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EDMONTONIANS MAY 2008

ut of Africa: Susan Green is backfrom her latest mission to help people andcommunities through the efforts Edzimkulu.She chairs this volunteer organization, based

in Edmonton, which has been doing good works inNdawana, South Africa, for four years with funding fromGlaxo SmithKline. Susansays, “Thehighlight of mytrip this year wasthe arrival of twodental teamsconsisting of 34dentists, dentalassistants andhygienists. Theytreated 1007patients, did 2088extractions, 484 fillings and 487 cleanings over 14 days.The set up was quite ingenious—school desks duct tapedtogether to make surgical beds… bricks under the top endto raise it to a height to allow dentists to work on thepatients… flashlights and head lamps were used for lights.

“For the last two years I have been working with AmilShapka, founder of Kindness in Action (KIA) and Dr. BillSharun, my dentist… On March 31st we started thetraining for a UN program called the IntegratedManagement of Childhood Illnesses. We will be the firstpilot in the whole of the province of Kwa Zulu Natal(KWN). It is our intention to also incorporate dentalhygiene, thanks to the generosity of the StolleryFoundation.”

Edzimkulu is working on many fronts: It has 175children in preschool education, and 250 people tendingpermaculture gardens. Susan recalls that “In March 2006,prior to our first AIDS Awareness Day, maybe 50 peoplehad been tested for HIV/AIDS—now more than 2000 havebeen tested… Our initial team of six has expanded to morethan 30 as we train community health workers to test andcounsel village residents for HIV, take sputum samples forTB, and follow up with all the positive patients to ensurethey are under proper care and taking their meds. Our shortterm death rate has dropped from 5 to 8 each week to one amonth. Now that’s progress!” Way to go Susan.

If you want more information, visit www.edzimkulu.organd get involved.

On our Friday night dates, Dr. Ollie and I like tofrequent familiar places. Recently, we accidentally endedup at Cosmos Greek Taverna. I’m glad we did. The foodwas very good, I liked the potatoes and meatballs. Dr. Ollieloved everything on her combo plate. Just a few words ofcaution: This is not the place for a quiet discussion on the

meaning of life because you’ll be talking to yourself. Withthe music, the rattle of dishes, people laughing, it’s noisy tosay the least. It gets even louder when the belly dancerscome on. The young lady got my attention right away, andI was afraid Dr. Ollie was going to sprain her back trying toget a clear view of the guy dancer.

The last time we saw belly dancers was inMarrakesh, Morocco a few months ago. Thedifference was that the two young ladies were with anolder person who handled the money—no touchingthe dancers. The weird thing was her hat was coveredwith flaming candles.

I chatted with Viraj, the male dancer. A veryinteresting guy: His degree is in bio-science fromthe U of A. He’s been a professional dancer fornine years… full time in the Edmonton area forthe past five.

Well… some big and exciting changes with theEdmonton Grand Prix which is no longer. Now it’s theEdmonton Indy, slated for Thursday, July 24th throughSaturday the 26th, no racing on Sundays. It should be agreat success. Iwould go just to seethe stars of Indy.How about thatDanica Patrick?She’s become thedarling of the talk-show circuit…everyone wants tohear about heramazing win at theIndy Japan 300 at Twin Ring in Motegi. She’s asgorgeous as any runway model, and jokes that the cardoesn’t know she’s a girl. What a fan draw she would be.

So would 19-year old Graham Rahal who did thevictory lap at St. Petersburg, Florida, earlier in April. Ifigure once his Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing team findsthe key to going fast on the ovals, Graham will become atrue star. The IRL has a great opportunity to really hypedrivers like Danica, Graham, Marco Andretti and HelioCastroneves. It would be huge to see all these drivers onour tarmack. And, congrats to Northlands for partneringwith the organizers of the Edmonton Indy.

Meals on Wheels is sponsoring its first ever,annual Homemade Soup Recipe Contest for high cchoolstudents. I don’t think too many kids read my column sopass the words on to your kids and grandkids between theages of 15 and 19 who are registered at an Edmonton highschool. Judging is in June. The prizes are a $125 gift cardfor first place, $75 for second and $25 for third. Better yet,all three winners get a certificate for pizza and wings every

month for a year from Pizza 73. Recipes can be submittedto [email protected], or faxed to780.424.5561, or mailed to or dropped off to EdmontonMeals on Wheels, I LOVE Home Made Soup RecipeContest, 11111-103 Avenue, Edmonton AB T5K 2P1 Youcan call for contest rules.

Some local businesses are enjoying great successand growth. A few of them are my insurance clients—yeah,I’m still with MBS.

One is Sine Chadi of Imperial Equities. He’s done verywell in the property end of the business over the years, andrecently sold two of his buildings. About 18 months ago,Sine diversified into the drug business, not direct to thepublic but distributing to retail. Sales have gone from$50,000 to $7,000,000. Not too bad for a fur trader fromLac La Biche.

Another client who is doing very well is Ted Power ofTraceApplication Inc. He’s rebounded from a badexperience about four years ago when he was involved witha company called Compusoft that failed for variousreasons. TraceApplications is one of the companies that has

developed software that tracks metals throughmanufacturing and sales. Ted has a new productcalled MetalTrace that keeps track of the compositionof metals, and could be used for tracking cattle fromfarm to slaughter house. It tracks all kinds ofmaterials for customers such as Westlund, CCTF, C.E.Franklin, Van Leeuwen, Midfield Supply, Crane.M&Z. AGS and Unified Alloys.

I also met Roy Reynolds, the senior VP and a realasset to Trace. He has a lot of internationalconnections—handy to have around in today’s globalmarket. Besides, he’s a nice guy.

In the midst of our booming economy, a coupleof really remarkable gals have decided to move on. LaurieGreenwood is leaving her Volume II retail bookstore inHigh Street to focus on handling collector books over theInternet. She’ll still do speaking engagement, and willcontinue her CBC and Global spots. That makes me happybecause my radio dial is welded to the CBC. But, I don’tknow what I’m going to do without Laurie’s help selectingthe best, most interesting books for my grandkids atChristmas.

Don’t have a lot of details, but Del Dilke has decided toclose her store—Del’s on 9th Fashion Finds—at the end ofSeptember. She’s been an icon and role model for yearsand truly deserves to retire. Things just won’t be the samewithout her cheerful personality. √

Call Muggsy Forbes at 780.482.4545 or e-mail [email protected]

OOwith Muggsy, Marty & Mark

Susan Green

Danica Patrick

EDMONTONIANS MAY 2008 3


certainly never have had a problemwith writer’s block when I stay busy during ourextended winters in Edmonton. This past month, Icovered the city like a blanket and touched base

with many Edmontonians.For instance, our Astral radio stations host a series called

“Lunch and Learn” where we bring in guest experts todiscuss their areas of expertise. I borrowed the idea fromthe ex top guy at the Royal Bank, Bill Bannister. He and Iworked together a few years ago on the United Way ofNorthern Alberta campaign.

Over the past two years, guests in our series haveincluded Jim Taylor from the Downtown BusinessAssociation, Martin Salloum from the EdmontonChamber, Stephen Boyd from the Royal AlexanderHospital Foundation, Rick Carter from Northlands, andseveral other notables.

In April, two days after the release of the downtownarena report, Lyle Best spoke to our group and outlined themany benefits of a new multi-use complex. No doubt thepros and cons of such a facility will be debated for a goodperiod of time but, when you hear Lyle point out all thepluses, I’m sure you’ll understand the many positiveelements of the issue.

I also ran into Lyle a few days later at the Natalie Colebenefit. This man doesn’t sit still for a minute and shouldbe saluted for all that he does for our city.

As well, I attended the Sorrentino’s Garlic Festival withmy wife Kim. We ran into several old pals, including 630CHED’s legendary Bryan Hall and his wife Lillian. Mix

96 morning-man Rob and Diane Christie are veterans ofthis event. Ed Plazier and former CFRN morning co-hostCynthia Charles also graced the evening.

This past month we lost two of the good guysin the broadcasting business with the passing of GaryMcGowan (ex K-97), and Gord Robson (ex-Corus). Bothcontributed much to our industry.

Many of Edmonton’s behind-the-mic people were onhand at the tributes held for Gary and Gord. Among otherswere long time Corus/CHED/Cool people Bob Layton,Chuck Chandler, Keith James Jr., Jim Johnson, andBoyd Leader, former Power 92 morning show staff likethe multi talented Randy Broadhead, Rogers SusanReade, and my Astral Media co-workers Bryn Griffiths,Marc Stevenson, Len Theusen, and Rob Vavrek.

Both gents will be greatly missed.

The Edmonton Oilers may be out of the‘second season’ of hockey, but I want to thank bothGM Kevin Lowe and Coach Craig McTavish forthe excitement of this past season. There’s noquestion that the young guns on the team—SamGagner, Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner andTom Gilbert to name just a few—certainly took upthe mantle of responsibility when so many of ourusual team leaders were side-lined. To think that theOilers lost more than 325 man-games to injuriesduring the season yet missed the playoffs by only threepoints is surely an amazing achievement. The race to thefinish was as fine a brand of hockey as we’ve seen here inmany years.

I had lunch with Oilers/Oil Kings bigwig StewMcDonald during the month and was very proud to bepart of Year One of the very successful Junior EdmontonOil Kings, too.

Despite the vagaries of April weather, I’mconfident spring will arrive—though it may not be untilsummer is due. Nonetheless, we’ll go into high gear for the

many fund-raising events that are the hallmark of thisgenerous city. It’s hard supporting them all, as the pricegets a little prohibitive, but often a donation to a cause isthe simplest way to get involved.

