March 2020 Volume 2 Issue 7

Volume 2 Issue 7 • March 2020

published by ZX Media Corporation

DISCOVER ALBERTA’S INNOVATION ENGINE Extending the horizon of possibilities to solve today’s challenges, reaching new potential, and creating a healthier and more prosperous future for Alberta, and the world.

albertainnovates.ca

Engage. Inspire. Educate. Together.

CONTENTS

Krista Malden & Kenzie Webber

publisher@communitynowmagazine.com

INNOVATION The Future of Farming

5

True Innovation for Mental Health

CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS VOLUME 2 ISSUE 6 Jill Quirk

YOUTH FEATURE

Zanika Malden

Into The Unknown

13

Quite Teens and Parents

20

Les Mottosky

In The Community

24

Jade Alberts

Avoiding Nero’s Dilemma Through Problem Solving

27

Diane Swiatek

Alberta Innovates Heloise Lorimer/ STEAM Team Koleya Karrington

COMMUNITY The Good Fortune of the Irish

36

Building Community

40

Nicole Langton Tracy Guillet Gary Woods

BUSINESS Telling It Like It Is

48

Business Feature: Eye Evolution

52

Subscribe for your free issue of Community Now! at www.communitynowmagazine.com Copyright 2019 ZX Media Corporation, Calgary Alberta Canada Community Now! Magazine Copyright 2018, published by ZX Media Corporation.

Volume 2 Issue 7 | March 2020 All rights reserved. This magazine or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher and writer.

The Community Now! family would like to recognize that we are currently all facing challenges in dealing with COVID-19 and would like to thank all of the front line workers and health officials.

As a community we can all come together to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please stay informed on the latest updates and follow the advice of health officials.

#ItTakesAllOfUs

COMMUNITY NOW! Magazine is proud to support the 2nd annual Fathers Day Run and Walk.

Our very own Creative Director Kenzie Webber will be participating in the 10km run.

Click here to donate today, and help us raise money for an amazing cause.

N IO T A RE V O TU N EA IN F

THE FUTURE OF FARMING B

“

Canada is the fifth largest

agriculture exporter in the world, and demand for Canadian food products is only going to increase as the global population rises towards 10 billion.

ack in November, a press release from the Moscow Ministry of Agriculture announced a unique experiment taking place on a Russian farm. According to reports, researchers were experimenting with VR headsets for cows, hoping to increase bovine happiness, and therefore yields, by using virtual reality to give dairy cows the sensation of being in a peaceful summer field.

The story was picked up by numerous sources, including the BBC, CNN and the National Post. Meanwhile, The Verge, an American technology journalism website, pointed out that the research was somewhat dubious, and could be a simple marketing ploy for an upcoming dairy conference. (continued on page 7) Innovation \\ 5

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CAAIN PARTNERS • Alberta Innovates – Alberta • Vineland Research and Innovation Centre – Ontario • Olds College – Alberta • Lakeland College – Alberta • Linamar – Ontario • MDA – British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec • DOT Technology – Saskatchean • TrustBIX – Alberta

While we can’t confirm the legitimacy of the VR for cows experiment, it is true that farms are becoming increasingly high tech. Around the world, technologies like advanced sensors, imaging, remote monitoring, automation, robotics, artificial intelligence and blockchain are changing the face of modern farming. Alberta is becoming a global leader in advanced and emerging technologies for food and agriculture, thanks to a partnership between the federal government, Alberta Innovates, and a host of colleges, research institutions, large companies and small enterprises across the country.

The Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN) was created in response to a call for agri-food funding proposals under the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund. Eight core partners across five provinces came together with the mission to create technological solutions for the most challenging problems facing Canada’s agri-food sector.

CAAIN was awarded $49.5 million from the federal government, and is expected to raise an additional $58 million from industry partners.

Dr. Cornelia Kreplin, the executive director of Alberta Innovates’ Smart Agriculture and Food program and the interim CEO of CAAIN, sees synergy between two organizations.

“CAAIN and our smart agriculture program within Alberta Innovates are really complementary,” she says. “CAAIN is cross-Canada and is primarily focused on building small and medium enterprises, while our smart agriculture funding tends to be more focused on academic and not-for-profit research that’s evaluating new ideas.”

One of the key promises of CAAIN is its ability to create a connection between that early-stage academic research and the development of new technologies, some of which are coming from outside the agri-food sector.

That’s where Stuart Cullum, the president of (continued on next page) Innovation \\ 7

(continued from page 7...)

Olds College, sees the real potential. “What’s really exciting is the opportunity to work with companies, technology companies that aren’t traditionally from agriculture, who have a lot to offer agriculture. There is a real opportunity for Alberta in particular to pivot a lot of the technology and expertise that it has applied to other industries like oil and gas toward agrifoods to create a world-leading agriculture technology ecosystem.”

Piloting the smart farm At the core of agriculture’s technological future is the concept of the smart farm, where sensors, automated equipment, agricultural drones, and other high-tech machinery and software applications are all connected, giving farmers a full, real-time picture of what’s happening with crops from planting to harvest.

But creating these new technologies, getting them to work together, and training new generations of farmers to utilize them, is no easy task. Olds College began as a demonstration farm in 1913, and has been educating generations of agriculture students ever since. But as the face of farming has changed, so has the programming the school offers.

Cullum points to the launch of the Werklund School of Agricultural Technology as a major turning point. “We’re transitioning our farm from a traditional farm to one that really represents the application and integration of technology to support the demonstration of smart agriculture, and also supports companies that are developing the next generation of technology that needs to be applied, developed and integrated on farms,” he says.

Smart farms like the one at Olds College enable farmers, researchers and entrepreneurs to 8 // Community Now!

validate new technologies, demonstrate those technologies to agricultural producers, and educate the workforce of the future, which will need knowledge in both agriculture and technology.

Automation supplements a shrinking workforce Canada is the fifth largest agriculture exporter in the world, and demand for Canadian food products is only going to increase as the global population rises towards 10 billion.

However, despite ever increasing demand for Canadian food products, there is a growing labour shortage in agriculture. According to an RBC report, 600 fewer young people are pursuing agricultural careers each year, and the number of unfilled agricultural jobs is

Illustration by Scott Carmichael

expected to increase from 63,000 in 2017 to 123,000 by 2020. Most of those empty jobs are in manual, unskilled labour, and are often filled by temporary foreign workers.

“We’re having fewer people who want to do those jobs, and as a result, Canada and Alberta are losing out because we just can’t produce all that we are capable of,” says Kreplin. In order to meet increasing demand, farmers are looking to automation and robotics. Technologies under development include self-driving tractors, automated cultivators that reduce the need for humans to monitor and weed crops manually and robotic harvesters.

These technologies won’t eliminate the need for farmers, however. Instead, Kreplin says, it’s creating a new class of skilled, technical

and knowledge-based farming jobs with the potential to attract educated young people from a variety of backgrounds. “It’s helping Canada transition into a digital economy and creating a highly skilled workforce for the future.”

Data grows opportunity In addition to labour shortages, the other challenge to Canadian agriculture is land.

While Canada has no shortage of territory, the amount of farmland is decreasing due to urban development. Between 2006 and 2011, Canada lost 4.1 per cent of its farmland, or roughly 6.8 million acres. To meet a growing demand for food, the United Nations estimates that farmers would need to increase (continued on next page) Innovation \\ 9

(continued from page 9...) their yields by 70 per cent without additional land or water. Automation is part of the puzzle, but the second piece lies in data.

At the Olds College Smart Farm, soil sensors precisely measure the moisture, temperature and pH balance of the soil, while drones equipped with multispectral cameras take detailed images that capture details invisible to the human eye. GPS and yield monitors attached to combines gather data that helps generate detailed yield maps. All this data can then be utilized by farmers to reduce the risk associated with decisions about when to start planting, how much to seed, where to apply fertilizer or pesticide, or to understand why one area is more productive than another.

The next step is using the large amount of data we generate today to create artificial intelligence systems that can help predict problems before they arise. Using machine learning to analyze the connections between, for instance, soil moisture and pH, topographical variations and crop yield, farmers could then deploy intelligent, automated systems that would apply the correct amount of fertilizer in exactly the right place at the right time. By eliminating guesswork, farms would substantially increase yields while minimizing their environmental impact.

Traceability from farm to fork Sustainability is a growing concern in farming, and many consumers are happy to pay a premium for products that meet certain ethical and environmental standards. But labels that promise humanely produced animal products or environmentally sustainable produce can be misleading. Without being able to trace exactly where products come from, it’s nearly impossible for consumers to know if their steak really came from a small family farm, or whether the fruit they bought at the local farmers’ market was actually grown in Alberta.

TrustBIX President Hubert Lau is working to change that. His company is developing technology that makes it possible for producers, retailers and consumers to verify they’re getting what they pay for. The company acts as an aggregator for data collected from every stage of the beef supply chain, from producers to veterinarians to meatpackers and retailers.

