Mountains, Music & Masterpieces

The weekend began with a cocktail reception in the Lakeview Lounge. Through the windows, frosty Lake Louise glittered under the sinking sun. Classical guitarist John Goulart played while guests mingled around tables of h’or doeuvres, sipping wine and feasting their eyes on the majestic Rocky Mountains. Lamb, risotto, bococcini salad, and lobster bisque were among the edibles.

Pat and Sherrold Moore, Alison and Elliot Geskin, and Andrea Brussa lounged and laughed, sharing travel stories. The Moores and Brussa recounted their most recent trip to Zimbabwe; the Geskins spoke of Hawaii and Mexico. Across the room, Patricia Johnston and Don Groot shared stories of cycling through France, eating grapes off the vine. Talk of beautiful landscapes shifted easily to the one thing they share above all else - a love of fine arts. Hence their presence at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for an intimate experience with The Art Gallery of Alberta and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO).

Ann Lewis-Luppino, president of the CPO, welcomed guests warmly, making introductions and setting a relaxed tone. “This weekend is really meant to encourage dialogue, and make friends,” she explained, “I wanted to keep it small, special.”

Lewis-Luppino and her husband, Tony Luppino, executive director of The Art Gallery of Alberta, were gracious hosts for the weekend, the concept for which came from Fairmont Hotels and Resorts Inc.

“European tourists love the mountains, but they’re also used to culture,” explained Luppino, “A package like this keeps them here a little longer and introduces them to more than our wild outdoors.”

It’s also a community-building exercise, they explain further, both for The Fairmont and their two cities. The Mountains, Music & Masterpieces weekend was the first in a variety of themed packages to come.

Saturday featured a discussion on the Group of Seven and their unique role in shaping Canadian identity. Luppino gave an inspired lecture, inviting the forty guests to examine the Lawren Harris and J.E.H. MacDonald paintings in the room. While utterly respectful of original artwork, Luppino wonders if our society is not overly cautious.

“What’s the point in preserving them if no one ever sees them?” he asked.

After a light lunch, Maestro Roberto Minczuk took the stage for an interactive seminar on music and nature, including a performance by CPO musicians Craig Hutchenreuther, Tom Mirhady, Rob Penner, and Brad Otteson.

A four-course gala dinner in the small, plush Alpine Room capped off the day. Atlantic salmon was presented three ways: tartare, smoked, and ceviche, followed by a tomato bisque, and Alberta beef. Another private performance from the CPO quartet - complete with a heartfelt rendition of “home on the range” - prompted standing ovations.

Guests stayed in the elite 7th floor “gold rooms” and following dinner, some made use of the kitchen, chess board, and armchairs in its comfortable lounge while others braved the grizzly-friendly weather for a glimpse of the stars and lumbering porcupines.

A decadent brunch - champagne and eggs benedict with duck confit - gave time for guests to say goodbye. Most agreed that the end of the weekend marked the beginning of something wonderful.

Published in National Post, May 30 2009

NOTE: My accommodation for this event was generously supported by the CPO and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise - what a treat! My gratitude is only shadowed by my awe for the spectacular views, detailed luxury, and superb service from the valet to the saloon. We will return; thank you!

Business in Calgary, Party in Banff

The Rocky Mountain Food and Wine Festival had the streets of Banff bustling last week. People from across the province strolled down the avenue, hopped on buses, and paraded into the Fairmont Banff Springs for a taste of gourmet fare and fine wine. An entire weekend of decadence was available.

At the Buffalo Mountain Lodge on Friday night, a small group sampled five varieties of Brunello di Montalcino and local fare crafted by Chef Linda Calabrese. While sommelier Roisin Hutchinson shared her passion for wine, coaxing guests into sharing their insights, platters of cheese, jellies, and local game were served. A peppered elk carpaccio and duck terrine, paired with a 2003 Pieri Agostina had guests gushing.

A much larger crowd gathered at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel on Saturday for the first session of the wine and food tasting. Over 2400 people attended the two sessions. Wine, beer and spirits from around the world were featured; guests enjoyed everything from unique coffee rum to organic vodka and vintage wines. Judie and Jim Keall were hunting for new labels on behalf of their son, who owns a wine shop in Calgary. Hellbent Shiraz from Australia did the trick, although New Zealand wines were top among many guests.

Meanwhile, local restaurants and hotels were tempting many with delectable plates. The Bison Restaurant turned out a steady stream of mini herb-rubbed pulled pork sandwiches on freshly made buns with house-made tomato jelly. It was a favorite among many guests, who were served by the restaurant’s owner Ryan Rivard.

Competition for best dish came from young South African chef Morne Burger of Maple Leaf Grill. His wasabi-crusted salmon, cooked to order and perfectly positioned on bite-sized polenta squares, attracted a high number of patrons and a huge amount of praise. Although not on their regular menu, the dish had a number of guests making early plans for dinner.

Among those attending the festival were: Harry Wells, vice president innovation and technology for Newalta (a happy side-trip to his week-long business excursion from Ontario), real estate agent Joe Badin, Alan Beres and Perry Fleming of Foster’s Group, Chef Martin Brenner of Sunshine Village, and Allan and Sonia Cavanagh.

It was back to business in Calgary the following week, at the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame Luncheon. The inductees for 2009 were announced by Arlene Dickinson, president and CEO of Venture Communications, with comments provided by Colin Merrick, associate partner at Deloitte.

The laureates are: Edward (Ed) McNally, the lawyer and rancher who founded Big Rock Breweries, Allan Markin, the engineer and community leader who helped steer Canadian Natural Resources Limited to great success as the board chair, and Senator Patrick Burns, who will be awarded posthumously for his life of public service.

At the luncheon were Karen Chown of Calgary Economic Development, Murray Edwards of CNRL, Heather Douglas of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, Eva Friesen of The Calgary Foundation, 2008 laureate Don Taylor, and Donald Seaman. The awards will be handed out at the Business Hall of Fame gala in November.
Published in National Post, May 23 2009

NOTE: My accommodation for the Rocky Mountain Food and Wine Festival was generously supported by the folks at Banff Tourism and the oh-so-splendid Fox Hotel & Suites. <- (click here to check it out) Many many thanks for their gracious hospitality, outstanding service and pristine, luxurious hot springs pool.

Bateman Offers Brush With Nature in Banff

At the Whyte Museum last week, guests dressed in vintage safari-wear pulled tiny keys out of a tiny treasure chest before striding down a red carpet into the main gallery. The keys were tied with various colours of ribbon, indicating your “team” for the night.

