published by ZX Media Corporation
COMMUNITY NOW! MAGAZINE
Volume 1 Issue 1 • Aug 2018
WE
AT BANBURY CROSSROADS TREASURE CHILDREN AS RESPECTED INDIVIDUALS, AND MEET THEIR DIVERSE NEEDS WITHIN A SAFE, FAMILIAL SETTING. WE ARE PASSIONATELY COMMITTED TO INCORPORATING INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL METHODS THAT FOSTER INTRINSIC MOTIVATION, LEARNING TO MASTERY, SELF-RESPONSIBILITY AND SOCIAL COMPETENCE.
2 // Community Now!
CONTENTS About: Community Now! Magazine 4
INNOVATION
The Importance of Nonprofit Organizations in our Communities 27
Creativity is about doing things different Innovation is about doing things better 6
BUSINESS
EDUCATION
PROF-IT: Opportunity Identification 31
Introducing: The Heloise Lorimer STEAM TEAM 10 Why We Need to Talk about Education 15
COMMUNITY An Example of How One Person Changed, Empowered & Inspired Their Community 20 Rainforest Alberta: A Grass Roots Movement Focused on Diversifying the Alberta Economy 22
What’s Possible with Sophia Fairweather 30
Krista Malden
Editor in Chief
Kenzie Webber
Master Creator
Josh Clark
Marketing Guru
CONTRIBUTORS Stacy Richter
Zanika Malden
Scott Pickard
Sandra Malach
Tracy Beairsto
Diane Swiatek
Business Innovation and the Infancy of Technology 33
Jill Quirk
Shawn Gravel
Sophia Fairweather
Peter Lafontaine
Taming the Tiger 37
Adette Lacerte
COMMUNITY NOW! CORNER
Special “Thank You” to Cardel Accounting
Featuring : Shawn Gravel Engineer To Ice Cream Maker And Entrepreneur 39
Cover photo: Nicolas Ladino Silva on Unsplash
Thank You to the Community 42
Our Mission:
Copyright 2018 ZX Media Corpoartion, Calgary Alberta Canada Community Now! Magazine Copyright 2018, published by ZX Media Corporation. Volume 1 Issue 1 All rights reserved. This magazine or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher or writers.
Promoting curiosity, communication and engagement in making Calgary a stronger and better place to live, to be educated, do business, promote innovation and community celebration. Community Now! \\ 3
About:
COMMUNITY NOW! gazine!
This isn’t just a ma
This is an opportunity to connect with community on various levels, explore innovation and how innovation is driving our community, while celebrating community! Producing 10 issues a year online and celebrating community 4 times a year. Community Now! Passion, creativity, storytelling, and innovation driven by community.
The Main Pillars COMMUNITY
INNOVATION
will feature community organizations from around the city and province with a focus on Mental Health, Youth & Education.
will feature stories highlighting innovation that touches on all aspects of daily life in and around Calgary.
4 // Community Now!
ABOUT COMMUNITY, FOR COMMUNITY, BY COMMUNITY. Sign up today to receive your free online issue 10 times a year, along with invites to events! publisher@communitynowmagazine.com
EDUCATION will feature educators and their philosophies, activities and impact on the students they teach. Students will share stories of their achievements and community impact.
BUSINESS will highlight careers in the worlds of sports, music, arts, education, technology, social enterprise and entrepreneurship with a common theme as to how these worlds build and impact our interconnected community.
Community Now! \\ 5
INNOVATION
by Stacy Richter Chief Marketing Officer, Oro Services Inc.
MOST DO NOT THINK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CREATIVE VERSUS BEING INNOVATIVE. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE, THOUGH THERE CAN BE A LOT OF OVERLAP.
6 // Community Now!
Creativity can be doing anything that seems to be original. We most often link creativity with artists, musicians and designers of all sorts. Picasso creates a beautiful painting and it is creative because no one has ever done exactly what he has done before. Sebastian Bach composes an incredible symphony or Donna Karan (DKNY) designs a new clothing line and both are creative. Creativity then, seems to be a matter of preference. Two people may look at the Mona Lisa and one may view it as creative while the other may just see another portrait. The differing opinions about the same artwork rely on what that person believes to be creative. Creativity and innovation are used as substitutes for each other. Innovation is about doing things a better way and sometimes that takes creativity. It doesn’t always. Companies
like Apple, Tesla, Netflix and Amazon probably come to mind when you think about some of the most innovative companies you know. All have become global giants for the approach they took to innovating in their industries. They made them better in some way. Each company has innovated in ways that either made peoples’ lives more enjoyable, improved environmental performance, made entertainment more available or brought more buyers and sellers together from around the world. Each of their innovations sparked a change. Each change serves to benefit someone in some way. The bigger the change, the more people who benefit and the more ways from which they can benefit, the bigger the innovation.
Innovation \\ 7
(continued from page 7...)
The Growth Rate of Innovation When you pay attention long enough, you will start to see trends re-emerge. For example, I was a young University student who witnessed the birth of the Internet. During my first year, email could only be sent to people at the same school and web pages were strictly black & white text. Here we are today performing powerful software processing on a smartphone that fits into most pockets. This rate of growth sparks the conversation about how fast innovation is growing To put this in perspective, it took 75 years for the telephone to reach 50 million users while it only took the radio 38 years. The Internet only needed 4 years to reach 50 million users and the world famous Angry Birds reached 50 million in just 35 days. The innovation behind the growth of these tools can be somewhat explained by Moore’s Law. The basic law suggests that our computing power will double every 18 months. This is especially true when compared to relative size and cost of our new technology. The computing power that now sits in the palm of our hands took entire floors of tape driven data machines to process. At this rate of innovation growth, the world will be in a very different place in the next 18 months. This rate of change will be very disruptive and most industries will be affected.
Creativity + Innovation This is a world where creativity and innovation feed on each other. Not every creative idea is innovative nor is every innovation creative. The intersection of the two is where magic happens. Exponential change happens where creativity meets innovation. Industries like financial services, transportation and energy are just beginning to see major disruption from technologies like blockchain, cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence. The only limit to the technologies we will witness in our lifetime is our own imagination.
8 // Community Now!
