Calgary News Briefs - December 2013

“Education is indeed the new buffalo and offers the promise of reconciliation through understanding, knowledge and through respect,” said Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo (centre) at the grand opening of Bow Valley College’s Iniikokaan Aboriginal Centre.

Grand Opening of Iniikokaan Aboriginal Centre at BVC celebrated

On Nov. 15, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo joined Bow Valley College president and CEO Sharon Carry and Calgary-Glenmore MLA Linda Johnson for the official opening of the Iniikokaan Aboriginal Centre. “The Iniikokaan Aboriginal Centre is a space for gathering, learning, and cultural celebration focused on the goal of Aboriginal learner persistence and success,” said Carry. The centre invites all BVC learners to participate in celebrating and learning about Aboriginal culture.  Said Atleo, “Having a culturally relevant facility dedicated to First Nations and Métis learners is important and will do a great deal to ensure student success. It is critical to have a space where students can share ideas and experiences, utilize our languages, and share our cultures, histories, our teachings, and our spiritual ways.” Aboriginal leaders on the centre’s advisory council contributed to the centre’s design which represents a lodge or tipi and uses traditional materials, such as lodge pole pines in the design of the ceiling. The space will be a gathering place for learners and Elders, independent or group study and cultural ceremonies, including daily smudges.

Tsuu T’ina, province sign ring road agreement

An official ceremony was held Nov. 27 with Tsuu T’ina Chief Roy Whitney, Alberta Premier Alison Redford and Alberta Transportation Minister Ric McIver signing a $341 million agreement that will see the continuation of the Calgary ring road. In the deal, Tsuu T’ina transfers 428 hectares of land to Alberta for the new transportation and utilities corridor and in return the province gives Tsuu T’ina 2,160 hectares of new reserve land near Bragg Creek worth an estimated $44 million as well as $275 million and pays approximately $66 million to replace housing and other buildings that will have to be torn down to make way for the ring road. The deal was overwhelmingly approved by Tsuu T’ina membership in a referendum in October.

Olympic hopeful Cockney inspires students at Morley school

Olympic hopeful Jesse Cockney joined Olympic gold medallist Beckie Scott and fellow Olympian Perianne Jones at Morley school to share their success stories. Cockney hopes to join Jones in Sochi, Russia, to participate in the Olympic Winter Games in February 2014. The students were enthusiastic to see Cockney, who talked about attributes such as hard work, the pain of the sport, strength and endurance. When he first started cross-country skiing at age 14 or 15, Cockney said he was not that competitive. Now 24, he has worked hard to achieve his success with two years on the national junior team and six years on the senior team. Cockney said he was inspired to pursue cross-country full-time when he was in Grade 8 and saw Beckie Smith win bronze in Salt Lake City. Smith now supports him. An Inuvialuit, who has lived in Canmore from the age of three, Cockney has a deep understanding of the challenges many Aboriginal youth face.

U of C hosts symposium on the future of the Canadian Senate

Amidst calls for reform or abolition of the Canadian Senate, the University of Calgary hosted a symposium on Nov. 15 to discuss both the prospects and the risks of reforming the upper body. Titled “Vanish or Reform: Reflections on the Canadian Senate,” the symposium was held at the Rozsa Centre. David Smith, a leading authority and distinguished visiting professor from Ryerson University opened the event. Other speakers included Dan Hays, former speaker of the Senate; U of C political scientists Anthony Sayers and Melanee Thomas; and political scientist Ian Urquhart from the University of Alberta. Stewart said it’s important to have thoughtful and informed discussions about the role of the Senate in Canadian politics. Senator Patrick Brazeau, along with senators Pamela Wallen and Mike Duffy, has been suspended while expense claims they submitted are under further investigation.

MNP named one of Canada’s best employers

For the sixth consecutive year, accounting, consulting and tax firm MNP has been recognized as one of the Best Employers in Canada. “One of the reasons MNP continues to be recognized is our commitment to the next generation, along with opportunities we provide for mentorship. A great example is our current five-year strategy to attract new Aboriginal team members,” said Clayton Norris, vice president, Aboriginal Services. “Our practitioners will be traveling throughout Canada to speak at Aboriginal high schools. During the sessions, students will learn about potential career opportunities in accounting, finance and consulting and the importance of finding an employer that cares about its employees and their unique needs. Aon Hewitt, a leading global HR outsourcing and consulting firm conducts three separate surveys to determine the Best Employers in Canada. Employees are surveyed, another survey looks at the alignment of goals and values with opinions of teams members, and a third survey evaluates human resources practices and policies.

Winners of 2013 Mayor’s Urban Design Awards Announced

Among the recipients of the 2013 Mayor’s Urban Design Award, held at the Aldred Centre at SAIT on Nov. 6, was Michael Chu’s design of an Aboriginal Artifact Archives and Research Facility, which received honourable mention for its reference to pueblo dwellings and affinity to the earth. The Mayor’s Urban Design Awards are biennial awards that acknowledge the significant contribution that architects, designers and artists make in improving city life by creating high quality buildings and public spaces.

Compiled by Darlene Chrapko