“Our whole idea is to really pull together the information, and then cross reference it and make sure that it actually makes sense,” he says. By ensuring that the records agree without any inconsistencies, retailers can be sure their products are legitimate.

10 // Community Now!

The TrustBIX platform is designed to create trust without compromising privacy through innovative use of data and technology. Extensive research and development has allowed the company to create a new blockchain-derived technology to compliment their mature and proven traceability systems. At its core, blockchain is a list of transactional information that’s constructed in a way that makes it incredibly difficult to alter or edit. By tracking and correlating transactional data from livestock operations across Canada, TrustBIX can establish a secure record of when and where each animal has moved throughout its lifetime, securely and anonymously. “Trust allows us to add value to food products,” says Lau.

What’s next Agriculture has already come a long way.

Many new technologies are already being

used, even if they likely don’t include bovine VR systems. But Lau says what excites him most is what’s coming next.

“CAAIN is forcing organizations to collaborate for a piece of the action. And it’s creating a structure that’s going to help organizations work together commercialization in mind,” he says. Academics, technology start-ups and large enterprises all face their own challenges, which can lead to difficulty turning a good idea into a real, functional product. “Now we have an opportunity of formally tying those pieces together.”

The end result is the creation of a new agricultural ecosystem that can feed more than 10 billion people in an environmentally sustainable way, while generating economic growth, new jobs and prosperity in Alberta and across Canada.

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Youth Feature: Education

Into the Unknown STEAMING-up Some Spectacular Sustainable Solutions Jill Quirk – STEAM coach

W

e are at a crossroads in Education. Our provincial government wants to bring education back in time to the old-school ways of multiple choice tests and learning from the “stand and deliver” method. This is a hard pill to swallow for many educators. Many educators believe that people learn best and gain more through experimental learning opportunities.

I am part of the Community Now! magazine to help people understand the endless possibilities through ‘the right’ kind of education.

We can help transform how people see their community and their world. If we are driven

to the ‘stand and deliver’ method, it will lead to less opportunity for community in the classroom.

Now without giving the flexibility for allowing community involvement in the classroom, I think our communities will suffer.

A community is built on us working towards a common goal. At our school, Heloise Lorimer in Airdrie Alberta, when we see the need for something, we try to jump in to help make it happen!

(continued on next page) NOW! \\ 13

(continued from page 13...)

For example, on Valentine’s Day, we do a ‘cake walk’ every year to raise money for our school community. It was so great to see some of grade 4 and 5 students working together to make the cakes for our community dance.

Through this process, we learned that our students are great bakers and now we are going to do a monthly Bake Off to help nurture these skills even more.

Experimental learning is what STEAM education is all about. Nobody knows what the end result will be as it is all about the process of learning – rather than the result. STEAM is about learning how to work with others and find out what we are good at.

“The purpose of our lives is to be happy” The Dalai Lama.

Our Heloise Lorimer STEAM Team leaders know this best. “I have learned to ‘go with the flow’ when teaching STEAM as I never know what we might create with the grade 2s”.

Grade 4 STEAM student. “I have so much fun when in STEAM and learn a lot about myself when working with the grade 2s”. Grade 5 STEAM student.

The STEAM program at Heloise Lorimer is to promote life skills in school that go beyond the brick walls and allows for student self-dis-

14 // Community Now!

covery. Students are creating and making things that they never thought they would or could do.

In STEAM students are finding ways to connect and learn about their world. One of the paths we are exploring right now is to use STEAM to find out more about Indigenous Ways of Knowing.

Grade 5s constructed shelters to see if they could make something to withstand the harsh winter conditions (weather mimicked by a hairdryer and a spray bottle). Students had to use their knowledge of indigenous structures and knowledge of nature to recreate something that would mimic the natural resources found in different geographical areas of Canada.

Students printed their own 3D designs to help them tell a Frist Nation indigenous or Metis story. Students learned how to 3D design using the program Tinkercad and printing it on a Makerbot printer.

Joseph, a grade 5 student, recreated an igloo in tinkercad and then 3D printed it. He was so excited to see his creation come to life! Other students created structures inspired by: wig wams, longhouses, totems and various animals (see 3D buffalo for a Blackfoot story). (continued on next page) NOW! \\ 15

own food, but also to share with the community any crops we grow.

(continued from page 15...)

Students learn best when they self-reflect, here is Alia writing about her pithouse.

“What did I learn? I learned that sometimes It can be frustrating to do group work but when you let everyone have a part in it, it makes the building part go faster and everything else. I got to learn how to do Tinkercad. Which I think is really cool. What better materials would I use? I really liked the materials we used for our shelter. The structure got through the water test and the wind test. I think I would use some of the same materials again as we learned a lot about what a pithouse needs to withstand the weather”.

In STEAM, we are trying to find innovative ways to help our community. Finding ways to help the environment is a focus. Students want to look for ways to care for our natural world and find ways to connect with nature in our school. We have a small garden project where we are trying to start off and grow produce to not only educate about growing your 16 // Community Now!

Did you know that the world population will be almost 10 million by 2050? So even us in Airdrie will need to think about creating our own food supply to help feed our community.

One of our learning objectives of the “school to farm” project we are also working on, is for students to learn about the chemistry and biology behind farming practices. In our STEAM lab, students are growing a variety of crops (tomatoes, basil, bok choy, lettuce, beets, carrots).

Students are learning some important skills like how to keep the water balanced (PH), soil chemistry – (how to keep the soil balanced for each crop) and comparing the needs of each of the crops.

This project would not be successful without student leadership like grade 4 students Sydney, Sadie, Kinley (left to right top of next page) who are taking charge of the maintenance of the garden. They believe it is important to grow your own produce. These girls were recognized by The City of Airdrie by promoting students to grow their own food winning the Eco Youth Award.

These gardens have all kinds of help from kids throughout the school. There are also kids from each grade that are helping to choose the seeds we plant, how often we water the plants and how we care for the plants.

The Maker Minds STEAM day on March 7th, is an opportunity for the STEAM Team youth to find ways to overcome obstacles we all face by utilizing their skills and working together.

This is the goal for the Maker Minds STEAM day is to: find ways to collaborate, use our critical thinking skills and make new friends!

Allowing for students to lead this Maker Minds event provides a unique opportunity for students to use their critical thinking skills. When two grade 5 students approached me, and asked if they could help lead an “upcycling fashion station”, teaching other kids how easy it is to make their own eco fashion accessories, it was a big “YES!”. This is what it is all about! Students are in the driver’s seat for their own education!

Another request was, “can we make our own escape room?” How can you say no to that?

Of course! Liam, Cora, Kherys and Aiden are always winning the Locked Boxes we do in our grade 5 class – so they wanted a chance to

make their own Escape Room. So, they are on a mission to find ways to connect what they know in science to make a their very own escape room. They will be testing your knowledge and being tricky while doing it! …They have made a periodic table tree, they have put clues in balloons, and they have even constructed secret barn doors … this escape room to be an escape room worth entering!

Why do STEAM? I love the fact that I have no idea in which direction the ideas will lead us. The students feel empowered and that is important.

INTO THE UNKNOWN… “The key to a greener planet is in our hands”.

Let’s help MAKE the future GREEN! NOW! \\ 17

A REMARKABLE TEACHER, MENTOR AND LEADER Meet the amazing Jill Quirk! Jill is an educator, who never stops!

She continually strives to find new ways to challenge her students to think outside of the box when learning about Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. (STEAM) Jill takes world problems and the students create solutions to make a real impact while learning to be leaders, innovators and creative thinkers.

Thank you, Jill for your continued support in driving young people and adults to think outside of the box, play, create, be curious and for always being a leader and teaching leadership, and the importance of creating a safer, stronger ecosystem for everyone.

Thank you to everyone who made Makerminds STEAM Day 2020 possible!

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QUIET TEENS AND PARENTS

UNDERSTANDING AND HELPING YOUR QUIET TEEN Tracy Guillet

I

t can be easy for parents to worry about their quiet teens. It’s common to be unsure

if everything is okay when your teen doesn’t follow what their peers are doing. To help with this, I would like to share what I know about quiet teens from my counselling practice as well as being a parent of two.

Two common types of quiet teens Meet Helen and Jacob. They are struggling in ways that are common for introverted teens.

Helen is a high performer, academically gifted and focused on doing well at the highest level at school. Even though she is doing very well 20 // Community Now!

at school, anxiety still plagues her as she never knows when she has studied enough or when the paper or assignment is truly done. Sometimes this results in not sleeping for a few days due to working on school assignments or studying for exams.

Helen has struggled off and on with making and maintaining friends over the years. Due to her higher level of intelligence and her quiet, more mature nature, she finds it hard to connect with kids her age. At times she has been able to make a connection but it never really seems to stick. Helen struggles with loneliness due to this. She often wonders what is wrong with her; why can’t she connect like other kids do.

Jacob is a caretaker. He seems to collect the friends who are struggling socially; the kids that don’t really fit in. He has a kind, gentle spirit who makes space for others but rarely, if ever, speaks up for what he wants or needs.

