Weekly News Recap: February 4, 2022
Weekly News Recap: February 4, 2022
The water tiger — the animal being ushered in with this Lunar New Year — is less aggressive and more open-minded than the typical tiger, according to Chinese astrology. (Alex Lansang, “BARC the dog” / For The Times)
Wooing the press is an exercise roughly akin to picnicking with a tiger. You might enjoy the meal, but the tiger always eats last. -- Maureen Dawd
SOME GOOD NEWS
AFP Leadership Takes a Moment to Reflect: ‘There Is Light at the End of This Tunnel … What You Do Matters’ (AFP Global) CANADIAN STORY Great piece from two great leaders. Thanks for a much-needed shot of optimism. "AFP Daily reached out to AFP Canada chair Ken Mayhew and AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada chair Jane Potentier, CFRE, to capture their reflections on what has been a taxing year for many with numerous challenges professionally and personally. Mayhew works as president & CEO of the William Osler Health System Foundation, and Potentier is associate vice-president, alumni, and development, at the University of Victoria."
Australia pledges $50M to protect, preserve koalas (CBC) Important move in so many ways. Good on ya Australia. "Australia will spend an additional $50 million ($44.63 million Cdn) in the next four years to protect koala habitat and slow the decline of the vulnerable [species.] The marsupials native to Australia have been decimated by bushfires, disease and vehicles, with estimates of their numbers ranging from about 330,000 to no more than 100,000 in the wild."
Victoria group pilots 'Conestoga Huts' as temporary shelter option for unhoused communities (CBC) VICTORIA STORY Bingo! Nice move. "A grassroots group in Victoria, B.C., has built what they say could be a temporary, cost-efficient shelter solution to mitigate the city's homelessness crisis. [The] Community Alliance for Sheltering Alternatives (CASA) finished constructing their pilot Conestoga Hut, which they have invited the public to see in the Shelbourne Street Church parking lot. '[The huts] are about 60 square feet, they're safe, they're very heat efficient,' said Krista Loughton, a filmmaker with the Alliance, who's spent hundreds of hours connecting with unhoused communities for her work."
Art show honours the comfort pets provided during B.C.'s wildfires and floods (CBC) BRITISH COLUMBIA STORY Our co-existance with animals is one of the great joys in this life. #IHeartThisStory "Artist Amanda Pryzner-Dunn and her husband were evacuated from their home in Merritt, B.C., amid flooding in November. Their home is still being repaired. Despite the upheaval, Pryzner-Dunn says she was grateful for the comfort and support she received from her canine friend Jeff and drew a portrait to honour him that is now on display in a local art exhibit. Pryzner-Dunn is one of the 17 artists featured in the Creature Comforts exhibition being held at the Nicola Valley Arts Gallery in Merritt from Jan. 26 to March 13. In paintings, photographs and clay dioramas, these artists share stories about the important role pets played in their lives amid the wildfires and floods that ravaged B.C. last year."
Meet the B.C. woman who built a massive 'Snowgopogo' on her front lawn (CBC) QUESNEL STORY Growing up in Prince George, cities like Quesnel and towns like 100 Mile House were great places to visit. This story shows just one of the reasons why. #Stunning "While the Okanagan has Ogopogo, a mythical sea serpent that inhabits the Okanagan Lake, Quesnel, B.C., now has Snowgopogo — a giant snow sculpture that inhabits a local woman's front lawn. Vanessa Hildreth says she's been crafting snow sculptures shaped like serpents for years, each winter making them them larger and more precise. This year's edition has three humps, a tail and a head with eyeballs that glow at night. Hildreth, who works as a horticulturist, said she likes spending time outdoors and the sculpture has become an annual project that helps her combat the winter blues, although there are inevitable moments of frustration."
The Pet Expert: Betty White Challenge Raises Millions for Animal Shelters (The Meadford Independent) As I predicted a few weeks ago. Well played Betty. Well played. #ThankYOU "The Betty White Challenge snowballed into a massive global awareness campaign, with organizations everywhere reporting an increase in monetary and item donations, a growing volunteer base, and increased interest in their services. In fact, in the U.S. alone, donations through Instagram and Facebook raised almost $13 million. Experts estimate that the total donated through these and other platforms could exceed more than double that amount."
Sarah McLachlan Wants You to Rescue Abandoned Online Shopping Carts in New Parody Ad (Exclaim) CANADIAN CONTENT Love this. Nice work Ms. McLachlan. "It's been over 15 years since the Heritage Minute that was the airing of the first of many Sarah McLachlan animal welfare campaigns: the BC SPCA End Animal Cruelty commercial. Yeah, you know the one — a montage of cute fur babies with sad expressions set to the singer-songwriter's 1997 weeper 'Angel,' where she appears sitting on a couch while petting a Labrador Retriever and asking you to sponsor the neglected animals that are crying out for help. Now, McLachlan's asking you to open your philanthropic heart to a new cause: abandoned online shopping carts. The artist appears in the latest ad for Bolt, a service that offers one-click, password-free shopping from any online retailer, created by Ryan Reynolds' Maximum Effort agency. (You may know them from previous hits such as the infamous Peloton Wife spot.)"