A couple of my favourites are on the horizon: the 630CHED Gary Draeger Memorial Golf Tournament goesFriday, May 23rd at the Links in Spruce Grove, and theEdmonton Motorcycle Ride for Dad goes Friday, June 13thfrom the River Cree Resort & Casino.

Finally, I had a great catch-up lunch withAlberta Motion Picture Industry Association big guy AllanBrooks. He and I used to bump into each other when heran the television newsroom at CTV, then CFRN.

By the time you read this, the annual AMPIA awardsgala will have takenplace. These awardsrecognize some ofour finest televisionand film work. Allantells me that thisprovince’s industryis one of the lowestfunded in Canada.As a result, it’sreally a labour oflove for most

Alberta film producers. My cousin Doug Forbeshas worked his entire career in movies and television, andhe certainly is witness to that.

I firmly believe Alberta can attract more big projectswith the proper level of funding. We certainly have thetalent to support a healthy industry that creates worldclass productions. Allan and his industry colleagueswould appreciate it if you reminded your MLA of thispotential. √

Marty Forbes is VP and general manager of The Bear,EZRock and The TEAM 1260 Sports Radio. [email protected]

II

ack from Mexico… I see that my streethas not been paved. Oh well, I guess a newset of rims won’t be that expensive. That 30cm of snow was a bit of a shock. So… no

paving, no plowing. Wonder what it takes to get theside streets scraped? When I grew up in Halifax, thecity crews had that town cleaned up lickity split.Different priorities, I suppose. Seriously, though, what Iwould like to see is less dough for the streets and morefor creating the best rail/mass transit system in NorthAmerica here in Edmonton. I think we have to moveaway from a car-based city to a transit-based and morebicycle friendly one. We can dream, can’t we? Did youhear that? I just got off my soapbox.

Back when I was hosting the Big Breakfastshow on A-Channel, there were only two people thatwould sit in my interview chair and not on the couch.One was some wrestling dude who was eight feet talland looked like he ate railway ties for breakfast. Theother was then Mayor Bill Smith. Why didBill sit in the chair? Hard to say—Iguess he just liked it. So we wouldrearrange the cameras toaccommodate His Worship.

I ran into Bill at the Spirit ofSpring Fashion Show & Luncheonevent on a snowy April 20th. Wewere models. Bill relayed a greatstory from last year’s event when heand Mayor Stephen Mandel werestrutting their stuff. They were gettingchanged and Stephen needed shoes sohe asked Bill what size his were. Billtold him and Stephen said they weretoo big. Bill says he told Stephen thathe always knew he “couldn’t fill myshoes”. Ahh, Bill’s still got it.

Another note, Edmonton Eskimo Ron“Goldie” McClendon got the ladies ‘whoo hooing’when he ripped his shirt open at the end of the runway.

Over 600 people showed up on a sloppy, stormy dayto support McDougall House, a home of hope andhealing for women recovering from addictions.

I was pleased to be a part of theinaugural An Evening of Wine &Words at the Mayfair Golf and CountryClub. The event was held to aid theCentre for Family Literacy... morespecifically, to help the organizationacquire a new bus for their Classroomon Wheels (C.O.W) program. Ifanybody has or has a line on a good busthat can bring literacy to the massesand wants to donate it, please feel freeto contact the Centre.

Sommelier Cory Levy, who is theMaitre d’ Hotel/Sommelier at theWildflower Grill, presented the wineswhich were donated by Tinhorn Creek Vineyards. The2006 Pinot Gris was up first, followed by a 2006Chardonnay, then the 2005 Cabernet/Merlot and 2004Oldfield Collection Merlot with the main course. The2006 Kerner Ice Wine was served with the desert.

The major highlight of the evening was the keynotespeech by Jim Cuddy, who discussed his song lyricsand his passion for literacy. He’s participated in two ofthe CBC Canada Reads panels. Jim just won a coupleof Junos in Calgary with Blue Rodeo for Group of theYear and Adult Alternative Album of the Year with theiralbum Small Miracles. He played a few tunes includingTry and Pull Me Through.

On the fundraising front—over and above the liveand silent auctions—Bob Bowhay with CoSynTechnology paid $2000 for Jim to sit at his table fordinner. The folks from Miller Thompson, led by

JordanSlator. gotin on the actand paid$1000 tohave Jimjoin them forcoffee… asdid ScotRobinsonwith CICBWoodGundy. So,if anintimateevening ofgood wine,

great musicand an

outstanding cause sounds good to you, attending nextyear is a must. Contact Donna Lemieux, funddevelopment manager at the Centre for FamilyLiteracy, to get on board. And don’t forget: They needa new bus.

I was at the GrandOkanagan’s grand ballroomin Kelowna last month to hostthe TELUS Ambassadors 3rdAnnual Awards dinner. Since2000, these Telus retirees andcurrent team members havevolunteered over 1.7 millionhours toward sick children,libraries, schools and seniors.The ballroom was filled withpeople from across Canadaand our city was wellrepresented. BonnieFrederick, who is the

Community Ambassador Edmonton president, received anaward for her hard work.

The 51st and 52nd laureates will be inductedinto the Junior Achievement Alberta Business Hall ofFame on May 14th at the Shaw Conference Centre.Congratulations to Larry Pollock, president and CEO ofCanadian Western Bank & Trust, and Dennis O’Rourke,owner and president of Sureway Construction Group ofCompanies. They are being recognized for outstandingachievement in free enterprise and community service. JAPresident and CEO, Jay Ball told me, “Both thesegentlemen represent the kind of leadership we want thenext generation to aspire to and it’s important to takethese leadership lessons and turn them into dreams andgoals for their future.” Tickets for the gala are availableby calling 780.486.0285 or go to www.janorthalberta.org

I really dig the vibe of this up-coming event.The 5th annual Heart of the City Festival will take place onSaturday, June 7th. It brings together downtown musiciansand artists to Giovanni Caboto Park (95th Street & 109thAvenue) for a free day of art, music and community in theheart of Little Italy. To pump new blood into the festival,Kris Hodgson tells us there is a fundraiser at the ARTery at9535 Jasper Avenue. The night will feature three musicalacts and a silent auction. Musician Martin Kerr, winner ofToronto’s Exclusive Magazine Best Canadian Pop Album2007, will hit the stage first, followed by Pre/Post, a self-described pop rock band with an urban vibe. ‘TheRevtones’ will take it home. Advance tickets are available atBlackbyrd Myoozik, 10442 82 Avenue and Earth’sGeneral Store 10832 - 82 Avenue. For more informationwww.hotcmf.com , www.myspace.com/heartofcity orphone 965-6129 or 758-9856. √

Mark Scholz, owner of MES Communications Inc. offers avariety of services including production, creative andentertainment. For more information or to suggest a storyidea, email [email protected]

BB

My thanks to CTVVP & GM Lloyd

Lewis for this picof Lyle Lovett at

the Winspearfundraiser

for STARS—great show.

My thanks to CTVVP & GM Lloyd

Lewis for this picof Lyle Lovett at

the Winspearfundraiser

for STARS—great show.

Rob Campbell, Mark, Maureen Sanders, Jim Cuddy,

Donna Lemieux and Randy Boissonnault

Bonnie with colleagues from TELUS HumanResources Josh Blair, executive vice-

president, and Judy Shuttleworth, vice-chair.

4



FOUNDERDICK MacLEAN

MAY 2008Vol. XIX

Published by 399620 Alberta Ltd. on the first day of eachmonth at C-100 Park Side Tower, 8920-100th StreetEdmonton AB CA T6E 4Y8. ©All rights reserved. Nopart of this publication may be reprinted or reproduced inany form without written permission from the publisher.

Manuscripts: must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Edmontonians is not responsible forunsolicited manuscripts.

All stories Copyright ©Edmontonians

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40023292Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:Circulation DepartmentC-100 Park Side Tower, 8920-100th StreetEdmonton AB CA T6E 4Y8Email: [email protected]

SHARON MacLEANPublisher and Advertising Director

Telephone: 780.482.7000Fax: 780.488.9317

e-mail: [email protected]

INSIDEVOX POPMuggsy Forbes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2Marty Forbes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Mark Scholz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3GREEN FEATURESThe New Urbanism?/McHugh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Hole-hearted/Michaelides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Healthy buildings/McHugh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Green College/Scott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Civic Buzz/Norwood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13Media Minute/Hogle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

LIVELY LIFESTYLESMenu Magic/Berry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Absolute Bodo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

BARB DETERSEditor

[email protected]

COLUMNISTSLinda Banister

John BerryLinda Bodo

Janet EdmondsonMarty Forbes

Muggsy ForbesBruce Hogle

David NorwoodErin RaynerMark Scholz

Nizar J. Somji

FEATURE WRITERSBarb Deters

Don HillRick Lauber

Peter Drake McHughMarina Michaelides

Marg. Pullishy

PHOTOGRAPHERSTerry Bourque

Akemi Matsubuchi

SPECIAL PROJECTSEdmontonians Transformers

Tom BradshawLes Brost

Steffany HanlenLarry Ohlhauser

GRAPHIC PRODUCTIONRage Studios Inc.

THIS MONTH’S COVER

Jim Hole and his brother Billare proponents of Earthship

design innovationsPhoto of Jim Hole by Akemi Matsubuchi

No. 5

1919YEARS

C E L E B R A T I N G

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE TO WATCH MOVIES?

To begin, survey respondents were asked to indicate the format inwhich they most often watched movies. Watching movies on networktelevision was most frequently noted (42 percent), followed by rentinga movie from a video store (36 percent), and visiting a theatre (13percent). Smaller percentages indicated they watched movies on PayPerView (eight percent), and from the Internet (one percent).

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE GENRE?

