Festival Season Winds Down; "Culture Month" Ramps Up

The sun was shining on the 13th annual Taste of Calgary Festival this year - literally. Postponed by rain early in the month, the popular event took place in late August, bringing hundreds of foodies and vino-philes into the bright and sunny Eau Claire Market plaza just hours before dark clouds rolled in.

Thirty restaurants ranging from the trendy Belgo to the delicious Ruan Thai set up kiosks around a bustling beer tent. Samples of local Brew Brothers beer were served alongside more obscure Eastern European brands and the ubiquitous Big Rock.

Samples of food and drink were sold for between $0.75 and $4.50. Entertainment under the big top included Cumako, the upbeat afro-latin band featuring flute, saxophone, drums, trumpet and bass, country singer Shane Chisholm, and the Rick Climans Jazz Group.

It has been a busy summer for festival-goers, who poured in to events centered on blues, jazz, rock, folk, and alternative music, among other things. It appears the Alberta arts scene, however, was simply preparing for a month of full-blown creative celebrations.

September marks the first annual Culture Month in Calgary, coinciding with Alberta Arts Days, and initiative out of Minister Lindsay Blackett’s office. Over the next few weeks city-slickers can expect a windfall of artsy parties, free concerts, film premieres, fashion shows and award ceremonies. Highlights are sure to include the first ever Calgary PechaKucha night on September 14, where a medley of creative people will design, present and speak about twenty slides for twenty seconds each, for a total of approximately six minutes. Conceived in Tokyo, this event now takes place in 230 countries around the world, from Capetown to Copenhagen and now Calgary.

“Like many world-class cities, Calgary has a thriving arts community,” said Mayor Dave Bronconnier at a press conference early this week, “Culture Month gives us the opportunity to showcase why Calgary was once again named the most cultured city in Canada.”

Other highly anticipated events include a free performance by the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra on September 7, and the ArtCity Festival of design and architecture from September 11 - 20.

While the arts community is celebrating, though, a loyal stalwart of culture in the city may be fading. Beat Niq Jazz Club and Bistro, a long time staple of music and food lovers alike, has announced that it may close due to financial uncertainty. Owners Robert and Connie Young have planned a three-day gala fundraising during culture month, Sept 8 - 10, with the goal of keeping their original culture club afloat.

Published in National Post on September 5, 2009

Events show how far we've come, but we're not there yet!

International Women’s Day, March 8, was celebrated with several events in Calgary. At the Chamber of Commerce, in the plush fourth floor ballroom, the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA) hosted a luncheon aptly titled Women of the World Celebration. Mayor Dave Bronconnier gave opening remarks, focusing on the benefits of diversity and immigration in major urban centers. Cara Fullerton of Global Television was the master of ceremonies; Gerda Bloemraad of CIWA and Rob Ferguson of Citizenship & Immigration Canada also spoke. The mouthwatering three-course meal included a choice of richly spiced chicken korma on basmati rice or vegetarian lasagna.

Guests were encouraged to network at their tables, and topics of discussion were provided for this purpose. Malgosia Skrzynski, an administrator at CIWA, began by noting the popularity of women’s day in her home country of Poland. More fresh flowers are purchased and delivered to women across Europe on Women’s Day than on Valentine’s Day, she said.

Romantic gestures are not the only thing women are fighting for in this country, others noted. According to fact cards distributed at the luncheon, the number of women in daily newsrooms equals a third of the number of men. In 2006 the Status of Women Department suffered a severe budget cut, and the Court Challenges Program - legislation for legal protection of the rights of low-income and otherwise marginalized women - was abolished. The UN recently asked Canada to investigate the disappearances and deaths of over 500 Aboriginal women. And in autumn 2008 the Finance Minister proposed changes to the rules governing pay equity, a move some say will undermine human rights claims of gender inequality in the workplace.

Writer and Campaign for Real Beauty spokesperson Judy Wark gave the key-note speech. She talked about beauty as the presence of boldness, intellect and compassion, rather than a manufactured aesthetic. With a calm and eloquent dignity, she also spoke about herself; watching her beloved husband loose a struggle with cancer and finding joy in her children.

A few days later at the Calgary Public Library, another event took place. Five prominent and powerful women took the stage to give insight on living a balanced life. Brown bag lunches were provided by EthniCity Women’s Catering Collective, and the Chinook Winds Show Chorus opened the event with a few musical numbers.

The speakers were: Dr. Kimberley Amirault, a sports psychologist who has worked in the male-dominated fields of the NBA and the NHL, Eva Friesen, CEO of The Calgary Foundation, chef Dee Hobshawn-Smith, Rosemary Thomson, chorusmaster of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and Frances Wright, founder of the Famous 5 Foundation and the guiding force behind Barbara Paterson’s bronze statues of Louise McKinney, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, and Irene Parlby celebrating a newspaper headline reading, “Women are Persons!” in the downtown core of Calgary; the sculpture is also pictured on the $50 bill.

In attendance were several MLAs, Miranda Dallalba and Karen Garrick of Calgary Economic Development, Sandra Gajic of the Epcor Centre, and Bev Hubert of the Calgary School Board, among others.

Published in National Post, March 21 2009