Jacob appears on the surface to be doing well, in that he spends time with friends, does mostly well in school, and is well-liked by his teachers.

On the inside, however, he may be having a very different experience. He may be experiencing a high level of stress as he hears about the struggles his friends are going through.

As a caretaker, he tries his best to be a good friend, but over time the emotions are too much and he starts to crash. He now seems to become easily irritated and escalates quickly when he gets upset.

Helen and Jacob are often described as calm, but as the parent you have also seen what happens when things go off track for them.

For teens like this, they can quickly escalate and act uncharacteristically stubborn and not be able to listen.

At other times, they just disappear. It seems that they could spend hours and hours in their room. When you check on your teen, there is very little conversation. You leave the room feeling unsure if they’re okay or if you should be concerned. The lack of conversation leaves you feeling disconnected and helpless.

A day in the life of an introverted teen These teens notice how they are different from their peers. During this period in their life, being different can feel like a failure.

Because of their quietness, they sometimes have the experience of feeling invisible at school. With so many students, the teachers

often don’t have time to check in with the students not asking for help. Over time, feeling invisible at school can have a negative impact on their self esteem.

Introverted teens often struggle asking for help and there are two issues that show up.

The first issue is that they worry they are being a burden so don’t want to take up time if the teacher looks busy or other students are waiting. The other issue is that they can feel overwhelmed in a busy classroom so it can be hard to get the words out to ask for help.

Is your quiet teen also sensitive?

Being introverted and highly sensitive is quite common. Someone who is sensitive will have bigger emotions compared to others. These are (continued on next page)

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But as we age, many of us find ourselves dulled by monotony and inhibited by patterns of lifeless routine.

We are confined by our perceptions and adopt biases that taint our ability to think at our highest capacity. And worse, our fears divide us, creating barriers that inhibit our ability to work together.

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(continued from page 21...) people whose feelings seem to get hurt easier, and are impacted by the feelings of others.

Change in routine, being rushed, ending of a relationship (break up, moving away, death of a significant person) can be extremely hard to overcome. These kids will need more time to manage these changes.

What quiet teens need is often not seen as valid During the teen years, it is expected that there will be lots of socializing with friends, school clubs and sports teams. For some quiet teens this isn’t what appeals to them. A weekend reading at home, diving into a book is the best plan ever.

But society has told them in various ways that there is something wrong with this. Some teens push themselves to be social beyond the point that feels comfortable. For these kids, it becomes a cycle of pushing themselves to be with others and then crashing and withdrawing. Once they have regained energy the cycle starts all over again.

They often feel like failures because they can’t keep up the socialization the way their extroverted peers can. Consumption of alcohol is sometimes used to be able to be more outgoing. This can contribute to some of the depression and anxiety these kids can experience. The anxiety is often connected to feeling different and questions as to why they can’t be like other kids.

Common unconcerning behaviours of quiet teens It’s common for these teens to have one or two friends and often don’t hang out in a 22 // Community Now!

friend group. In the classroom, they are good students as they follow instructions and complete work on time but rarely participate in class discussion.

Quiet teens will need to spend more time on their own. Spending a day reading in their room can be enjoyable. They may also say no to some invites to hang out with friends due to needing quiet time at home. The need for time on their own can also show up at school. They may choose to read in the library as a way to disconnect from conversation with others or other activities that they do on their own.

In regards to what they share with you, there may be times when they don’t open up about and other times the information flows right out. This has to do with the introverted nature of needing time to process before sharing. If parents are patient and supportive, the information will come.

It’s also common for these kids to get easily overwhelmed over seemingly small events.

Likely something occurred that felt unmanageable which caused anxiety to increase.

Concerning behaviour of quiet teens Here are some things to be aware of that will help you see if there are reasons to be concerned about your quiet teen: • Frequently overwhelmed with sadness and anxiety • No friendships or friendships are shortlived • Spending the majority of time in isolation • Won’t open up when you ask them about how they are doing

How to help your quiet teen It’s helpful if the parents know about introversion and see it as part of the teen to embrace, not change. There is ample evidence that introversion is a trait that we are born with which means it can’t be changed. If the parent views quietness as a weakness, this can confirm any negative beliefs the teen already may have of this.

These kids are receiving so many messages through the media, teachers, coaches, peers, other family members, and friends not to be quiet. The result is that these kids are left feeling defective because they can’t change their quiet nature no matter how hard they try. It makes a significant impact for these kids when their parents provide an environment that supports their quieter nature.

If your teen is showing some of the concerning behaviours listed above, therapy can be a helpful solution for this. Quiet teens do well in therapy when matched with a therapist that understands their quiet nature.

Quiet teens can be successful and happy In our extroverted world, we have made quietness to be a negative characteristic.

This is actually not true. There are many great things that come from people who have the ability to observe and think deeply about what they see. When we embrace the gifts of our quiet teens, they can blossom into confident adults who don’t feel shame about their quiet nature. So for the parents of quiet teens, our work is to help them love who they are.

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IN THE COMMUNITY COMM UNITY

24 // Community Now!

MAKERMINDS STEAM DAY

NOW! \\ 25

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Avoiding Nero’s Dilemma Through Problem Solving Diane Swiatek, Founder and Director of Banbury Crossroads

“

School, Est. 1979

Driven by a

shallow conception of causes, options

and consequences, and driven by fear, panic magnifies the problem we already face.

P

roblems come in all shapes and sizes, and they are endemic in daily life. From having a plugged sink, to a marriage or parentage in shambles, to a looming pandemic of Covid-19, facing problems is our constant life challenge. If there is one thing clear about problems, it is that it’s in our best interest to face them, because the alternative— avoidance—is a chosen response that has significant negative consequences. The saying “Nero fiddled while Rome burned” is riddled with disgust, and its primary function has been as a warning, a message of what not to do. The story of Nero’s ineffective, and (continued on next page) NOW! \\ 27

(continued from page 27...) ultimately catastrophic, fiddling has come down to us through two thousand years, so, over this immense span of time, we have known that avoidance is weak, despicable, and worst of all, destructive. Its opposite, panic, is equally futile. Driven by a shallow conception of causes, options and consequences, and driven by fear, panic magnifies the problem we already face. Nevertheless, when encountering any problem, we must do something. We must try.

This is not to say that we will always be powerful in addressing all problems that we encounter. This is where those “wicked problems�, like pandemics, come in. Some are realistically beyond us as individuals, which means that we will most likely feel absolutely powerless to eradicate them, or even to make significant positive change around them. Again, as individuals, we may hope and expect that others of our social group, or of humanity in general, will do the dealing with 28 // Community Now!

the problems. This makes some sense, because some of us are more expert in the issues and are competent enough to actually influence outcomes. However, we must not belittle or abdicate whatever we can do, because if we do that, we become little Neros. The answer lies in togetherness, and the combined actions of multitudes of committed individuals and groups. Together, and coordinated, we have a much likelier chance to overcome the Nero in us—to identify multifaceted origins of our dilemmas, to generate a plethora of options to address them, to choose the wisest solutions, to undertake their fulfillment, to monitor the progress that is made, and to identify further goals. For this is the structure of problem solving.

As we have seen, actually doing problem solving is an extraordinarily complex process. It begins with foundational aptitudes and mindsets that people possess, either through genetic luck, or through effort and choice. From there,

Learning from others offers clear fitness advantages, and is thus essential and inescapable.

it depends upon the skills, knowledge, resilience and wisdom with which they proceed.

Trust, goodwill, empathy, self-regulation, creativity, compassion, altruism, flexibility, communicativeness and teamwork, as well as the abilities to deeply listen and cognitively reason, are all inexorably involved. None of these aspects can be missing. And even with all of that in place, problem solving can be difficult.

Problem solving is a social activity, even when we are the only one experiencing the challenge, such as time management or inattention to tasks. According to Julia Mumey, others are always somehow involved in the situation, in some aspect of it. As members of society, we have a compelling impetus to belong to our social group, and this is where an interesting extra factor arises, as identified by Samuel Veissière, Ph.D. He is an anthropologist and cognitive scientist at McGill University, who studies the relationship between cognition,

culture and cooperative human behaviour, all of which are components of problem solving. He has examined a prevailing, and simplistic, theory online entitled, “Humans Are Hardwired to Dismiss Facts That Don’t Fit Their Worldview”. If this theory thoroughly described reality, any constructive problem-solving process would be severely inhibited, because it would mean that listening, which is supposed to provide helpful information about the problem faced, would be utterly ineffective. This goes beyond not being able to trust the information we receive from the sender; this means actively, and internally, rejecting the information we receive. Learning would become impossible, and the whole process of problem solving would disintegrate.

