Bruce Winter

So What If Keystone XL Pipleline Isn't Built

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 04:56:00 +0000

Trans Canada Pipeline wants to put $7B of capital to work. Build a pipeline from Hardisty to Houston.

Is that the best use of the capital? From what I've read, the pipe line will end a distribution blockage at Cushing, Oklahoma, in the short-term. In the mid-term, it will create over capacity, in the pipeline system. That will be taken up over time by more production, in Alberta. And elsewhere, if the price of oil stays high. That's a reasonable Except, oil use for gasoline, in the US is declining. High prices are a contributing factor.

So if that was your $7B, some of it is. Your pension fund is likely vested in Trans Canada, would up make that bet?

So what if, love the what if game, Keystone isn't built. What then? Alberta Energy Minister, Ron Liepert, might need resuscitation. He's has quite the gift for influencing people . By the time the Keystone XL decision is made, Alberta will have a new premier. Perhaps a new government. Who knows who will be running the provincial energy department in January 2012.

With no KeystoneXL, oilsands oil gets to market, as it does now. Though major players including ConocoPhillips, Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Cenovus Energy Inc., Valero Energy Corp., Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., won't be too pleased.

We take a 20$/b haircut on the raw stalk because of the glut in Cushing and decreasing American demand. That's $45M a day!

"There is enough spare pipeline capacity in markets outside the U.S. Gulf Coast and Canada’s West Coast to absorb oil sands growth, until near the end of the decade, but new capacity would have to be available after that" Greg Stringham, vice-president, oil sands and markets at the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.

Without Keystone XL, the pace of the oilsands development slows. Is that bad? Would it be 'better' if there was time to create extraction efficiencies. Eighty percent of the resource is too deep for mining. SAGD needs to be better than it is now.

With more time can the industry walk its' efficiency talk. Be more efficient? Live its' social licence to operate. Use less water, less natural ga in the SAGD process. Well, use less of everything. Doesn't that drive costs down? Create better balance sheets?

Does no Keystone XL make local upgrading economic? Right now, apparently it isn't . The existing upgrader capacity is cheaper to run, than building a new green field operations. Wonder why it was such a good idea to build locally, a few years back, and now not so much? Perhaps we need to look beyond just the business economics and look at some social ones, as well.

Like long-term community prosperity tied to resource extraction. Not just dig it .Extract it. Ship it. We aren't going to replace that oil. We can mitigate the extraction by creating some long-term community value, not just hedge fund and CEO bonus value. Norway seems to have captured some. We have a deficit. Norwegians have $500B in the bank!

Now my understanding is, the industry doesn't like Alberta's Bitumen in Kind program. Distorts the market the industry says. The proposed North-West Refinery gets a deal on the bitumen. Gee this guys don't like royalties. Don't like BRIK. Not much long-term community prosperity, in those positions.

If, still playing the what if game, if there is no Keystone XL, then up-grading locally may-be economic. Up-grade here, use existing pipelines. Ship to refineries that can take the upgraded stock. Not all refineries are bitumen able. And there are no plans, anywhere, to increase refinery capacity.

Except may-be right here, in Alberta's Industrial Heartland. Perhaps, there is value added product we can sell. Like biodiesel for the aviation industry, or the trucking industry. The folks in Ontario seem to think that a good bet. And their stock is coming from forestry waste. Competition coming? Might just be a bit better for the environment too.

So no KeystoneXL won't please Trans Canada Pipeline. However it might just create some options. Long term community value is one of them.

So if you had $7B, are you betting Keystone XL, or betting local, where's the value proposition for you?

Canadian Oil Sands - US Council on Foreign Relations

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Learn Engage & Riding a Mountain Bike

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 21:08:00 +0000

It's always a good day when you learn something. Today is a good day. Had planned to do some mountain biking in Canmore. Plans can go a rye.Sure had s lot of rides though. Made s middle of the night visit to Emergency, at the Canmore Hospital . Of course didn't know exactly where it was. Bumped into 3 RCMP constables during my search. Advised to park my car and got my first ride. Even got an offer for a pick up, if my visit proved to be short. Alas the burning sensation in the middle of my chest was to dictate otherwise. Of course self diagnosis was asthma or bronchitis. Figured in and out in an hour or two . Uh no!. Emergency crew in Canmore , deliberate , professional empathetic and much more knowledgeable than the would not be patient. Several tests coupled with symptoms revealed my ticker was toking as well as ticking. In combination that's not necessarily a good thing. So it was a good thing I was where I was. Thanks Canmore RCMP! So it was determined the mountain bike ride was off. And now the good folks in Canmore had ample evidence s higher level of care was needed. First thought Calgary of course. Nope Calgary didn't 't want me. No offense. preferred home, in YEG, in this circumstance. So in s heart beat, a plan hatched to Medic- Vac to YEG. Second ride up coming. But belongings in hotel room and rental car parked in down town Canmore. Quick call and folks at Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge pack up my room and delver my belongings. Thanks Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge. Quick call to Budget and they say we'll pick up vehicle and deliver your stuff. Thanks Budget! And thanks nurse Sue and docs Anita and Mansur ( sic) And Canmore EMS Chris and her partner for ride two , to Medi - Vac at YYC.. Not sure how long that ride took, was a little engaged in how the ticker was toking. And it was doing ok. So now ride three with Lang ,Chris ,and Byron Cslgary EMS and the medi-vac pilots.Forty nine minutes and TD at YEG muni. and transport to Sturgeon Valley. Hospital Don't ask. Yes several closer, suspect vacancy rate might have s lot to do with the locale. Now under watchful eye of SVH nursing staff, snd Dr Fadi Khaour. Angiogram is slated for Monday, as long as the ticking and toking remain in synch, which they are at this writing. O and the learning, a whole gaggle of Alberts Health Services people made my day today. and likely a whole bunch more. Thanks!