B.C. doctors can now prescribe a year-long pass to Canada's national parks (Vancouver is Awesome) BRITISH COLUMBIA STORY I love my country. "Doctors across several Canadian provinces can now prescribe patients a pass to the country’s national parks system in a bid to improve their mental and physical health. On Monday, Parks Canada said it was joining the national nature prescription program known as PaRx, or A Prescription for Nature, which aims to get patients into nature for a minimum of two hours per week. A growing body of research has shown anxiety and mental health problems, including those triggered by global heating, can be effectively treated by spending time in nature. That can include everything from digging your hands into a backyard garden to exploring the backcountry (though studies have shown increased biodiversity, as well as sweeping views of green space and water, are best)."
TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK
With Commanders, the Washington N.F.L. Franchise Moves Past Old Name (New York Times) Nice move Washington. What a rebirth. "Washington, meet the Commanders. Nearly two years after dropping its longtime name and logo under pressure, the Washington Football Team announced it would rebrand as the Commanders, in a nod to the region’s links to the armed forces."
Canadian Olympic Committee signs up to explore feasibility of First Nations-led bid for 2030 Winter Games (CBC) FIRST NATIONS STORY OH man, I hope the IOC takes note and seriously considers this. Even if it doesn't happen, it will be remembered as starting here when it does happen. For, one day, it must. "Four First Nations, along with the municipalities of Vancouver and Whistler, have signed an agreement with the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic committees to start exploring the feasibility of hosting the 2030 Winter Games in British Columbia. The agreement, announced in a written statement on Tuesday, means officials from the Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations, along with the mayors of Vancouver and Whistler will work with the Olympic and Paralympic committees to assess the possibility of making a bid."
Anti-vaccine protest in Canada spurs outrage (AP News) CANADIAN STORY As an American I admire commented, 'What are you guys doing? You are our Plan B!' "In a scene at odds with Canadians’ reputation for niceness and rule-following, thousands of protesters railing against vaccine mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions descended on the capital over the weekend, deliberately blocking traffic around Parliament Hill."
Tom Brady Vanquished Father Time (The Ringer) You have absolutely nothing more to prove Mr. Brady. You are and will always be one of the NFL's Greatest of All Time (GOAT). Seven Super Bowl rings (more than any single team) along with so many other accolades. It has been a privilege to watch you lead on and off the gridiron. "After the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Kansas City Chiefs in last year’s Super Bowl, Brady’s three children and his wife, Gisele Bündchen, found him on the field. As the confetti rained down, Bündchen, who’d wanted Brady to retire for years, cut to the chase, according to Seth Wickersham’s book It’s Better to Be Feared. 'What more do you have to prove?' she asked." RELATED: Inside the amazing numbers that help define Tom Brady's legacy.
'I'm not trying to be controversial': Joe Rogan responds to Spotify protests, COVID advisories (CBC) #4BLossInMarketCap "Following protests of Spotify kicked off by Canadian musician Neil Young over the spread of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, the music streaming service said that it will add content advisories before podcasts discussing the virus. [Spotify] chief executive Daniel Ek laid out more transparent platform rules given the backlash stirred by Young, who on Wednesday had his music removed from Spotify after the tech giant declined to get rid of episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience, which has been criticized for spreading virus misinformation." RELATED: Joni Mitchell joins Neil Young in pulling music from Spotify over 'lies', Spotify Isn’t Really About the Music Anymore.
The Future of Fundraising: How to Future-Proof Nonprofit Fundraising in an Uncertain Environment (AFP Global) Great piece by Maria Clark. "Last spring, I watched nonprofits’ anxiety and uncertainty heighten as Bill and Melinda Gates publicly announced their divorce. With more than $5 billion doled out last year alone, the Gates Foundation is the biggest giver of grant money in the world. Many feared the Gates’ divorce would result in the foundation’s dissolution, costing nonprofits critical funds and putting their missions at risk. It didn’t have to be that way."
2022 brings the Year of the Tiger. Are we in for a passionate, tumultuous year? (LA Times) Happy Lunar New Year! I was born in the the Year of the Snake. I will leave it to those who know me to speak to how close my traits are that year -- 'People born in the Year of the Snake are intelligent, wise and charming. They are usually good-looking and alluring. They are also deep thinkers, like to plan well and are determined in whatever they do. Snake people are quiet, reserved and are good at giving advice to others.' "According to superstition, a person born in a particular year takes on the traits of that year’s animal. Laura Lau, co-author of 'The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes,' said people born in the Year of the Tiger tend to be powerful, rebellious, dynamic, adventurous, fiery, impulsive and unpredictable. Tigers also typically have strong ethics, so they’re very passionate about causes."
