The Alberta government spent 3.5 million dollars investigating environmental groups protesting the oil sands. Gary Mason, writing in The Globe and Mail, Alberta edition, expects the report to be a dud despite it being a year late and a million dollars over budget. His article appears below. On 31 October 2007, the Calgary Herald published my opinion that protests of public policy contribute to knowledge, democracy, and good policymaking. As Albertans await the report on #environmental NGO funding of protest activities, I dusted off the op-ed of good things that come from public… Read more Policies, Publics, and Protests →
Loneliness is a modern epidemic Standing in line at a grocery store, I overheard a customer tell the clerk ringing through her order, “I never use the self-service option because… Read more What color is loneliness? →
Fictional guest list for a fake dinner Imagine your ideal dinner party guests, whether living, dead, invented, or mythical. Mine range and change, currently Marie Curie, Superman, Julie Payette, John Legend, and Oprah. Only one guest remains… Read more The convictions of one’s courage →
Enter 2018, fireworks on a revving motor Anyone else feeling inundated with endless stories of unsavoury behaviour? January enflames as if Santa delivered lumps of coal named rocket, collusion, accusation,… Read more Three hopeful truths for 2018 →
Words are words, right? Wouldn’t you assume that using words was a skill transferable from one career to another? With words, I manage conflict and write. Yet, switching from Conflict Manager to writer… Read more Updating a useful metaphor →
Question posed: You seem to love being a Conflict Manager and I think I would too. Any suggestions for getting into the field? Answer: Yes, I’ve been a full-time conflict… Read more 10 TIPS to becoming a Conflict Manager →
Deborah Sword 