Weekly News Recap: March 2, 2018

CASA and the Department of Psychiatry in the U of A's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry have announced the creation of the CASA Research Chair in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Pictured (left to right) are Xin-Min Li, Faye Parker, Dennis Kunimoto, Caleb Chomay, Brandy Payne, Denise Milne, Margaret Shone and Scott Phillips.

We are in the process of updating our website. You will likely notice some changes in how you review, read, and link to stories in the recap. If you have comments, concerns, or questions, we want to hear them. Please send directly to vincent@vitreogroup.ca

I think control is the master human addiction. To try to control the world. -- David Allen

Calls for action

Changes to official donation receipts

  • Change required to official donation receipts (Government of Canada) CANADIAN CONTENT The Government of Canada has made a change to the requirements on donation receipts. Charities have until March 31, 2019 to make the change. 2/28/18

News

  • Red Deer College to become degree-granting institution (Red Deer Advocate) RED DEER STORY Congrats. Long-time coming. Well done all. "RDC was given the green light to become a degree-granting institution on Thursday. The decision comes one week after the government gave Grande Prairie Regional College approval to pursue becoming a university." 3/1/18

  • Alberta College of Art and Design gains university status (CBC) CALGARY STORY Congrats ACAD! "The Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD) has been elevated to university status, the provincial minister of advanced education announced in Calgary [...]. Marlin Schmidt said the change recognizes the unique role ACAD has long played as the only fine arts-focused post-secondary institution in the province." 3/1/18

  • Calgary's public art policy needs to adapt, panel told (CBC) CALGARY STORY "A former politician, an artist and the head of a company that builds public art all agree that the city's public art program needs some sprucing up." 2/27/18

  • Stephen Mandel wins race with 66% of vote to become new leader of Alberta Party (Calgary Herald) ALBERTA STORY Congrats! "Former Edmonton mayor and Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Stephen Mandel is the new leader of the Alberta Party." 2/27/18

  • Salesforce.org and United Way announce Philanthropy Cloud to match corporations with nonprofits (Venture Beat) Brilliant! "Salesforce.org announced [...] that it is partnering with nonprofit group United Way to launch the Salesforce.org Philanthropy Cloud — a platform that connects corporations and employees with causes they care about. Companies do not need to be previously using Salesforce products to access the Philanthropy Cloud." 2/27/18

  • University of Calgary has new board chair (UToday) CALGARY STORY Congrats! "Following an open recruitment competition, Jill Wyatt is the successful candidate for board chair. She served two terms on the senate of the University of Calgary and has been a public member on the Board of Governors for one year." 2/26/18

  • U of A receives $5 million gift to fund youth mental health research (The Gateway) EDMONTON STORY "As the recipient of a $5 million gift, the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Alberta looks to become a national leader in youth mental health research. Scott Phillips, a vice-chair of the psychiatry department, said the donation from the Edmonton-based, non-profit organization CASA Children, Adolescent, and Family Mental Health is perhaps the largest made to the faculty in a decade." 2/25/18

  • Amal Clooney says she's in awe of 'courageous' Parkland school shooting survivors (Today) "High-profile human rights attorney Amal Clooney says she's found inspiration from the teen survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida that killed 17 students and faculty members." 2/25/18

  • Nobel Laureate Richard Taylor dies at 88 (Chat News Today) ALBERTA STORY We were always immensely proud of Richard at the University of Alberta. RIP Dr. Taylor. We will not see your like again. "A Nobel-prize winning physicist with ties to Medicine Hat has passed away. Richard Edward Taylor, who shared the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1990, passed away on Thursday in Stanford California at the age of 88." 2/24/18

  • Long winter taking toll on Calgary charity that feeds those in need (CBC) CALGARY STORY "For the past five years, Leftovers Calgary has co-ordinated 72 delivery routes a week, using 200 volunteer drivers and one small transport truck bought with help from a corporate sponsor. That's a lot of help, but this winter has proven to be one of the hardest they have ever had to manage. 'Sheer maintenance, gas and all that stuff that it costs to operate our truck has gone up twice as much than we had anticipated' said executive director Lourdes Juan." 2/24/18