But somehow, it does not. So how do we explain this propensity for people to dismiss facts that are discrepant with their current beliefs? What real impact does it have upon (continued on page 31) NOW! \\ 29

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(continued from page 29...) learning and problem solving? Dr. Veissière explains that, rather than being a scientific explanation for human stupidity, this tendency, sometimes called “motivated reasoning”, is a natural facet of human cognition, and its meaning is much more nuanced than the online presentation of it. Its positive value is adaptive, because, as culturally cooperative beings, we need other people’s labour, knowledge, values, skills and moral codes to survive and thrive. This includes the pooled work and ideas of people long dead. Learning from others offers clear fitness advantages, and is thus essential and inescapable. So, we tend to believe what we learn from others who are associated with us, and it creates a commonality between us. Culture is shared, and this is how it is shared. This also explains the evolutionary and developmental roots of bullying, when we view those bullied as being on “the other side”. That is the negative potential of it.

However, Veissière goes on to explain the grey areas around the concept of the “out group”, and the explanation is surprising. What, in fact, happens is that children and adults are more concerned with how “bad” or “wrong” others are, when they are with people from their own group. When people pounce on others for not following the prevailing mores, when they complain about “rednecks” or “urban elite progressives”, it is because these people are lumped in with their own kind, and the deviation is unsettling. Their criticism is harshest for those who ought to be with them, but seem to be against them. As he points out, when we encounter others who are truly different, like yak herders in Mongolia or Sufi mystics in Kyrgyzstan, we do not feel affronted if they believe in different gods or have different marriage practices. So, the crux of the matter is that when we complain about information that differs from ours within our (continued on next page) NOW! \\ 31

(continued from page 31...) own democratic culture, it is actually because we see those people as similar to us, and we are trying to establish congruency and connection.

The implication of this positive spin on dismissing, or refusing to consider, novel facts or opinions, is that, if we recognize the discomfort as being useful, and consciously push through the challenge that an opposition of ideas presents, the effort can lead to deep and meaningful learning. Intelligent reasoning is learned through argumentation. Cognitive scientists Dan Sperber and Hugo Mercier have said that encountering different positions activates our brains to engage in ‘epistemic vigilance’, a term that describes the process of being vigilant about knowledge, or thinking critically.

It takes energy to examine facts, viewpoints and lines of reasoning, but it is crucial for us humans to realize which elements of our current worldview are adaptive and need to be retained, and which new information needs to be heeded and absorbed. Engaging in debate and confronting our biases through conversation, no matter how uncomfortable, has been a primary means of learning and gaining wisdom throughout the centuries, since Socrates, and before Nero. Even today, candidates for Ph.Ds. and Masters degrees “defend” their thesis or dissertation before their committees, including outsiders who were not there during the process of producing it. Being able to present your case is necessary for proving that you know what your case is, as well as demonstrating the usefulness of that case for others. Being willing to engage in argumentative reasoning allows us to engage with narratives and perspectives that may be profoundly uncomfortable for us. Yet, it is beneficial for communities to respect those who ask difficult questions and present us with novel 32 // Community Now!

possibilities. This argumentative companionship can promote creativity, logical analysis, and flexibility, all of which increase our ability to formulate options for responding to problems. Indeed, a democracy depends upon the logical dissection of multiple views on every topic. We need to embrace the dialogue with enthusiasm.

Both in spite of, and because of, the strong tribal influences upon our psychology, the merits and values of embracing difference have found expression in all human traditions.

All cultures value compassion towards others in need, and hospitality towards others different from us. This is a source of our need for problem solving, forgiveness and reconciliation, which is, in turn, associated with mental health. Those values that underlie problem solving—altruism, loving-kindness, self-regulation and creativity—are all connected with creating democratic civilizations, where we are all motivated to sacrifice our own interests to negotiate good-enough solutions that will also meet the needs of others. Facing any problem implies a willingness to change, to look at long-term consequences, and to learn, in order to move away from selfishness and towards mutual respect. In the big picture, problem solving is interwoven with the creation of the democratic process.

Individually, and in the narrow picture, we may actually find ourselves yearning for certain problems, like plugged sinks, when we are instead facing the complications of a Covid-19 outbreak. We may never enjoy marital or child-focussed discord, but health scares and natural disasters wipe away all lesser problems. In any case, we will constantly have to face varying challenges, all the time. Sometimes, the matter is resolved by matching the tool to the need, which is easy enough, unless there are 50,000 tools to choose from. This is the experience home-owners have when they

need to unplug that sink. There may be tools enough, but not the expertise or experience to use them. Then, we need to ask for assistance from an expert. We need wisdom.

DATA IS HERE

The process is the same when problem solving deals with an enormous range of competing interests. The more complicated the problem becomes, the more we need to prevent ourselves from becoming mired in hopelessness and helplessness. We need to be flexible and to realize that our options are mutable. We may only find the best solution for now, but it may change later. Or we may find only a doable solution, because what we really want is impossible now, or ever. So, solutions may be just various shades of better and worse. The outcomes, the consequences, are what determine our satisfaction with them. If they lead to positive, or better, situations, then we may at least find some satisfaction.

All of us have a vested, ongoing interest in solving problems, because we know that if we don’t solve them now, we will still have to face and overcome them in the future. Consequently, when facing every problem, every time, we have to stifle the impetus to fiddle while our problem smolders into flames. When we actually try whatever is available to us, and especially when we collaborate on solutions, we will discover that we become competent, and we become stronger together. Experience leads to knowledge, skill and maturity. If we can acknowledge how far we have come, we will allow optimism to keep us going toward a future we want. We may not know exactly where it will take us, but then, the future is always a composite of all of our decisions and all of our actions put together, and we are creating it as we go. Life is inherently and unavoidably unpredictable, but the important thing is to participate—to not be Nero.

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COMMUNITY COMM UNITY

Community \\ 35

The Good Fortune of the Irish

“

W

By Garry Woods

ith Saint Patrick’s Day about

Recently I have

noticed a lot of people on various social

media platforms and in mainstream media, becoming “offended” and feeling “sensitive” about certain things that other people have done or said.

36 // Community Now!

to make its annual appearance, I felt it timely for me to offer some of my thoughts on the whole Irish thing and how we may be perceived at times. I write this with a smile on my face, because whilst it is largely factual and based on my own experiences, it is intended to be humorous. An asterisk (*) denotes an attempt at humour where there may be ambiguity.

The Irish are no strangers to oppression and adversity, and have frequently throughout history been labelled as stupid, drunkards, and always itching for a fight (usually after making a stupid decision while drunk). Now

whilst those accusations may be accurate*, we have always maintained a sunny disposition, even going so far as to laugh at ourselves and make jokes at our own expense. We are strong and resilient enough not to take ourselves or the thoughts of others too seriously, and usually we refrain from being too offended.

I mentioned adversity too. I was of course referring to the potato famine. The resulting exodus from Ireland was a great opportunity for the Irish to spread their anger and drunkenness throughout an unsuspecting world.* The truth is that we actually forgot, or were too inebriated, to plant the crop the previous year. That was too embarrassing to admit to, and so the potato “famine” was born.* I should mention too that Ireland has produced some of the finest writers the world has ever read. Obviously this article and its author are an exception to that.

Recently I have noticed a lot of people on various social media platforms and in mainstream media, becoming “offended” and feeling “sensitive” about certain things that other people have done or said. Many of these people who claim to be aggrieved do not even know (except maybe through a computer keyboard) and will likely never ever meet in person the purported “victim” of the alleged outrage. I would never try to minimize the feelings or hurt of genuine victims, but it seems to me that many people have a little too much time on their hands and much of that time seems to be spent absorbing the ills of others and of the world, and somehow behaving like they have been personally targeted. My guess is that your sphere of influence probably doesn’t extend to Donald Trump or Kim Kardashian, so why bother? There really are more important and time worthy things going on closer to where you actually live. Bear with me, this will make sense.

Maybe it is high time for me too to be personally outraged and offended by all of this bias. Of course I am joking, but imagine the following scenarios and how I would like to see them change if I lost the ability to laugh at myself and to not always see the motives of others as sinister or full of evil intent.

Firstly, if you have genuinely misplaced your breakfast cereal and you see me, please don’t come running to me with a dopey grin, doing a stupid dance and screaming “Where’s me lucky charms?”. Please in future approach me at normal speed and with a nondescript facial expression and calmly ask me, “Have you seen my lucky charms? I appear to have lost them.” Alternatively you could simply say, “Where are my lucky charms?”, which is also grammatically more accurate. I may then try to assist you in finding said charms.

I was so disappointed last week when I visited Johnston Canyon and the waterfall was frozen. I had two flame haired beauties with me and it was our intention to bathe in the waterfall, cleansing ourselves with some Irish Spring soap. I have never done that. Can you imagine the reaction from the Conservation officers in the park if I did?

Also, next time after a rain shower when the sun comes out and you look up at the sky and see a rainbow, that rainbow will from this day forth be a simple meteorological phenomenon, easily explained away by those qualified to do so. What is more, there will be no receptacles of any kind at the end of it, which may or may not contain shiny precious metals (like gold, for example.)

Christmas (for those who recognize it) is only 282 shopping days away. Can you imagine

(continued on next page) Community \\ 37

(continued from page 37...)

