Weekly News Recap: October 25, 2019

Weekly News Recap: October 25, 2019

NASA ACHIEVES FIRST ALL-FEMALE SPACEWALK WITH ASTRONAUTS JESSICA MEIR AND CHRISTINA KOCH. Credit: NASA

Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes. – Jim Carrey

This week's highlights

  • Canada re-elects Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister #ButItsNotAllRoses
  • Former PM Paul Martin, concert promoter Ron Sakamoto and Springbank sculptor Katie Ohe are all honoured #Congrats
  • Costco is building its first ever store on a First Nation #Tsuutina
  • Multiple identities, becoming a polymath, becoming emotionally fit, and falling to sleep in two minutes #Hacks
  • The inequality of sugar and superheroes as therapy #UncommonKnowledge
  • Two $1 million gifts made in Canada, the Winklevoss twins make their largest gifts ever and Michael Jordan funds two medical clinics in Charlotte #LargeGifts
  • And so much more...

News

  • Justin Trudeau wins reelection but loses majority (New York Post) CANADIAN STORY Congrats to all who ran. "Prime Minister Justin Trudeau won a second term in Canada’s national elections Monday, losing the majority but delivering unexpectedly strong results despite having been weakened by a series of scandals that tarnished his image as a liberal icon." 10/22/19

  • A furry farewell: Central Edmonton's cat café closing (CBC) EDMONTON STORY It's too bad. I love this idea and it does work in other cities. "Lovers of central Edmonton's only cat café will have to find a new place to curl up with a coffee and a cat. After two years of business, Paws the Cat Café will close its doors for good [...]. Despite her faithful regulars [the owner] said the café [...] has been struggling for months." 10/22/19

  • $500,000 donation pushes Sask. hospice campaign near $20 million goal (Saskatoon StarPhoenix) SASKATOON STORY Lovely gift from a great family. "A local philanthropist has made a significant donation to the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation project to build Saskatoon’s first hospice, bringing the campaign to the brink of its overall goal. The foundation announced a $500,000 donation from Joe Remai [...] that will go to the Close to Home Campaign to build a hospice in the city." 10/22/19

  • Rowan House "Applauds" Introduction of Clare's Law (Okotoks online) HIGH RIVER STORY "The Rowan House Society in High River is responding to the UCP government's introduction of Bill 17. The bill dictates that women should be able to access their partner's history of domestic violence. Also known as Clare's Law, the bill is named for a woman from the UK who was killed by her partner." 10/21/19

  • Former PM Paul Martin receives honourary degree in Lethbridge (CTV) LETHBRIDGE STORY Congrats to all. "Former Prime Minister Paul Martin was in southern Alberta [...] to receive a special degree from the University of Lethbridge. During U of L's fall convocation ceremony, Martin was given a doctor of laws degree." 10/19/19

  • Sakamoto presented Order of Alberta (Lethbridge Herald) LETHBRIDGE STORY Congrats Ron. Well deserved. "But this week’s formal ceremony in Edmonton was different, he says. Sakamoto was presented the Order of Alberta, along with seven other distinguished men and women." 10/19/19

  • Photographer David Yarrow gets up close and personal in the name of art (CBC) VANCOUVER STORY Beautiful. "He's photographed some of the most exotic animals in the world in some of the most environmentally sensitive areas, and, now, for the first time, David Yarrow's work will be shown here in Vancouver." 10/19/19

  • NASA Astronauts Complete the First All-Female Spacewalk (New York Times) Another great milestone for humankind. Nice work! "Jessica Meir and Christina Koch ventured outside the International Space Station [...] to replace a power controller." 10/18/19

  • LU's new president installed, First Nations kids' advocate receives honourary doc Oct. 26 (Sudbury.com) Congrats! "Laurentian University's new president, Robert Haché, will be officially installed as the university's 11th president at the university's fall [convocation]. A veteran molecular biologist and biochemist, Haché has held high-level positions at York University, University of Alberta and University of Ottawa in addition to his leading efforts in collaborative scientific research." 10/24/19

  • On ice: Fort Edmonton's nordic spa cancelled (CBC) EDMONTON STORY This is too bad. I hope they can re-ignite this idea. A spa along the North Saskatchewan river would be amazing. "The proposed Nordic spa at Fort Edmonton Park is dead in the water. Fort Edmonton Management Co. (FEMCo) announced [...] that the organization and the Edmonton Nordic Spa group have 'dissolved their partnership.'" 10/18/19