When asked their favourite movie genre, respondents most frequentlymentioned action adventure (32 percent), drama (27 percent), andcomedy (24 percent). Less popular were mystery movies (sevenpercent), romance (five percent), and horror (one percent).

HAVE YOU SEEN ANYOF THE TOP FIVE MOVIES?The American Film Institute (AFI) recently developed a list of the 100greatest movies of all time, the top five being Citizen Kane,Casablanca, The Godfather, Gone With the Wind and Lawrence of

Arabia, respectively. When respondents were asked if they had seenthese movies, Gone with the Wind had been watched by the greatestnumber (75 percent), followed by The Godfather (71 percent) andCasablanca (68 percent). Lawrence of Arabia had been viewed by asmaller percentage of respondents (54 percent), as had Citizen Kane(52 percent).

When asked if there were other movies that should be on the list ofthe greatest movies of all time, the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Ben Hurand Titanic were each mentioned by three percent of participants.

WHO IS THE GREATEST ACTOROF ALL TIME?Respondents were asked which actor they considered to be thegreatest screen legend: Humphrey Bogart, Russell Crowe, RobertDeNiro, Clint Eastwood or James Stewart,. Thirty-nine percent put DeNiro on top of the list, while 26 percent considered Eastwood as thegreatest, and 19 percent felt Stewart deserved the top honours. Smallerproportions of respondents thought Bogart (10 percent) and Crowe(three percent) were the greatest. When asked if there was anotheractor they considered to be the greatest of all time, Al Pacino andGeorge Clooney were each mentioned by four percent of respondents.

WHO IS THE GREATEST ACTRESSOF ALL TIME?Lastly, respondents were asked about female screen legends. Of JodieFoster, Judy Garland, Katherine Hepburn and Meryl Streep, 42percent believed that Hepburn was the greatest actress of all time,while 35 percent chose Streep, and 12 percent deemed Foster to bebest. Seven percent thought Garland was the greatest actress of alltime. When asked if there were other female screen legends thatrespondents considered to be the greatest of all time, Julia Roberts(seven percent), Elizabeth Taylor (six percent) and Audrey Hepburn(six percent) were most frequently named. √

The Poll Station surveyed 100 City of Edmonton residents on the topicand, while the results of the research are not statistically reliable, theydo provide a qualitative indication of what Edmontonians are thinking.

Want a question included in the Edmontonians Poll?Contact Linda at 780.451.4444 or e-mail at

[email protected].

Linda Banister is a certified management consultant and the owner ofBanister Research and Consulting Inc., a full service provider ofmarket research and program evaluation services. Visitwww.banister.ab.ca.

STATIONollywood has been around for decades, but the popularity and interest inmovie stars and their craft have exploded in today’s society. From the bustlingcinema to the couch at home, movies continue to be a popular form ofentertainment for many Edmontonians. This month’s Poll Station asked

Edmontonians about their movie viewing habits, the best movies of all time and NorthAmerica’s greatest screen legends.

HHWith Linda Banister

PollPoll

42%

32%27%

24%

7%5% 1%

36%

13%8% 1%

Said they mostlywatched movies onnetwork television

Said their favouritemovie genre is

action adventure


drama


comedy


mystery


romance


horror

Said they mostlyrented movies from a

video store

Said they mostlywatched movies atthe movie theatre

Said they mostlywatched movies on Pay-

per-view television

Said they mostlywatched movies from

the internet

Perc

enta

gePe

rcen

tage

EDMONTONIANS MAY 2008 5




he world is changing. The magic word is“green”—the impetus is rising costs pairedwith feared energy shortages and globalwarming. Surprisingly, while some

governments pay lip service to the concept, business israpidly becoming the poster boy for big change in the waywe live our lives and design our cities. It may not all bepainless.

In Edmonton, the Alberta Chapter of the Canadian GreenBuilding Council is gearing up for its 11th AnnualSustainable Buildings Symposium, on May 14 and 15. Itspurpose is to increase awareness of sustainable designprinciples and to involve building owners, operators and thedesign community in Alberta. It is much more interestingthan the media releases make out. Organizers say it willprofile success stories and program solutions that assistowners and designers to implement green buildingpractices. It promises to both cost and pay but, whatever theconsequences, it will save and usher in the next generationof sustainable buildings.

Conference supporters believe emerging technology hasmany of the solutions to other technology that enabled us tofall headlong into a climate change mess.

A SYSTEM BUILT OF CLAY?The problem that nobody likes to talk about is… well… it’sus. Massive houses and sprawling suburbs that forcereliance on fume spewing automobiles. Heavy input and

government support of massive fossil fuels andtheir related carbon emissions.

Cleaner technologies will take us part way to asolution but, increasingly, the experts say we haveto change our habitat. There are hugeenvironmental benefits but lifestyle, happiness andgood health are on the chopping block unless weare open to change. This isn’t some environmentalhippie talking, this is business around the worldsaying we need change. The way we are headed isa disaster for the environment and for humanbeings. We are fat, out of shape, choking on ourown wastes with less quality time than anygeneration ever because we spend so much timecommuting from McMansions that bring earnedderision from worldwide audiences. Where is thepromise of suburbia? Where are the open spaces andthe quality events that make life worthwhile? Wheredo we go to fill our social needs and where are theactive communities we used to be part of? In short,where is the New Urbanism?

For better or for worse, designers and architects arebeginning to look for ways to dismantle suburbiasimply because it no longer works and is becoming tooexpensive. The post-war concept of suburbia is allsome North Americans know. Its passing may bemourned by some but the damage the suburbs do to citiesand health may be unsustainable. Briefly put, we are

running out of time, clean airand parking spaces. Notnecessarily in that order. Asthough these are not enoughof a problem, the future looksto be a divided one.

Advocates of Canada’sGreen Building Council’sLeadership in Energy andDesign (LEED) certificationthink of it as a green ratingsystem. Oddly, proponentsdislike the word ‘green’because it tends to meanwhatever you wish it tomean. What you need toknow is that LEED employsa point system based on suchthings as energy-efficientinsulation, solar panels andany number of innovations inbuilding design that result inenormous, long-term savings.

However, critics point out

that if a LEED certified building is not near publictransport, it creates more smog and greenhouse gases andleads to increasing dependency on the automobile, aparticular problem for sprawling Edmonton car commuters.No matter how green you make a building, they say if youmust drive to and from it many times a day, you havemissed the point. LEED advocates say they have heard thepiper and are looking at incorporating the sociologicalaspects of good building design. Viewed from thisperspective, the LEED system tends to look less like amovement and more like a jig-saw puzzle. But, though thecanary is still whistling quietly in the coal mine, politicalramifications may not be far away.

It seems western Canadians are as confused as theexperts.

WHO YOU GONNA CALL?The Canada West Foundation reports that almost 80 percentof western Canadians believe that climate change is aserious problem for the country, and 75 percent rateenvironmental protection as a high or very high priority.That’s a rise of 10 percent over 2003. Western Canadiansare more likely to rate reducing greenhouse gas emissionsas a very high or high priority than policy areas such as taxcuts, post-secondary education and transportationinfrastructure. However, they are less willing to dosomething if it will hurt the economy.

TT

Stantec’s green roof

Festival Estates in the Centre in the Park, a pedestrianfriendly Christensen Development in Sherwood Park

Stantec Head Office

7EDMONTONIANS MAY 2008


Here’s where it gets confusing. Almost four in 10 westernCanadians feel that significant greenhouse gas reductionefforts should be made, even if doing so hurts the economy.A larger number—six in 10—favour protecting theeconomy over reducing greenhouse gas emissions.However, we are not without either a conscience or a bravesense of social responsibility at the personal level. Thereport says we are willing to take a number of voluntarysteps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: such asincreasing home energy efficiency, carpooling, takingtransit, walking or biking more, or buying hybrid or energyefficient vehicles—and many have already done so. Indeed,over four in 10 of us are willing to pay more for gasolineand home heating in orderto reduce greenhouse gasemissions. Figuring outwhat all of thisconflicting informationmeans may be more of ajob for politicians thanfor social scientists.

Commercial andinstitutional buildingsearn LEEDcertification at fourlevels based on totalpoints includingmaterials, innovationand design, energyand atmosphere, andwater efficiency.Homes will follow.It’s projected there will be a million of themacross Canada by 2015. Why build a LEED-certifiedhome? It’s likely that there will be tax breaks, and otherincentives that are already being seen in the U.S. There arealso health and environmental benefits. Put simply, suchhomes will be able to demand a premium at re-sale.

WHO’S THE BULLY ON THE BLOCK?Meanwhile, back at the very urban ranch of KlaasRodenburg, design coordinator of buildings engineeringwith Stantec, the organizing continues. “What we’re tryingto do is increase awareness of sustainable design,” says the

chair of the symposium.“We’re trying to get morebuilding owners, operatorsand the design community inAlberta to step forward.Cities and towns need toknow because there aresubstantial savings to bemade. Developers andbuilders need to know what’sgoing on out there becausethis is the next generation.We have the tools in theLEED Canada rating systemfor new construction andmajor renovations and theaccreditation process.”

Rodenburg points out that

most people don’tknow that 30 to 40 percent of greenhousegases come from homeheating and cooling.But, there is goodnews: “Businesses arebeginning to recognizethat, while a LEEDbuilding may cost moreto construct, the paybacks in energy savings andmaintenance make up the cost many times over itsestimated 50-year life and, in fact, increase the re-salevalue.” He admits the technology is still developing but

estimates that even current innovations can result in a50-percent saving.