M A CREATIVITY G INNOVATION I C
DEFINITION OF MOORE’S LAW : an axiom of microprocessor development usually holding that processing power doubles about every 18 months especially relative to cost or size www.merriam-webster.com
Innovation \\ 9
EDUCATION Introducing:
The Heloise Lorimer STEAM TEAM
By STEAM TEAM coach Mrs. Jill Quirk
W
hen I teach, I need to find ways to challenge myself to be better by learning & by doing. I like to think of myself always as the learner. In 2004, when I did my teaching degree in Australia, I was told by one of my teaching mentors that “if you lose your passion to teach, don’t teach.” Teaching in different countries with various curriculum, no matter what, I try to infuse a passion into whatever I do. Hands down this passion always seems to come from the students I meet or the teachers I teach with, and now this also includes my STEAM TEAM members!
10 // Community Now!
In the summer of 2016 I spent a summer at the Telus Spark Shift Lab. Telus Spark Shift Lab is a weeklong Professional Development (PD) program that helps teachers to shift their practice by becoming learners with the students. We learned about Design Thinking; teaching where the problem is the guide for the learning. Design Thinking is cyclical, very much like the Engineering Cycle. A problem starts the cycle, then the learners inquire into the problem through research and interviews. Prototypes are made and tested, and the learners communicate to a group about their prototype, these learners are called critical friends who will give the prototype constructive feedback. The best part of this cycle is that it can repeat to make the learners improve on their design. This week-long PD helped me to inquire into new ways for students to learn the art of “doing” and to teach students to be the pilots of their own thinking and learning. It taught me words like Ideation, where you brainstorm all kinds of ideas. It also gave me the opportunity to meet new people and explore the endless possibilities within education. Design Thinking is about the thinking behind the materials you provide for students to tinker and explain themselves through a unique creative outlet.
Picture of teachers learning through doing at TELUS SPARK SHIFT LAB.
1
2
(continued on next page)
[1] Design Challenge: Make something that explains the conflict in the story you read. (Wizard of Oz). [2] Make something with the materials given. [3] Can you create something new using the electrical components and a stuffy?
3 Education \\ 11
(continued from page 11...)
1
2
3 [1] (Left to Right). Grade 3 STEAM TEAM members (from left to right Yasmin, Alex and Maddie) explaining to the Rocky View Board of Trustees about why we need more STEAM education opportunities for girls (January 2017).
[2] Feb. 2017 Design Challenge: Can you create a sled and a ramp that will move your toy the farthest? [3] STEAM TEAM 12 // Community Now!
I was hired in September 2016 to open a new K-8 school, called Heloise Lorimer School. Rocky View School District has so many opportunities to allow teachers to learn in unique ways and deliver 21st Century skills, especially with the help of a Rocky View Design Team. One focus of Rocky View School District is to promote more girls pursuing skills in technology. In November 2016, Design Team technology specialists had an idea to have a day to encourage girls to explore technology and understand the careers associated with the technology. This was a unique professional development that allowed for teachers and students to come together and think of ways to encourage girls to lead technology “clubs” in schools. Little did we know that this PD day was the start of something great. It was the day we created the idea behind the Heloise Lorimer STEAM TEAM, and we got a lot more then we bargained for. By January 2018, the STEAM TEAM was running Design Challenges for the whole school, allowing for unique opportunities of computational thinking and teaching students and teachers new ways to approach learning. This small group of approximately 15 girls from Grades 3-5 started a STEAM program for our school. These girls came up with the idea of creating Design Challenges where students come into the STEAM lab to participate. Students gave out
IN
D U CI N O R T G
M AKE R LAB 4
Discover the fun in science, technology, and engineering!
5 [4-5] In the fall of 2017, the STEAM TEAM presented at Telus Spark. The girls demonstrated how they conduct a Design Challenge at our school.
“STEAM AWARDS” for the most unique design ideas. One of their first challenges was the Sled Challenge where students had to create a ramp that will help your toy person to be carried by their “sled” the farthest distance. Students who participated had to think about incline, speed and distance. As we head into the new school year, I am excited to be apart of learning, challenging and watching the students expand their knowledge and creativity. Stay tuned throughout the school year to watch the STEAM Team as they join Community Now! Magazine to share their design challenges and accomplishments with the community! The integration of technology is what makes these challenges so interesting. Students explore possibilities adding robots using coding to help solve a problem. (continued on next page)
Coming in
September 2018!
1
2
STEAM in the community - [1-2] Four STEAM TEAM members had the opportunity to participate in a Calgary STEAM competition at Rundle College.
(continued from page 13...)
[4] Rundle College STEAM competition
STEAM and Indigenous Ways of Knowing [3]
3
One of the most important Design Challenges the STEAM TEAM did this year was trying to incorporate Indigenous Ways of Knowing into a Design Challenge; Can you create an animal that represents the unique qualities that you have? We used the book “Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox”, the Never Alone App and used Virtual Reality helped students to understand connections indigenous have with the natural world. STEAM TEAM year end finale [5]
4
5 14 // Community Now!
What happens when you incorporate drumming, chemistry, science of sound, and tie dye? You get a STEAM drumming finale! The STEAM TEAM wanted to end the year with a bang. The STEAM TEAM wanted to have the show in total darkness – however, that proved to be difficult without adequate tools. The STEAM finale was a way to show how STEAM is everywhere in our world. By the end of the year, the STEAM TEAM has grown to almost 50 members. I look forward to seeing how we will continue to grow and inspire each other.
Why We Need to Talk About Education Diane Swiatek, Founder of Banbury Crossroads School
A
ny perennial challenge needs perpetual discussion, and it usually gets it. Even if we feel largely helpless to impact the situation, we still discuss it. The weather is a great example of this sort of challenge. We engage in discussions about the weather eagerly, even if we have to acknowledge that these discussions merely function as a social bonding agent, due to our commonality in experiencing nature’s elements. When a perennial challenge is one that we have the potential for impacting the course and state of it, then usually discussion is even more eagerly sought, in more depth, for longer durations of time, and even with passion. Every news topic that hits the press or the internet, global and local, matters to some people, and every day we hear about, or see, issues that need to be addressed. We discuss them, and then each of us, in our own personal way, responds to the issues within our own lives.