  • Local sculptor accepts the Alberta Order of Excellence (Cochrane Today) SPRINGBANK STORY Congrats! Ms. Ohe, your work is spectacular. "Springbanks’ own Katie Ohe stood alongside seven other esteemed Albertans and received the province’s highest honour [...]. The renowned conceptual sculptor accepted the Alberta Order of Excellence at Government House in Edmonton. This isn’t the first recognition bestowed upon the 82-year-old. Ohe is an elected member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. She received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Calgary in 2001 and is a recipient of Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals, and the Alberta Centennial Medal." 10/17/19

  • Rossdale Power Plant history to be celebrated with $200K light display (CBC) EDMONTON STORY Love it! "Marking the 18th anniversary of its designation as a provincial historic resource, the Rossdale Power Plant will be illuminated with a new permanent light display. The $200,000 lighting installation 'highlights the architecture and history of the structure' and the start of the River Crossing area's [revitalization]." 10/17/19

  • Never built: New exhibit explores Edmonton's unrealized architecture (CBC) EDMONTON STORY I love this! This exhibit runs until Oct. 25 on the second floor of Edmonton City Centre west. If you hurry, you can see it before they take it down. "The glass pyramids of the Muttart Conservatory. The swooping metal of the downtown art gallery. The imposing classically inspired dome of the legislature. These are the iconic architectural landmarks Edmonton is known for, but what about the buildings that were envisioned for the capital city skyline but died on the drafting table? Unrealized, a new exhibit by Media, Architecture, and Design Edmonton (MADE), has put these defeated designs on display." 10/17/19

  • $4M ad campaign aims to lure workers to fill thousands of empty Calgary tech jobs (CBC) CALGARY STORY "Calgary Economic Development plans to roll out a $4-million ad campaign to attract tech workers to the city." 10/16/19

  • Calgary's public art program might move outside city hall (CBC) CALGARY STORY "The future of Calgary's public art program may wind up being run outside of city hall. City council suspended the program in 2017 while it undergoes a review. That decision came in the wake of public outrage about the Bowfort Towers, a large piece of public art built next to the 16th Avenue/Bowfort Road interchange." 10/16/19

  • Regina Public Library's new social media voice aims to educate through humour (CBC) REGINA STORY I love this! "This push to a more human voice on the library's social media accounts has evolved over the course of about three years [...]. It was luck and timing that he came in and took it to the next level." 10/16/19

  • Out of this world: Restored Edmonton planetarium preparing for liftoff (CBC) EDMONTON STORY Can't wait. Congrats to all! "After sitting vacant and neglected for years, Edmonton's only flying saucer-shaped structure will soon be ready to give stargazers a new view of the moon and the stars. A $7-million restoration of the Queen Elizabeth II Planetarium in Coronation Park is nearly complete. Restoration work on the building is expected to be finished by the end of the year. A grand opening is slated for some time in 2020." 10/16/19

  • Wood’s Homes Lethbridge expands to connect youth with permanent housing & work (Lethbridge News Now) LETHBRIDGE STORY Congrats! "Wood’s Homes has been operating in Lethbridge for several years to help at-risk youths and young adults find a place to temporarily stay and find support. Now, however, they hope to do more than just that." 10/16/19

  • Local man spends nearly 60 hours a week helping out community (FortSaskOnline) FORT SASKATCHEWAN STORY We love volunteers. Thank you Al! ViTreo is proud to be working with the Fort Saskatchewan Food Bank. "Al Gummesen puts in more time volunteering than a full-time job. The Fort Saskatchewan local spends around 50 to 60 hours a week volunteering his time in the community. Gummesen is part of organizations like the Fort Saskatchewan Elks, the Fort Saskatchewan Food Bank, the Fort Saskatchewan Furniture Bank, the Josephburg Choral Society and gives his time to his church." 10/15/19

  • Warren Buffett-linked company to build $200M wind power farm in Alberta (CBC) ALBERTA STORY Nice! "A company linked to U.S. investor Warren Buffett says it will break ground on a $200-million, 117.6-megawatt wind farm in southeastern Alberta next year." 10/15/19