He assiduously avoids the word ‘green’evidently because the rush to make allthings green in the consumer market hasrendered the word suspect—too trendy andcommercialized perhaps. Rodenburg saysEurope is well ahead of North America incleaning up its act, but acknowledges thatbig, bad oil-producing Alberta is nestledcomfortably in third place after Ontario andBC as Canadian leaders. He thinks there areseveral reasons for our good showing. “This isconsumer led… and climate change is thebully on theblock. Oil peoplewith buildingadministrationand maintenance

are all looking forsustainability because it isgood business.”

So who’s left to impress?He reckons government typesat all levels, builders, youngerprofessionals, real estatedevelopers and marketinggurus can all make a strongbusiness case for going (forlack of a better word) green.

Change is already driving many companies, includingRodenburg’s own. The Stantec headquarters on 112th Streetnorth of Jasper Avenue boasts a prairie grass roof thatbattles Edmonton’s heat island effect that makes it manydegrees warmer than the airport. It also collects rainwaterfor landscaping. And the changes are not all exterior. Withinmany companies, the compartmentalization that in the pasthas led to infighting is now giving way to a more integratedapproach with no one department having a patent on goodideas.

Rodenburg has heard the criticism. “This is not a fad,” hewarns, “this is about the future and it is about to be tippedinto the mainstream and everybody had better learn toswim.”

He’s careful not to say the LEEDS system is the ‘be all,end all’ answer to problems of the environment. And that’sgood because the symposium’s guest speaker says it’s not.

DID POGO GET IT RIGHT?Dr. Todd Litman lives in that easy commute city of Victoriaand he points out that “about twice as much energy isconsumed in commuting to a typical office building than isused for heating, cooling and lighting that building.” Uh oh.

“I support sustainable building, but I believe our currentfocus is misguided.”

Litman is founder and executive director of the VictoriaTransport Policy Institute and an expert on the range ofimpacts and options we are running out of for evaluatingmobility management. “We have,” he says, “too many carsand we rely too heavily on them.

“New energy savvy building technologies are lessimportant than accessible location and efficient parking andtransportation management which reduce per capita vehicleownership and use. For example, a truly sustainablebuilding should be located in an area with good traveloptions such as walking, cycling, public transit and taxis.We should have minimum parking… parking spaces shouldbe unbundled from rental spaces… Businesses should havetrip reduction programs to encourage employees andcustomers to use alternative methods because this reducescongestion and costs, resulting in consumer savings andimproved mobility to pedestrians. It is also healthierbecause we walk and we breathe cleaner air. In other words,true sustainability is much more than just reducing energyconsumption, it requires balancing a variety of economic,social and environmental objectives.”

The debate promises to be challenging. Is it thehardware of engineering that is the challenge or is it thesoftware of being human? Or is it the need to make everhigher mountains of money at any cost? It may be that itis a bit of all these complicating factors. Because, as Pogosaid in a 1971 Walt Kelly cartoon that was subsequentlyadapted as an Earth Day poster: “We have met the enemyand he is us.” √

Robbins Health Learning Centre at Grant MacEwan CollegePhoto by Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd.

Klass Rodenburg, design coordinatorof buildings engineering with Stantec

Todd Litman

LEED Certified Projectsin Northern Alberta

• AUMA Buildings, Edmonton• Edmonton Police Services – Southeast Division• PCL’s Centennial Learning Centre, Edmonton• St. Johns Ambulance, Edmonton• Stantec Centre Atrium Tower, Edmonton• Spruce Grove City Hall, Spruce Grove• Yellowhead County Administration Building, Edson

Other projects awaiting certification include:• Edmonton Clinic, Edmonton• Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital• Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, Edmonton• Robbins Health Learning Centre, Edmonton• Sherwood Park Community Hospital, Sherwood Park

For more information on LEED certification and the SustainableBuildings Symposium, visit the Alberta Chapter Canada GreenBuilding Council website: www.abcabc.org

If you want to see what differences living in a northern climate make,visit www.usgbc.org for the American LEED standards.



hey’re the closest to a royal family Edmontonhas and the younger Holes are about to build alegacy worthy of their higher-minded andheartful parents, Lois and Ted. If all goes to

plan the Capital Region could end up with one of thebiggest sustainable buildings of its kind in the world.

Preliminary sketches have been drawn, the seeds sown. Inthe works is a 200,000 square-foot lifestyle-destinationcentre. Hole’s Greenhouses is getting an environmentallyfriendly makeover, a re-branding from hothouse to havenwhere you can “reflect, relax and reconnect”. Not only willyou be able to buy daisies and potting soil, you could cometo practice Tai Chi, stop for lunch at the organic café—eventually stocked with veggies grown on the premises—and unwind with a massage at the spa.

The new four-hectare/10-acre location is an undulatingroll of land at 137th Avenue and Ray Gibbon Drive. It’s anext-door hug away from the Lois Hole Provincial Park andBig Lake in St. Albert, all in full view from the newbuilding, positioned to maximize absorption of the sun’srays. The land won’t be flattened; construction will fitaround it instead… environmentally sensitive from its veryfoundation.

The new buildings will look like nothing this provincehas ever seen: a fusion of walls made of earth rammedinside tires, decorated with re-cycled bottles, insulated withstraw-bales and moss-covered roofs. The greenhouses will

be irrigated withgrey water fromlaundry and kitchensinks, siphoned fromnearby futurehousingdevelopments.

“My father built hisfirst house with strawbale and rammed earthtires, so this is historyrepeating itself.” BillHole smiles warmlyafter he’s opened up shop on a blizzard-ridden Saturday inApril. His frugal farmer father re-cycled whatever he couldand Lois loved the land and people. In many ways, Bill is achip off the old blocks, “The philosophies and ideas for thisproject are from Mum and Dad,” he acknowledges. “They’dbe thrilled.”

“If humanity hopes to grow and learn and thrive,” Loisurged, “we must all take responsibility for our impact onthe earth. How we treat the earth is a reflection of ournational character.” Whether her sons and the rest of theprovince live up to this remains to be seen.

But her boys, Bill and brother Jim, are trying. Avidlyresearching, planning and budgeting. The new greenhousesthey’ve got their eyes on are a hybrid of old and new: They

will recycle as many materials as they can fromthe existing Hole’s site and fuse them with state-of-art high-tech Dutch engineering. Designs areincubating for plants to be fed rain and melt-water collected in specialized cisterns… for heatto be generated from passive solar and geothermalenergy… for wind power to be harnessed off BigLake. Traditional greenhouses lose massiveamounts of heat at night, so computerized curtains willclose and wrap the building like a blanket to keep heat in.

The inspiration for the retail and administrative areas ofthe building comes from Earthships—off-the-grid, zero-impact housing born to hippie parents in New Mexicodecades ago. But, New Mexico’s warmth is one thing.Executing an Earthship this far north is quite another. And,

TTBy Marina Michaelides

Earthship innovations

Jim Hole with Bill and Valerie Holeat the new greenhouse sitePhotos by Akemi Matsubuchi

Photo courtes

Photo courtesy of www.earthship.net

Hole-heartedHole-heartedsustainabilitysustainability



he movie has just reached the pinnacle point … the hero and heroineare about to proclaim their undying love for each other, the horrifyingmurder mystery is about to be solved or the evil villain is about to be

vanquished. At that precise moment, the theatre patron beside you stands upand heads for the concession, disrupting the moment and ruining the entire filmfor you.

This happens far too often. While taking in a movie can make for a popularouting, there are no guarantees that you will enjoy the entire show and youmay waste your admission price. Why not watch the show at home, where youcan relax uninterrupted?

Doing so, on a home theatre system, is becoming increasingly popular,explains Scott Fenrich, Director of Operations for Connect Home InnovationsInc. (Connect Home). “I would say that 90% of our large customer homeswould have a media room of some sort, if not two.” While such rooms do cost… “for a fully-functioning custom system—with a front projection andspeakers, we are finding anywhere from $10 to $25,000,” the justification lies inthe multitude of uses and the equipment’s superb performance.

“The entertainment value of a home theatre system and what you can dowith a home theatre system is outstanding. Movies are one thing, but there isalso gaming—the kids love their X-boxes and Sony Playstations with a Wii.”And how about sporting events on the big screen? “You know the guys, theywant to bring their friends over to watch hockey or the big pay-per-view fight.Guess where everyone’s going to be? It is a gathering area and anentertainment area.” And, when it comes to picture and sound quality, you maybe surprised. “Mostly this is better!” smiles Fenrich. In a smaller room, it iseasier to create better sound.

When installing such systems, Connect Home prefers to work with homesbeing manufactured. “Generally, what we do is we pre-wire homes,” explainsFenrich. “We will run the wires inside of the walls while the home is still underconstruction. This way it eliminates the need for having wires running all overthe place—carpet snakes, as we call them. What happens is we have a muchcleaner look and install.”

Current homeowners can also be accommodated; however, there arerestrictions. Connect Home’s professional installers must look at the “ratios ofthe width of the room, to the length, to the height. By using the proper ratios,you can create a room that is acoustically superior. What affects the ratio is theceiling height … that is one thing you cannot change.” Square and round roomsare also not ideal. As with all their work, such installations are under warranty.

The home movie screen stacks up well with the theatre version. “The oneswe primarily use are micro-perforated, which have little holes in them.” Theholes, which can’t be easily seen by the human eye, allow for sound to projectfrom speakers often placed behind the screen. Screens can come in varioussizes and are a snap to maintain. “Your screen will acquire dust, so just use adamp rag to clean it,” advises Fenrich. Projectors have “little filters built intothem” also require some attention. “Every couple hundred hours, you shouldpull out the filter, dust if off or suck it out with a vacuum and then reinstall it.”Projector bulbs “generally run for 2500 hours” and will need to be replacedperiodically.