When it comes to some perennial issues, though, people seem to accept that the matter is already decided and sewn up, so to speak. Then, they go about their own personal business, and leave the matter up to others. Yet, there will always be some individuals prone to deeper analysis, and they tend to regularly pipe up that certain issues need to be discussed, so that they can be dealt with differently. Politics, for example, and the natural and urban environment, contain thousands of such perennial issues. It doesn’t matter whether we have delegated these challenges to other people: we still end up hearing about a variety of them every day, anyway. Education is another one of these topics. Our challenge is certainly perennial— Education \\ 15
children. No matter the season, they are
to be maintained. However, just as for any
blooming and growing and needing both
other facet of 21st Century living, discussion
nurturance and sustenance. We all move into
and experimentation, research, and creative
(at birth) and out of (at 18, technically) this
problem solving needs to be done on the
state of childhood. Education deals with the
topic of education. We all expect this in the
process that happens throughout this time
fields of technology, medicine, architecture,
period when children learn about the world
agriculture, ecology, physics and astronomy,
around them and the world inside them. It
chemistry, music, nutrition and the culinary
is truly a “leading out” sort of process. The
arts, sport and fitness, communication,
world in the 21st Century is exceedingly
dentistry, factory processes, any of the
complex and multifaceted. The only simple
practical trades, automobile and airplane
thing to state is that children have a lot to
design—really, almost every other aspect
learn. Not only are there millions of discrete
of our lives. It has been widely debated
bits of information to digest, or at least to
whether progress is happening across the
become familiar with, but there are also all
globe and across cultures in an absolute
sorts of skills and attitudes to develop in
sense. Nevertheless, it seems like a good idea
order to grow comfortably into adulthood.
for each human being to make the attempt to
Children need to learn how to encounter
create a better, more knowledgeable, humane
new information openly, think logically and
and functionally supportable world with the
morally, make reasonable decisions, take care
time and resources we are each allotted in
of themselves physically and nutritionally,
our lifetimes.
solve problems and express themselves creatively, engage with others constructively and caringly, become resilient, and manage themselves emotionally. This is actually a lot to put on the plate of children. They need help… from mentoring adults.
Moreover, our children deserve to receive the results of such progressive conversations. Throughout history, children have been vulnerable to the attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge of their adult caregivers. Given that many facets of a culture contribute
Yet, this is a topic whose very complexity
to how children are raised, it is, indeed, a
seems to lead people into complacency—it
complicated and interrelated endeavour to
is far easier to think that the experts have
guide them through their childhood, while
figured it all out, and that they should know,
also preparing them for their adulthood. This
by now, what to do with our children in
is a difficult challenge, to say the least. These
order to produce such amazing, yet expected,
equally important aspects of child rearing lead
results. It is a topic that seems to imply
us to exposing them to new and fascinating
that no change is necessary—or else, that if
information about the world around them,
something isn’t working quite favorably, to
while protecting them from certain elements
imply that the only change necessary is to
of that very same world that could prove
“go back to the basics”…which means, back
dysfunctional to their overall health. We
to the way people had figured it out in the
need conversation to enable all adults who
past. It is very true that our contemporary
participate in this communal effort to receive
western
is
constantly evolving facts about the biological
founded upon many educational practices
roots of child development, and how learning
from the past, and that many of them ought
occurs in the human brain. It is helpful for
system
of
16 // Community Now!
mass
education
adult mentors to be aware of the means
Change does happen, anyway, in education as
by which children satisfy their physical,
well as in any other aspect of life. We may not
intellectual, creative, emotional and social
be able to make absolute plans, because we all
needs. To temper our expectations, it is also
know that the future is impossible to predict,
crucial to understand the role of genetics and
and as individuals, we are not in control of
environment in the growth of individuals. In
everything. Nevertheless, we are in control
other words, we need to discuss educational
of ourselves, and we would be wise to think
ideas to make sure that we are knowledgeable
about what we want, both because there is
about our options for raising children, including the potential consequences of each option. The ultimate goal for our youth is
“
power in working together, and also because the road we go down to prepare young people for the future will inexorably lead us
Children need to learn how to encounter new
information openly, think logically and morally, make reasonable decisions, take care of themselves physically and nutritionally...
that they learn to think for themselves, to manage themselves, and to make appropriate autonomous decisions that respect themselves and others. They need practice to become good citizens. We also need to discuss educational topics, in order to pursue our own understanding of communication strategies and relational skills. We need to develop our own emotional and social intelligence, for we are primary role models of respect, empathy, flexibility and responsiveness to others. We have enormous influence upon children. How they are raised will be absolutely evident in who they are becoming. If we are trustworthy mentors, they can learn to trust in themselves, in others, and in the possibilities of the world that they enter as adults. They can be empowered to view life from an internal locus of control. They may even achieve momentary episodes of peace of mind and happiness, which is the only way
”
to the end of that road. The exciting thing is that, if we continually adjust our practices, by engaging in constant discussion, we will be able to keep up with that future, day by day. As a matter of fact, the process of education continues all our lives, so the topic of education actually branches far beyond the stage of childhood that we have been talking about. The future belongs to all of us, and that is where our agency lies. Education will become what we make of it. We had better discuss what children really need, and what adults really want. Perpetual discussion is simply part of our constant search for finesse in skill development and knowledge acquisition. We can’t seem to help wanting to improve our lives. Perhaps human progress is occurring under our noses, because in the end, we discuss education for the sake of our children and for the future of humanity.
they occur. Education \\ 17
COMMUNITY
18 // Community Now!
COMMUNITY: A community is a small or large social unit (a group of living things) that has something in common, such as norms, religion, values, or identity. Communities often share a sense of place that is situated in a given geographical area (e.g. a country, village, town, or neighborhood) or in virtual space through communication platforms. Durable relations that extend beyond immediate genealogical ties also define a sense of community. People tend to define those social ties as important to their identity, practice, and roles in social institutions (such as family, home, work, government, society, or humanity at-large).[1][need quotation to verify] [2] Although communities are usually small relative to personal social ties (micro-level), "community" may also refer to large group affiliations (or macro-level), such as national communities, international communities, and virtual communities.[3]
ECOSYSTEM: An ecosystem is a community made up of living organisms and nonliving components such as air, water, and mineral soil.[3] Ecosystems can be studied in two different ways. They can be thought of as interdependent collections of plants and animals, or as structured systems and communities governed by general rules.[4] The living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) components interact through nutrient cycles and energy flows.[5] Ecosystems include interactions among organisms, and between organisms and their environment.[6] Ecosystems can be of any size but each ecosystem has a specific, limited space.[7] Some scientists view the entire planet as one ecosystem.[8]
VILLAGE: A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town, with a population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighborhoods. Villages are normally permanent, with fixed dwellings; however, transient villages can occur. Further, the dwellings of a village are fairly close to one another, not scattered broadly over the landscape, as a dispersed settlement.