Robert Bateman, famed Canadian artist and environmentalist, stood on a small stage and spoke quietly about his work. A retrospective hung on the walls around him, work from the different decades of his life. The room was crowded. Finally, raising his sketchbook in one hand, he gestured at the crowd and ordered,

“Now go, get drunk, and spend a lot of money at the silent auction.”

Laughter. Before the audience could swarm or disperse, two figures took the stage - this time, dressed in elaborate Jumanji-style dress with head-set microphones. They directed the audience on an elaborate treasure hunt around the museum, where clues were hidden at various bars and food stations. Catering was provided by the Bison Resturant, which offered dripping, indulgent fondue bits, pan-cooked shrimp, crudités, and other assorted goodies.

Among the adventurers were Alberta Minister of Sustainable Resource Development, Ted Morton with his wife Bambi Morton, MLA Dave Rodney, curator at the National Museum of Wildlife Art, Adam Duncan Harris, Under The Sleeping Buffalo (UTSB) researcher Peter Poole, executive director of Heritage Community Foundation Adriana Davies, sommelier Roisin Hutchinson of Bin 905, senior vice-president of BMO Financial Group Ted McCarron and his wife, Jane McCarron, and Olympic gold medalist Mark Tewksbury with his partner, Rob Mabee of Axis Gallery in Calgary.

Proceeds from the evening will go to the Whyte Museum; Bateman is trumpeting another good cause - the “Get to Know” program, which connects children and the wilderness.

The evening closed with a very special connection to nature: two live owls and a giant hawk, brought in to the museum by animal trainers. The remaining guests crowded around the birds in awe, touching their feathers and watching the odd turning of the owl’s head.

Published in National Post, May 16 2009

Woodward Woos Teatro

Another heady season at the salon is over. Last week brought a final gathering of Calgary’s cultural elite and intelligentsia to Teatro Restaurant for the last in speaker series on “The Race to the White House and Beyond.” Infamous investigative journalist Bob Woodward was the guest of honour.

Well known for uncovering the Watergate scandal, and introduced by Rudyard Griffiths as a “chronicler of our time”, Woodward focused his remarks on the role of journalism in a democracy, and his personal recollections of the Bush administration. But he began with a different race to the Oval Office, way back when Al Gore was a contender.

“Having dinner with Al Gore is unpleasant,” Woodward said dryly. There was laughter and the clink of glasses as the audience took another swig of Tegrino Vin Santo. “There is not one pleasant thing about it,” he confirmed, “It is taxing. He is absolutely sure he knows everything about every subject.”

Yet there was some wisdom Woodward did accept at face value: Gore told him that only one percent of what goes on in the White House is public knowledge. Years later, it was clear that little more than that was even executive knowledge, when George W. Bush told him he did not attend many of the early meetings on the Iraq war.

“We’ve seen a staggering increase in the level of violence in Iraq - almost incomprehensible - and George Bush was out there asking if we were winning, not for months but for years!” Woodward charged, “The idea that the commander-in-chief would absent himself from those meetings … I felt sick. Sick for my country. The president had lost control. He didn’t know what was real; he didn’t have a grasp on it.”

And thus began his treatise on the role of the press in a liberal democracy, complete with mea culpa on the coverage of the Iraq war. “Media drives them toward accountability,” he said.

The questions ranged from ironic - Tom Flanagan asking about barriers to accessing Canadian politicians - to the cheeky - Carlo Bellusci asked, “Isn’t it true that if governments weren’t so secretive, you’d be out of a job? And don’t people want to just kind of tune all this out and go to the cottage?”

Woodward took it all in stride, concluding on a truly diplomatic note: “Obama thinks he’s restored moral authority to the White House, just as Bush though he’d restored dignity. I say, we’ll see. You can be so sure of something, then time passes, you do your homework, and things look very different.”

The Salon Speaker Series at Teatro will resume in Autumn 2009.

Guests dined on a mouthwatering preserved lemon risotto, the classic Alberta beef tenderloin, and a dainty selection of mignardises. Among those in attendance were: the camera-shy Murray Edwards, University of Calgary’s Barry Cooper, Greg Forrest, John Cordeau of Bennett Jones, Randy Pettipas of Global Public Affairs, Dina and George Honke, energy analyst Wilf Gobert, and Timothy Hamilton, managing partner of Hamilton Hall Soles/ Ray & Berndtson Inc.

Published in National Post, May 9 2009

New Works and New Workers Welcomed in Calgary

Vincenzo Calli, an Italian painter, has brought a collection of his latest work to the Art Gallery of Calgary, where the work and the artist were celebrated on Wednesday April 22. The paintings depict moments between dreaming and awake, and the suspension between heaven and earth. Some of them portray figures in shadow with placid expressions, while those in the sunlight stare forward anxiously. Others feature tarot cards, clouds, wolves on the hunt, and tiny brushstrokes to simulate watery ripples. The exhibit is on display until Saturday, June 27.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada (ICCC) co-hosted the event, attracting a large contingent of guests from the local Italian community. Remarks from the artist, and Marina Mason, vice president of the ICCC, were made in Italian and translated.

Guests included Jean Merriman, executive vice president of White Iron Productions, Omar Channan, founding world president of the World Organization of Building Officials and the president of United Nations Association in Canada-Calgary, Dr. John Lacey, honorary consul-general of Thailand, Jennifer Hames, of CTV Television, Lorenzo Lecce of A Touch of Italy, and Jessica MacLeod of Vendemmia International Wines.

Viable Calgary, a workforce program designed to connect employers and persons with disabilities, launched on Thursday, April 23 with a cocktail reception in Teatro’s Opera Room. A keynote speech was delivered by Elsbeth Mehrer, manager of workforce development at Calgary Economic Development. Other speakers included Lisa Thompson of Bank of Montreal, and Peter Pilarski of the Retail Council of Canada.

“When I went to job interviews,” Thompson recounted, “A lot of people thought I had a cognitive impairment, just because I’m in a wheelchair. I had to fight to show them there’s nothing wrong with my brain. It was very discouraging. Luckily BMO was more than open-minded during the hiring process.”

Viable Calgary offers “integration studies” upon request, showing local business how easy - or how difficult - it would be to welcome an employee with a disability. Other services include staffing support, research, and best practices workshops on hiring disabled workers. Funded by local industry, the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada, these services are provided free of charge.

Guests of the event included Pat and Sherrold Moore, Bryce Roblin of Placement Group, Jim McLaughlin of Alberta Employment and Immigration, Robert Hansen of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, Jenny Cruickshank of The Home Depot, and Linna Morgan of Calgary Counselling Centre.

