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We need a Games referendum
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The article in the Calgary Herald on July 18 could not have been better timed. The same time as I read about Alberta wishing to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, the Australian state of Victoria (note the state of Victoria) pulled out from hosting the 2026 games. Why? Massive budget overruns with three years to go!Now, the province of Alberta wants to share the Games between Calgary, Edmonton and Tsuut’ina nation. Building new facilities and ancillary costs (think security) have made these spectacles ludicrously expensive. The events have become too expensive for what they are worth.If the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics are unable to have previous host cities stage the Games with maximum re-use of existing facilities — and cutting down on the ever increasing number of sporting events — then don’t hold them. Since taxpayers are on the hook for costs, hold a referendum with accountabilities clearly stated. Let us decide!
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— Frank van der voet, Calgary
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Hands off our Canada Pensions!
We “baby boomers” are the fastest growing segment of Alberta’s population. We may disagree with 99 per cent of federal government policies but what we do acknowledge is the financial stability of our Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security. Although we will never break even with the amount of income tax we have contributed at the end of each month for the 55-plus years of our working lives, those continuous payments — combined with what our children are currently paying and our grandchildren are about to pay — guarantee the stability of our retirement funds. Trading that stability for a dependency on the volatility of “one trick pony” energy prices is a non-starter. Threatening our financial well being and that of our children amounts to political suicide. Hands off!
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— Harry B. Chase, Calgary
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Re: July 20 – What lies ahead for the University of Calgary
In my opinion, adopting a culture of entrepreneurial thinking is a good thing for the University of Calgary. There is a big misconception that entrepreneurship is about starting a business. Rather, entrepreneurship is the process of taking an idea through a development process. Entrepreneurs seek the help of others in this process. Sometimes the help is transactional, sometimes it’s free. Research is entrepreneurial. Investigators raise capital (i.e. grants) and produce products (i.e. intellectual property). In research projects, students are exposed to entrepreneurship as part of the problem solving process. When students encounter problems, they often ask peers for advice. However, the most entrepreneurial students will go beyond their circle by seeking help from other departments, Faculties, or Universities. This can lead to collaboration and teamwork experience. Indeed, in the new optics of knowledge translation, investigators are even being told to engage potential knowledge consumers (i.e. customers) first before even starting a project. Hence, seeking feedback from the community is not a bad idea and can even get students noticed.
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By dipping their toes in entrepreneurship, students learn to drive their own careers. Futurists, such as Seth Godin, suggest that the classic job and career are disappearing. Companies now hire consultants rather than employees to keep costs down. In the future, many students will have to run their own consultancies. Godin, in fact, suggests that the best consultants will be artisans who have a coveted skill that they can offer to the community at a significant price. Students may want to consider putting their unique skillsets to work as a consultant (or artisan). Through entrepreneurial thinking programs offered at the University of Calgary, students now have the opportunity to put an idea through a development process, while remaining inside a sheltered university environment.
— Derrick Rancourt, Professor at Cumming School of Medicine; University of Calgary
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Re: July 20 – What lies ahead for the University of Calgary
The article’s authors seem to desire a plan that follows the self-serving wishes of tenured, scholarly professors rather than preparing graduates for meaningful employment. U of C’s new strategic plan displays a common-sense approach to post-secondary education that is both refreshing and sorely needed. Let us not be fooled by the rhetoric of professional intellectuals.
— Bob MacLeod, former U of C student and successful entrepreneur (retired)
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