ Medical advisors became kings, and the Prime Minister hid.
Premier Kenney has done what he can to mend feelings among the electorate and his internal party power struggles without taking his eye off his recovery plan. He doesn’t call voters names or fault them for their opinions, he is simply working towards getting life back to normal in Alberta. Behind the COVID scenes he has enticed new industries into Alberta, brought in investor dollars from some of the largest corporations, reduced unworkable policies brought in by the previous government, expanded education choices and job opportunities, and laid the groundwork for expanding hospital beds and staffing in our cumbersome healthcare system which was the ‘phantom’ behind the lockdowns. Like everyone, he is weary of worrying about ‘a shortage of beds’ which drove the mandates, and we are learning to live with COVID. He is working on convincing Ottawa to lift their mandates on travel and ending costly and restrictive testing. He wants borders opened so people can work and travel in peace and connect with families elsewhere, so Albertans in their twilight years can finally live their last years as planned while hugging family. So children can laugh, hug each other and be kids again, and new graduates can find work. His biggest desire is to end the bitterness by getting back to the ‘old normal.’ Enough division by the dividers.
So, nothing is wrong with Premier Kenney. His goals just got delayed by a two-year pandemic.
Shane Wenzel is president of the Shane Homes Group of Companies. Follow him @shanewenzel on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.His column is written for the Alberta Enterprise Group, @AEG on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Building a Legacy
Inspiring the minds of tomorrow starts with building a strong and sustainable community today.
University of Calgary Properties Group (UCPG) is a benchmark developer that exists to fuel the academic mission of the University of Calgary. As a nimble and dynamic entrepreneurial partner, UCPG is committed to creating sustainable physical communities, supporting the people who contribute to shaping those communities, and mindfully designing environments to live, work or play.
UCPG’s innovative thinking leads to ground-breaking and thoughtfully designed spaces and is continuously evolving to create vibrant places where people can thrive.
– James Robertson, President and CEO, University of Calgary Properties Group
The University of Calgary and University of Calgary Properties Group: A partnership built for the future of our city
A DIFFERENT KIND OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY What makes a city desirable to live in? As the trusted developer for University of Calgary (UCalgary) land projects, University of Calgary Properties Group Ltd. (UCPG) is setting the stage for what it means to build a desirable community through the development of a vibrant, mindful and thriving environment in University District, located in Calgary’s northwest.
CONNECTION TO UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY UCPG was created to oversee the development and management of university land projects. This unique partnership and collaboration offers an innovative approach to real estate development. Each land project, including the development of University District, optimizes the return on the land for the benefit of the University’s academic mission by investing proceeds directly back into the University of Calgary to help students, staff, worldclass research and innovation thrive.
THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED COMMUNITY University District has quickly become a desirable residential community disrupting the status quo of modern living by providing an unmatched hub of residential buildings paired with carefully selected retail shops and services, offices, 40 acres of green space, and a fully integrated space to live, work and play. This means fewer vehicles, more green space, and everything you need for a high quality of life within walking distance. “University District enriches the city and the university community,” says UCPG CEO, James Robertson. “With ample park spaces, easy commutes, desirable retail offerings and residential options for every stage of life, the community is attracting a broad range of residents and visitors.”
Every square foot within University District is thoughtfully designed with a unique touch – from the green space
down to the street names. As a way to pay homage to the community’s close connection with the University of Calgary, 13 University District streets are named after poignant University of Calgary Chancellors. Each Chancellor has deeply committed to the University’s vision during their appointment, including Dr. Joanne Cuthbertson, Dr. Jim Dinning, Dr. William Friley, Dr. Muriel Kovitz, Dr. Louis Lebel, Dr. Ann McCaig, Dr. Campbell McLaurin, Dr. Brian Norford, Dr. James Palmer, Dr. Jack Perraton, Dr. David Smith, Dr. Robert Thirsk, and Dr. William Warren.
The decision to name University District streets after UCalgary Chancellors intentionally adds a piece of rooted legacy to the community. It’s a physical reminder of the unequivocal commitment to the University’s academic mission. These streets have been envisioned to be an extension of the University of Calgary campus and will eventually become an important connector between the University, nearby medical facilities and established neighbourhoods.
The late Chancellor Kovitz, second from the right, poses with a street sign dedicated in her honour.
