Weekly News Recap: November 24, 2023

Weekly News Recap: November 24, 2023

Calgary Economic Development CEO Brad Parry, who is also the CEO of Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund, along with Bow Valley College presdent and CEO Dr. Misheck Mwaba and Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek announce the development of a new multi-million dollar digital entertainment arts hub on the campus. (Photo: Bow Valley College)

Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain. -- Carl Jung

SOME GOOD NEWS

  • Cheez-Its: Making that cheddar (Quartz) #Yum "The early 20th century was a banner era for crackers. A prevailing health movement of the day championed by Presbyterian minister, weirdo, and Graham cracker inventor Sylvester Graham held that, compared to other foods, crackers provided less stimulation and curbed sinful cravings—a quality that made them one of the country’s first health foods (although given how inhalable Cheez-Its are today, that seems to have backfired)."

  • VIDEO: Nature. Beauty. Gratitude. (TED) I encourage you to watch this ten-minute video. It is a lovely balm against the onslaught of grim daily news. #Beautiful "Nature’s beauty can be fleeting -- but not through Louie Schwartzberg’s lens. His stunning time-lapse photography, accompanied by powerful words from Benedictine monk Brother David Steindl-Rast, serves as a meditation on being grateful for every day."

  • VIDEO: Dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge — these siblings can do it all (CBC) EDMONTON STORY It's a thing. Especially in the Edmonton capital region and at the Univeristy of Alberta. #GoDodgeball "Siblings Melissa and Xay Phavone have been playing dodgeball recreationally since they were kids in Sherwood Park, Alta., but now they’re preparing to go international as members of Team Canada at the World Dodgeball Championships in Austria."

  • VIDEO: Sask. 10-year-old proving himself as a boxer (CBC) SASKATCHEWAN STORY Love this kid. "Michael Moser is starting to prove himself as a skilled boxer while also improving his fitness and health. This includes running 10 kilometre races."

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

  1. Why several big-box stores have ditched their self-checkouts (CBC) CANADIAN STORY Well, this is refreshing. "After Dwayne Ouelette took over the Canadian Tire in North Bay, Ont., last year, he decided to buck the trend and ditch the store's four self-checkout machines — which had been there for a decade. 'I'm not comfortable using them and I don't think some of my customers are comfortable [either],' said Ouelette, who removed the machines in July and replaced them with cashiers."

  2. Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk to head to the International Space Station (CBC) CANADIAN STORY Congrats and good luck! "It's a dream that's out of this world. This morning from Canadian Space Agency headquarters just outside of Montreal, Federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne announced that astronaut Joshua Kutryk has been assigned a six-month mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2025."

  3. Calgary's Peace Bridge repairs finally complete after vandalism (CBC) CALGARY STORY I walked across it yesterday. Looks great. "The City of Calgary announced [...] that its distinctive pedestrian Peace Bridge is now fully open for use after repairs to its railings were completed. The bridge had been partially closed since work on the railings began [...] following an act of vandalism in July 2022 that damaged dozens of glass panels."

  4. VIDEO: Born in the '90s: How likely is it that you own a home? | About That (CBC) CANADIAN STORY I can't decide if this is a good news or a bad news story. Either way, it is an interesting look at home ownership in Canada. "According to Statistics Canada, children of homeowners are much more likely to own homes themselves. Andrew Chang breaks down the numbers to explain just how wide a gap there is and what factors come into play."

  5. Vancouver the only Canadian stop announced on The Rolling Stones' 2024 North American tour (CBC) VANCOUVER STORY Anybody want to go to Vancouver? "The Rolling Stones have announced a North American tour for next year, and Vancouver is the only Canadian date on the itinerary. The rock 'n' roll band, which formed in London in 1962, are set to play B.C. Place on Friday, July 5, with tickets going on sale Dec. 1."

  6. Turning Point: Food banks were never meant to be a long-term solution (Globe and Mail) CANADIAN STORY This is the big question. "Food banks aren’t that old in the social-service landscape—the first food bank in Canada was started in Edmonton in 1981. And it sparked across the country because so many people were in dire straits. No one ever thought food banks would be a permanent solution."