Why not write your own screenplay, as it were, by visiting the showroom atConnect Home, located at 17317 – 107th Avenue, to gather floor plan ideas?They’ve got the popcorn ready. With a home theatre system in-place, the nexttime someone sitting next to you decides to stand up and disrupt the show, allyou have to do is press “pause” and “rewind” on the remote control and youwon’t miss a moment of your favourite flick. Lights, camera, action!

Connect Home Innovations780.484.8300

17313-107 Avenue, Edmonton, AB

Making a HouseChanging the “Direction”THIRD IN A SERIES BY RICK LAUBER

TT

IN MOVIE WATCHING...

Keith TakaokaPresident, ConnectHome Innovations Inc.

a roof that big? Made ofearth covered in low-maintenance, low-water-consumption local moss?It’s never been donebefore on such a largescale.

The challenge is inthe hands of leaddesigner Ernst VonMeijenfeldt and histeam at ONPA,Edmonton. An awardwinning architect fromthe Netherlands, hemoved here five yearsago, but hissensibilities areconfronted daily bymuch of the localarchitecture,something Holeagrees withwholeheartedly.

“Retail design inEdmonton? SouthCommon is rapingthe earth, don’t getme started!”laments VonMeijenfeldt, adistinguishedgiant of a manwith brains andsuave to match.

By contrast, Earthship-style design creates “living buildings, where plants clean the air and

ventilation is natural. It’s organic, soft and feminine coupled with the science of energy-efficiency as the masculine principle,” explains the architect.

The inside area connecting the greenhouses will resemble a European street wherevisitors wander through stores of artisans at work, Hole’s retail, and places to sit, meet andeat. Cafés are de rigeur at garden centres in Europe. So when Mei-Chi Chan from the UKvisited Hole’s last year and found nowhere to go for a ‘cuppa’ after a tiring afternoonchoosing bulbs and lawn-feed, her consternation led her to Bill. They discovered a sharedpassion for organic living and Chan is now in charge of setting up the restaurant.

“There are so many possibilities, it’s a great thing to wake up for,” enthuses Hole. He’sexcited about a local glass blower re-locating his studio here, not only will it attract visitorsbut the heat can be re-directed into the greenhouses. A small micro-brewery to keep theguys happy while the ladies are at the spa has the added benefit of producing hop mush forcomposting. The principle is called ‘cascading’—the waste of one process is used by thenext. For Hole, “It’s all about re-connecting and we’re open to every idea.” For VonMeijenfeldt, it’s all about connecting with “the spirit of a wonderful family. To work withpeople who think outside the box is marvelous.”

The respect is mutual. “Ernst is an artist,” says Continued on page 10

... from hippie to hip

Paul Schaefferof ONPA and BillHole at staffshow & tell

sy of Rural Studio:



Hole with admiration. “He waits for inspiration and I’mhappy not to rush. We can stay on the existing site and havethe luxury of time.” Fall 2008 looks like the date forbreaking ground.

What Hole is impatient about, however, is a lack offorward thinking in this province. “We are 10 years behindthe Europeans who have already embraced a more holisticapproach to construction and we can too.” Clearly, for bothmen, this isn’t just a building—it’s a spiritual enterpriseconstructing a higher purpose.

“The Alberta juggernaut economy gives us such a limitedperspective,” Hole muses, “All around, there are buildingsdesigned to encourage us to consume, built as quick andcheap as possible, but giving nothing back.” VonMeijenfeldt believes the Hole’s project could inspire changein people’s attitudes. “We could change the mindset inEdmonton. There are discussions underway for the new St.Albert Library and Athabasca University to take upresidence on the land just south of the new site and, theytoo, could be built in a sustainable way.”

With such important neighbours, the Hole’s project couldend up fertilizing a whole village. “We’ll all shareresources… like parking lots, which will look more like atree-lined park than an asphalt slab… restaurants, water,whatever we can. That’s the next level of sustainability.”Hole also hopes they’ll share a pedestrian walkway over theAnthony Henday to link Lois Hole Provincial Park to thegreenhouse and community cycling paths.

The City of St. Albert is firmly behind all this, accordingto Deputy Mayor Carol Watamaniuk. “It’s very excitingfrom the environmental perspective and fits with our masterplan for sustainable design, just like our new fire hall. TheHole’s greenhouse will be an incredible draw for business

and visitors to the area.” The project grows daily by harnessing local ingenuity

and attracting innovators hungry to do things differently.Plans are afoot to commercialize an emerging technologyfor growing vegetables and flowers: Aquaponics wasdeveloped and is being taught at Lethbridge College. FirstHole’s will grow fish in tanks in the greenhouses, treat thepoop with bacteria and end up with a super-nutritiousorganic fertilizer for the flower beds. The fish will be onthe menu in the restaurant. Everything interconnectedand symbiotic.

Joint projects with the University of Alberta areanother form of synergy. The School of IndustrialDesign will collaborate on plans for the outdoor gardenoasis where plants are sold in spring and summer: TheHoles get brainpower for less, the students getcommercial experience on their résumès. Jim Hole, thejunior son, is working with the School of Energy and anEdmonton consulting firm, Carbon Busters, onapplicable ways to reduce carbon emissions. The goal isto slash current energy consumption by at least half inthe new building.

“There are easier ways of making money than buildingaccording to green principles,” accepts Bill, thebusinessman, “But this isn’t about money.

“This is about lifestyle and a long term committedrelationship to where we live. It’s about digging our handsinto the soil that feeds us. It’s about re-discovering ourinstincts, as natural gardeners”. √

Continued from page 9

Creative use of recycled windshields

Jim Hole with architect Ernst Von Meijenfeldt

The whole Hole family movesblocks on the site plan.



new generation of health facilities is sproutingup throughout the Edmonton region… butthese are not the buildings of your father.Health care has gone green and, while it will

cost a little more, it also gives back a great deal. However,making a hospital green is no job for the weak.

First of all, let it be said that the provincialgovernment—which has less than a sterling reputationworldwide in dealing with the environment—hasmandated that all new government buildings be built to theLEED silver standard, the second highest of the fivecertification levels. It is being felt first in the health areasimply because, after some years of torpor, health care isback in the priority lane. For the Capital Health Regionalone, there are a number of construction projectsunderway: the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, theEdmonton Clinic, and community hospitals in SherwoodPark and Fort Saskatchewan, to name a few. The diamondin this cornucopia of gems is without a doubt theMazankowski Heart Institute. Just getting it built on timein a red hot labour market would seem challenge enoughbut, now, to meet standards that have not previously existedis even more onerous.

Equal to the task is Captial Health’s new vice-presidentof facilities, planning and construction. “It’s an excitingtime at Capital Health,” he says, shoe-horning an interviewinto his 12-hour day. “Delivering these buildings withinreasonable budgets and timeframes requires us to think outof the box but, by partnering with the right designprofessionals and contractors, we’ll make it happen.”

Nick Zouravlioff comes to Edmonton from Toronto,where he was chief capital projects officer at the Universityof Toronto. He’s also held positions with Sprint Canada,Nexacor Realty Management Inc. and Bell Canada. He hasextensive experience in facilities planning and constructionof large, complex projects. This is a good thing to have inEdmonton in 2008.

What do we need to know about a green hospital?“Where to start?” ponders the gregarious Zouravlioff.

“There are a lot of things you think would makesense until you realize it is a health facility andsome of the rules just don’t apply. For instance,we would get LEED points for wood butstainless steel is easier to clean… we can’t turnthe thermostat down and ask everyone to wearsweaters… we have to expel more air, faster tothe outside because otherwise it becomes a healthrisk. Payback for this system is five to sevenyears. Other things will take longer.

“So, where does that put us? Well we rely on aheat wheel which essentially expels air but keeps the heatin the building. It is not new technology but it works, sowe go with that. And we have a roof garden and cancollect some water but carefully, because grey water can bea risk in a health care facility. We are a 24-hour facility, wecan’t save money by turning the heat down on weekends.And, we need to carefully consider disposing of hospitalwaste.

“What we can do, and do do, is recycle old materialsand cardboard packaging.

“We have a healing garden, a place within the hospitalthat is set aside from the hospital because it’s important toput the needs of the patient foremost… and it’s important,too, for staff to not feel as though they are locked in aninstitution. You want daylight and healthful sunlight. Wehave much more daylight in new facilities. Windowtechnology allows us to do that and we have—and youmay not have thought of this—bicycle racks and showersbecause keeping your staff healthy and happy is critical togood health care. In the healing garden, we have plants thathold moisture and create oxygen… [It} gives families aplace to spend time. We have a roof garden because itcools the building in the summer and helps keep heat in inthe winter. It saves energy and, we hope, dollars. Does itcost more? Yes. Are the paybacks good?Yes.”

Zouravlioff hedges when asked how long it will take topay back the added expense of a modern building.“Depends on who you talk to,” he says. “An accountant

will give you one answer, an engineeranother, but what is certain is that this isthe way the world is going. How can youput a value on wellness, on well-being…how do you calculate that from a dollarpoint of view?

“If anything, you could say that inmedicine you can treat a patientholistically and in these buildings you dothat, too. You look at the entire facility

and ask, what is the best way to build this? In the past, wehave built buildings for 35 or 50 years. The feeling is nowthat—if you get it right—there is no reason a buildingcan’t last 100 years. It happens in Europe all the time.”

A leader in health care? Yes, but soon the rest of us maybe asked to put that out-of-the-hospital thinking to work.Indeed, this year’s Sustainable Buildings Symposium inmid-May has placed greater emphasis on the health aspectsof green design than at any of its previous conferences. Notonly are there sessions on the implications for healthfacilities, but also on the types of urban design that canpromote health and influence factors that contribute todisease and injury.