Wallace Galleries welcomed the work of two new artists this week, Camrose Ducote and Rachel Ovadia. At the opening on Saturday, April 25, guests wandered in for a sip of wine and a look at the fresh pieces. Abstract, eggshell-coloured mixed media make up Ducote’s work. Ovadia on the other hand, with bold colours on giant canvas, lights up the room. Ode to Mozart is made up of deep, grandiose swirls of red overlaid with broad strokes of orange, pulsing from the centre of an electric blue and green border.

The joint display lasts until May 10.


Published in National Post, May 2 2009

Iggy Pops Into Calgary Cocktail; Griffiths' Book Launched

As if summoned by a city-wide nerd alert, pundits, politicos, and others interested in weighty discussions of Canada’s ongoing identity crises gathered in Calgary’s downtown core last week. First at Pages bookstore in Kensington where Rudyard Griffiths, host of the Salon Speaker Series and founder of the Dominion Institute, launched his latest book “Who We Are: A Citizens Manifesto”, then a few days later at The Grand where Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff was the guest of honour at a well attended cocktail fundraiser.

Late afternoon sun streamed through the upper-floor windows of a charming old book shop while Griffiths held court last week. A fair sized audience stood in a semi-circle around him, nibbling on fine cheeses and sipping local wine. After briefly introducing his thesis, the author invited questions. “How can we engage young voters?” asked one guest. “How role does new media play in democratic society?” asked another. “What does it mean to be Canadian in a globalized world?” En masse, they tilted forward, eager for a drop of certainty amid the ongoing Canadian identity-crises. And he delivered.

Succinct, poised and enthusiastic, Griffiths answered each question with a smile, leaving a happy crowd to mingle and discuss. Despite his somewhat contentious assessment of Canadian life -and what we need to make it better, such as mandatory voting, re-imagined media, and denying Quebec the rights of nationhood - there was little debate.

“There’s one nation - Canada,” he concluded, “We’re diluting this nation by thinking we can have multiple sub-nations that have all the benefits and power that we associate with the country writ large. I think that devalues Canadian citizenship.”

Guests included: Randy Pettipas and Lorraine Royer of Global Public Affairs, Cathy Cram of ConocoPhillips, Marcus Gurske of Play It By Ear Productions, author Judy Johnson, Frances Wright, founder of the Famous 5 Foundation, Ian Griffin, honourary chairman of Research Capital, and Shannon Palmer.

A grander affair took place on the other side of the river later that week. Michael Ignatieff hosted a few hundred of his closest friends for a cocktail fundraiser. He made pointed comments on Alberta’s energy capital and cultural cache, made fun of his own eyebrows, and basked in the rare melee of Western Liberal revelry. Between sampling delicate h’ors d’oeuvre and a variety of beverages, guests pondered the future of the opposition.

“Jesus Christ could run as a Liberal in Alberta and lose,” said one guest, laughing.

“This is the tipping point,” said another, “We’ve been waiting for a leader we could support, and now we have him.”

Guests included: Senator Joyce Fairbairn, Senator Grant Mitchell, John Cordeau Q.C. of Bennett Jones LLP, Christine Silverberg of Wolch Hursh deWit Silverberg & Watts LLP, Matthew Mitschke of Schofield Law Office, Howard Shikaze of RSM Richter Chartered Accountants, Daryl Fridhandler of Burnet Duckworth & Palmer LLP, George Gosbee of Alberta Investment Management Corporation, Dr. Nallai Nallainayagam of Mount Royal College, and George Hodgson, president of the Liberal Party of Canada-Alberta.

Published in National Post, April 18 2009

A Cork & Canvas Fundraiser

Clad in their finest evening wear, supporters of The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra [CPO] filled the posh Petroleum Club last week for the final evening of Cork & Canvas, a fundraising wine and art festival.

Pillars of cultural philanthropy were among the guests, including Tibor and Livia Fekete, Jim and Barbara Palmer, Dick Matthews, Conrad and Mary Porth, Brien and Peggy Perry, Sandra Gajic of the Epcor Centre, Jim Mugford, VP at Siemens Canada, Raj Agrawal, president of NRG Engineering, and Irene Besse.

Following an intimate champagne reception in the McMurray Room, where members of the CPO preformed, guests poured upstairs and into a three-tiered dining room for a delightful five-course meal and live auction.

Alison Geskin, director of development for the CPO, acted as “mistress of ceremonies” with enthusiasm and charm. While guests found their tables and scanned the silent auction items, Geskin introduced Gerald Uhlen, the export director for Joseph Drouhin Vineyard in Burgundy. Uhlen’s charming accent and impressive expertise had the entire room settling in their seats and raising a glass.

The first wine was a 2005 Drouhin Chablis Vausesir Grand Cru, light in colour and lingering in the palette. With rapt attention, his audience swirled, sipped, and pondered. A marinated grilled squid salad was served, with olives, capers and roasted red peppers adding a sweet balance to the wine. And then there was the 2002 Clos des Mouches Blanc; a rich, slightly smoky chardonnay evoking damp forests and honey. It was a good start.

Before the next course was served, Geskin hosted a round of live auction. Tony Luppino, executive director of the Art Gallery of Alberta (and the husband of Ann Lewis-Luppino, president of the CPO) provided some comments on the first painting available for auction - Nicolas de Grandmaison’s Winter Evening. The bidding was fierce, with no signs of slowing down for the next two items; an interactive cooking experience with top chef Fabio Centini, Maestro Roberto Minczuk, and radio talk show host “The Coach”, followed by two bottles of Chateau Lafite (‘83 Rothschild Bordeaux Red & ‘89 Bordeaux Bend).

The menu included rabbit confit ravioli, Alberta beef tenderloin with bison short rib, a selection of fine cheeses, and tiramisu in a chocolate cup. Each course was preceded by Uhlen’s tasting notes, Luppino’s comments on a painting, and a round of live auction.

A package of 100 tickets to the CPO, to be donated to a charity of one’s choosing, was sold twice at $2500 to each bidder. Winner Trent Stangl, VP marketing and investor relations for Crescent Point Energy Trust, will donate his prize to YMCA Strong Kids. Two tickets for the luxurious Mountains, Music and Masterpieces event at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise was sold to five separate bidders. Other donated prizes included Olympic hockey tickets, a chance to rehearse and perform with the CPO, many fine works of art including pieces by Amy Dryer and Robert Bateman, and over a dozen vintage wines, including a 1985 Chateau Margaux Bordeaux Blend.

Published in National Post, April 11, 2009

Green Business Series & Photo Gala

Photographers Jeremy Fokkens and Robert J. Scott hosted a gala benefiting the Children’s Wish Foundation at the Art Gallery of Calgary last week. Over three hundred hipsters and well-wishers turned out to peruse the duo’s first joint exhibition and indulge in a few glasses of fine wine. Picture This: a photography gala was not only a fantastic showcase for their work - haunting images of Prairie life and vibrant pictures of their independent travels through Southeast Asia, mostly - but raised approximately $15 000 for the charity. Every piece on display was sold that night; a total of fifty photographs.

