Governor General David Johnston and his wife Sharon had a full itinerary on their recent visit to southern Alberta. Top of mind was recognition of citizens from Siksika, High River and Calgary for their response to the earth-shattering June floods. Johnston handed out rare awards, the Governor General’s Commendation for Outstanding Service, to representatives from each flood-affected community.   He was also the keynote speaker at The Calgary Foundation’s Vital City event on Sept. 16 at the BMO Centre where he shared his nation-wide initiative to inspire Smart and Caring Communities.

A pair of moccasins, an Inuit soapstone carving of a bear and a Métis sash were among the items buried in September as part of a time capsule, which will be unearthed in 2112. A ceremony for the time capsule was held in the rotunda of the Alberta Legislature to mark the Legislature’s centennial. The ceremony and procession to the capsule’s burial site were led by Speaker of the House Gene Zwozdesky. Earlier this year, Albertans voted for what they thought should be included in the container now buried in the legislature’s cornerstone.

Of 33 people seeking eight positions on Lethbridge city council, one is First Nations from the Blood Reserve. Martin Heavy Head, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of Lethbridge, is challenging five incumbents, several other candidates with electoral experience, and other newcomers to politics. He is the first Aboriginal person to seek a position on council. Heavy Head says he plans to tackle the issues of poverty, lack of affordable and accessible child care, sustainable development, and the need for a municipal food policy.

For the second consecutive school board election, Northland School Division will not be electing a corporate board. “The government still hasn’t made a decision on what the actual trustee board will look like,” said Curtis Walty, NSD communications coordinator. No timeline has been set as to when that decision will be made. Since the province disbanded the corporate board in January 2010, direction to administration and final decisions remain under government-appointed special trustee Colin Kelly. However, local school board elections will be held for the 23 schools that comprise NSD.