  • 'It feels like a changed city': International architect reviews Calgary's attractions during visit (CBC) CALGARY STORY "Calgary's recent architectural successes should encourage designers to aim small and build well-designed density in the core, a California architecture professor says. Major and impressive projects — like the Bow skyscraper, Studio Bell in the East Village and the new downtown Calgary Central Library — have garnered international attention." 2/23/18

  • Surf simulator coming to Calgary rec centre expected to steal title of world's largest YMCA (CBC) CALGARY STORY "The world's largest YMCA just opened in northwest Calgary, but the facility will have to give up its title next year when an even more elaborate recreation centre opens in the city's southeast. The 330,000-square-foot hub will have a competition and diving pool, water park, leisure pool and a surf simulator. It's a whopping 46,000 square-feet larger than the Rocky Ridge facility that just opened to the public in January." 2/23/18

  • Government of Canada takes action to address homelessness in Prince George, British Columbia (NewsWire) PRINCE GEORGE STORY "As the community entity for Prince George, the United Way of Northern British Columbia (UWNBC) is responsible for the project management and administering of funds through the Homelessness Partnering Strategy's Designated Communities stream. The UWNBC is receiving approximately $2.2 million to support local projects across the city that help prevent and reduce homelessness." 2/23/18

  • Positive economic impact of Red Deer College (Red Deer Advocate) RED DEER STORY "Red Deer College creates a significant positive impact on central Alberta. RDC recently commissioned EMSI (an economic impact data analytics company) to conduct an economic impact study to determine the economic value of Red Deer College to our region and the province." 2/23/18

  • Grande Prairie college tapped to become university (CBC) GRANDE PRAIRIE STORY Congratulations to all involved. "Grande Prairie Regional College is one step closer to becoming an accredited university. Advanced Education Minister Marlin Schmidt announced [...] the school will be allowed to grant degrees, in addition to certificates and diplomas. The next closest degree-granting school 460 kilometres away [is] in Edmonton." 2/22/18

Life and career hacks

  • How To Control Your Mind (Medium) "When you’re young, you have time and energy, but no money. As an adult, you get some money, but lose all your time. And once you’re old, you might have cash and hours to spare, but no fit body to enjoy either. We laugh at this, but at the same time, it scares us a little. Because we know it’s true." It scares me. 2/27/18

Philanthropic controversy

  • 21 International Red Cross staffers have left since 2015 because of sexual misconduct (CBC) "The International Committee of the Red Cross has joined the list of prominent charities that have uncovered sexual misconduct among its staff. ICRC director-general Yves Daccord says 21 staff members have resigned or been fired since 2015 after violating policy by paying for sexual services. Two others did not have their contracts renewed because of suspected sexual misconduct." 2/24/18

Trends and shifts

  • Understanding The New Rules Of Philanthropy In A Millennial Age (Forbes) "To better understand the new rules of philanthropy with Millennial donors, [Forbes] interviewed Rebecca Laramée, chair of Future Sinai at the Sinai Health Foundation, and Anita Strohm, vice president at Crossroads Communications." 2/27/18

  • One man's trash, is another man's treasure and a $28.5 billion industry in Canada. (Chat News Today) CANADIAN STORY "Kijiji released a report stating the second hand market in Canada is a $28.5 billion industry, with 91% of Albertans participating last year. The Post Thrift Store, benefits the Canadian Mental Health Association and executive director Cori Fischer said the second hand shop is one of the largest in Medicine Hat. 'We sell a little bit of everything,' she said. 'Our biggest seller is our clothing and books, we also have household items.'" 2/26/18

  • Ottawa looking to apply non-profit status to media companies: source (Globe and Mail) CANADIAN STORY "The next federal budget will include short-term financial help for embattled media groups, in addition to opening the door to giving a non-profit status to news organizations to help them cope with dwindling advertising revenues, federal sources said." This is, depending on your perspective, an alarming trend or an opportune one. Thanks to Scott Decksheimer for sharing this story. 2/24/18