Jeff Bezos name will be on new Smithsonian building after $200M donation (New York Post) Apparently, no morals clause which, in my practice, I argue strongly against. "Jeff Bezos will have his name attached to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum’s new building for at least 50 years in exchange for a $200 million donation, according to a report." RELATED: Exclusive: Jeff Bezos’s $200 million, 50-year naming-rights deal with the Smithsonian does not include a ‘morals clause’.
Bombenon selected as new chamber chair (Calgary Herald) CALGARY STORY Nice move CoC. Congratulations Desireé. "The CEO of SureCall Calgary was sworn in to the board’s top positing effective Jan. 14, taking over from Brent Cooper, who held the position since 2019. 'It is truly an honour to lead an incredible board and collaborate with the chamber team for what will be a critical time for our city,' Bombenon said in a news [release.] “We are working to build and drive a positive dynamic shift for Calgary, ensuring stakeholder value for our members and business community."
Calgary professional theatres performing a high wire act in pandemic (Calgary Herald) CALGARY STORY It's going to be a tough few years. "When the first wave of COVID abruptly shuttered live theatres in March 2020, many companies used virtual performances to fill the void. Stage West was first to open for in-person performances almost 18 months later on Aug. 27, 2021, with Feelin’ Groovy and Canadian Superstars, a pair of original concert-style musicals. Alberta Theatre Projects then opened the Martha Cohen Theatre on Oct. 13 with the one-man show Stealing Sam followed closely by Theatre Calgary on Oct. 19 with Rick Miller’s solo show BOOM YZ in the Max Bell Theatre. Finally, Vertigo Theatre welcomed audiences to its theatre under the Calgary Tower on Nov. 13 with Agatha Christie’s Murder in the Studio."
SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS
Capital Campaign Gift Range Chart: Understanding The Basics (Capital Campaign Toolkit) When it comes to campaign planning, It all starts and ends with the gift chart. Want to know how many professional fundraisers you need to staff a campaign? The gift chart will tell you. Embarrassingly, it took me a long time to figure that out.
Spice up your life! 22 sensational seasonings that aren’t salt or pepper (The Guardian) This is quite simply one of the best lists of seasonings I have seen. So many new things to try (and so many old standbys to love).
Why hybrid work is emotionally exhausting (BBC) Yep. Now we have to figure out if we have to travel or wear pants? (Or both?).
Three systems I use to organize my life (Joash Xu) A simple set of systems. But powerful.
It's never too late to train your dog. These 6 tips can help you get started (NPR) I agree. It is never too late. We are late in training Geneva (thanks Covid) but we are still committed to doing so.
A Googler’s Guide to Running the Perfect Meeting (Better Humans) Like this author, I thought I knew better. I didn't and I don't. This is a great list. (Why did I not know about PBCs?).
Screaming into the void? Us too. Coping tips for stressed-out families in the COVID-19 pandemic (The Conversation) I feel you. This is on point. Maybe too much so.
TOP THREE GIFTS OF THE WEEK
UCalgary receives $25M gift for research into neurological disabilities (Calgary Herald) CALGARY STORY Wow. The Azrieli Family has given so much and they continue to give. They traditionally do not give outside of Ontario and Quebec. This is a huge coup for the UofC. Well done. "The donation will launch the Azrieli Accelerator, which will offer a “multidisciplinary team approach” to help create a better understanding of neurodevelopmental disabilities. It will also accelerate research into therapies and programs to support neurodiverse individuals and their families." RELATED: Azrieli Accelerator - Transforming neurodevelopment research across the lifespan, Susan Graham named Scientific Director of the Azrieli Accelerator.
McMaster receives $32M gift from former Hamilton Spectator paperboy (CHCH) HAMILTON STORY #Boom Nice work all. What a gift! "McMaster University has received a $32 million gift from a successful eye doctor and entrepreneur who once worked in Hamilton as a paperboy. Marnix Heersink has gifted the large sum to help boost the university’s role as a hub for biomedical innovation, entrepreneurship and global health. The gift will create the Marnix E. Heersink School of Biomedical Innovation and Entrepreneurship to educate the next generation of entrepreneurial health innovators."
T-Mobile kicks off Black History Month with $2.5M donation (TmoNews) Nice move Tmo! "[Feb 1] is the first day of Black History Month. And to celebrate this, T-Mobile has made an important announcement on its news page. The Un-carrier has just made a $2.5 million donation through its Magenta Scholars program. This donation will help support 'the next generation of diverse leaders who will carry on that legacy.' This donation will be directed towards the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, which will help give scholarships to deserving students who are attending historical Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and the new National Black Talent Bank program. The latter hopes to help high school graduates find a professional career and even provide them higher education opportunities. T-Mobile’s recent donation will also help expand programming and curriculum for its two initiatives– NextTech Diversity and Magenta Edge; which aim to provide training and connect underrepresented candidates to Black entrepreneurs."
LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES
Man builds his own pandemic curling rink on Quebec river (CBC)
First Rabbi deploys in RCN ship to better understand challenges sailors face (Royal Canadian Navy)
Rihanna's foundation donates $15 million to climate justice (ABC)
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