Fokkens and Scott, childhood friends, are both teachers and have volunteered extensively with children and youth at risk. After travelling separately through Asia as photographers and ESL instructors, they reconnected and began to brainstorm ways to give back.

“We really wanted to convey to people here how fortunate we are to live the way we do,” said Fokkens, “I never expected this kind of response; it’s thrilling.”

The event was the product of an informal conversation between the two artists only three months ago. After the success of Picture This, plans are already in the works for several similar events across the region.

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The Down to Earth Sustainable Living Festival began on March 28 with multiple Earth Hour events and local menu tastings, which continue throughout the city until Saturday, April 4. During the week, noon-hour business lectures took place at the downtown public library, kick-started by the presentation of a report recently drafted by Calgary Economic Development’s Katie Emond and Stephanie Jackman, president of REAP [respect for the earth and all people). The Green Business Report highlights four key actions available to small and medium sized enterprise to reduce their carbon footprint. It is available on the websites of both organizations.

Jackman says that an increasing number of business-owners in Calgary are looking to “go green” - and she should know. REAP is an association for businesses concerned with creating sustainable lifestyles, and organized Down to Earth week with support from the Calgary Herald, Bullfrog Power, Calgary Public Library, and Creative Factor. The turnout for events like the business lecture series was impressive. In attendance for the Green Business Report release were Richard Pootmans, business development manager for real estate at Calgary Economic Development, Sarah Newman of Vibrant Communities Calgary, Nancy MacKenzie of Calgary Public Library, and Gary Fredich-Dunne of Bullfrog Power.

Published in National Post, April 4 2009

Fiesta and WineFest bring in spring

It may leave like a lamb, but winter in Calgary is still roaring like a lion… or maybe a couple dozen pussy cats. That was the feeling, anyway, at last week’s Mexican fiesta-style fundraiser at the Wallace Galleries which raised money for P.E.A.C.E. (Protection & Education for Animals, Culture & Environment), a non-profit organization dedicated to decreasing the unwanted pet population in Mexico. PEACE also provides work skills and education to underprivileged families in and around Puerto Vallarta.

Dozens of people braved the icy weather for a little taste of the sunny south, and a big dose of reality. Colette Hubner organized the event around her family's pet project, after years of helping to spay and neuter animals around her family’s vacation home. Through a few degrees of separation, her family met Molly Fisher, the president of PEACE and began working with her to bring veterinarians, supplies, and money into the region. The results have been overwhelmingly positive, she says.

Chef Klaus Hubner and friends provided an authentic Mexican feast, with healthy helpings of guacamole, tostadas de polo, ensalada de jimaca, tomates y cebollas y queso fresco, paella, mouthwatering pork tenderloin and a spicy shrimp dish. Little children gleefully crowded around the gallery’s main entrance while a piñata was beaten, spewing treats and toys onto the pavement below. Their noises of delight blended into the chatter and laughter of almost a hundred adults, many holding mini-margaritas and swaying in time to music piped through the sound system.

On the walls of the bright, open space gallery were silent auction items ranging from a set of organic, freshwater pearls from Lotus Lines to a care package for pets, massage certificates, and dinner for two at Divino. Local artists, some friends of gallery owner Heidi Hubner (mother of Colette and wife of Doug), were in attendance to watch as their work was auctioned off for the charity. Julie Meisser’s handcrafted glass bead bracelet fetched a handsome price, as did a painting by Bill Duma. Liberal MLA Kent Hehr was also present and spoke briefly before the live auction began.
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Things were also heating up in Edmonton recently, when a large crowd gathered for WineFest at the Shaw Conference Centre. A complementary Riedel wine glass was handed out to guests who then had the opportunity to taste at least 45 different wines. Hors d’oeuvres and a wide variety of cheeses were also offered.

Votes were collected for the “people’s choice” award, which unanimously claimed a 2007 Kung Fu Girl Riesling the winner for white at both the Calgary and Edmonton events, and the 2004 Reserve Vinoce Cabernet Sauvignon Edmonton’s favorite red wine.

Guests included: Brian Heck, president of Wine Runners Inc, Katherine Fischgrund, principal interior designer for Urban Design Interiors, Dean Wulf, managing partner for Avison Young, Shanna Dorsch, vp of operations for Solutions Workplace Furnishings, Christine Iverson of RBC, Luisa Montgomery of Primerica, Dale Orvis of Charton Hobbs, Erin Honeyman of the RCMP, and detective Patrick Tracy of the Edmonton Police.

Published in National Post, March 28 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

Edmonton ad. community celebrates their best

Creative juices flowed through the troubled waters of an economic downturn last week at the 30th Annual Advertising Club of Edmonton (ACE) Awards gala. Industry professionals unabashedly celebrated success and promoted their clients.

“Our advertising community proves time and time again that it has the chops to ‘tell’ and ‘sell’ in engaging ways – to help mitigate business challenges,” Dennis Lenarduzzi of RED - The Agency, said.

Although libations flowed freely at the welcome reception, at least two party-goers were moderate in their approach. Tracy Hyatt and Jennifer Windsor spent the last month abiding by the Canada Food Guide on a budget of just $80 for the entire four weeks; a project they called the “working poor diet.” It was their first meal since taking up the challenge. Eyes slightly glazed, with a tired smile, Hyatt can only say “I’m starving” and that she’s more than ready for the three course dinner that awaits them. It’s “a bitter-sweet ending” to their crusade, Windsor writes on their blog. Their aim was to publicize the links between poverty and nutrition.

Happily, a nutritious and delicious feast was in the cards. Southwestern beef tenderloin was the meal’s crowning jewel, with a trio of lemon blackberry cake, hazelnut chocolate pate and vanilla bean ice cream with blackberry coulis for desert. Dave Babcock and the ACE Orchestra provided after-dinner entertainment. Beth McIntyre, a founding member of the Advertising Club of Edmonton, was honoured.

Awards were also handed out for excellence in all things ad-related, from copywriting to art direction to guerilla marketing. Freckle Creative earned a nod for its work on the Lakeland Credit Union annual report, which was themed “rooted and reaching” and featured a mosaic of fall inspired colours in botanic shapes throughout the document. Calder Bateman Communications brought home a whopping seventeen awards, including ‘best newspaper campaign’ and ‘corporate identity’. The ‘best in show’ award, however, went to DDB Canada for its work on the Rexall Edmonton Indy.