*definitions courtesy of https://en.wikipedia.org
Community \\ 19
An Example of How One Person Changed, Empowered & Inspired Their Community Manmeet Singh Bhullar (March 1, 1980 – November 23, 2015) ; Canadian politician
by Krista Malden
M
anmeet Singh Bhullar’s values and beliefs drove his passion for building a stronger community. Bhullar was elected to government as the MLA for Calgary Greenway in 2008 and served as Cabinet Minister from 2011 until 2015. Bhullar was appointed to the position of Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Advanced Education and Technology on March 12, 2008, making him the youngest politician at 28 years of age, to serve as a parliamentary assistant or secretary in Canada at that time. He went on to serve as Minister of Service Alberta, Human Services and Infrastructure.
With breaking hearts the community lost a great leader on November 23, 2015. Bhullar had stopped on the side of the road in bad weather between Calgary and Edmonton to assist someone when he was struck by a semi truck.
Bhullar was a recipient of the Alberta Centennial Medal, the Centennial Medallion, and the Athabasca University Leadership Award because of his work in the community. Bhullar was the founder of a youth organization called “Inspire”, co-ordinated the Walking Hunger Away campaign in Calgary and led a team of volunteers to raise money on behalf of the Calgary Health Region.
The Manmeet Singh Bhullar School opened on Aug. 15 2017. The school was named after Bhullar because of the passion he brought to the community and because he was always an advocate for Alberta children and families.
20 // Community Now!
Bhullar’s passion for community continues to this day and will continue to be carried on throughout many generations.
With a tag line: “Every student, every day, no exceptions!” Bhullar would have been proud because this is a line Bhullar lived by. In High
“
Every student,
every day, no exceptions! School he thrived as a student, a peer, a football player and started his political journey leading the High School political party NWO to victory! Every student, every day, no exception: Bhullar taught others to appreciate the entire community, he never left anyone behind, he pushed others to inspire and he always helped whenever and wherever he could. Bhullar led by example! Jasjeet S. Ajimal, who is a volunteer for The Manmeet Signh Bhullar Foundation is currently working on a project Bhullar started in 2015 called the Save Afghan Minority project. This project was started in the hopes of helping find safe homes for displaced Afghan Sikhs and Hindus. “Manmeet started this work in 2015 with the belief that Tarjinder Bhullar; one of the foundations leaders articulates very well. She states “They [Afghan Sikh’s and Hindu’s] weren’t family, they weren’t his friends, not even his colleagues, but the Afghans belonged to his global community and his community of faith in which the prosperity and peace of all is a defining principle.” “ stated Ajimal.
”
learning and observing how Manmeet served the community. I am also privileged to have an opportunity to use the skills I learned from him and continue this project today. I am only one of many who continue to contribute to the Manmeet Singh Bhullar Foundation Save Afghan Minorities project. Countless others spend far more time then I do. I envy their passion and hope to one day have their energy and skill set to give even more of myself to better humanity.” To learn more about the Manmeet Bhullar Foundation or the Save Afghan Minority Project please go to http://saveafghanminorities.ca/ news/overview Bhullar was a great leader who always shared his knowledge with the community, listened and was always looking for more ways to make the community stronger and united. We should follow in his footsteps.
Jasjeet Ajimal, who worked with Manmeet and now leads the Save Afghan Project says “ I continue to work on the project because it’s the right thing to do. I was privileged to spend a lot of time Community \\ 21
Rainforest Alberta: A Grass Roots Movement Focused on Diversifying the Alberta Economy This province might just need an attitude adjustment! Peter Lafontaine Social Good Interloper. Rainforest Alberta, Host of LWOL www.rainforestab.ca
22 // Community Now!
M
any people in the private sector and government have become painfully aware that if Alberta continues its dependence on energy commodity pricing this province’s economic resilience and vibrancy is at risk. When energy commodity prices drop, it affects almost every aspect of daily life, including jobs, careers, capital projects, schools, hospitals, and housing. It also drives us all further into debt as governments vainly try to predict provincial revenues. The Rainforest movement has been created to do something about these challenges! Just to set things straight, the Rainforest is an analogy. This is not an environment ecology group. It is a social economic ecosystem. Just like the Amazon Rainforest, an innovation ecosystem has all the ingredients, pieces and parts working together to create a thriving, growing, adapting, resilient system. The movement is based on a book that breaks down the very innovative Silicon Valley into a set of actors, processes, resources and attitude. (The book: The Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley, by Greg Horowitt and Victor W. Hwang) Rainforest Alberta is a critically important, rapidly growing, private sector collaborative with over 1500 members focused on diversifying the province’s economy by building a vibrant innovation ecosystem. Its goals are to create: • Great, resilient cities with strong social and innovation fabrics as a way of our future. • The development of these cities so as to present significant economic and competitive advantages to all citizens. • A resilient economic and healthy future for all Albertans including a vibrant growing middle class and engaged citizens. (continued on next page) Community \\ 23
(continued from page 23...)
Models, Resources, Policy & Frameworks. Measurement ensures that we are committed to keeping our focus on where we want to be by knowing where we have been and where we are now.
The Rainforest Alberta collaborative is a passionate, diversified, purpose-driven group of investors, successful entrepreneurs, new entrepreneurs, equity dealers, bankers, technology specialists, business strategists, technology strategists, inventors, charities, educators, students, physicians, accountants, fabricators, manufacturers and researchers. 95% of participants are based in the private sector, and while government groups participate, they do not direct Rainforest Alberta. The Rainforest Innovation scope encompasses technical innovation platforms, tools and processes including: software, hardware, chemistry, physics, molecular and life science. The scope includes industries and sectors such as: Environment, Energy, Education, Housing, Agriculture, Transportation, Poverty, Indigenous, Mental and Physical Health, Water, Waste, Food, City Life, Homelessness, Safety, Crime, Music, Arts and Culture. The movement measures Itself and the ecosystem with six metrics. Culture, Leadership, Activities & Engagement, Roles
24 // Community Now!