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Albert - Power Politics and the Grid

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 19:48:00 +0000

It's getting a tad nasty in Tory ville. Calgary's power brokers are fired up on power. It started with Calgary Herald calling out Tory leadership candidate, Ted Morton, on transmission lines.

Morton pushed back.

Tory Leadership game on!

All prompted by Wikileaks suggesting exporting power is the rationale for the new transmission lines.

The government says power export is not the reason for the upgrade.

Follow the link. You decide.

Nothing overly sinister about exporting power. It's imported and exported all the time. That's the essence of a grid system. Power is consumed on demand. Moves to where it's needed.

It's good there's a modicum of discussion, now. Not so good there wasn't much, over the last two years.The issue is complex. Curious to me how myopic the focus is. Disclosure, I worked as consultant for the Heartland Transmission Project, the capital region sector of the proposed transmission line up grade.

How did transmission capacity become the key solution to our power needs. Why limited discussion on intrinsically related issues? Our power comes from coal. How does generation impact our GHG emissions? How does our 'dirty' power system impact our reputation?

Dirty oil, dirty power, dirty Alberta, I'm tired of being called dirty, you? What's the value of our reputation? How does that translate into the cost of our power? Should it?

With a singular focus on transmission, we missed an opportunity to consider an array of options. Conservation and managing demand. Making the grid smarter. Decentralizing distribution. Integrating alternative sources, wind, geothermal, solar, and natural gas. Crucial elements to creating a thorough solution to our power needs.

We squandered an opportunity to derive value from our grid. Manage our reputation. There's lots of value for wire line companies, AtlaLink, Epcor, and Atco. We pay for the up grade, they own the lines. Reap the value from export sales. Does that work for you?

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Eskimos Way is Done-Good!

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:56:00 +0000

Just read Curtis Stock's take on Dan Kepley's resignation. It's insightful, contextual and passionate, as I expect from one of his berg's premier play pen scribblers. I wish he surfaced more often, in the paper and on line.

I don't agree with Stock's take. The organization owed Kepley some thing for his distinguished service. I agree the Eskimos Way is done. That's a good thing. It isn't working. There's a glut of nostalgia selling by our pro sports teams. It needs to end. Kepley's resignation did that with the thundering resonance of one of his shuddering tackles.

I know Danny, too, not as well as Curtis. Well enough to know his resignation, though dramatic is exactly what the organization needs. The "Eskimos Way" a legacy left by his coach, Hugh Campbell, is tired forlorn navel gazing, backwards. It's not Dan Kepley's way. It's a legacy the organization has taken too long to jettison.

There's only conjecture, speculation and innuendo, as to the real reason why he resigned. When he tells us, we'll know. Curtis, when one is not happy in their employ, for whatever reason, and tells the boss, the situation is untenable. I resign. The door slams hard and fast. It caught my butt, in a couple of sports gigs in this town. One thing about the boss, right or wrong, he is.

Kepley's resignation is a catalyst, the neutron dressing room clearing bomb to move the Eskimos forward. Kepley, as he has always, puts the team ahead of himself. There's a message for those left behind. Lead. Do the right thing, when it is hard to do. As the saying goes, it doesn't matter what happens. What matters is what you do.

So Curtis, when you tee it up with #42 next week. Ask him if he believes the organization owes him one. My bet, he says no.

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Not All Business...

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 21:51:00 +0000

Just good business. Wise words from an old friend. An apt description of the announcement of the 189 room. CourtYard Marriott to be in business, at Edmonton International Airport, by 2012. Just when the terminal expansion is completed.

So what makes this good business. And it's not all about the money. The money, the profits come as a result of good business.

" We can't afford to have our brand fail" said Michael Beckley, Senior VP of Lodging for Marriott Canada.

Download now or watch on posterous

Beckley.mov (3432 KB)

When the brand does $6 Billion worth of business worth of business throughout it's website. That's an a significant order of magnitude. A major vote of confidence in Edmonton's present and future. Nice partners to have.

"We build and operate hotels that's the core of what we do", said Ali Meghji, Principal at Platinum Investments. Been doing it for 35 years in Edmonton.

Download now or watch on posterous

Meghi.mov (2980 KB)

For Edmonton Airports the project delvers a long term lease, cash flow. Provides capacity to keep costs to airlines down, which effects the price you pay for a ticket.