Party guest Rob Jennings admits that he probably chose “the most inauspicious moments in recent history” to start his business, Starburst Advertising, but the risk has paid off. “Conventional wisdom says that organizations tend to cut marketing budgets when times are tough,” he says, “That may be the case, but I have also found that some organizations are taking advantage of the economic climate to make a strong grab at mind or market share from their competitors. Edmonton is also a government town and governments have communications needs, such as public awareness or social marketing campaigns, that don't go away just because the economy is temporarily slowing. My business is doing very well, and when we make it through the economic downturn I will be very well positioned.”

Local actor Chris Craddock hosted 500 guests, including: Jim Smith, producer with Image West Films, Terry Cowan, director of advertising for the Brick Group, John Windwick, VP marketing for ATB Financial, Ania Smith, marketing director of Axial Corporation, Kristin Gibson, senior designer at Woodward Design, Mieke Higham of the Edmonton Arts Council, and sound designer Brad Belcher.

Published in National Post, March 14 2009

Global Stimulates Good Cheer

With tongue firmly in cheek, government and industry people gathered to celebrate a “global stimulus package” last week in Calgary. Guests were bailed out of their winter-weather-and-fiscal-meltdown blues with cocktails, live jazz, and a selection of delectable h'or douvres, courtesy of government relations firm Global Public Affairs.

"With all the talk of recession and stimulus packages recently, we felt that people were ready for a party,” says Randy Pettipas, president of Global Public Affairs, “Our friends and clients seemed to appreciate the play on words - and the sentiment. Calgary is an optimistic city, and we are really happy that so many came out to celebrate the talent and opportunity that still exists here."

Indeed, between nibbles and sips there was much talk about when the next economic upswing will take place. Peter Pilarski from the Retail Council of Canada had recently returned from Fort McMurry where he spoke to a provincial committee of government employees about how the economy is affecting their industry. Development strategies include re-focusing on retention, cultural training, educational and professional development opportunities and promoting stories of success, “where people have moved beyond stocking shelves to become CEOs,” he says. Despite the icy, bitterly cold weather and a gloomy economic forecast, his outlook was positive.

“This economic downturn gives everyone a chance to reassess their priorities,” said Pilarksi, “So far we haven’t really seen the drops in consumer spending that have been so intense in other parts of North America. We believe that Alberta is not only going to get through, but we’ll be leaner and meaner when we come out.”

The party took place at Velvet, an intimate and upscale restaurant nestled in the heart of downtown. Many of the guests are old friends, with a fair number having worked together on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. In a city where government and industry work together closely - meaning an impressive “get this done” attitude, but also criticism of such rapid development - companies like Global Public Affairs and the relationships they nurture are critical.

David MacInnis, a guest of the party, is the vice president of policy, government, and public affairs for Chevron. He also worked on The Hill for a time, and appreciates the wide network that Global offers. “They have people on the ground across the country, which is very important to us,” he says, “Global gives us the intelligence and expertise needed for discussions on issues with government at all levels.”

Among those rubbing shoulders were: The Honourable Luke Ouellette, Alberta Minister of Transportation, Claire Huffaker (wife of US Consul General Tom Huffaker), Elizabeth Cordeau-Chatelain, communications manager for Total E&P Canada, Stephanie Tan, manager of corporate affairs for Labatt Breweries of Canada, Andy Popko, VP of Aboriginal affairs for EnCana Corporation, Peter Burgener, senior partner at BKDI Architects and Roman Cooney, VP of communications for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers [CAPP].

Three music students from Mount Royal College provided a mellow, jazzy backdrop to the evening. Guests enjoyed plentiful platters of mini bison and smoked gouda burgers, smoked salmon and herbed port jelly, ripened tomato and buffalo mozzarella tarts, beef medallions, and bacon-wrapped scallops.

Published in National Post, March 7 2008

Theatre Calgary Reflects Oscar Glow

A touch of old Hollywood glamour was bestowed upon a relatively new city last weekend, when Theatre Calgary hosted its annual Night with the Stars fundraising gala. At the posh Ranchmen’s Club (second only in stature and iconic namesake to the Petroleum Club) close to 300 guests gathered in black-tie. They enjoyed fine wine, martini bars, a buffet-style feast of international flavours, silent auctions, and multiple live large-screen projections of the Academy Awards show.

Local actors roamed the gala in character - a Moroccan gendarme, a detective in a neck brace, and a vacationing heiress among them - providing another layer of entertaining escapism while promoting an upcoming production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, the play which gives life to those personalities on stage.

Hosts Jocelyn Laidlaw and Jefferson Humphreys provided a lively distraction from the broadcast’s commercial breaks, while The Honourable Lindsay Blackett, Provincial Minister of Culture and Community Spirit, provided opening remarks and provoked small whirlpools of activity as he worked the room. As the leader of a fledgling ministry, he is receiving top marks for enthusiasm, promotion, and politicking in the cultural communities. Many guests also commented on the exceptional talent based in Calgary.

“When you see a Theatre Calgary show, you could be watching theatre in any world class city. You’d never know where you were,” says Carlo Bellusci, president of Vendemmia Wines and a member of the host’s board of directors, “The quality of show is outstanding.”

And that’s no secret, according to Tom McCabe, president of Theatre Calgary. “We’ve had more interest and support in the last year than in the last twenty years combined,” he says, “It’s the first time that the government has really paid attention to the arts. We finally have a ministry of culture, and that makes a big difference, in fact it’s wonderful!”

Dr. Ian Beddis, who was honoured along with his wife Robin Beddis earlier in the evening for their continued support of the organization, agrees on both counts. “Theatre Calgary is the best live theatre you’ll see in the city,” he says simply, “Calgarians are becoming more culturally knowledgeable, as we travel and see what the rest of the world has to offer. And now we can say that Calgary offers the best and supports the best.”

Among the starlets gathered for a night of glamour were: Larry Fichtner, director of development for S.I. Systems, Terry Koch, Senior Associate at Stantec Consulting, Dr. David Cenaiko, Brian Mennis, regional director at Investors Group, Michael Stevens and Stuart Walker of UTS Energy, Nicci Shores of GWL Realty Advisors, Glenn Tibbles, managing director of Knightsbridge for Alberta and the Prairies, author Suzanne Devonshire-Baker, Jim Floyd, board director for Theatre Calgary, and Gary Duke, project director for the University of Calgary Health Research Innovation Centre.

Published in National Post, February 28 2009

Burtynsky's work hits home in Banff

Nestled amid the dramatic peaks of the Canadian Rocky Mountains is the thriving town of BanffWhyte Museum and within it, . Lovers of nature and art gathered there last week to welcome photographer Edward Burtynsky, whose work is the subject of a major retrospective on display until April 26, 2009.