  • New Vinyl Cafe albums featuring Stuart McLean celebrate show's 25th anniversary (CBC) CANADIAN STORY Sounds like a great Christmas gift for someone you love. #MissYouStuart "It's been 25 years since The Vinyl Cafe launched on CBC Radio and to mark the show's anniversary, two new albums of stories from the late Stuart McLean are being released to the public." 10/15/19

  • 'A great loss to the art community': Former Glenbow president Jeffrey Spalding dead at 67 (Calgary Herald) CALGARY STORY RIP Mr. Spalding. "Jeffrey Spalding, a prominent member of the Calgary arts scene and former president of the Glenbow Museum, has died at the age of 67." 10/15/19

First Peoples of Canada

  • Costco is building its 1st store on a First Nation (CBC) CALGARY STORY Brilliant! And congrats to all! "Tsuut'ina First Nation, west of Calgary, is getting a Costco. The store will be the anchor tenant for a 500-hectare, multibillion-dollar development along the edge of the ring road called Taza that will include retail centres, entertainment and hospitality complexes, a research campus, and office developments with a health and wellness component." 10/23/19

Seven life and career hacks -- one for each day of the week

  1. It’s Okay to Have Multiple Identities (Forge) Whew! And here I thought I might be a fraud. 10/23/19

  2. Becoming A Polymath With Skill Layering (The Mission) Is 'Expert Enough' enough for you? If it is, you can become a polymath. 10/21/19

  3. 5 Daily Habits of Emotionally Fit People (Personal Growth) I rest. I exercise. I need to work much harder on the other three. 10/20/19

  4. The Case for Checking a Bag (Gay Mag) A truly exceptional read. If you have ever travelled, you will identify. If you travel a lot, you will relish. Enjoy. 10/18/19

  5. Cutting Back on One Toxic Behavior Will Change Your Entire Life (The Startup) What are you complaining about? 10/12/19

  6. This One-Minute Exercise Can Seriously Boost Your Mood (P.S. I Love You) Yes, this is likely going to come across as super corny. But. I have seen it work. Many times. Our minds are powerful tools and they can be taught. 10/2/19

  7. How to Tell If You Slept Well Last Night and What To Do If You Didn’t (For the Interested) Good stuff and...a trick that the U.S. Army uses to help soldiers fall asleep despite very stressful conditions. 8/20/19

Uncommon knowledge

Philanthropic controversy

  • Pastor of Atlanta Church That Kanye Donated to Redirects Funds Over Trump Comments (COMPLEX) "Atlanta's New Birth Missionary Baptist Church plans to redirect a donation made by Kanye West to nearby Morris Brown College [...]. Bryant redirected the donation due to Kanye's continual support of Donald Trump's policies." 10/23/19

  • Airbnb donation timing ‘suspicious’ as Boston short-term rental regulations take hold (Boston Herald) "Airbnb co-founder Nathan Blecharczyk dodged questions after making a $1 million donation to Boston Latin Academy [...] at a time when his industry is facing strict regulations in the city that could affect his company’s bottom line." 10/22/19

  • Name change considered for Victoria school whose namesake supported racial segregation (CBC) VICTORIA STORY "The Greater Victoria School District has launched an online survey to gather input on whether or not to change the name of an elementary school named after a former school board chair who championed segregation in the early 1900s. École George Jay Elementary School, in Victoria, B.C., is named after George Jay, who sat as board chair from 1907 to 1934. According to current chair Jordan Watters, Jay's past racial policies has some people questioning if the school should bear his name." 10/21/19

  • 'Not in the position to crucify': Indiana school accepts 'Papa John' Schnatter's donation (Courier-Journal) "The [$500,000 donation], coming from the John H. Schnatter Family Foundation, will be put toward adding a new turf infield and outfield fence to the school's baseball stadium. The complex will be renamed John H. Schnatter Stadium. Schnatter fell from grace last year after he used a racial slur on a conference call, resulting in him being ousted by his former company. And while other groups have tried to move away from the Jeffersonville native, school board president Katie Hutchinson said that 'we're not in the position to crucify anyone.'" 10/16/19

Trends and shifts

Large gifts

Welcome to our recap of the week's news, articles, and information of note. ViTreo Group Inc. provides this information for the benefit of our clients, associates, staff, partners, and stakeholders. The content is collected and curated by ViTreo partner Vincent Duckworth. If you would like to submit a link for consideration, please send an email to info@vitreogroup.ca

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