Partners: Rainforest has attracted many private and public groups. To name a few: CDL (Creative Destruction Lab), Zinc Ventures, Calgary Foundation, Data for Good, Mount Royal College, Bow Valley College, Zelos Capital, Tundra Energy Solutions, Zedi Corporation, Telus Spark Science Centre, Children’s Hospital Research, Mental Health Association, A100, Start Up Calgary, Chic Geek, COSIA (Canadian Oil Sands Innovation Alliance), Hindle Architects, STEM Learning Lab, Rocky Mountain Trapeze, Alberta Bike Swap, Social Venture Partners, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation, Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and many more. Politics: The movement leaders recognize that this effort must last longer than a 4-year elected term. This isn’t a left or right political initiative. It is focused on what is right for building stronger communities, a vibrant growing robust middle class and a broader base of businesses. We are working to have our province become known for innovation and technology, as well as for being a fantastic place to invest, do business, and grow families in safe, prosperous and dynamic communities. Your Invitation: Rainforest Alberta meets every Wednesday for LWOL, Lunch With-Out Lunch in Edmonton and in Calgary. If you are interested, register for a LWOL meeting, come out and be our guest.
26 // Community Now!
The Importance of
Nonprofit Organizations
in our Communities By Tracy Beairsto
N
onprofit organizations are formed to provide public service without the expectation of profits to be distributed to its owners (shareholders). Some examples of nonprofits in our communities include: informal associations (such as a neighborhood community association), societies (such as the Canadian Society for Professional Engineering), local churches, museums, labor unions, hospitals, universities, as well as registered charities. Nonprofits are private organizations, separate from government, which are selfgoverning (i.e. have their own boards of directors and other fiduciary committees) and while they can be allowed to generate profits through their activities, all profit must be used to support the operation of the organization. Nonprofits also have as a common characteristic, volunteers – whether these volunteers serve on the board of directors or in helping with daily operations, these volunteer activities are usually vital to the operations of the nonprofit and to the clients that the nonprofits serve. For example, it can be argued that one of the greatest assets of
the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics was the contributions to the success of these Games by its volunteer base. Nonprofits contribute critical services to our community – helping populations in distress, or those going through social and/ or personal challenges; or allowing people with common interests to come together to work towards common goals, such as providing educational opportunities through conferences, seminars, networking and other such congenial association. The Calgary Chamber of Commerce, for example, exists to help make businesses more successful, while the Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations does the same for nonprofits. Both are nonprofit organizations. These organizations understand the needs of the community they serve, as they work at the day-to-day grass roots level of our society with the people who are the beneficiaries of their products and services. Sometimes, they provide services that fill gaps where needed to continue to care for certain populations – for example, The Doorway works with youth who, after (continued on next page)
Community \\ 27
(continued from page 27...) the age of 18, fall outside of social services provided to help kids who are no longer part of mainstream society and who live on the streets – many social programs have age limits regarding qualification for assistance. Nonprofits such as this often act as the voice of the people they serve. Many of these organizations work together in partnership and collaboration to ensure more efficient use of their resources (known as capacity). Nonprofits are being asked to do more with less, as needs grow and other resources (such as the government) find it difficult to meet growing demands for social services. Oftentimes, nonprofits and forprofits will also work together, as corporations will help to fund certain initiatives that also help to meet their community goals. These partnerships enrich our communities with broader perspectives and greater abilities to not just meet service demands, but also provide innovation in how programs are designed, provided, measured and improved. The challenges of nonprofits are the same as those of for-profit businesses – both need skilled workers in various capacities in their organizations in order to be successful. They both need funding and investment (whether that is through share purchases in the case of for-profits, or sponsorships and donations, in the case of nonprofits, or in the case of both, the sales of products and services). They both need good governance, strategic operational plans that help guide the organization in the short-term as well as the long-term, and the ability to innovate and change along with changes in the needs of their communities. Nonprofits contribute to the economic and social stability of our community, as well as 28 // Community Now!
the mobility of its labor (e.g. The Immigrant Access Fund will provide microloans to help immigrants with professional backgrounds – doctors, accountants, engineers, etc. - achieve professional standing in their new communities). A vibrant community requires the greater participation of its citizens in the life of that community – from business and social enterprise, to arts, sports, music, education, health and well-being, safety and group support – nonprofits provide the organizational infrastructure so necessary to strengthen the members of our community and the community as a whole. We all benefit from their work, whether we are on the giving or the receiving end of the work that they do. My challenge to you is for you to find a local nonprofit that fits with a passion, cause or concern in your life – volunteer your time, provide a financial donation, be hired by or promote where you can a charity or nonprofit organization that speaks to you and your dream of what your community can be. By joining their community, you are helping to build a stronger one for us all! Next time: The many ways you can invest in your community
Made by Mo mma k nows. ..
SOMETIMES MOMS ARE THE ONES WHO NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.