The exhibit is called The Residual LandscapesOntario nickel mines and Alberta oil sands. and includes a collection of twenty-two images donated by the artist. Burtynsky’s work depicts human impact on natural environments, including provocative and strangely beautiful tailings ponds.

Nickel Tailings No. 30 portraits vivid veins of florescent orange toxins fluidly snaking across a blackened crust of earth. Oxford Tire Pile No. 1 is a whimsical but sad portrait of urban waste, the entire image consumed by tires stacked in spirals and layered across the ground.

“It’s a spectacular collection and an amazing gift,” said Robin Murphy, who attended the opening. Murphy is the director of public art for Torode Group, a company responsible for installing half a million dollars worth of sculptures in public spaces around Calgary. Earlier last week her company unveiled an eight meter high steel sculpture, inspired by tree roots, in the downtown core. The juxtaposition of nature and industry is even more potent in Banff.

“It’s extremely provocative,” said Michale Lang, executive director of Whyte Museum, “Given that we’re in a national park and that all these developments are going on nearby, just beyond our boundaries, it’s very important to be thinking of these things.”

Burtynsky’s work, which he describes as “metaphors to the dilemma of our modern existence” and “a dialogue between attraction and repulsion”, has drawn international attention. In 2005 he won the exclusive TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) Award, meaning he would be granted any three wishes. One of those wishes was a global dialogue on sustainable living, now available at WorldChanging.com. Two years later, he was the subject of critically acclaimed documentary Manufactured Landscapes. His photographs are in the collections of the MuseumModern Art in New York, the Biblioteque Nationale de France in Paris, and the National ArtGallery in Ottawa, among others. Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies is thrilled to have so many of his photographs in one space, and expects they will draw a crowd well into the Spring. of

“His work makes a statement,” says Lang, “And we feel that’s what a good art gallery does – let the work speak for itself.”

Among the substantial number of guests at the opening were: Bob Sandford, author and chair of the Canadian Partnership Initiative, Jason Stroh, co-artistic director of Alberta Dance Theatre, Graham Gerylo, Calgary city planner, Doug MacLean of Canadian Art Gallery and his wife, author Mary-Beth LaViolette, Blake O'Brien, co-owner of the Uptown Stage and Screen, photographer Maxine Achurch, communications guru Karin Poldaas and her husband, Quinton Rafuse, vice-president of geoscience at Ember Resources Inc, director Guy Clarkson, and Kirsten Evenden, the newly-appointed president of Glenbow Museum.

Published in National Post, February 14 2009

Disco Inferno: reality meets fantasy at "Chamber 54"

It’s not often you have the Mayor, the Premier, the federal Minister of Environment, and the provincial Lieutenant Governor in the same room. So when that precise cast of characters enters to the blaring tunes of “Disco Inferno”, introduced by a man in dark sunglasses and a white polyester suit, the feeling is positively surreal.

But real it was.

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual “salute to excellence” gala recently at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Top business and government leaders gathered to honour their own, and welcome Mrs. Lois Mitchell as new chair for the board of directors. The evening’s theme was Studio 54, re-named Chamber 54 and billed as “a world where fantasy mingles with reality and all labels will be left behind.”

It remains unclear as to just whose fantasy would have acting CEO of the Chamber, Geoff Pradella and president of ATCO Gas Brian Hahn compete on centre stage for the title of “disco king”, but one of them certainly took home that label during the evening's events.

Throughout the function, the Saturday Night Fever-styled host who called himself Dirty Martini, urged a black-tie audience to shout “get down!” every time he said “Chamber 54”, and requested that all the ladies give catcalls any time he appeared on stage.

After a four course dinner, which included Alberta beef tenderloin and a caramel flavoured banana trifle mousse, tributes were paid to the immediate past chair, Mr. Hahn (who left the position to assume leadership of ATCO) and the incumbent, Mrs. Mitchell. Speeches were made by Mayor Dave Bronconnier, Premier Ed Stelmach, and Minister of Environment Jim Prentice, who is also the Regional Minister for Southern Alberta. Most leaders encouraged young entrepreneurs to take a “long view”, saying the tough times ahead could be overcome by optimism and patience. Despite their high spirits, the honourable members of government were noticeably absent from the dance floor later that night.

Among the other party-goers were: local television personality Dave Kelly, chair of the gala committee Kathy Pawluk, the Honourable Norman Kwong, president of The Calgary Foundation Eva Friesen, partner at Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP Joe Lougheed, associate director of communications for Sunshine Village ski resort in Banff Doug Firby, team lead of community affairs for EnCana Vicki Reid, Steve Hogle and Bonni Clark of the Alberta Research Council, Judy McVean of Petro-Canada, and a host of MLAs from across the province.

Sherrold and Pat Moore, pillars of philanthropy and community spirit in this city, were honoured in a brief speech by Steve Snyder, who received the Sherrold Moore Award that evening. Mr. Snyder, president and CEO of TransAlta, was responsible for an ambitious project and strategy to end homelessness in ten years. With a firm plan, revitalized political will, and the best in corporate and non-profit talent, his initial committee became the Calgary Homeless Foundation, and his vision is well on its way to fruition. Cynthia Williams, a television producer, and the late Ian Anderson, former chair of the Chamber’s Natural Resources Committee, were also recognized with awards.

Published in National Post, February 7 2009

Maybe Obama isn’t so bad after all, says Bill Kristol

Last week, Teatro restaurant welcomed William Kristol for the third gathering of the 2008/2009 Salon Speaker Series, a dinner meeting of top intellectuals in Calgary held roughly every month. The affair attracts quite a crowd, impressed by the gourmet fare (sponsored by Enbridge), free-flowing libations (generously provided by Vendemmia Wines and Fieldstone Capitol), and witty, fervent discussions. Bennett Jones LLP is the series sponsor, with Global Public Affairs, National Post, Ron Mathison, and Coril Holdings Ltd. also pitching in.

On the guest list are James and Barbara Palmer, Bill and Sharon Siebens, lawyer Gregory Forrest, managing partner for Bennett Jones LLP Perry Spitznagel, Enbridge'sD'Arcy Levesque, director of the Institute for United States Policy Research Dr. Stephen Randall, president of Calgary Zoo Clement Lanthier, president of Global Public Affairs Randy Pettipas, and of course, the directors of the Salon Series, Rudyard Griffiths and Patrick Luciani.

Kristol, a far-right leaning columnist based in Washington D.C., holds a doctoral degree from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He jumpstarted his political career in the early 1980’s, working for the Regan and H. W. Bush administrations, as well as think tank “Project for the Republican Future”. In 1994, he founded The Weekly Standard, a highly influential – and Conservative – magazine, which he continues to edit. Last year he became an op-ed writer for The New York Times, and in the year to come he will appear monthly in The Washington Post. Kristol also appears regularly on Fox News.