  • Air ambulance charity points the way with fingerprint donations (Third Sector) It's a brave new world out there. Nice work East Anglian Air Ambulance. Thanks to Ron Bailey for sharing this story. "Supporters of an air ambulance charity now have the option of donating using fingerprint technology. In what is believed to be a first for charities, the East Anglian Air Ambulance is replacing one-off credit and debit card payments with recurring Apple Pay and Google Pay subscriptions. This will allow donors to tap or scan fundraising materials with their smartphones to enter the charity’s lottery as well as set up regular donations or provide contact details using their fingerprints." 2/21/18

  • Alberta Nonprofit Catering Social Enterprise Taps into Immigrants’ Skills (Nonprofit Quarterly) CALGARY STORY So lovely to see this amazing Calgary-based nonprofit showcased in NPQ. Thank you to Larissa Groch for sharing this story. #proud "The Centre for Newcomers employs 130 and annually serves over 10,000 new Canadians [...]. The social enterprise [...] is called EthniCity Catering [and] writes Van Rosendaal, 'taps into the culinary knowledge of new Canadians, turning their cooking skills into a business, while helping prepare them to work in the food and hospitality industry.'” 2/21/18

Large gifts

  • Concordia University receives big donation (ABC) "Concordia University in Seward is getting ready to expand its campus after a generous donation. The university was gifted ten million dollars by the Rupert Dunklau Foundation, it's the single largest donation in the schools history." Concordia University, Nebraska is a private, coeducational university in Seward, Nebraska. 2/27/18

  • Anonymous $1 million donation to help modernize UNO’s chemistry labs (ABC) "An anonymous donor has given the University of New Orleans $1 million to upgrade and modernize the school’s chemistry labs." 2/27/18

  • Disney announces $1 million donation to Boys and Girls Club due to Black Panther success (ABC) "Before this weekend, only three movies had ever topped $100 million at the U.S. box office in their second weekend in theaters. The release of Black Panther has brought that number up to four. [Disney] announced that in honor of that record-breaking success they're donating a million dollars to the Boys and Girls Club of America to help support science, technology, engineering and math education." Nice move Disney. I would love to see more of this with every profitable movie. 2/26/18

  • Kevin Durant Donates $10 Million To Help Prince George’s Co. Students Attend College (CBS) "Maryland native and NBA champion Kevin Durant has announced a $10 million donation and partnership with Prince George’s County Public Schools to fund a program that will help disadvantaged students attend college." 2/25/18

  • Donation preserves central Alberta wetlands and grasslands (Alberta Farmer) ALBERTA STORY "A central Alberta farm family has gifted 1,467 acres on the northwest shore of Gough Lake to the Nature Conservancy of Canada [...]. The property was donated by the late Agnes Isabelle (Nancy) Ferrier, who left the property to the conservancy in her will. Her father John and uncle Tom had homesteaded on the property after emigrating from Scotland in 1904." 2/23/18

  • Hammer Museum receives $30 million donation to begin expansion project (Daily Bruin) "The Hammer received $30 million from philanthropists Lynda and Stewart Resnick – the largest donation in the museum’s history. The donation will help fund a two-year expansion and renovation of the Hammer’s building, which will be renamed the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Cultural Center." The Hammer Museum is an art museum and cultural center in Los Angeles known for its artist-centric and progressive array of exhibitions and public programs; it is affiliated with UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles). 2/22/18

  • Blue Cross' massive donation excites charities, upsets some customers (ABC) "North Carolina's largest health insurance company announced [...] its plan to donate $50 million to North Carolina charities, non-profits and health-care initiatives across the state. It will also give out bonuses for employees - thanks to the new tax-cut law in Washington." 2/22/18

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

The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by ViTreo Group Inc. of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. ViTreo Group does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. All links are provided with the intent of meeting the mission of the ViTreo Group Inc. Please let us know about existing external links which you believe are inappropriate.

Vincent DuckworthComment