As well, the province has begun drafting plans toregulate energy use in homes and businesses in an effort todrive down power consumption. Environment MinisterRob Renner says the development of energy efficiencylegislation is in its infancy. He expects several options willbe considered including changing the building code tomandate so-called green construction, such as high-efficiency furnaces or requiring municipalities to makeconservation the centrepiece of planning.

Indications are that the province will also introduceincentives for consumers, with rebates to target energy-efficient appliances, furnaces, washers, lighting, solarpanels and vehicles. When the legislations arrives, it isvery likely you will already have seen the future in aCapital Health building coming soon to a neighbourhoodnear you. √

By Drake McHugh

AANick Zouravlioff

Holistic HospitalsHolistic HospitalsStart with a healing garden,

window technology and bike racksThe Mazankowski Institute



t’s no coincidence the colour scheme for LethbridgeCollege’s new logo includes green: When youconsider the institution’s location, concern for theenvironment should be second nature.

After 50 years in water-poor, wind-heavy southernAlberta, and backed against the famous coulees formed bythe Oldman River, Lethbridge College understands the needto embrace ecology on several levels: education, publicparticipation, and as a corporate entity in itself.

This ingrained belief has led it to embark on manyenvironmentally friendly projects in recent years, leadingNorth America in the training of wind-turbine technicians,partnering on a project to create a green home, imbeddingecological messaging into its curriculum and cutting backon its own energy consumption.

The steps taken to date to reduce power and water use,part of its latest business plan, have placed LethbridgeCollege firmly on target to meeting the reductions set bythe Kyoto Accord by 2010, a full two years ahead ofschedule.

They may seem obvious now but, as each baby step wastaken, college administration embraced the need forchange. According to Irwin Olfert, former director ofphysical facilities, several waste reduction projectscontributed to the school’s green status.

Pruned tree branches are mulched and reused inlandscaping; paper towels in campus washrooms have beenreplaced with cloth and electric hand dryers; sensors havebeen installed to turn off lights when rooms are vacant.Even the salt used on icy roads is environmentally friendly.The maintenance department is also replacing anyremaining incandescent bulbs with more efficientfluorescents, saving energy and improving light quality.

Lethbridge College is being used by the provincialgovernment as an example of how construction andrenovation can be done with minimal impact on theenvironment. Prior to the major Cousins Buildingrenovation, old chillers and walk-in freezers that ran onwater were updated with equipment that runs on air, greatlyreducing water consumption. When the college replaced itschalk boards with white boards, the old aluminum edgeswere salvaged and recycled, preventing the metal fromending up in a landfill, and netting $1,500.

Discounting irrigation, Lethbridge College used abouthalf as much water in June 2007 as it did in the samemonth of 2005, a change due in large part to the Cousinsrenovation. And still administration looks for greater cuts:It’s considering upgrading its irrigation system andcollecting rainwater. Preliminary calculations show rainfrom roofs alone would save up to $100,000 annually andhelp the environment by reducing water consumption.

As well, the college is the Western Canadian leader inaquaculture technology, operating a closed facility that seeswater from fish tanks pumped through a greenhouse whereplants draw nutrients from it, cleaning most of it before itreturns to the fish. Vegetables, including tomatoes,cucumbers and various herbs are grown.

Lethbridge College is committed to ensuring futureconstruction meets the highest environmental standards,and strategically focused on becoming a centre ofknowledge for an industry striving to be conscious of itsenvironmental impact. To that end, it entered into apartnership with the City of Lethbridge and local builderCedar Ridge Homes to create The Living Home, a projectthat will involve students in several disciplines inresearching and designing an environmentally friendlyhome, details of which are being shared with thecommunity as it takes shape.

HARNESSING THE WIND…AND CORNERING THE MARKETON TRAINING TURBINE TECHSWith southern Alberta sprouting wind turbines in almostevery north forty, it seemed only proper Lethbridge Collegebecome a training centre for the technicians needed toservice this fast-growing industry. But those who began theprogram three years ago likely never imagined theinstitution would one day own nine of its own turbines (fortraining purposes only) and be the onlycollege in Canada todeliver training to acertified world-widestandard. Thatstandard was createdby the German BZEE(Bildungszentrum fürErneuerbare Energiene.V.), an organizationcreated by thatcountry’s wind-turbinemanufacturers. Theinternationallyrecognized organizationtrains instructors to teachto German specifications.

With the hardware inplace and programapproval by BZEE, theCollege is developingtraining it expects toeventually marketworldwide. John Vermeer,chair of the electricalapprenticeship program,and Mike Wehrwein, aninstructor in the engineeringdesign and draftingtechnology program, went toGermany in April and May2007, completing a crashcourse in what future students will learn. Upon graduatingwith BZEE-certification, Lethbridge College students willbe able to work almost anywhere in the world.

But that does not mean graduates can’t stay close tohome. Most major turbine producers are associated withBZEE and, when companies want to set up wind farms inCanada, they will look for technicians with BZEEcertification. This creates an opportunity for LethbridgeCollege to play a lead role in that process. BZEE recentlyinspected the program on campus and signed amemorandum of understanding with Lethbridge College.

“We have become the lead in North America for anyonewho wants to work in the wind turbine industry,” saysVermeer. “Because we have this now internationallyrecognized certification that we can provide, we canbecome the place (for wind turbine education).”

Applicants will be screened and selected to participatebased on prerequisites, courses and their ability to work atextreme heights before being interviewed. They will thenundergo six months of training in industry-related courses,followed by a six-week internship and final exams.

Wind power companies that hire Canadians generallyseek people with electrical and mechanical knowledge andprovide them with basic turbine training. BZEE trainingeliminates this need for corporate training, makingLethbridge College graduates much more attractive toemployers, says Vermeer.

In the future, the growing demand for wind powermay be reflected in existing Lethbridge Collegeprograms. Environmental sciences students might learnhow to determine the environmental impact of windfarms, and ways to mitigate that impact, whilegeomatics students could learn how to choose the mostefficient locations for wind farms.

Of course Lethbridge College also enjoys ageographical advantage: being located in the heart ofalternative-energy country puts it in proximity to largewind farms, allowing it to easily fulfill the internshipsBZEE requires.

The booming international wind power industryholds much promise for future graduates; Montanaplans to add another 200 turbines to its powergeneration grid this year.

“The geographic regions of the world with the mostturbines in operation will have the most opportunitiesfor employing graduates and developing a centre ofexcellence in wind energy,” says Vermeer.

COUSINS CAMPUS COMES OF AGEThe aforementioned Cousins Building renovation wasanother key step in the march to Kyoto. Students in theSchool of Environmental Sciences need the proper toolsto learn their craft to the highest standards. They got ascience facility that will not only be at the top of itsgame, but will remain so past the next new wave of“must-haves.”

Rather than tear down the moribund, 40-year-oldstructure, the college renovated it: a $10-million projectfitted with research-grade equipment that make thefacility the most advanced of its kind in Western Canada.

And yes, you almost do have to be a rocket scientist tounderstand just what the lab includes: mass spectrometer,atomic absorption spectro-photometer, infared auto-analyzer, photo-ionization devices and other multi-syllabic items, all of which will be housed in enough

space to allow for optimumefficiency.

In all, 13 labs are here, eight ofwhich are multi-functional andflexible, with drop-down readouts.The air-handling system uses 33fume hoods, creating negativepressure within the labs forincreased safety. The hoods aredigitally activated when needed,another energy-saving initiative ina college known for itsdedication to the environment.

The environmental sciencesprogram will use the centre forall its biology and chemistrystudy. A state-of-the-artnecropsy lab, soils room, twobotany labs with diurnal growthchambers, and the HubbardCollection of taxidermymounts unknown elsewhere inWestern Canada, all combineto provide students with alearning experience second tonone.

In all, it took slightly morethan $11 million to bringback the four-storeycampus—and city—

landmark to where it is once again acornerstone of education in southern Alberta. Thebuilding was named for the College’s first dean, JamesCousins.

It remains home to the School of EnvironmentalSciences, of course, but also brings under one roof all thelabs previously scattered around campus, orientated tothe college’s unique and diverse science needs.

The fourth floor houses a microbiology suite, with twolabs and accompanying facilities. Its locale allowsstudents to work safely by keeping pathogenic materialsisolated to one area, a vital improvement.

The building also includes two plant labs, two zoologylabs, two biology labs, a trio of chemistry labs, asoils/geology lab and a physics lab.

Another major teaching tool is the Alfred Hubbard andFamily Alberta Wildlife Collection, one of the largesttaxidermy collections in Canada featuring first-rateexamples of almost every species of fauna native to theprovince. It forms the building’s main-floor centrepiece, aplace of awe for anyone with an ounce of interest inwildlife.

“It is Lethbridge College’s institutional mandate to begreen, global and socially responsible,” says collegePresident Tracy Edwards. Awesome. √

Peter Scott works in the Lethbridge College AdvancementOffice and teaches part time in the college’sCommunication Arts programs.

II

Mike Wehrwein, left, and John Vermeer areleading the way in wind-turbine technology.Lethbridge College is a certified NorthAmerican leader in wind energy technology.Photos courtesy of Lethbridge College

Environmental students with

instructor Steve Macrae, right,

conduct vegetation assessments

during a field trip.

A gale forcedrives environmental educationA gale force

By Peter Scott



When CTV Edmonton wasreviewing the 50th anniversary of itsnetwork last month, I was reminded ofthe editorial I did on the Grande PrairieDevelopment Centre, while I wasassociated with CTV. The CentreDirector, Gillian Oliver, and her staffused every means possible to make lifebetter for the children they treated,including Greg who was in a coma aftera terrible crash when he was five yearsold.

When all other forms of therapyfailed, music succeeded. I still haveincredible footage showing thewonderful smile and grin on Greg’sface, whenever records played duringthe five years he spent at the centrebefore he died. The Centre providedphenomenal care for Greg and otherdisabled children which is also evidentwith the Elves Centre here and theRobin Hood School in Sherwood Park.