Given all this, his comments after a sweeping Democratic victory in the last American election might have been predictable. But they were not. Kristol is actually very impressed by his new president, and believes he will govern as a centrist.

A week before his Calgary appearance, Kristol and a handful of conservative columnists dined with the new president at a private dinner party. “He might not have been washed in the blood of the lamb, but he touched the hem,” joked Tom Flanagan.

His personal impressions were positive. “Impressive, intelligent, thoughtful,” he said of President Obama, “He would listen to you and understand your objections to his point of view. He reminded me of moderate law professors I’ve met. He’s very calm. He was refreshingly normal and conversational, and that bodes well for him as president.”

Still, he joked, since the inauguration he’s been yearning for a place more conservative than his own country, and so he came up to Canada. There was an appreciative chuckle, but the comment also raised eyebrows. In this city, a newly appointed senate and “big spenders” budget are causing many to wonder if conservatism is not taking a hit across the continent. Even if that is the case, says Kristol, all is not lost.

Commenting on the weakened state of the Republican Party in the US he said, “I think it’s going to be helpful, ultimately. There will be a reinvigoration of conservative ideas. What you need as a minority like this is some chaos, some bitter debates. It would be helpful for the party.”

Published in National Post, January 31 2009

Bill Brooks Gala is the cat's meow

A new and fabulous trend is emerging in the society circuit – themes.

Everyone loves a theme park, right? And some people even opt for theme weddings, performing their nuptials in everything from Elvis costumes to Robin Hood leggings. Over the holidays, Alykhan Velji, a highly sought-after residential and commercial interior decorator based in Calgary, hosted “A Very Bollywood Christmas”, complete with turbans and synchronized dancing. So it was no surprise that he and his partner Jason Krell, (Tara Parker Tait PR) were not the only ones fully on board for the Bill Brooks Annual Prostate Cancer Benefit.

Its theme was The Great Gatsby, or the 1920’s era. Guests were urged to put on their “glad rags” and grab their “favorite hoofer” for a night of dancing, fine food, and “giggle water.” One was even invited to “drop some jack on silent auction items that are the cat’s meow.” And so they did.

The vast silent auction included a one-week stay in the private Mexican villa owned by CEO of EnCana Randy Eresman, and a return trip for four to Hawaii with a accommodations provided in the Hilton Hawaiian Village lagoon tower, among other hot getaways. Other highly desirable items on the table were: a men’s Seiko Premier Kenetic Direct Drive watch (valued at $1095), dinner for six at Catch restaurant (value $1200), and an original ink drawing by Audrey Mabee (valued at $250).

Lorne Marr preferred to be called Elliott Ness. Kim Stern, owner of Boutik clothing store, was among the many guests wearing a flapper-style dress, long pearls and a feather in her cap. President of the Art Gallery of Calgary, Valerie Cooper, lined up for some prohibition cocktails at one of the many bars around the ballroom. The drink of choice was bourbon, or a lemon drop martini for the more dainty. Food stations offered everything from sushi and dim sum to antipasti, fine cheeses, and bite sized mini burgers of lamb, tuna, or beef short rib.

This is the 11th year for the benefit. 578 people attended, and revenues exceeded past records. Guests attribute its success to the charismatic man behind it all, Bill Brooks, who flew between the guests with a wide smile late into the night.

In the beginning it was a much smaller crowd, who met for a formal dinner and talked about prostate cancer with rare openness. Since that time, Brooks has raised over $3.3 million toward research and treatment costs, and allowed men and medical professionals to talk about the disease publicly in Calgary.

City Alderman Ric McIver, Käthe Lemon, editor-in-chief of Avenue Magazine, Christine Wandzura, CEO of Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta, Jeff Kovitz, chair of the board of governors for The Banff Centre, and Emmy-award winning producer Chad Oakes of Nomadic Pictures were among the guests.

The ultimate cocktail party it may be, but some of the more corporate-minded guests still had their minds on what followed that glamorous era ... the great depression.

Published in National Post, January 31, 2009

How the oilpatch was stirred up by the Academy Awards

The road to the Academy Awards is paved with black gold, it seems. At least in Alberta.

Downstream, a Canadian documentary about cancer rates among residents living south of the oil patch, was recently added to the longlist for an Oscar nomination. While the shortlist nominations did not include a nod to the film, its early recognition sent giddy shock waves through the film industry here, and a mess of panicked PR bungles through an enclave of corporate energy giants and government representatives.

The film behind the buzz is a 30 minute documentary revolving around Dr. John O’Connor, a physician living in Fort Chipewyan, Alberta. For six years, the doctor has been making a public fuss about rare forms of cancer in the small town, which he claims are linked to the toxic tailing ponds from nearby oil sands development. For his trouble he was charged with four counts of professional misconduct and forced to move far away from the community, to Nova Scotia. The charges have recently been dropped, the water from tailing ponds tested, and a second – but very slow – peer review study of the situation is currently underway by the Alberta Cancer Board.

The documentary has already been screened at select locations in California, and a slew of film festivals from around the globe will show a full-length version of the film next year. Although very few Canadian have yet to see it – including those interviewed for the film – rumors are flying fast and furious.

Last month, the first response from Alberta Minister of Culture Lindsay Blackett was that “it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense” to fund a film “that’s going to be negative” of the province. “If I’m going to invest money in a film, the whole idea is to show Alberta in a better light,” Blackett said during an on-camera interview with CBC. The Minister retracted his comments six days later, saying his comments were in response to a hypothetical question, and that “no censorship or creative oversight is on the table, and it won’t be in the future.”

But the damage had already been done.

Actors unions cried out. Skittish staffers of the Alberta Film Commission denied it ever happened. The Los Angeles Times reported that “it might be impossible to fund a film in the future that is critical of local government policies and programs” and a tribal council member for the Chipewyan First Nation, whose plight is explored in the film, told local indie magazine FFWD, “The Culture Minister is not supporting the general public of Fort Chipewyan. We pay our taxes too.”

The vilified Minister made amends with locals, but the sandstorm speaks to a much larger communications malfunction. The Oscar buzz arrived soon after a carefully crafted admission by Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) that most Canadians don’t feel all warm and fuzzy about their work. That looks now to be a radical understatement. The same day Minister Blackett’s comments were made public, the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation requested a judicial review on the granting of oil sands leases from the province. And soon President Barak Obama will make his first official visit abroad to Canada, including a tour of the developments - America’s closest, and largest, supply of energy. For its part, CAPP is promising a “different conversation” – read: revved up public relations campaign - this year.