Christmas Day after dinner with the family gathering around an open fire and Darby O’Gill and the Little People NOT being screened because it is an inaccurate representation of undersized people from the island of Ireland, and just adds to the already heavy burden which these leprechauns and their forefathers have had to bear. Believe me (although I am 1.75m, not cm) when you are that short, even the smallest burden will make you feel like Charles O’Atlas, the largely unheard of Irish strongdwarf.

And bear in mind, without these kind of people, Dorothy would never have made it back to Kansas from Oz. Maybe it is time to change it to Darby Gill and the Friends of Dorothy.

March 17th - Saint Patrick’s Day (sometimes Saint Paddy’s day, but NEVER Saint Patty’s - that is so wrong and sounds more like his sister.) - I’m sure, although I didn’t know the guy, that he didn’t go out and get hammered even on a weekday. I’m sure he was never heard to say to his sister, Patty, “Oh, it’s March 17th, my day, - I’ll forget about driving these pesky snakes out of the country and go and get smashed.” Still, I know it makes people (and the bars) feel good to be Irish for the day, so permission granted to carry on with that one.

“Top o’ the morning to ya!” - if you even know what that means, please restrict your usage to between 1155 hours and noon. Otherwise it is the bottom or middle of the morning. If you want to argue that the “top of the morning” is at the other end, then please use it only between midnight and 0005 hours, meaning of course that at that time of night you will have 38 // Community Now!

fewer opportunities to use it and to pretend that you are Irish. Outside of these times, a simple “Hey” or standard “Good Morning” is widely accepted and understood, and won’t attract any strange looks.

Of course, as mentioned, I say all this in jest. I need to write that because several times I have fallen “victim” to the trans-Atlantic Bermuda Triangle of humour. My brand of humour just doesn’t seem to travel well. Many people just see me as sarcastic and condescending. Whatever. * Please folks, all humour aside, pick your battles carefully. If you don’t have a hill to die on, there is really no need to go out and find one.

You’ll only get grass stains on your clothes.

Divert your energy, and whatever resources and skills you have, into helping the many people in this world who are genuinely struggling. There are many. It may be a mental health issue or an addiction, or something else. Those people could only wish to have the first world “problems” that we (imagine we) have. Start with your own friends and colleagues and with your community, and use your energy to be positive, kind and constructive. Above all, don’t take yourself too seriously.

The big day is almost here, so I need to sign off now and go and buy myself a big green hat with a square brass buckle on the front of it, and a pipe. Then I’ll go to Shoppers for some ginger flavoured Just for Men if they have any left. Take care and happy Saint Patty’s Patrick’s day!

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BUILDING Community

S

“This has become more then just a class. We have become a community.”

Stated many of the Pre-Trades Students

40 // Community Now!

enior SAIT Instructors Daniel Swaitek & Luigi Di Grappa are BUILDING community within a classroom designed to create leaders, innovators and active community members. Together with Mcbride Career Group (MCG) they are “Changing Lives” inside and outside of the classroom. *Construction Pre-Trades is an MCG program that provides employment preparation and technical training to unemployed Albertans for a wide range of opportunities within the construction industry.

“The Province of Alberta is working in partnership with the Government of Canada to provide employment support services and programs.” Stated Lauren MacLellan BA Bed Program Coordinator; MCG

Are we different? CTC means a Cooperative Teaching Community.

Luigi Di Grappa To start off in the late months of 2016 I applied for a position to become an assistant for a Carpentry program in Corporate Training at SAIT. Having being given the privilege to assist Daniel Swiatek in this program I soon began to realize this program is a lot more than just "Carpentry". This program is about "Changing Lives"!!!This program is about redefining success and giving people the ability to make a change for the better in their lives.

I can't believe I have been so blessed to be a part of this journey to make a difference in someone's life.

I see in the first few days a new student walks in the door not knowing what to expect. Some have only the clothes on their backs with empty stomachs and pockets, but their eyes, minds and hearts are full of dreams. Some don't speak the language or have some barriers that prevent them from having a prosperous career.

Our job is to create an atmosphere of positive learning......each individual has the right to learn and will be successful in which ever path they choose, from framing to furniture. Being taught the "Hard Skills" as how to use power

tools safely and how to frame a wall, build a deck or make a piece of furniture. Also teaching the "Soft Skills" as how to communicate with one another and how to stay employed.

Both skills are required for the job, we sharpen and hone these skills to set them apart from the rest. Taking away the fear of failure helps them succeed, it doesn’t take them long to realize it is okay to make a mistake as long as they have learned from it. Networking with others is encouraged so they realize they are not alone in their new opportunity at a fresh start. Building their community will give them confidence in getting and staying employed. They can work together and support one another. It's amazing seeing after 11 weeks how much a person has gained in their workmanship skills and confidence levels.

Their reward is gaining the skills in the ability to become employed and gaining new friends which during this entire time have become "Family". My reward is seeing the individual become employed and realizing that we have made a difference in their life. This program has no limits or boundaries, each day is open to new thoughts and ideas which will broaden an individual’s horizon. This program truly is a gift.

Luigi (continued on next page) Community \\ 41

(continued from page 41...)

From: Daniel Swiatek I begin by saying that I have had a fantastic career being an instructor at SAIT. Every day, I have enjoyed the process of teaching carpentry and mentoring my students. Every single day, I looked forward to the workday, and saw my life in a positive light. I have been nominated by students for an Instructor of the Year Award. I have also received a STARS SAIT Award. But the real rewards I felt every day, in the growth in myself and the enthusiasm and development of my students.

The background to this particular novel class was nondescript. It started indirectly, as a result of becoming freed-up from the Carpentry Apprenticeship program at SAIT in June, just before the 2013 Calgary flood. I found myself volunteering to help de-water flooded basements with thousands of other volunteers.

It was tragic for all those residents around me, as well as inside me, because I didn’t then know what I was going to do with myself. It was amazing to see how total strangers developed into teams working without being intro-

42 // Community Now!

duced and by just using their eye language.

Resources appeared, food appeared, and tools appeared. I contemplated the power of people and of community. It was a perfect example of selflessness standing in the middle of a battle field with nature. I put my self-worth into the battle with muddy basements. I also went into writing poetry. Poets do not have to retire.

My supervisor had told me to “see Dick Babbot”, so in September of that year, I discovered that Dick had a proposal for me that led to an opportunity of a lifetime. He wanted me to spearhead a program that became this Pre-trades course. It turned out to be the most difficult, most creative, most satisfying and successful enterprise of my life.

To begin with, though, it was nothing but difficult. When I began, I was asked to teach a class with a warning: no budget, no tools, no room, no course outline, no materials, no desks or chairs. I was told, “Dan we just want to get these people employable. Come up with something”. Since I had to organize the program from scratch, I was busy with extreme basics: find a room, clean it, paint it, and find tools and equipment, including some from

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home, from storage rooms and out-of-the-way places. I had to devise the curriculum, which was easy, in that I had accumulated an enormous amount of knowledge over all of my years at SAIT. At the same time, it was a complicated and multifaceted task. All the rules of teaching that I had used with apprenticeship students did not apply anymore, except decency. First, these new people were broken in some way, and they were just asking for help.

I started, with nothing to lose, and with no textbooks, no notes, and no exams.

I realized that I needed to have no homework, since some students had often had a poor history with schooling in their past. I chose to use short lectures interspersed with the hands-on work when I could see the students needed information. I began with just getting some tools and having them make something simple. I needed to show them, model safe and skilled behavior, and then to let them try it themselves. I focused on having them measure, cut, fit, and assemble pieces. I realized the importance of raising their awareness of safe working habits.

For this course, with these students, I knew that this was not just a matter of giving them hard woodworking skills. I needed to call upon my long experience in developing those soft skills that had enabled me to get and keep a job when I was in elastic youth, and that would enable them as well. I knew that networking helped—knowing people in the field, who recommended me for a job. This combination of being personable and lucky led, with experience and effort, to my becoming a Journeyman. But I had opportunity to get that first experience to learn woodworking and to become valuable. The conundrum is that you need the job to get the experience, but you need the experience to get the job. I have observed that Catch-22 during my whole teaching life of thirty five years in Canada. In some ways, the trades have been like secret organizations where you need an invitation to get in.

So, in beginning this new program, I had to face elements in students’ lives that I had not been concerned with before. I had to consid(continued on next page) Community \\ 43

(continued from page 43...) er what they wanted and needed from their learning environment and for their future lives. I knew they needed less stress, gentle respect, coaching, understanding, no piles of paper, and no degrading grades. I chose to teach the class with no grading or homework.

Grading naturally sets up competition between students. This course was for beginners, and it was inappropriate for them to compete with each other. Instead, they needed practice with tools, with building. They needed to develop courage to try. They needed to learn. I was heading toward project-based learning and adult education without knowing it.

Starting off, all adult students will come in with very different levels of skill and experience. So, I have let them build from, and use, their existing skills. Homogenous learning and teaching will not happen. Each class will 44 // Community Now!

be a little different, and they are all hungry.