What brought this to mind again wasthe latest gimmick by Robert Latimer

to seek public empathy for a third jurytrial, to determine whether he was “rightor wrong” in ignoring availableinstitutional care for his 12-year olddaughter Tracy, and sneakily choosingto end her life. As radio commentatorPaul Harvey would say: “And now forthe rest of the story.”

Tracy’s problems occurred when heroxygen supply was cut off at birth,causing cerebral palsy and necessitatingfuture surgery. When her mother waspregnant with her fourth child in 1993,the Latimers decided that Tracy shouldlive in a North Battleford group home.

For whatever reason, they broughtTracy back from the group home afteronly four months, despite LauraLatimer having a two month old infantand two other children under 10 to carefor. Rather than sending Tracy back tothe group home when it becameapparent there was too much stress inthe household, Robert Latimer took thelaw into his own hands.

On Sunday, October 24, 1993, whilehis wife and three other children were atchurch, and just days after Tracy hadreturned from the group home, Latimer

carried her out to his pickup truck, andgassed her to death. He then hid theequipment used and carried Tracy backto bed. The mother found Tracy deadwhen she returned from church. Policewere called and Latimer told them Tracydied in her sleep. Further: he wanted hercremated.

Fortunately, the RCMP rejected thatrequest and the subsequent autopsyfound Tracy’s blood saturated withcarbon monoxide. Mrs. Latimer firstlearned Tracy had not died of naturalcauses on November 4, 1993—the dayher husband was charged with murder…and 11 days after the murder had takenplace.

After seven years of trials, convictionsand appeals, the Supreme Court ofCanada in a 7-0 decision written by theentire court, said a minimum sentencefor 10 years is not “grossly dispropor-tionate for (Latimer) killing his disableddaughter” and “the taking of another liferepresents the most serious crime in ourcriminal law.”

Ironically, Supreme Court JusticeMichel Bastarache removed himselffrom the Latimer appeal as he and his

wife, Yolande, suffered through thedeaths of their only children—a 17-yearold daughter and four-year old son froma crippling nerve disease which required24-hour home care.

In her journal, Mrs. Latimer describedher daughter as happy, alert andcheerful. “I just wanted her to live a lifeas normal as possible,” she said. TheNorth Battleford Group Home couldhave provided that but Robert Latimerignored this option. As judge and jury,he alone determined Tracy’s fate.

There’s really no need for a third juryto determine whether Latimer was“right” or “wrong” in what he did.Canadians already know. As the CalgaryHerald headline on Naomi Lakritz’sexcellent column so eloquently puts it:“Tracy Latimer never made the choice toend her life.”

Her father did. √

Bruce Hogle is the formernews director at CFRN TVand recently retired head ofthe Alberta Press Council. [email protected]

ike many larger cities,Edmonton faces a number ofunresolved issues that have asignificant bearing on its future

direction. LRT expansion, far too longdelayed, is finally receiving the attention itdeserves. Urban infill in neighbourhoodssuch as Glenora, Strathearn and McDougallis about to become a reality. One issue,however, remains unresolved and itsoutcome will affect the future of the City ina profound way. And once again it iscurrent, thanks to some city councillors,some business interests (not all of themnecessarily in Edmonton) and provincialpoliticians. I’m talking about the CityCentre Airport.—aka YXD. There are callsfrom various corners to re-open the airportto commercial, scheduled service. Atpresent, very limited scheduled use isallowed, and only from select northerncommunities.

I decided to use the resources ofConnect2Edmonton (C2E)—theincreasingly popular independent website,our “virtual public forum on all issues”—to

seek opinions about what to do with YXD:close it, maintain the status quo or expandits use. I should point out that, for the mostpart, I solicited views on why the airportshould be closed and redeveloped, which ismy personal bias. As a columnist, my viewsdo not always coincide with the editorialpolicy or direction of Edmontonians. Theviews expressed here are mine and those ofmy C2E colleagues, and not those ofEdmontonians as a publication.

C2E debate was lively… much of itfocused on whether or not, in a growingcity, an airport is the best use of the land itoccupies. One contributor, echoing theviews of others, wrote, “Closing/reducingservice at the City Centre will be more of abenefit to the city as a whole (potential landuse, height restrictions lifted, etc). Openingit up again to full commercial air traffic willprobably undo all the progress theInternational Airport has made in the last 13years.... The energy/passion used on thepro-City Centre Airport side should insteadbe used on encouraging the mayors/reevesof Greater Edmonton to work together to

improve access to the International Airport(free-flow traffic to/from downtown, LRT,commuter/high-speed rail...).”

Of those on C2E in favour of keepingYXD open, not one argued for the re-introduction of scheduled service; instead,most argued, quite vociferously, that as ageneral aviation (GA) facility, YXD fills arole that no other airport in the region does.GA is defined as private business aviation,flight training, and casual or recreationalflying. There was considerable discussionabout the role of Villeneuve Airport,operated as well by the Edmonton RegionalAirports Authority, and its potential as ageneral aviation facility.

One contributor, who is in a position toknow about such things, said thatVilleneuve was indeed constructed toreplace YXD in the years just after theInternational Airport opened. Others madethe point that no other significant GAfacilities have been developed because theyalready exist at YXD, suggesting that oncethe decision is made to close it, GAinfrastructure could and would bedeveloped at either Villeneuve or theInternational. As one C2E member wrote,“There are already other airfields that canaccommodate general aviation. It’s not likethey’d have to buy up a few farms and builda new airport.”

Overall, the consensus was that the CityCentre Airport should be closed, throughphasing out, in favour of more intensivemixed development consistent with theCity’s desire to limit urban sprawl and bringhigher density to the city’s core, especiallywith the North LRT moving that way. Manypeople argued in favour of using the site forthe proposed 2017 World’s Fair, presumingthat, like False Creek in Vancouver afterExpo ‘86, such a fair would be a catalyst formajor redevelopment of the site. Others saidit would be a logical location for NAIT’sexpansion, perhaps to the point that theproposed southwest “Klein Campus” wouldnot have to be built. As well, many felt that,even if the airport were to be closed, theAviation Museum should stay, and the areacould remain a base for rotary aircraft,including STARS.

But the majority of those wanting to closeYXD emphasized the negative effect theairport’s proximity to the core has had onthe development of downtown, seeing it asa long-time impediment to high-density, talltowers and the retention of some corporatehead offices. Another contributor to theforum, known as The Cat, wrote thefollowing:

“Since the sixties [when the first tallerbuildings were proposed], the developmentof Edmonton’s downtown has been dictatedby NAV Canada. Edmonton’s developmentof downtown towers has been limited by theheight restrictions to allow for air service to

continue at the City Centre Airport. Thetallest buildings... are about 35 storeys, orabout 450 feet tall. Other locations ofdowntown have much lower allowableheight limits because of the proximity to theairport, or flight path. Developments arelimited because of these restrictions.”

There is little doubt that taller buildingswould have been, and would be,constructed downtown and in surroundingareas (Oliver, Jasper East) with the overlayrestrictions removed. This in turn wouldexpand the City’s tax base and perhaps actas an incentive to attract some signaturecorporate developments. These are notnecessarily an end unto themselves but,unlike the status quo, such future projectswould at least be possible if the airport weregone.

Even those who argued consistently andcogently about retaining YXD as a generalaviation airport concede that it may be timeto close it down, but only through carefulplanning. “Don’t just ‘hope for the best,’”wrote a frequent contributor to the debate,on the side of retaining YXD. “Let’s plan aclosure to be an improvement to all users,including General Aviation. If that soundstoo complicated or too expensive, it meansthat closure isn’t economically worth it. Ifwe will get enough money from selling theland and redeveloping, then bring it on, butdon’t leave GA to chance.” Many agreedwith him.

One important point to consider: Theonly body with the authority to close theCity Centre Airport is City Council.Edmonton Airports operates YXD under along-term lease from the City and cannotdecide to close it on its own. Neither can theprovincial government, much as it mightlike to think it can (or keep it open).Council has asked for a report on possiblefuture uses of the airport land (includingmaintaining the status quo) which issupposed to be ready by June.

To be sure, the debate has gone on andon... and on. It is well summarized by oneof C2E’s administrators and frequentcontributors, RichardS: “This is 50+ yearsof a multitude of issues and failedcompromises that have exhausted mosteverybody, including hardcore GAadvocates like me. It hasunfortunately become thisargument—to finally andcompletely remove thisdiscussion, one mustremove the source of it...and it makes me sad.” √

To read the entire debate, please go tohttp://www.connect2edmonton.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=6275

David Norwood is a freelance writer/editor.Contact [email protected]

edia Minutewith Bruce HogleM

ivic Buzzwith David NorwoodC

LLto be or not to be?YXD:YXD:



oo often, when you mention the colour greenin a kitchen, it’s associated with moldgrowing in your refrigeration or behind thestove.

Nowadays, however, people everywhere are abuzzwith the “greening” of this or that. And it’s a good thing.They’re referring, of course, to environmentally friendlyprocesses and practices.

Take the wine industry, for example. Check the shelvesto see how many organic wines are available at yourneighbourhood store. You’ll be surprised and impressed, Ihope.

What started out as “trendy” wines are becoming moremainstream. The moveto green wines startedabout 10 years ago.Fetzer Vineyards inCalifornia was one of thefirst to start growingorganic vines under strictnatural controls. Nopesticides, no chemicalfertilizers, grown naturally.