Leslie Iwerks, the film’s Los Angeles-based writer and director, says Americans are apathetic and ignorant of what their energy costs in human terms. “I understand that it’s big business and they need to feed the US appetite for oil,” she says of the industry, “But you see the environmental impact and the energy it takes to get at it, and it’s pretty eye-opening. It’s big government, it’s people not caring, it’s massive environmental destruction, it’s doctors getting charged with counts that aren’t necessarily true, and it’s a lot of unanswered questions. Those are the stories I want to tell, because it’s a story about human beings.”

"This product is being produced because there is a demand for it,” says Lorraine Royer, vice president of stakeholder relations at Global Public Affairs, whose clients include many big players in the oil patch, “The industry is well aware that continuous improvement is required, and an incredible investment occurs everyday to reduce that impact.”

What this film means for perceptions of the oils sands remains unclear, but those in the movie business are hoping this bit of drama will only help their industry.

“I don’t want there to be a backlash against Alberta film, that was my main concern,” Minister Blackett explains, “It’s knowledge-based and green and all those other good things. We want more Alberta films, more producers, more work in diverse industries here. Film captures our quality of life here, through our eyes. We can’t expect someone from Los Angeles or New York or Toronto to do that for us. We need the creative industries here. I made one mistake … I misspoke. You live, you learn.”

Published in National Post, January 23 2009 (<--click to see article online)

Opera and audience meet for brunch

Can something still be considered a city’s “best kept secret” if 300 people know about it? That’s a question some regulars of the Calgary society circuit are asking after last Sunday’s Opera Brunch at the trendy Hotel Arts.

Guests included the Honourable Mr. Peter Lougheed and his wife Jeanne Lougheed, Harold and Marilyn Milavsky, Pat and Sherrold Moore, Andrea Brussa, George Leitch, Bill Kerr, Iris Richards, Denise Dunn McMullen of Brunet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP, and David Tavender of Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP.

“It’s an extraordinary event,” says Mrs. Moore, “I can remember when it was just a handful of people at the Palliser Hotel, many years ago. It’s really grown.”

As it grew, the brunch moved to The Petroleum Club, where attendees would regularly squeeze into a roundish, multi-tiered room to feast on a formal brunch and listen to cast members from the upcoming production sing a piece of their choosing. This was the first week for the event to be held in the even more spacious Hotel Arts.

“It’s kind of interesting to see the singers in their civilian clothes just get up and sing something they like,” says Mr. Moore, “It gives you a different feeling for them as a performer and an artist. After this brunch, when you then see the opera, it’s like you know them a little bit.”

Indeed, the affair remains an intimate one, despite the impressive ticket sales. Many guests are long-time patrons of the Calgary Opera, and friends. Tables of eight are positioned around the room, with enough privacy to be cozy yet the proximity of a private dinner party. At the front of the room, well-spaced between the two long buffets, is a grand piano and circular stage. After guests have their fill of a mouth-watering breakfast buffet, the performance begins.

Calgary Opera’s next production will be Strauss’ play-within-a-play comedy, Ariadne Auf Naxos, opening January 31. Nine members of the cast individually performed selections from that opera and others, including The Marriage of Figaro, Romeo and Juliet, and the French-Canadian musical Notre Dame de Paris. Mezzo-Soprano Rebecca Hass sang a hilarious piece in English, lamenting the fate of the Alto singer who rarely has a chance to “wear the prettiest dresses and make out with the lead male” on stage. The performances were all brilliant and engaging, wrapping the audience in their melody and plot lines.

“We have one of the most adventurous opera programs in Canada,” says Grant Reddick, an actor and theatre coach for the Opera. He will appear on stage in An Ideal Husband in March.

Apparently, that edict applies on and off the stage. The Calgary Opera website lists some helpful etiquette tips for first-timers, including a suggestion to remove your cowboy hat so people behind you can see the stage. Reddick seems happy that the opera is attracting a diverse following.

“Calgary is a very permissive town,” he says smiling, “People here are very supportive and encouraging of the arts.”

Published in National Post, January 24 2009

That's a Wrap for Alberta Film Industry

Mere days before the Alberta Film and Television Awards nomination deadline, movie people from across the province were hitting the dance floor, tossing back free cocktails, and engaging in shameless self-promotion at the annual industry fundraiser.

The 2009 Alberta Wrap Party took place last week at Calgary’s Aero Space Museum. The former hanger filled with vintage planes provided a perfect backdrop for this year’s theme – Take to the Skies. Thankfully, the food was well above typical airline standards. Cal-B-Que, the largest supplier of on-site catering to local production companies, provided a happy assortment of fresh oysters, sushi, pot stickers, cheese and veggie trays, and deserts. The Afro-Latin sounds of local band Cumako sent everyone’s shoulders a-shimmy.

The last few years have given this industry good reason to celebrate. Canadian productions like Passchendaele and Freezer Burn, as well as American films like Brokeback Mountain, Santa Baby, and The Assassination of Jesse James have been filmed here.

Chris McRae and Michael Gibney reminisced about working with Ang Lee and Heath Ledger on the set of Brokeback Mountain. “They were just great guys,” says McRae, who helped Ledger learn to drive a stick-shift for one scene. After years in the industry the pair has recently opened The Window, a production studio and backlot. Business – and the parties that go with it – is still thriving, they say. After a few glasses of wine, they were ready to head to an after-party hosted by the Trailer Park Boys.

Jeff Brinton of Alberta Film Commission says that “good locations, great crews, and attractive financial incentives” make this province hard to resist. But Craig McNeil, the LA-based producer behind Jenny McCarthy’s 2006 hit Santa Baby, had only one blunt word for it – “Money.”

“Money, money money,” McNeil repeated in jovial tones, adding, “Not only is this the most affordable place to make a movie, but the people are great. And the landscape is also very diverse.” His next project, Santa Baby 2, is currently in production, transforming the clean streets of Calgary into lower Manhattan.

Film financing has not been such a cherry issue for everyone lately. Rumors have circulated that Minister of Culture Lindsay Blackett would re-consider funding films critical of the province after a shortened version of Alberta-made documentary Downstream was nominated for an Oscar this year. The film explores the cancer rate among Aboriginal communities just south of major oil sands developments. Randy Bradshaw, a producer of the film who attended the Wrap Party, would only say that he’s “proud and excited” by its success.

Proceeds from the Alberta Wrap Party will be donated to the Alberta Screenwriters Initiative, and the Performing Arts Lodge in Calgary and Edmonton.

One might be surprised by a thriving community of creative, showy, over-the-top types deep within the Conservative heartland, mingling daily among the straight-laced and unpretentious citizens. But as the year wraps up, the economy turns down, and the glamour of award season begins, let us resolve to embrace their homegrown style of entertainment – and provocations – like never before.

Published in National Post, January 17, 2009