The Brief: How innovation is helping Alberta adapt to a changing water future
Release Date: 06/27/2024
AlbertaBETTER
C-Suite host Adam Legge sits down with Terry Anderson, President and CEO of ARC Resources. Terry shares his journey from a farm boy in rural Saskatchewan to leading one of Canada's largest natural gas companies. He offers insights on the lessons he's learned along the way—about hard work, leadership, taking calculated risks, and the importance of making the right decision, even when it's not the most popular one. He highlights several mentors who shaped his path, including old hockey coaches and founding BCA Board Chair Hal Kvisle. Terry also walks listeners through some of ARC’s key...
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How achievable is a good life in Canada? Less and less Canadians believe it is possible. Only 30% of Canadians feel the country is on the right track and less than 5% believe the next generation will be better off. This means more Canadians believe Bigfoot is real than believe they will be better off than their parents. It is becoming abundantly clear that Canadians want to see fundamental changes to put our country back on track and build real prosperity again, but where do we start? BCA President Adam Legge joins Vice President of Communications and External Relations Scott Crockatt on the...
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BCA President Adam Legge sits down with Curtis Stange, President and CEO of ATB Financial, one of the most iconic financial institutions in Alberta's banking system. Curtis talks about his transition from one of Canada's major banks to ATB and breaks down the philosophy that drives him, discussing investing in yourself, your team, your family, and your community. Curtis gives listeners a brief history of ATB's unique journey from its roots in Alberta during the 1930's to becoming a Crown Corporation in the 1990's. Curtis highlights some of the key moves and aquisitions he has made...
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BCA has released a special "Premier Unplugged" episode featuring Alberta Premier, Danielle Smith in conversation with BCA President, Adam Legge. Together, they explore Alberta’s diplomatic approach to managing trade tensions with the United States under the evolving "Trump 2.0" administration. Premier Smith highlights the importance of avoiding retaliation, addressing key irritants, and supporting U.S. aspirations in energy security and critical minerals supply to foster a stronger Canada-U.S. economic relationship. They also discuss the potential for a delegation mission to Washington to...
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Donald Trump is officially the President of the United States again, and his 'america first' approach to politics and threat of tariffs on Canadian goods mean that Canada has entered an era of trade uncertainty with it's largest economic partner. The impacts of tariffs on Canada-U.S. trade would be profound on both sides of the border, but how would they affect Albertans in their daily lives? What would become more expensive? Where would we see job losses? What industries would be hit the hardest? To help give our listeners a clearer picture of the possible outcomes, Scott Crockatt invited...
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Alexis von Hoensbroech, the visionary CEO of WestJet, uncovers the fascinating journey from his early aspirations in astrophysics to leading one of Canada's premier airlines. His story is one of unexpected turns, moving from the scientific realm to a pivotal business role with the Boston Consulting Group before embarking on his influential career within the Lufthansa Group. With a narrative that spans continents, Alexis shares how these diverse experiences have shaped his unique leadership style at WestJet, including the cultural transitions from Europe to Canada and the challenges and...
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Trailblazer Marc Staniloff joins us on C-Suite Unplugged to share his remarkable journey in the Canadian hotel industry. From a career in real estate to acquiring the development rights for Super 8 in Western Canada, Marc's path is filled with strategic choices and compelling partnerships that have transformed local communities. He offers an honest look into the challenges and triumphs of launching a successful franchise model, emphasizing the importance of community involvement and collaborations with First Nations, which have fostered mutual growth and opportunity. Marc also reflects on the...
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Ginny Roth, a prominent conservative voice and partner at Crestview, joins us to explore the potential future of a Conservative government in Canada. With her deep roots in political organizing and consulting, Ginny offers an insider's perspective on what a government under Pierre Poilievre might prioritize. We unravel the possible consequences a second Trump presidency could have on Canadian conservatives and examine Poilievre's distinctive protectionist approach on social media, diving into how these dynamics might reshape public affairs and policies north of the border. Our conversation...
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The team dives into many of the leading and lagging economic indicators that tell us a bit about where Alberta's economy stands compared to the summer snapshot. They also dive into some of the political developments both nationally and globally and what they could mean for Alberta and Canada's economic forecast into 2025. There are several positives in Alberta's outlook. The Bank of Canada's interest rate hikes seem to have set Canada's economy up for the 'soft landing' they hoped for, curbing consumption and inflation without significant job losses. Meanwhile, Alberta continues to be the...
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Warren Stow, the visionary CEO of GrainsConnect, shares his captivating journey from his roots on a family farm in Graysville, Manitoba, to leading a pivotal player in the grain industry. Hear firsthand about the strategic operations that channel Western Canadian grains and oilseeds to global markets, and how Warren's agricultural upbringing and diverse career experiences shaped his leadership. Discover the intricate dance between tradition and innovation that propels GrainsConnect forward, navigating challenges from labour disruptions to leveraging cutting-edge technology. Our...
info_outlineAlberta's opportunity to contribute to global solutions in agriculture, energy, and health is immense. Seizing this opportunity will take big ideas, lots of collaboration, and a little “can do” attitude.
In the special series of The Brief, called Missions & Moonshots, we are talking to top experts, business leaders, innovators, and thought leaders across Alberta and Canada exploring solutions to the world’s biggest challenges in energy, agriculture, and health.
Our guest is Vicki Lightbown, the Director of the Water Innovation Program at Alberta Innovates. She discusses the state of drought in Alberta today, how innovation can make us resilient in the face of a crisis and what challenges stand in the way of innovation adoption.
Vicki Lightbown’s discussion paper can be read here: http://bit.ly/3h5Lb0k
About Vicki Lightbown
Vicki Lightbown is the Director for the Water Innovation Program at Alberta Innovates. She is a Professional Engineer with a BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Calgary. In 2015, Vicki was a recipient of the Young Women in Energy award and in 2016 she was named in the Top 35 under 35 in Canada’s Energy Sector by the Alberta Oil Magazine. In Vicki’s role with Alberta Innovates she works proactively to identify critical technology and knowledge gaps and apply world-class research to develop solutions for some of the biggest water challenges in Alberta.