Bio-dynamic wines aremade by establishedvintners like Fetzer,Bonterra Vineyards and Paul Dolan Wines. Their productswere among the 300 different labels that were available tothe recent California Wine Fair, a fund-raiser for theCitadel Theatre. I did my share of sipping at the industrytasting which was a prelude to the Fair. I like the idea ofknowing I’m enjoying something that was grown andprocessed in a sustainable way. Especially, since I foundthe flavour enhanced, rather than sacrificed.

According to the California Wine Institute, a voluntarycode for sustainable wine growing practices is now in

place to help reduce water and energy use, minimizepesticide use, build healthy soil, protect air and waterquality, recycle natural resources, maintain surroundingwildlife habitat, provide employee

education, and communicate with neighboursabout vineyard and winery operations. Itinvolves everything from solar panels forenergy to recycled papers, inkless labels andscrew caps.

The Institute represents more than 1,000California wineries and affiliated organizations

responsible for 85 percent of the nation’s wine production.How big is that? Well, California boasts 522,000 totalwinegrape acres and a total annual wine production of 273million cases. Given such volume, Robert Koch, presidentand CEO of the Institute, points out, “Sustainablewinegrowing not only improves wine quality, but helps uscompete in the global market place where consumers areincreasingly interested in knowing that the foods andwines they enjoy are produced in an environmentallyfriendly manner.”

GREEN DININGMany of the patrons of restaurants, lounges and pubs inEdmonton are looking for the same thing. The recentlyopened Vintage—where Mangiano’s was—on 124th Streetand 101st Avenue, uses as many organic products aspossible. Chefs Pat Zadorsky and Peter Chong havedeveloped a tapas menu that is as diverse as it is goodtasting. Pat uses Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese influencesin his creations that shout “fresh, fresh, fresh” regional fare.

Tapas are very in for green weddings. Can’t you imagineserving your guests a dish like Pat’s Mango Chicken

Skewer finished with a sweet mango cream? Thepresentation is spectacular and the flavour incredible. Theconcept of tapas works well because diners taste a varietyof different foods, all the while leisurely chatting with tablemates.

I must admit I was a bit surprised when, on my kitchentour of Vintage, I discovered no deep fryers, no convectionovens, no modern appliances. Everything is handmade andover-roasted or pan seared. It doesn’t get much healthierthan this… and the flavours rock. In this day of high-techmodern appliances that make a chef’s life easier, Pat andPeter have stepped back in time, doing it the old fashionedway, and it shows in their plates, and on your taste buds. √

Contact Chef John Berry at [email protected]

with Chef John Berry

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here is a new bride in town—one that plans totread lightly on the environment during herwalk down the aisle, leaving eco-friendlyfootprints in her wake.

Clever organization can wed traditional “I dos” with thethree Rs of sustainability: reduce, recycle and reuse. Whiteweddings are making way for shades of green.

WITH THIS RINGTake a collection of old gold fromboth families and design originalsymbols of unison from acombination of ancestraltreasures. You can also purchasevintage rings from antique shops,estate sales or re-sale jewelleryshops. If tradition prevails,acquire diamonds mined in Canada or Australia, or gemsthat are certified “conflict free” under the KimberleyProcess Certification Scheme (KPCS). The certificationassures the diamonds are not “blood diamonds“ which mayfinance war or condone human rights abuse.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATIONPlan a ceremony in the great outdoors, or look to settingsthat are heritage based. Historic sites provide the perfectvenue and rental fees support and maintain these preciousbuildings. Support locally owned and operated businessesor not-for-profit organizations such as your communityleague.

Choose a location that is convenient tomost guests to minimize travelimpacts and try to hold the ceremonyand reception at the same venue.Provide eco-friendly transport: hybridcars, car pooling or public transport.

PLEASE JOIN USUse recycled papers to create your wedding invitations orcraft your own with handmade plantable seed paper. Lookfor tree-free papers made from hemp, banana stalks,bamboo or organic cotton. Avoid difficult to recyclematerials that are metallic or plastic coated.

Better yet, create a wedding website and e-mail yourguests the site info and invitations. If your great aunts aren’tcomputer savvy, print out only as many hard copies as youneed for mailing—or take one along on your next visit.

HERE COMES THE BRIDEA vintage wedding dress from mom or grandma’s closethas sentimental value and is a cost-saving gesture. Re-saleand thrift shops are a source of gently and sometimes-neverworn dresses for the bridal party. If your mind is set onsomething new, seek attire made from naturally dyed, eco-friendly fabrics such as hemp, bamboo cloth, or organiccotton or silk. Soy silk, made from the fibres left over fromproducing tofu, is also available. Look for organic or non-bleached products as the bleachingprocess is toxic tothe environment.And try to selectoutfits that thebride andbridesmaids canwear after the mainevent or donate to acharity shop.

Most men renttheir tuxes for the bigday. Find out if therental company isusing non-toxic andenvironmentally friendly cleaning solvents. You can findgreen Canadian dry cleaners on the Canadian Centre forPollution Prevention’s directory website.

ON THIS DAYSource seasonal flowers from an organic grower or chooselocal wildflowers that you can personally harvest. Thendonate floral arrangements to a hospital or rest home.Berries, twigs, autumn leaves or any natural found objectswill infuse your décor with an earth friendly tone. Use glassbowls filled with fresh fruit or veggies on each table asedible center pieces.

Most confetti is not biodegradable and rice can playhavoc with birds or wildlife. Choose birdseed, bio-

degradable rice paper petals, or lavender buds.

EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRYGoing green is about supportinglocally sustainable businesses. Trackdown a caterer who specializes in

organic food and wine. Work with a100-Mile Menu, by using regional foods

grown within that radius. Showcase local wine, beer andspirits when possible. Choose natural hemp or linentablecloths and use washable cutlery and tableware. Pick avenue with recycling facilities and donate leftover food to alocal shelter or food-bank.

Plan a daytime wedding to minimize electricity use. And,go easy on the power grid with the entertainment. DJs withcomputerized equipment will consume less power than alive band, but nothing beats an acoustic band that burns upno power at all. Let guests trip the light fantastic withambient lighting from soy based or beeswax candles.

Whether you prefer film or digital photographs, look for aphotographer who will do digital proofs to save paper andchemicals. Avoid single-use cameras, but ask friends withdigi-cams to share their photos so you can post them onyour wedding website.

‘TIS BETTER TO GIVEOffer individual favours such as seed packages, bulbs or

tree saplings. Even better, make a smalldonation in each guest’s name to a favouriteenvironmental group and proclaim it on asimple note at every place setting. Let yourguests take home any candles you’ve used forlighting or offer homemade chocolates orsoaps parceled in hemp baggies.

For the gift registry, if you aren’t in needof household items or elaborately wrappedgifts that may seldom get used, suggestcontributions to World Vision Canada orsponsor a child in a developing country.Websites help newlyweds set up donationsto charities that benefit the environment.Ask for gardening accoutrements or a

composter to green up your new environment, or a set ofbikes for short-haul trips.

HAPPILY EVER AFTERAir travel accounts for approximately two percent of allgreenhouse gas emissions in Canada, so think abouthideaways close to home. All our provinces offer a host ofbackpacking and camping adventures, or romantic B & Bsin our beautiful natural areas—and think about taking aromantic train ride to get you there. Or honeymoon on abusiness trip you had to take anyway. Forego all the travel,plant yourself at home and volunteer with Habitat forHumanity to put your DIY skills to the test.

If overseas travel is part of your dream, why not make thetrip meaningful? Check organizations that place volunteersaround the world: www.volunteerinternational.org,www.volunteerabroad.com or www.globalvolunteers.org.

Celebrate your special day with family, friends and MotherEarth with a commitment to each other and our planet. √

Contact Linda Bodo at [email protected] or visit www.absolutebodo.com

with Linda Bodo

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Something old... Something new... Something borrowed...

Something green?



There is a maxim that says if you onlyhave one buyer, then he has you; youdon’t have him. This also rings true if youare extremely dependent on a singlesupplier. We have assisted many clientswho own profitable distributioncompanies. Typically these companieshave a long, successful track record and asolid market with steadily growing profits.When owners decide to sell they need todiscuss the sale with their supplier asmost exclusive supply/distributionagreements have a clause that gives thesupplier the right to approve or refuse thetransfer of the contract to a new buyer.The supplier needs to have some comfortthat the new owner has the necessaryexperience and financing to continuedistribution of their products at the sameor a greater level as the current owner.

This situation becomes problematic ifthe proposed buyer needs to leverage theassets of the company in order to raisethe necessary financing to buy it.Suppliers prefer their distributors to havestrong balance sheets and conservativeamounts of debt. This is particularlyimportant if the supplier is in effectfinancing the distributor’s inventory byproviding it to him on what amounts tointerest free terms. Suppliers do not wantto have their inventory used as securityfor a third party debt. The purchaser runsthe risk that the supplier will significantlyreduce the amount of inventory underthese circumstances. Lower inventorylevels usually result in lower revenue,lower cash flow and a greater inability toservice the debt that was incurred topurchase the company. It is a downwardspiral that is hard to stop.

If a supplier decides that he won’t allowthe supply contract to be transferred to apurchaser it reduces the value of the

business to virtually nothing. Without theproduct there is no revenue and there isno business. On the surface it mayappear that they are hurting themselvesas they will lose all the revenue that theoriginal distributor historically made forthem. However, if a supplier has a lack oftrust and/or confidence in the purchaserand if the balance sheet is highlyleveraged there is a risk that the businesswill not survive and their inventory is atrisk. In this way, the supplier can controlthe amount of risk he’s willing to take, ifany.

If you are interested in buying or sellinga company that is dependant on a keysupplier, please [email protected] or (780)441-6793 and let us help you find asolution that meets the needs of all thestakeholders.

with Stephen W. Kent, CA(780) 441-6793

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