H e lp ma ke s ur e t ha t ever y m o m ha s th e su p po r t t ha t s he needs. M a de B yM o m ma. o r g
but it also made my legs tired and it didn't really feel like a business to me. So, my dad said
BUSINESS
“Well if you don't like this then what do you like?’’ After being in school for a year, I knew what I liked - art.My dad said
“Find something ugly and make it pretty.” So, I found velcro. I told my dad that it's ugly
and prickly and my dad said “Now you can find a way to change that.” SO I DID! I wanted more products but my dad said you have
WHAT'S POSSIBLE with Sophia Fairweather
to get used to your first product, so we spent time developing and branding my funcro to Chinese manufacturers. After two years of that, My name is Sophia. I love STEM,
I told my dad that I wanted more products engineering especially, and I love
and he said “Okay, find a problem and
being creative! Ever since I was 5 and 6 I have been
then solve it.” in business. interested
One by one I made every product that I have. My most recentwith project is mybusiness air quality I started a cookie andsensor did notsystem. enjoy it really, because it tired out my legs and it used my play time. So, I started a coffee business, What'supPossible? but itthere also made my legs tired and it didn't really remember is always something feel like aabusiness to at. me. So, my dad said you can make difference “Well if you don't like this then what do you like?’’ After being in school for a year,
WHAT'S POSSIBLE with Sophia Fairweather My name is Sophia. I love STEM, engineering especially, and I love being creative! Ever since I was 5 and 6 I have been interested in business. I started with a cookie business and did not enjoy it really, because it tired out my legs and it used up my play time. So, I started a coffee business, but it also made my legs tired and it didn't really feel like a business to me. So, my dad said “Well if you don't like this then what do you like?’’ After being in school for a year, I knew what I liked - art.My dad said “Find something ugly and make it pretty.” So, I found velcro. I told my dad that it's ugly and prickly and my dad said “Now you can find a way to change that.” SO I DID! I wanted more products but my dad said you have
I knew what I liked - art.My dad said “Find something ugly and make it pretty.” So, I found velcro. I told my dad that it's ugly and prickly and my dad said “Now you can find a way to change that.” SO I DID! I wanted more products but my dad said you have to get used to your first product, so we spent time developing and branding my funcro to Chinese manufacturers. After two years of that, I told my dad that I wanted more products and he said “Okay, find a problem and then solve it.” One by one I made every product that I have. My most recent project is my air quality sensor system.
What's Possible? remember there is always something you can make a difference at.
PROF-IT:
Opportunity Identification
By Sandra Malach, Sr. Instructor, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary
M
y friends and I have had interesting and innovative ideas for new businesses – most of us have thought of million-dollar ideas when chatting with our friends. This raises the question: Is this a great Business Opportunity or just an Idea? When I think of taking the idea further I like to start with this definition of a business opportunity: “A great Business Opportunity is a Product or Service that is a Real Solution to a Real Problem.” There are two important elements in the definition. A Real Problem must exist, not just an aggravation. For example, when talking about why we don’t like going to the shopping mall we get aggravated by people mindlessly wandering around and the difficulty in finding a particular store. When I put these into the context of the definition I realize that other people’s behavior is an aggravation, not a problem but finding a store is a real problem. Google maps will get us to the mall only to be confronted by a monstrous, intimidating labyrinth of stores. The Second part of the definition is that the Opportunity must be a Real Solution. The solution may be a Lost Shopper App that guides lost customers to the store. We recognize problems that arise continually in our lives – whether it be at work, home or play. Continual exposure to a problem and that provides a motivation for us to solve it! Here are a few examples. Today I had lunch at Ben’s Diner where each table had a small
three-button console to contact the server to place an order, order dessert or pay the bill. This problem may have been identified by a server who wanted to provide better, timely service if there was an easy way to be notified that the customer required attention resulting in the development of a simple solution to improve everyone’s dining experience. Some of our neighbourhood kids made a lot of money selling lemonade for $1/glass (not 25 cents) to people walking home from work up a big hill on hot, summer days. The lemonade sure quenched everyone’s thirst! Mike Douglas, the “godfather of free skiing” thought it would be fun to ski backwards but it didn’t work out on traditional skis, so he invented the twin tip ski! If you want to try to think of some business opportunities here’s something to do with a group of friends (or on your own). Brainstorm about 10 problems associated with your work, hobbies or life. Then try to devise real solutions that can realistically be developed. If you can’t think of a real solution maybe there’s no opportunity – that’s ok – soon you’ll think of A GREAT OPPORTUNITY THAT IS A REAL SOLUTION TO A REAL PROBLEM! Business \\ 31
by Scott Pcikard
32 // Community Now!
O
nce upon a time there was a vision that the average person would have a portable phone to carry anywhere they went that untethered them from the dependable home phone (do you even remember the rotary phone….
click, click, click, click?) No longer would we be tied to our house to receive a call or get the proverbial busy signal when someone was talking at nauseum. The portable phone was from a Jetson’s episode, if you go back that far. How many people would admit that they saw this trend coming back in the eighties?
Would ever want the portable phone back then? As a first progression, the portable phone was connected in a vehicle with a clunky roof antenna and a black leather case to carry all the attachments. If you were really lucky, you had the long black spiral cord connected to the seven-pound Motorola mobile beast. This was a ‘rich person’ luxury that many assumed was unattainable. This ‘portable phone’ concept came to realization in the early 1990’s – not that long ago. As technology innovation grew, the more manageable the size of a phone became. In 2000, it was still the vision to have phone, email and internet on the same device. Although there were some early phones in the market, there was nothing main stream. Fast forward eighteen years, and imagine what you would do without your smart device, or in many cases, devices? Technology innovation is in its infancy. Innovation impact in the business community is only starting to develop. Does your business have a plan to adapt in the local area, across Canada or globally? Has the inundation of mobile applications, videos and social media
affected your business? Your life? In a positive or negative way? Many articles, and books for that matter, have been written on the impact innovation has had on business and there is little point recanting everything. Arguably, the three most impactful areas of innovation have been the introduction of mobile commerce, video technology and social media in the large-scale sense. One could add cloud computing to all of this, but that is an underpinning and driver of overall innovation. Mobile applications have enabled companies, large and small, to leverage efficiencies and economies of scale. Small hardwood floor installers can now manage jobs and schedules online, updating customers on the progress of jobs real time, invoicing at completion and get paid quickly to enable better cashflow. Tier one banks enable money transfers on a mobile device, something that has long been a cumbersome in-bank transaction. The ability for mobile applications to impact your business is simply amazing even without (continued on next page) Business \\ 33
(continued from page 33...) knowing how to code programs on your own. There are thousands of online tools that can be utilized within your business, often with minimal or no cost. Has your business taken advantage of the tools available to improve efficiencies? Have you defined what business process can be improved and sourced a low-cost application to implement a mobile solution for your customers or employees?
“
businesses. Some would argue the entanglement of social media into our business lives has created opportunity and reach to markets that were otherwise unattainable or very costly for customer engagement and acquisition. Some would argue that it has created more challenges and expense, or that their target market is not impacted by social media. Whatever the perspective, social media has impacted business in ways few other innovations have. Every business needs a social media strategy, whether you
[T]he recent Facebook data breech and
subsequent stock price slide and decrease
in valuation of over $100,000,000,000 should be a wake-up call for everyone.