Today, the burgeoning community is a 10-minute walk to campus with over 2,000 residents and new retailers opening every month. It is an accessible hub for groceries, dining, entertainment and personal care. Some of its notable retailers who have opened to date include Save-On-Foods, OEB Breakfast Co., Monogram Coffee, Village Ice Cream, Canadian Brewhouse and Alberta’s first exclusively 18+ Cineplex VIP Cinemas.
With The Alley, Borough Bar + Grill, Banquet Dive Bar and Cobs Bread opening in the coming months, the future is undoubtedly bright at University District, modelling what a desirable community looks like.
Visit myuniversitydistrict.ca for more information.
Better IT. BY RENNAY CRAATS
Better Business.
There is a renewed energy in Calgary’s downtown, and Calitso, a dynamic managed IT services provider with a staff of 30 employees, is excited to be part of it. With their recent move to Elveden Centre in the core, the company is well positioned to support Calgary businesses across all sectors. Calitso – a semi-acronym of Calgary IT Solutions – is proud to be a Calgary based company, founded, operated and staffed here in Calgary. Their service offering includes managed IT services, managed cyber security and managed backups, network design and implementation, large IT projects, remote work solutions and Office 365 and Microsoft Azure.
“We started nearly 10 years ago with the idea of bringing technology, customer service and business together. We are a managed service provider, meaning the organization’s IT function is outsourced whether that’s the entire IT portfolio or augmenting services with current inhouse employees,” says Brian Wickenberg, COO of Calitso. “Wherever Calgary business is, we are here to provide IT support, strategy and solutions.”
Calitso was founded on the idea that businesses need to incorporate technology into their operations, and have reliable and knowledgeable IT support and implementation in order to grow. Its founders, Brian Wickenberg and Nathan Orsten, have used their diverse backgrounds to create an IT solutions company that helps clients leverage technology in business to facilitate success.
“Brian’s operations and customer service background together with my technology background was the perfect fit for an IT services and solutions company in Calgary. Always doing what’s in the best interest of our customer translates to strong, long-term partnerships,” says Nathan Orsten, CTO of Calitso.
Nathan Orsten and Brian Wickenberg. Photo by Riverwood Photography. fessionally and expertly handled. Clients don’t have to worry about managing their ever-changing technology and IT needs, and with Calitso’s 24/7 support, partnerships with top manufacturers like Dell,
HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, Cisco/Meraki and Fortinet ensuring quality products, and best-in-class security, clients can focus on what they do best.
“We bring to the table more than just technology.
We bring unrivalled support, solutions and business acumen that factors into everything we do,” says Orsten.
Calitso’s dedicated IT professionals focus on customer service and creative solutions that integrate into all areas of clients’ businesses, proving that
Better IT does equal Better Business.
That partnership brings clients peace of mind and confidence that all aspects of their IT are being pro-
USask Opens Downtown Gathering Space in Calgary
While Calgary is proudly known for the ‘C of Red,’ you can expect to see more “Green and White” in the future.
With more than 10,000 alumni in Calgary and area and over 26,000 in Alberta, the University of Saskatchewan (USask) officially opened its Calgary Hub for alumni on March 7 at its new downtown location.
“Many of our alumni are community builders who have helped Calgary become a global leader in the energy sector,” says USask president Peter Stoicheff.
“It’s also important we are here in Calgary due to the significant amount of USask research that happens in the Calgary area and across Alberta,” he adds. “For instance, a number of our researchers tackling some of the world’s most challenging water security issues such as flooding and drought are based in Canmore. The hub is a way for us to show the Calgary community that we are addressing issues that matter to Western Canada and the world.”
Located in the heart of downtown on 3rd Avenue S.W., the USask Calgary Hub features meeting rooms and gathering areas, serving as a home base for regional alumni groups, a space for professional and educational opportunities, and a venue for events and other USask activities in Calgary. It will be used by members of the USask community including alumni, university leaders, faculty, staff, students, community stakeholders, and business partners.
Calgary is currently the only city outside of Saskatchewan where there is a dedicated USask community space like this. Stoicheff believes it is critical USask have a presence in one of Canada’s largest and fastest-growing cities.
“Calgary is home to USask’s largest alumni population outside of Saskatoon, and has long been a magnet for so many talented graduates of our many programs,” Stoicheff says.
