I took over the lead of Fair Trade Calgary, a venture under the volunteer non profit organization Engineers Without Borders Calgary Professional Chapter in the fall of 2015. I had agreed to lead the Fair Trade Calgary venture because I believe that change begins at home and that choosing to support fairtrade products is a small action that has the potential to make a huge impact when it is replicated again and again by multiple people. When we talk about fairtrade, we don't just mean a fair price paid to the producer, but it is a wholistic standard that producers should be working in safe and dignified conditions, without child labour or modern day slavery, a longterm relationship that allows them to plan for their future, while protecting the environment from harmful chemicals.

This is a video clip of a presentation that was spread across two panels and six speakers during the 2022 budget process at city hall. While the Calgary Alliance presented to council on panel 5 (you can watch the Calgary Alliance's presentation here), this was a joint presentation from various members who spoke on the issues they cared about and that they had built a presentation around. Bob Hawkesworth is a former politician and retired city councillor, and is a member of Good Shepherd Moravian, and he and a group of Calgarians provided ample commentary on the work that the city needs to do on climate action.

(This is a bulletin message from Bob Morrison, who has been involved with the Calgary Climate Hub and other groups in the city for a very long time. Here's the message he shared with his network, below.)

In just over a week, City Council begins debating the City budget.  We get to have our say at the public hearing on Tuesday the 22nd.

Hi. My name is Vincent and I help the Calgary Alliance as its Administrative Coordinator.

This microsite was developed as part of a reflection and evaluation from a group of leaders in the Alliance who formed a working group that was focused on supporting core teams within each institution. One item of feedback was to create systems of support for these core teams.

Wapiski-Miskanahk Iskwew (Suzanne Karhiio Dzus) Indigenous Organizer [email protected]

I have had the privilege of being a co-chair of the CACG Reconciliation Research Action Team since its inception. I have worked throughout this time with several people, including William Bellegarde, Xakiji Lee Crowchild and Beth Stovell. Beth and I have been the long-term co-chairs of this team and have worked through some difficult times together. I am proud to call her my colleague and now my friend.

The role a strong leader plays in a team is priceless. When Beth joined our research team, she was unsure of herself as co-chair. She worried about taking up too much space and crossing boundaries. She showed a great deal of concern about “being respectful.” Unfortunately, it was reflected in our team members. They followed her lead, despite numerous urgings from other Indigenous People on our team. This resulted in members being afraid of overstepping and unsure if they should take on assignments and activities.