Video and online training have enabled business to reduce support costs, improve staff training and create a more personal customer experience. Different age demographics utilize online tools differently and video allows for inexpensive and quick ways to engage with customers that are completely tailored to your intended audience. Distributed workforces can utilize online video to work in collaborative ways from anywhere in the world. Remote workability can create life balance if the proper systems are in place. There are countless ways video can be utilized in virtually any business that can create value and improve communication. Social media has been instrumental to the growth of both innovative and traditional 34 // Community Now!
”
like it or not. Along side the substantial reach of social media comes the risk of data attacks and unintended access and use of personal data. Every business that uses social media should have a basic understanding of the risks involved. Do you understand your business vulnerabilities with social media use? Case in point, the recent Facebook data breech and subsequent stock price slide and decrease in valuation of over $100,000,000,000 should be a wake-up call for everyone. In our new world of technology, a day can make all the difference. Nothing last forever, good or bad. In this case, the everyday Facebook user, business or personal, did not likely suffer irreparable damage, but some investment funds, investors and family offices would have seen a significant
decrease in their portfolio size. This multisided social marketplace has a ripple effect on many consumers and businesses, not just on Facebook. Data breaches and your socalled private information are no longer your own and there are a hundred billion ways to validate this, right or wrong. Do you know what impact this single event had on your business? Innovation has changed business forever. For the greater good, or for the worse, is a personal opinion. The technology innovation that has emerged and what is yet to come is a generational change in the business landscape. Globalization is here to stay. Prepare yourself with small, meaningful changes to help your business in whatever terms you
measure success. Not sure where to start? Do something. Start to think of a strategy of where you want your business to be. Technology and innovation are tools for the toolkit. For the technology scared - how can you adapt in one small way this month? Create a plan and work it daily in small increments. For the high growth and risk takers, reach for something completely ridiculous and see where you land. Envision and create something extra special with your business. If you are going to spend your days working, it might as well be towards a goal. Engage and you might be pleasantly surprised at the result.
Business \\ 35
JAMES ALLEN
Until
thought
is LINKED with a
purpose
there is no intelligent accomplishment
36 // Community Now!
Taming the Tiger
S
tress is a tricky thing. It can sneak up on us like a cat that is stalking its prey and the next thing we know we feel like we are under attack. At that point, our brain kicks in and initiates the fight or flight reaction. But what if we were able to somehow subdue the tiger into becoming a purring kitten. The idea of tricking the cat or brain into being our friend versus foe is a growing concept. We all know that exams can be stressful, but with adequate preparation, you can reduce the level of stress before you get to the exam. But what if you did all of your studying, got lots of rest, ate a balanced diet and felt confident as you left the house to write the exam only to feel a sweep of anxiety as you begin to meet up with your friends prior to the exam. What if your friend’s sense of uncertainty wears off on you? What if you now become fearful of showing just how stressed you are and that’s increasing your own stress level even more? Time to tame the tiger, but how? The first step is to drop the immediate rush of anxiety without drawing attention to yourself. This might seem like a “pie in the sky” response, but it can be done. Years ago I was shown some tapping techniques and at first, I thought they were crazy. How would tapping help? Then a situation arose where I was hyper-stressed and I decided to try them out. At first, I was so stressed I was tapping really hard and somewhat quick. Within a very short time span, I noticed that my tapping had softened, and slowed, but so had my breathing and my racing thoughts. The effects of tapping continued even after I had stopped tapping. Ever since then I suggested tapping with my friends, family, and clients. Everyone has received similar benefits. The tapping technique activates the parasympathetic nervous system. While the sympathetic nervous system prepares us for fight or flight, the parasympathetic nervous system relaxes our body allowing us to think, digest (both mentally and physically) and breath. It has a complete calming effect on our entire body. I use one of two techniques depending on my environment.
By Adette Lacerte Traditional Life Coach Nine and Three Quarters Coaching
The first technique is what I call wrist tapping. It is an easy approach where you can simply begin by tapping the inside of your wrist. You can do one wrist at or time or both at the same time. Tapping can be one firmly or gently fast or slow. When I am stressed I generally find I will start off more firmly and quickly, but gradually become more gentle and slower. Continue tapping until you feel your anxiety level drop to a level where your breathing starts to level out. Alternatively, you can try a chest tapping technique. Begin by imagining that there is a clock positioned just below the hollow where your clavicle bones come together. The twelve position is at the top with the six position about 2-3” below the 12 position. Start your tapping at the twelve position and begin tapping in a counterclockwise direction until your breathing resumes. Next month tune in for some breathing exercises to help keep the tiger at bay and the kitten happily purring. Business \\ 37
COMMUNITY NOW! CORNER FEATURING : SHAWN GRAVEL
ENGINEER TO ICE CREAM MAKER AND
ENTREPRENEUR
“
For the simplicity on this side of complexity, I wouldn’t give you a fig. But for the simplicity on the other side of complexity, for that I would give you anything I have.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
”
To me, this quotes acknowledges the complexity of the world we live in and the importance to strive for a depth of understanding where this complexity becomes simple. - Shawn Gravel 38 // Community Now!
Why did you get involved with an ice cream business?
F
rom bringing friends and communities together over pancakes to exploring new industries such as innovation with lights and making ice cream Shawn always brings his excitement and community togetherness with him. Shawn Gravel has a Diploma of Engineering from St. Mary’s University (Halifax) and a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from Dalhousie University (formerly Technical University of Nova Scotia). Gravel has lived in Calgary for 10 years, now residing in Nelson BC, Gravel still makes frequent trips back to the city of Calgary, the place he calls home. “It’s where I found my tribe and community,” stated Gravel. With a diverse work history,ranging in industries from Mining and Smelting, Oil and Gas to Food Manufacturing. Gravel has had a great journey. Working as a Process Safety Advisor for Shell Canada in their risk management and hazard assessment section led him to start his own adventure. Gravel is now the Co-Owner and Business Administrator of LightBox Project Inc. (www. lightboxproject.ca) and Co-Owner and Business Administrator of Celestial Scoop Inc. (www.celestialscoop.com)
Why did you decide to study engineering? I loved physics and problem solving in high school. I found it incredibly cool learning how our understanding of science and nature is harnessed to make life better. I also thought that law was too much reading and memorization...