USask chancellor Grit McCreath, a Calgary resident, says the Calgary Hub “provides a gateway for USask to deepen relationships with alumni and with the broader Calgary community through events, collaboration opportunities and space to work.” Calgary resident Tracey Jungwirth, who earned a USask bachelor of science degree in 1992, is a member of USask’s alumni advisory board and dedicated volunteer.
“This space keeps us engaged as alumni with the place where we got our start all those years ago,” says Jungwirth. “So many of my fellow alumni have gone on to accomplish incredible things, and to be able to stay connected to each other in Calgary is really special.”
Following her first degree at USask, Jungwirth obtained a master’s degree in metamorphic geology at the University of Calgary and has since worked as a professional geologist in data and technology roles for numerous companies in Alberta’s oil and gas industry.
Alumni are invited to stop by if they are looking to conduct business, connect with other alumni or simply get some work done. It will also be used as a gathering space for alumni to host events and for USask staff to conduct business with alumni stakeholders, corporations and agencies.
The innovative space includes an executive boardroom with seating for 12 and is equipped with an LCD display screen, video and teleconferencing capabilities, whiteboard and high-speed wireless internet access.
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J A TALKSEARTHDA Y Friday, April 22, 2022 marks the 52 annual global Earth Day celebration. With this year’s theme being “Invest in our Planet” , we at Junior Achievement couldn’t help but think about the symbiotic relationship between business and the environment, and the opportunity to harness potential, profit and preservation when these two critical aspects of life on earth are aligned.
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But what do students think? According to a new study by JA USA, 73% of our up-and-coming workforce also believe that industry innovation is required to correct climate change. They are craving conversations around sustainable growth, innovation and technology, and the role that they will be called to play as both business leaders and individual consumers.
At JA, we know that financial literacy education plays a major role in establishing financial stability in the future, which in turn enables intentional and environmentally mindful consumer purchasing decisions. We also believe that early entrepreneurial experiences prime young people to think about the world’s problems critically and differently, and that we owe these learning opportunities to our future leaders.
You can be a part of the progress! Join us as we celebrate Earth Day and continued prosperity by volunteering in a JA classroom. For more information and to register, scan the QR code.
By Brittney Wynnyk for JA Southern Alberta
MERCURY MESSENGER COURIERS DELIVER
by Rennay Craats
In a sea of couriers operating in the city, Mercury Messenger has worked hard to establish itself as a stand-out courier service for its clients. Owners Nancy and Sean Creagh know the business inside and out and use their experience and knowledge to benefit not only the clients but also the stable of drivers they contract for deliveries.
“We wanted to start a business where people weren’t taken advantage of,” she says. “We’re a team of couriers that started a business so we could help out other couriers so they were taken care of.”
Sean and Nancy spent years driving and working in the office of courier companies and they have seen it all. Dating back to the late 1980s, they earned their stripes in the business working for various courier companies and after a short stint with an outfit that fleeced couriers by pocketing an unfair percentage of the delivery rate, they knew they wanted to do things differently. In 1997, they set out to create a system that was profitable on the one hand and fair to the drivers on the other. The result was Affordable Delivery.
“We saw an opening that needed to be filled and we wanted to make it fair for everybody,” Nancy says, and they have succeeded in doing just that.
They were careful never to poach clients from previous employers and instead carved out a niche with Calgary flower shops. Nancy was soon delivering for 15 flower shop clients and within about six months her husband, Sean, left his full-time job to help build the company. The flower market started to wane and the Creaghs identified pharmaceutical deliveries as an expansion area worth exploring. Before long they were delivering for the company that supplied Sobeys and Co-op pharmacies and many independent pharmacies with their product and continued to work for them for 14 years until the company was bought out by McKesson. Affordable Delivery also delivered prescriptions from pharmacies to people’s homes and businesses including many care facilities. Today, the company picks up from an average of 35 pharmacies per day and delivers anywhere from Lethbridge to Brooks to Sundre.
“We’ve really grown in the past few years – business has ballooned for us. COVID-19 has doubled our business as more people have their drugs brought to their homes,” Sean says.
That ballooning growth started about five years ago when Affordable Delivery acquired Mercury Messenger. Mercury was owned by one of Sean and Nancy’s former bike couriers and friend Justin Gullickson and the owners supported each other over the years. After 15 years, Gullickson was looking for a change but it was important that his staff was taken care of. He knew the Creaghs would honour that condition so the two companies were blended into one operating as Mercury Messenger.