  7. Parker: Executive search firm Pekarsky & Co. celebrates small business of the year award (Calgary Herald) CALGARY STORY Congratulations to Adam and his partners. ViTreo is lucky to be working with Adam who is chairing the Camp Chief Hector campaign for YMCA Calgary. "Many companies are justifiably proud of winning an award; many are distributed throughout the year. But Adam Pekarsky is particularly proud of Pekarsky & Co. won the LinkFirst Credit Union Tiny Business of the Year accolade."

  8. Bow Valley College receives up to $5.5M from city fund to develop digital entertainment arts hub (CTV) CALGARY STORY Well done BVC. This is a huge win for you, for Calgary, and for your students. "Bow Valley College received some good news [...] when it received up to $5.5 million for the development of a digital entertainment arts hub [...]. The Calgary Entertainment Arts Production Hub (CEAPH) will provide Bow Valley students with training, reskilling and upskilling a variety of digital creation skills, including 3D animation and visual effects, game development, post-production, augmented and virtual reality, motion capture, esports, podcasting and more."

  9. Canadian Forces ask for business support to allow reservists to fill critical mission gaps (Livewire) CANADIAN STORY Want to see the world? Become a reservist. "As the number of missions the Canadian Forces are asked to undertake at home and abroad increases, the gaps between the number of positions needed, and the number of positions filled in the Forces, have made that a hard challenge to meet. Brigadier-General Steve Graham, Commander 3rd Canadian Division [...] made a very specific ask to help solve that talent gap: support us by supporting reservists."

  10. Many people aren't represented in anatomy drawings. These professors are changing that (CBC) WINDSOR STORY Cool idea. "Crack open just about any textbook dealing with medicine or science, and you'll see a lot of the same when it comes to the human anatomy illustrations: often white male bodies, usually very physically fit, absent tattoos, piercings or prosthetics."

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

  1. Running vs. Walking: Which Is Better for Lasting Health? (New York Times) I bet if you guessed, you might be...wrong. I was.

  2. What to Do and What Not to Do During Meetings. (Ro Fernn) This is really good. The drawings are great as well.

  3. Your daily standup should be asynchronous. Here’s why (Alex Omeyer) Would you rather share your updates and questions on a platform at a time of your choosing during the day or would you rather dedicate 30 minutes every day at the same time to be with your peers to do the same thing?

  4. 15 Incredible Business Books: The Financial Times Business Book of the Year Award (Novel Nest) If you are interested in what the future of business holds or how to make a really cool culture change, this list is for you.

  5. Much Too Jung (The Problem with Myers-Briggs Personality Tests) (Better Humans) I found this test useful but...too narrow.

  6. My Weekly Planning System: The LEGO Framework Dan Silvestre (Dan Silvestre) I like the discipline of this.

  7. How I Cured 30 Years of Knee Pain (in 30 Days) With One Simple Exercise (Ilumination) I am really hoping this will help me. My knee is chronically sore.

TOP THREE GIFTS OF THE WEEK

  1. FedEx founder Fred Smith donates $50 million for Memphis stadium renovation project (Commercial Appeal) The University of Memphis announced [...] it has received a $50 million gift courtesy of FedEx founder Fred Smith's family foundation intended to facilitate the city's renovations of both Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium and FedExForum.

  2. Billionaire inventor James Dyson donates £35m to his former school (Independent) "Billionaire inventor Sir James Dyson has donated £35m to his former school, which allowed him to continue his studies for free after the death of his father. The 76-year-old entrepreneur was a nine-year-old pupil at the private Gresham’s school in Holt, Norfolk when his father Alec Dyson, a classics teacher at the school, died of cancer."

  3. Philanthropy in Ottawa: Joyce Family Foundation gives healthy boost to next generation of nurses at heart institute (Ottawa Business Journal) OTTAWA STORY "The Joyce Family Foundation recently announced a $1.5-million gift to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation focused on a nursing bursary program. Undergraduate students entering the first year of the university’s nursing program will receive a tuition bursary and opportunities to intern, receive enhanced training and participate in mentorship and employment opportunities."

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

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