After leaving Shell, I had the intention of becoming a consultant in Risk Management which was my area of expertise for the previous 10 years. With a depressed Calgary economy, the market for my skill set was not really strong and it looked like I was going to have to do something else. I then met Roger Smith, the founder of Celestial Scoop, at a music festival and he told me that he was looking for a partner. Having experience in food manufacturing, I felt inspired to be able to apply my diverse experience to something that I felt had true potential given the market trend of non-dairy, plant-based products. It was also an opportunity to take a business from a small batch operation and grow it into something substantial.
What science goes into making ice cream? Like most food manufacturing, there is a lot of science that is involved in creating a successful product. Ice cream and iced coconut cream are especially complex in its creation as you are dealing with material science, thermodynamics, and heat transfer. Essentially, you are taking a liquid mixture of fats and sugar and processing them to create a paste/semi-solid. In order to ensure the smooth mouth feel expected out of ice cream and similar frozen desserts homogeneous cooling is needed. This is done through the usage of surface scraped heat-exchanger (i.e.ice cream machine). As the product is cooled, the liquid mix begins to freeze as ice crystals begin to form on the walls (e.g. coldest part). The dashers/scrapers inside the machine scrapes the frozen product off the walls back into the bulk liquid. This re-melts the product and (continued on next page) Community Now! \\ 39
(continued from page 39...) cools the overall bulk temperature of the fluid. Eventually, the bulk temperature of the product lowers to a point where a phase change begins to occur transforming it from a liquid to a semi-solid / paste. Tada! We now have a finished product.
Why did you decide to make vegan, gluten free ice cream It was my business partner, Roger Smith who founded this business when he first moved to Nelson about 3 years. He had started it when he noticed more and more people were looking for plant-based products and saw that there was only a couple of international brands of plant-based iced coconut cream.
What drives you to be successful? An intrinsic desire for self-betterment and achieve my highest potential. I’ve always been surrounded by talented people. My three best childhood friends were all high achievers in academics, arts, and athletics and we playfully competed at everything. They, along many others, have influenced this intrinsic drive to be better in all I do. It also helps that I like to create, solve problems, and dream big.
Why is it important to have a strong community? I feel we are stronger, more resilient, and healthier when we work to help each other. When you’ve invested in building authentic connection, people are likely to help you and want you to succeed. I have found this to be especially true since starting my life as an entrepreneur. Tangibly speaking, my community have become more than friends but customers, employees, mentors, connectors, and ‘cheerleaders’. I’m incredibly grateful as each one of them has made me and my businesses stronger. 40 // Community Now!
What advice would you give to young people who are entering their journey into university and work life? Find things that inspire you to learn. Make learning fun. Maintain and develop your curiosity. In an era of technology, you need to be continuously learning. Not everything you’ll need to learn with be fun but if you have already developed the habit of learning it’ll make those times a lot easier. Foster strong interpersonal connections with people. Begin your community building when it’s a lot easier to do so and work to maintain them. When you build trust and intimacy with others they are more apt to help you. As well, giving and receiving help are great skills to have.
What advice would you to give someone starting a new business? Spend the time and develop a business plan. It may seem tedious but it will give you crucial information on how to best proceed. Look for mentors to help, if necessary. Make sure you can support yourself in the early stages of building your business as personal financial stress may cause you to make poor short-term thinking business choices.
Interesting Facts: • Travelling: Mexico, Costa Rica, US, Brazil, Singapore, India, Nepal, Peru • Sang in a professional boys choir 7-8 yrs old (Halifax County Boys Choir) • Competitive youth bowler (YBC) in Candlepin Bowling • Student of Shamanic Arts (Reiki Master, Breathwork practictioner, Huachumero – Peruvian Plant Medicine) • Completed Permaculture Design Certification • Certified Whisky Ambassador • Former Semi-Professional Goalkeeper, ACAA AllConference Goalkeeper Award, 3 time provincial soccer champion, toured Belgium and Holland at 17 yr. (soccer). • Founder and President Community of Integral Living Ltd. - non-profit organization • Temple Guardian – Volunteer at Burning Man Event • Temple Build Co-Lead – Inaugural Temple at Freezer Burn, Alberta’s Regional Burning Man Event • Ranger – Volunteer at Freezer Burn, Alberta’s Regional Burning Man Event • DJ – performed at festivals such as Inshala, Fozzy Fest, Freezer Burn • Founder of Rebel Bass Camp – Jedi Theme Camp for Freezer Burn, Alberta’s Regional Burning Man Event • Psy Crisis / Harm Reduction Councillor for music festivals such as Shambhala, Bass Coast, Motion Notion • Worked as an aid for the Hon. Fred Mifflin – Former Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. Was a guest at dinner party with Prime Minister Jean Cretien at the Prime Minister Residence (24 Sussex). • I love hiking, camping, and sitting alone in nature. • DJ for CN Rail Float in Calgary Stampede Parade (2016, 2017) Community Now! \\ 41
THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY Sandra
Josh (Mj)
Tracy
Sophia
Zanika
Stacey
Kenzie
Jill
Scott
Diane
THANK YOU EMPOWERING MINDS, BANBURY CROSSROADS, START UP BY SOPHIA, COSTUME SHOPPE, SCHOLASTIC & CARDEL ACCOUNTING!
Do you have a story about innovation, community, business or a an event coming up you want covered or do you want to become a sponsor of Community Now! Magazine request a media kit or book a meeting today. Please email publisher@communitynowmagazine.com
42 // Community Now!
ONLINE OFFER CODE & FREE DELIVERY OVER $85 BEFORE DISCOUNT
Use this costume buck coupon to receive five dollars off of your next purchase either online or in-store! Valid on any purchase or rental over fifty dollars. Limit one costume buck per purchase. Cannot be combined with any other offer.
Community Now! Magazine www.communitynowmagazine.com Instagram: @communitynowmagazine Twitter: @communitynowma1 Publisher@CommunityNowMagazine.com