Nancy and Sean Creagh. Photo by Riverwood Photography.
Today, this independent courier company has grown to include 12 contract drivers who make deliveries across the city and beyond, and plans to add more drivers this spring. The online system offers clients an easy way to book deliveries and allows them to track packages in real time as well as manage their account and invoices. Mercury promises fast and efficient deliveries, going above and beyond to meet clients’ same day local needs or next-day delivery across Canada.
“We value our customers and we do our best to take good care of them,” Nancy says. “Our contractors are honest, polite and reliable.”
This is critical, especially given that the majority of Mercury Messenger’s work centres on pharmaceuticals. The couriers are handling expensive medications that have to be received on time, and Sean and Nancy take pride in their team’s dedication to exceeding clients’ expectations. Clients know their deliveries are in good hands, and Mercury offers more than just timely, reliable deliveries – they offer peace of mind.
“I’d bet we are the only company in the city that has insurance that pays for pharmaceuticals,” Sean says. “We have extra insurance of $50,000 per car, which we need because they can be carrying a lot of pharmaceuticals. And if it isn’t covered by insurance, I’ll pay for it. We stand by our people and should something happen, we’ll pay for it.”
Mercury Messenger has become a go-to courier for pharmacies and hospitals, but it is also growing its presence downtown. More and more, professionals and businesses downtown are putting Mercury on speed dial for quick deliveries, and Mercury is looking to attract more of that clientele, offering bike couriers to cover downtown for the quick deliveries needed by law office clients.
For 25 years, the Creaghs has worked to create a business that takes care of couriers while providing professionalism and top-notch service to clients, and on that, Mercury Messenger truly delivers.
Bow Valley College announced a new Women Pivoting in Tech bursary on International Women’s Day on March 8. The program is support by the Government of Alberta through a Ministry of Jobs, Economy and Innovation grant. The college receives $400,000 to fund the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) bursaries.
“Bow Valley College is extremely grateful to have the opportunity to support women pursuing a STEM education,” says Dr. Misheck Mwaba, president and CEO, Bow Valley College. “Our mission is to remove barriers to learning, and these bursaries will make a tremendous difference in helping women achieve their goals.”
The Women Pivoting in Tech bursary covers tuition but will also help offset other costs such as technology, childcare and basic expenses. It is hoped that easing financial pressures will reassure recipients that they can manage school.
“The day-to-day expenses are often what hold women back when they consider pursuing higher education,” says Lynn Connell, director of Student Services, and registrar, Bow Valley College. “Making that rent payment, buying that bus pass and hiring a babysitter are all considerations for them. These bursaries will lift some of their financial worries so they can concentrate on classes.”
The Women Pivoting in Tech bursaries will be open for all female-identifying students to apply, including those looking for a mid-career change, Indigenous students and newcomers. Bow Valley College diploma and post-diploma programs in STEM will help fill in-demand tech jobs in fields such as cybersecurity, cloud computing, information technology services and software development.
“Women are underrepresented in these professions, and Bow Valley College is elated to give them the opportunity to demonstrate they can excel in STEM disciplines,” says Alison Anderson, dean of Business, Technology and the Bow Valley College Centre for Entertainment Arts.
Many Bow Valley College instructors are women who have worked in STEM. They will be valuable mentors to the recipients of these bursaries and hope to keep the momentum going for more exceptional women.
“Bow Valley College is proud to contribute to advancing gender equality,” says Dr. Mwaba. “We will do so by reskilling and upskilling talented women in contemporary STEM programs that will see them graduate quickly and work in their desired field faster.”
About Bow Valley College
Calgary and region’s largest Comprehensive Community College – with 14,000 full- and part-time students, Bow Valley College helps Open Doors – Open Minds to in-demand jobs in Calgary, Alberta and Canada. Our graduates contribute to the digital economy, TV & film production, and serve on the frontlines for healthcare and social programs. One of Canada’s top 50 research colleges, Bow Valley College invests in virtual reality (VR), Work Integrated Learning (WIL), micro-credentials and foundational opportunities. bowvalleycollege.ca.
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TOP: DR. MISHECK MWABA, PRESIDENT AND CEO, BOW VALLEY COLLEGE. BOTTOM: ALISON ANDERSON, DEAN OF BUSINESS, TECHNOLOGY AND THE BOW VALLEY COLLEGE CENTRE FOR ENTERTAINMENT ARTS.