The class is done by continuously doing until mastery, like athletes practice their sport. We concentrate on the projects to be of marketable quality.

This program emphasizes real-world learning. So, the classroom becomes a full dress rehearsal of what to expect in industry, and we look and act like we would in the field. The students wearing full regalia—safety vests, safety equipment, glasses, etc. The students get acclimatized quickly. In the field, learning is always “hot learning” upon demand and when necessary. Learning takes place on the spot, with a coach gap-teaching to fill in for the weaker skills. Students need to learn that if they can’t do something, they need to call upon someone for help. This helper could be anyone available. Everyone is open to asking and answering while using woodworking tools.

Cooperation builds buildings. Teamwork builds buildings, so why should a classroom be different and emphasize competition instead of teamwork? Learning works better by building a cooperative environment. So, we choose small teams, and proceed to mastery by participation. In short, the class is about how students can get themselves onto that team and stay on that team. I chose the responsibility for the teaching environment, they assume the responsibility of self-directed learning. It becomes a buffet of opportunity.

We have an open-door policy. Anyone, student or employer, can walk in the program space unannounced and visit. The new students have to know what they are doing, and look like they know what they are doing at all times, being fully engaged, building, learning or sweeping. Nobody will be sitting.

skills that need to be celebrated, in action, in the class room.

We are always pleased and relieved when actions work the way we want them to. However, this does not always happen. Mistakes are part of learning what to avoid. They are built into the process of learning. When students ask why the mistake happens, they can be lead to discussions about theory. A mistake unrepaired stays as a mistake. Mistakes that are corrected become corrections. All buildings are built by corrections. All skills are built by corrections. This is where exams can become derailed, because they can focus on mistakes, whereas that is the exact point where a correction needs to be made. We keep our language clean of failing types of words, which takes a supportive attitude on the part of the instructor. This is the heart of growth.

Learning becomes intrinsic and exams become redundant. Considering that we want students to thirst for quality and success, the final exam would more appropriately be, “Are you enjoying it”? Or, “Are you, and would others, be satisfied with the quality of your work?”

“It’s a learning community. We get the opportunity to ask questions and help each other.”

In a course such as this, a sense of enjoyment is actually important, because it provides the motivation to proceed with new learning. In keeping with the focus on attitude and soft skills, I have made sure that there are no hidden agendas on the part of the instructors.

I am only there to make sure that all of the students have a level of success in keeping with their effort, natural abilities and talents. The class spends time redefining success, examining what gets you the job, and what gets you fired. We discuss how we relate to each other, the boss and the customer. Most programs are good at teaching hard skills, but it’s the softs

The traditional classroom may improve each person’s skill set, but competition prevents the class from becoming a concert. In order for students to practice how to be successful, I came up with an action compass for the (continued on next page) Community \\ 45

(continued from page 45...) classroom which has also been proven effective on the job site. The acronym is ABCDEFG, which are the notes of the piano.

Symbolically, each student tunes their own skills first, and then tunes into all the others.

Their class or the job site becomes a fully engaged concert, with each individual still retaining their own unique skill sets. When they make music, they connect into a team of all winners. The instructor has to get out of the way when this happens. The class then feels like a bee hive, and so do well-run jobsites.

The first A for attendance also means “bee there” in their new energized attitude. Here are the components of the acronym:

• A Attend, be present • B Basics, learn the basics well • C Community, build your community • D Danger, don’t take chances • E Stay fully Employed • F Failure comes with asking why • G become Good before fast • H Heart, Honor, and an element of Heritage in what is learned 46 // Community Now!

In addition, in music, there are silent notes that create emphasis for the sound that is produced—in woodworking, it is humility.

I know that in the big picture, offering this course is much more expansive than just woodworking. I am aware of its role in human history. For thousands of years, humankind has needed to make everything to survive, from the stone axe, items of wood, clothing, food, and ornamentation. I believe that people have to do something with their hands to feel euphoria. They learn by doing, and doing creates confidence. We all need to feel safe, gather and make, learn and improve, share and belong. I call this a learning community, and not a classroom. When a program is over, there is usually a tear welling in many eyes.

There may also possibly be the welling of fear in someone’s voice, reflecting the unknown of a job site. But I can tell you that when they leave the classroom, they all walk taller. Only doing creates confidence. We are People Building inside a Learning Community by Practicing Success. The class is about building successful patterns, hot learning in the moment, team building with open learning, and so all of this is transferable beyond just woodworking or laboring. These are skills for life.

THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO NOT STOP QUESTIONING.

CURIOSITY

HAS ITS OWN REASON FOR EXISTING.

TELLING IT LIKE IT IS

In this issue of Telling It Like It Is meet Khurram Virani The Co-founder of Lighthouse Labs.

That is an impressive feat and congratulations. What drove you to start the company and how were you able to expand so quickly and successfully?

You teach people to code and that’s kind of an important role in tech. Please share your curriculum and the job placement success?

Thank you. It was no easy feat, but at the same time, the response from students and the community has been fantastic from the beginning, and allowed us to get to where we are today.

Our 12-week web development bootcamp has 93% job success! This high of a success number has really helped validate what we teach, how we teach, and our commitment to student success. It helped put us on the map as a progressive, alternative pathway to becoming a software developer.

The idea was brought on by my experience in hiring and onboarding software developers from colleges and universities. It led me to realize that there’s a gap in what they teach compared to what is needed on the job. It led us to create our flagship program, the web development bootcamp, a fully immersive 12-week program that allows people to switch careers into software development. This program is perfect for career changers who may or may not have a technical background.

Today, not only is our web bootcamp the largest one in Canada, but our mission itself is also larger. We’re committed to efficiently prepare the workforce with the skills necessary to succeed in roles that leverage Data & Technology. To that end, we’re constantly working with government, companies, and of course the workforce itself to help deal with the constantly shifting landscape of “work”. Given how much the future of work is (and should be) a conversation today, and how many roles are being affected by data and technology, it’s no surprise that we’ve had an amazing response from the community, allowing us to grow as quickly as we have.

Not only do we have part-time courses for working professionals in the realms of coding and data, we’ve also organized some of the biggest coding workshops in Canada (HTML500) and worked with the Canadian government to help K-12 teachers prepare for integration of computer science topics into their curriculum (CanCode).

Our Calgary location has grown rapidly over the past couple years, with over 100 graduates placed to date and many more as we continue to grow our campus there.

48 // Community Now!

The program is quite intensive indeed (9am to 9pm daily, and homework on weekends too!), but students are immensely supported by seasoned professionals (we call them “mentors”) that provide technical assistance throughout the program.

Students start with fundamentals of programming using JavaScript, focusing on various technologies and skills including backend development with NodeJS and Ruby on Rails, database development with Postgres and SQL, and complex front end development with not only HTML and CSS, but also modern frameworks like React.

Our part-time programs are in the evenings and the goal there is to help upskill working professionals by bringing code and data skills to make them even more proficient with their work.

Let’s talk about Canada’s tech industry and Calgary’s place in it? Please share what you see and what is needed for it to grow and prosper?

Absolutely. We’re seeing Calgary go through an immense change for the positive. The main thing there is that Calgary and Alberta have been Oil & Gas centric, in terms of industry. But what many folks don’t realize is that there is also a very strong tech and innovation ecosystem there, especially in Calgary, and it continues to grow at a rapid pace! It’s going through an industrial transformation, really.

There are numerous organizations that support the ecosystem there, including Platform, Startup Calgary, Calgary Economic Development, and Rainforest Alberta among others. We have had some major technology success stories like Benevity, Attabotics, Shareworks by Morgan Stanley (formerly Solium) and many others.

There’ s also private funds like Harvest Ventures and Thin Air Labs in the region are also on the rise. “The rising tide raises all ships”, as they say, and these funds do exactly that by investing in an entire ecosystem rather than just specific businesses.

As for Canada, well I believe it well on its way to becoming a powerhouse of tech talent and thought leadership.

What is next for Lighthouse Labs?

We are doubling down on our investment in Alberta and Calgary, and a big thanks to OCIF (article) and Minister Bains’ Business Scaleup & Productivity funding (article) for backing us in this growth. By 2021, at least 300 software developers are forecast to graduate in Calgary alone.

Secondly, we are adding various programs to help upskill and reskill workers around Data. We’ve recently launched an Intro to Data Analytics part-time program that is starting in April 2020, and will be adding more data-related courses in the near future. Stay tuned for more exciting news on that in the coming weeks!

Lastly, we are engaged in a variety of partnerships and grants, not just in Alberta but across Canada and with all levels of government with the goal of increasing access to skills upgrading and retraining for all Canadians.

If you had one piece of advice for small businesses or start-ups, what would it be?

Alberta is a great place to start a tech (or tech-adjacent) company, but you don’t need to think small or Canada-only. You can start here and prove out the market but then look to the US and beyond for growth. Alternatively, if you’re doing a capital raise, don’t be afraid to look to the valley or NYC or elsewhere, where it is more available and brings with it more experience and a bigger network.

