Growth and Grind

Cowardice makes excuses, courage takes ownership

With Alberta schools back in session for less than a week, we’re already hearing of COVID-19 cases requiring students, teachers, and/or classes to self-isolate. Without question, this school year is going to be a rollercoaster for everyone connected to our schools. We need courage from the Government to own their decisions – not excuses and blame-shifting – if we find ourselves amidst a second wave of COVID-19 in Alberta.

Your risk of surviving COVID-19 is actually our risk

Cases are rising again because we’ve strayed from thinking beyond ourselves. When we talk about a personal risk assessment for COVID-19, the focus on individual conditions fails to factor in behaviours. Let’s think bigger here and assess in terms of contracting the virus, spreading to close contacts, and complications or further spreading for those contacts. Because, let’s be serious, the virus isn’t concerned if you can recover; its focus is on spreading as far and as wide as possible.

Wrestling to make sense of the Alberta school re-entry plan

As I (and so many parents) wrestle with Alberta’s school re-entry plan, I acknowledge that there will be an element of risk and no plan will be perfect. However, recklessness at the expense of the health and safety of our children, teachers, and support staff is completely unacceptable. There are a number of questions we should all be asking (repeatedly if need be) until we get clear answers.

Canada Day: There is Darkness and Light

Today, I acknowledge the darkness in the origins and recent history of Canada. Generations-long genocide of Indigenous people and systemic racism to maintain power and privilege of white people. And I celebrate Canada Day as a day to continue to work together to let more of the light in.

Allies stand up and do the work

The injustice of the events over the past few months (and the shift I’ve seen in the world these past several years) is a constant source of frustration. As a straight, white man with privilege I’ll never fully understand, my responsibility is to spend that privilege to bring about changes that overcome injustice and inequity.

Our new reality means adjusting expectations, staying connected

Many of us have taken on the second job as activities director for our kids. For the foreseeable future this is the new normal and everyone needs to shift in our expectations around work and home. As we navigate challenges, stay connected and be there for each other.

The Independent Bottler’s Tasting – Nov 30, 2019

For this tasting we went away from whiskies bottled by distillers and ventured into expressions crafted by independent bottlers. What surprised a lot of folks was how much flavour can be found in a young(ish) spirit and how smooth whisky can be at a higher alcohol percentage.