Jade Alberts Jade Alberts Consulting 403-771-1301 www.PeerGuidance.ca www.JadeAlbertsConsulting.com www.LinkedIn.com/in/JadeAlberts

mobile optometry “Our lives are busy and eye health is often overlooked.”

Born and raised in Drumheller, Alberta bothers Taylor Colberg and Dr. Trent Colberg are setting an example for ALL forms of health care with their Mobile Optometry Clinic.

They are Providing the community with the convenience of eye health care and education.

Founded in 2018, after Dr. Trent had countless conversations with friends and family, discovering that getting routine eye exams is viewed as an inconvenience.

In the fast-paced world of today, every minute counts for employee’s, employers and families. Evolution Eyes has taken the work out of getting to the clinic, and has made eye care as seamless and convenient as possible, by bringing a full-service eye clinic directly to the patient. Doing so will allow for less time off of work, more time with family, and provide you with the comfort of knowing your eye health is being taken care of. (continued on next page) Business \\ 49

BUSINESS FEATURE OF THE MONTH!

A study for Calgary Economic Development earlier this year forecast local companies are planning to spend at least $18.4 billion on digital transformation in Alberta through 2022 (article).

There’s a great amount of investment from the government as well, for example the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF), a $100 million dollar fund created by the City of Calgary to fuel innovation in the city. Another example would be the $38 million committed by Minister Bains, to be spent on 27 different projects across Alberta (press release).

Meet the Clinic

50 // Community Now!

Dr. Trent Colberg graduated from Pacific University with a Bachelor of Science in Visual Science. He continued his education at Pacific University, completing his Doctor of Optometry (OD) and Master of Business Administration (MBA).

As part of his optometry practicum, Dr. Colberg spent parts of one year in Portland, Oregon, Germany, and Atlanta, Georgia.

During these stops he was able to work at clinics that specialized in, but were not limited to: low vision, vision therapy, pediatrics, primary care, tertiary medical care optometry and disease.

Taylor Colberg attended the University of Calgary, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, before completing the Canadian Securities Course, Canadian Investment Funds Course, and LLQP Designation. Taylor works as a Trusted Advisor, helping individuals and companies develop and implement strategies to ensure all of their Life, Disability, Critical Illness and Group Benefit needs are taken care of.

Both brothers are passionate about community, eye health, and helping create a more accessible, convenient way for people to have access to eye examinations, care and education. Both are avid golfers and love travelling.

Business \\ 51

BUSINESS FEATURE OF THE MONTH!

Meet the Team

N O N V T AT IN I U ON ED C

O

IN

A True Innovation For

MENTAL HEALTH

W

Les Mottosky

hat if coaching is good, but not sufficient?

What if psychologists & psychiatrists aren’t the way?

What if science has some answers, but isn’t asking all the right questions?

“

Western humans have

separated ourselves from nature. We’ve forgotten that we are nature.

52 // Community Now!

What if governments are actually taking steps to support greater freedom and well-being for their populations?

What if all these ideas are coming together to create a renaissance?

It’s true. It’s happening; we’re on the cusp of the Psychedelic Renaissance.

For several generations in North America, Mental Health has been a major focus of our society. The conversation has taken on greater prominence and urgency with the growing complexity of our modernity and the insidious creep of the impulsive, attention-robbing devices in our pockets. Stress is high. And every year it grows higher. Environmental toxicity, pharmaceuticals, nutritionally compromised and processed foods, light pollution, shrinking attention spans, EMF exposure, addiction to comfort … the list goes on.

Western humans have separated ourselves from nature. We’ve forgotten that we are nature.

The lessons of our ancestors — learnings that have kept humans healthy physically, mentally and spiritually — are being buried in a mountain of racing ones and zeroes displayed on an endless ocean of screens. All of this occurring while we pat ourselves on the back for being so clever.

Conversely, there are ancient traditions that have taught about humanity getting less intelligent as we advance. There’s ample evidence that those concepts have some merit. We live on a planet that has enough manufactured weaponry to end all human life (not to mention other life forms) 1000’s or maybe tens of (continued on page 55) Innovation \\ 53

54 // Community Now!

(continued from page 53...) thousands of times over. The World Health Organization predicts by 2030 that anxiety and depression will be the number one health problem internationally. These are not the markers of a healthy species. There is no animal more capable of optimizing it’s own health than and yet, we’re the sickest of all the living creatures. And it’s not even close.

There’s a valid argument that we are getting less intelligent as we get more clever.

Our species has become the living definition of insanity: doing the same things over and over and expecting a different result.

Suffice it to say, that what we’ve been doing is not effective and so, maybe, it’s time for a new approach? (Which happens to be an old one, too. Many cultures past and present have used plant medicines and other entheogens for rights of passage, healing and envisioning new ways of doing things.)

All of this is paving the way for The Psychedelic Renaissance. Those mind-altering substances from the Summer of Love are back. Only this time, rather than using them for recreation, they’ll be used to help heal a profoundly ill population. Science has learned a lot about brain chemistry and human behaviour the past 6 decades. Psychedelics are making a comeback by being applied with restraint, insight, and a focus on healing.

With a trained therapist, careful dosage, and a relaxed setting, these substances have been found to be powerfully impactful in addressing afflictions like PTSD, treatment resistant depression, smoking, Lyme’s disease, OCD, addiction and dozens of other ailments.

As for results, 80% of the people using this type of supervised therapy, report the ses-

sions as one of the 2 or 3 most important experiences of their lives.

Visionary organizations like the 501-member based Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) has been working to raise the awareness and understanding of these substances since 1986. Their approach, persistence and influence is starting to pay off. In the past 18 months, Denver and Oakland have decriminalized psilocybin (magic mushrooms) with Portland, Berkley, Chicago and Dallas all taking similar steps.

This is creating a pattern that mirrors the recent Cannabis Revolution, so will Canada be far behind? Likely not. One of the foremost mycologists on the planet - Paul Stamets - has reported that five Canadian cannabis CEO’s have reached out to him to found their future psilocybin programs. Interestingly, as a young man, Stamets cured his debilitating stutter after consuming 20+ grams of magic mushrooms and climbing a tree during a lightning storm in Ohio. (Don’t try this at home — or anywhere else — people.)

Perhaps the most notable and newsworthy progression occurred this past fall, with the catalyst of a $17M investment from Blake Mycoskie (Toms Shoes), Steve Cohen (Hedge Fund Billionaire), Matt Mullenweg (Wordpress Founder) and Tim Ferriss (Author & Angel Investor), to help establish the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research. This is significant for a couple of reasons. The first being all of these people have made powerful contributions to society. Secondly — and perhaps more notably — they’re all conscious of their reputations.

Furthermore, Tim Ferriss is particularly remarkable because of his ultra-cautious ap(continued on next page) Innovation \\ 55

(continued from page 55...) proach to decision-making. His multi-million viewed TED Talk is on a topic he calls “Fear Setting”; a process where he confronts and considers the fears influencing an upcoming decision. Ferriss is also on record as having attempted to create a framework whereby he could remove all risk from a decision! He claims the closest he ever got was eliminating 80%. This is particularly extraordinary because Tim believes this Psychedelic Renaissance and investing $2M of his own resources into it, possesses more reputation upside than not. For him, this is a legacy project because of the longterm societal impact. (Imagine being a lever in the movement that catalyzed a new direction for mental health culture.)

Calgary is undergoing a revolution of its own.

What better way for this city to announce it’s re-birth than to become one of the bold, progressive leaders of this Mental Health Revolution? I see an opportunity to help Calgary’s Mental Health Charities and Nonprofits prepare for something they may not be ready for - and, in many cases — probably aren’t aware is coming.

I have a vision.

If we act now, Calgary has the opportunity to be a worldwide leader in this Renaissance.

We can create a legacy for this city, by writing a new narrative that adds to the ‘economic comeback’ currently underway. We can actually change the way the world perceives our city.

I’m investing the next year and a half of my career to realizing this bold vision. I call it “Operation: Caring For The Care-Givers”.

Aside from future-proofing these organizations, a secondary focus would be to address the “compassion fatigue” of those on the front 56 // Community Now!

lines. It would be funded in part by a philanthropist with a meta goal of creating more open, adaptable, self-sufficient Mental Health Organizations that can clearly measure their impact. The “big idea” behind this is: rather than “giving fish” to an organization, the philanthropist/funder invests in a process once and in return the participating organizations are “taught how to fish even better” in the 21st Century. Other engagement focuses include redesigning hiring processes, cultural & strategic alignment organization-wide, and fundraising - including a donation measurement that would replace — in perpetuity — the philanthropist’s contribution for this project.

Calgary has been home my entire life, and as an innovator, I’ve often felt frustrated by the conservatism that defines the cultural soup we swim in. Oil has been good to the city, but there has been an underside that has left us ineffective in one critical area: diversified investment. The returns on energy projects have historically been so lucrative and predictable that it makes all other types of investment look silly. It’s impeded our growth and reputation.

There’s a opportunity to make a lasting impact for our city and beyond. I have a compelling vision, the grey hair, an ideal skillset, a proven process to make this happen. Moreso, I have the fresh learning, compassion and solutions from a recent depression of my own, driving a deep desire to make an impact beyond our city, province and country. I also have a definition for innovation - something very few innovator’s take the critical time to articulate:

The awareness and ability to make progress happen in the face of intimidating opportunity.

Society has an intimidating opportunity.

Calgary has an intimidating opportunity.

We have a once-in-a-generation chance to create a strategic and lasting impact. We can be leaders in developing a societal antidote.

Just like we no longer fear the black plague or measles, future generations can be free from many of the devastating effects of these mental maladies.

We’re looking at a legitimate opportunity for real innovation in the mental health space - by addressing those who need this opportunity the most.

Who wants to help?

Do you want to be a part of a group that is committed to helping local charities?

Our members donate $100 each four times per year.

Join us to help make our community a better place one hour at a time.

LOCAL. POWERFUL. SIMPLE.

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100womencalgary.com

SHEInnovates PROFILE

Get to know SheInnovators through CN! Magazine over the next few issues!

KAREN UNLAND

INNOVATING TO ADAPT TO JOURNALISM’S CHANGING LANDSCAPE Karen Unland, co-founder of Taproot Publishing and president of the Alberta Podcast Network Karen Unland’s interest in journalism began at a young age – she chose her career path in Grade 4 after developing a passion for nonfiction and a talent for writing. Journalism seemed like the perfect fit.

“I published my first paper on foolscap,” Unland says, “and organized my whole life around what it seemed like I needed to do in order to become a journalist.”

Unland wrote for the school paper at every school she attended, including the University of Alberta, where they do not have a journalism program but have a well-established newspaper: The Gateway. After completing her undergraduate degree and holding the role of editor-in-chief for a year, Unland set off to Carleton University to study for her Masters in Journalism, worked in Toronto and Montreal for a year and a half, then returned to Alberta to write and edit for the Edmonton Journal for 14 years.

“I had a laser focus on journalism. That focus helped me get where I needed to go, 58 // Community Now!

because I didn’t come from a journalistic family. My parents didn’t graduate from high school. This was an unusual path for somebody from Edson, Alberta.”

Flexibility to adapt to a changing business Noticing the changing landscape of journalism, Unland decided that her focus needed to shift. Unland quit her job at the Edmonton Journal, though not without pause.

“I thought, if I don’t work here, and I’m not a journalist, who am I?” she says.

“At the Edmonton Journal I had worked as a reporter and had done a lot of different editing roles, and I just realized that I had done everything that I could do there. I could see what was coming as far as the continued shrinkage in the business and the viability of the newspaper, and I just didn’t know that I could do anything else from the inside.”

Unland taught for a year, then took on a new role at the Edmonton Journal that led to the creation of Capital Ideas, a project that shone a light on the expertise of local entrepreneurs.

“That contract meant that I was being paid to learn how to be in business for myself,” Unland says.

“That made me want to figure out how to make a business out of journalism.”

New ways to do business In 2015, Unland left Capital Ideas and attended a program hosted at the Tow-Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Journalism in New York to help journalists learn how to create sustainable businesses. She workshopped the idea for a local podcast network – a way for Edmonton-based podcasts to get access to funding and a wider audience. Unland widened the vision to the whole province and ultimately negotiated a founding sponsorship from ATB, which led to the creation of the Alberta Podcast Network in 2017.

In the meantime, the newspaper industry continued to see major cuts, in particular Postmedia’s decision in January of 2016 to amalgamate its papers in four cities, including Edmonton and Calgary, resulting in the loss

of dozens of journalism jobs. That led Unland to discussions with Mack Male, a blogger, software developer and collaborator on various projects to improve media in Edmonton.

They decided to act.

In May of 2016, they launched Taproot Edmonton, a membership-supported site that started as a way for curious readers to instigate stories by asking questions about their community, which Taproot would then commission writers to answer.

“We put up a landing page and said that we were going to create a better, more sustainable way to cover our city and asked if anyone wanted to help out,” explains Unland.

“People started giving us enough money to show us that they weren’t just patting us on the back – they were serious about it. That made us serious.” (continued on next page) Community \\ 59

(continued from page 59...)

Taproot has since evolved to pay concerted attention to topics that Edmontonians are curious about by publishing weekly newsletters on tech, business, the arts, food, health innovation, music, the region, media and city council. This has opened up new revenue streams and has led to the creation of new products that will ensure the long-term sustainability of Taproot and build its capacity to spread to other cities.

Alberta — a friendly place to do business In both of her recent groundbreaking ventures, the Alberta Podcast Network and Taproot, Unland has benefited from a variety of mentor figures. Her grandfather, the only other entrepreneurial person in Unland’s family, ran an outfitting business in Jasper with her grandmother from 1947 to 1971.

“He always told me that you need the same people on the way down as you met on the way up, so you should be good to people all the time because you never know when you’ll need them,” Unland explains.

“Be as good and helpful and kind and curious about people as you can because that’s the right thing to do, and because you never know when that moment of kindness will come back to you.”

Unland believes that spirit of openness is what makes Alberta an ideal place for entrepreneurship.

“It feels easy to talk to anyone you want to talk to. It doesn’t feel scary to reach out to someone, no matter who you are, and ask them for coffee or advice.”

60 // Community Now!

KATIE SMITH

Katie Smith, Executive Director, Young Women in Energy

In addition to a full-time job working at Spartan Controls and completing her MBA, 30year old Katie Smith has led Young Women in Energy for the last three and a half years, doubling its membership during that time.

Founded in 2013 by Anna Murray, the non-profit organization is working to increase the presence and voice of women in Alberta’s energy industry.

“Feeling isolated in this industry is real. Many of the women in Young Women in Energy don’t work directly with any other women

SHEInnovates PROFILE

RUNNING A MUCH-NEEDED PEER GROUP TO SUPPORT YOUNG WOMEN IN ENERGY in their day-to-day roles, it’s still very male dominated,” says Smith.

increasing the opportunities for women to be in the room where decisions are made.

“Young Women in Energy offers meeting like-minded women, or those who are in similar roles to you; just so you know they exist outside of your role or company. It’s the opportunity to connect with other women about whether there are opportunities or challenges. We are working to facilitate this peer support.”

“The concept of the old boys club isn’t necessarily bad, because it actually works – it’s when people scratch each other’s backs or give them the heads up on opportunities or champion people they know to do work,” Smith says

Increasing access to opportunities Young Women in Energy (YWE) believes young women have the power to change the energy industry for the better. Key to this is

“We are developing a community where women support other women and want to increase access to opportunities where decisions are being made, so you’re not the lone wolf walking into the lion’s den.” (continued on next page) Community \\ 61

(continued from page 61...)

In addition to acumen and leadership development sessions, a book club, a golf league and a two-day summit for the 4,000+ strong group, YWE awards 10 women every year who are changing the face of energy, with a group of 52 women having earned the distinction since it began. These women are high-performers, community minded, moving or advancing the energy sector forward.

totally different business landscape to deal with,” she says.

“The energy industry one of the most fascinating, complex, multidisciplinary industries out there, but I think it gets a bad rap and it’s up to young people to re-brand it.”

Diversity to propel the energy industry forward Moving the energy sector forward is precisely Smith’s vision for YWE. She believes if more diverse groups of people lead companies it will bring a new perspective and the opportunity think outside of the box.

“Up until the last couple of years we haven’t even looked at the full pool of candidates – if we can offer more qualified people to be considered for roles we can bring in a fresh viewpoint,” she says.

“With the energy industry what’s always been done before, doesn’t work anymore, so I’m hoping that there are some really incredible, diverse people who can offer other ideas

KATIE'S TIPS ON HOW TO SUPPORT WOMEN (AS A PEER): •

Sponsor women. You don't need to be C-Suite to bring up another woman's projects, products, services or accomplishments into a conversation when they're not in the room.

•

Choose collaboration over competition. Regardless of your position - it starts with you. Let go of your ego and insecurities and be proud to share the spotlight with other women.

•

Join a network of women (like YWE!) to meet other like-minded women and have a comfortable space to share challenges and opportunities.

that can propel us forward.”

A passion for young women leading the way Smith is passionate about YWE because it fundamentally aligns with all of her values.

She believes that women have not been used to their full potential in the energy industry and wants to be the voice to lead the charge to make that change.

“I’m passionate about prepping the next generation to lead, cross-generation mentorship is so important. Young up and comers are going to have a totally different economy and 62 // Community Now!

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Our Mission: Promoting curiosity, communication and engagement in making Alberta a stronger and better place to live, to be educated, do business, promote innovation and community celebration. www.communitynowmagazine.com Facebook: @communitynowmagazine Twitter: @communitynowma1 Publisher@CommunityNowMagazine.com