For travellers there's a recognized facility that will make for easier travel. Moving you in comfort, with a dash of style.

Good business, you tell me.

Here's a glimpse of what you can expect at the Court Yard Marriott,at Edmonton Airports.

Download now or watch on posterous

EIA-Marriot_HD-2.mov (2655 KB)

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Small Planes FLY EIA too!

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 02:37:00 +0000

Toured EIA last week. Got a look at the General Aviation area.

Here's what I learned.

There's lots of hanger space available.

Inside Refurbished Ward Air Hanger 120,000 Sq Feet of maintenance and parking space.

Sufficient space to accommodate a 747, or a 'fleet' of small aircraft.

General Aviation Tarmac

Suncor is major user of EIA's General Aviation facility.

Private Air Charter companies like Calgary based Air Sprint and SunWest use the facility.

Kevin Costner flew in, and out this weekend, on his was to Big Valley Jamboree.

Passenger & Cargo operations like Canadian North links the North through EIA.

Six NHL teams, including the Oilers, use this facility . Eskimos use it too.

Nice tidy business.

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4 Take Aways from Arena Day

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:09:00 +0000

PR & Communications

Mayor open preceding thanking Darryl for coming and acknowledging his parents and family were in attendance.--- reaching out . In his opening remarks Katz said ''we haven't made it easy", in reference to the process." I'm apologize for that."--- reaching out.

Suggest he do more of that. Take the lead. Talk more. We need and expect him to talk more, not at us, with us. He was the best performer, in his entourage. We'd like to know him better.

When he linked the Heritage Classic, as the catalyst for the lucrative NHL Outdoor Classic, he touched a nerve that resonates in Edmonton. We take risk. We expect a reasonable return. We share. Katz's NHL partners are the beneficiaries of Edmonton's expertise. We relate to that. Build on it.

Transparency

Now, apparently, the Katz Group will go all in, with a $400M investment, $200M to buy the Oilers, $100M for complimentary investment. He did commit, again I think, the $100M for the arena.“If that’s what it takes to move this project forward, I will do that,” Katz said.

When asked if the $100M for the arena included the land, equivocation. Legal Council John Karvellas said that was part of the negotiation. At that point, Mr Katz could have said, land is in or land is out. He said nothing. So though the headlines say he's in, I'm not so sure that part of the $100M for the arena is the land.

Accountability

Financial questions were stone walled. "As a private company we are not obliged to divulge our financial statements" said several times by Paul Marcaccio, the chief financial officer of the Katz Group. True and beside the point. We need to verify the numbers. Partners do that.

Apparently the Oilers have lost money 7 of the last 10 years. If true, is that a company 'we' want to partner with? They argue the rink is too small, needs more seats. And of course all that ancillary revenue that now goes to Northlands.

It can be argued current business practices by NHL teams, Oilers included, do not warrant subsidization. Subsidizing reckless and irresponsible business practices, makes one poorer. Is reckless behaviour, signing players to inflated contracts, enabled by public subsidy?

Community Awareness

Edmonton is a small town. The Katz group have not grasped the significance of Edmonton Northlands. They dismissed it. "We tried to negotiate with Northlands and we couldn't reach an agreement. We've moved on", said John Karvellas.

The city hasn't and neither has Northlands. Maybe KS&E sailed too soon. Northlands could be the bank, here. Northlands has access to federal funds. Same taxpayer just a different pocket.

Katz Sports& Entertainment is grasping for Edmonton's Concert business. Northlands hosted 42 of them last year. The Katz Group thinks it can do better. AEG may be able to bring in the acts. However, if all the revenue, goes to the private operator,what's the civic benefit? Good for the operator, may be not so good for the city.

I've not heard AEG outline the order of magnitude of the concert and large show business, in Edmonton. Seem lots of video about what's doable in LA, London, and Berlin. Nice but not relevant to this market.

The glitz business depends on disposable income. In small town, one trick, oil can, Edmonton, can we support more than a concert, or large show a week? Key questions when you propose funding a $400M entertainment complex. It's managing the risk.

Your thoughts?

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$112M Superior Value for Community Rec Centre

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:16:00 +0000

A $100M is a big number, a popular figure, in Edmonton, these days.

Actually, $112M is the cost for the new North Central Community Recreation Centr e, under construction, at Commonwealth Stadium. A hundred million dollars is the amount the Katz Group offered, then withdrew, to fund the new arena project.

North Central Community Recreation Centre-meet and play be fit and well

So I wondered, how much value does $112M buy? Lots, when there's collaborative effort in raising and spending it. The NCCRC was originally conceived as a field house. The Eskimos had $15 from the province for up grades to the stadium. Cost for the field house is $40M. So they ponied up another $5M. The city matched the Esks contribution. Voila, a field house! There's more.

The city was reviewing plans for recreation centre up grades. When a city deal with NAIT fell through, the Eskimos went back to city and said what about a recreation centre up grade, at the stadium. "It just made a lot of sense," says Esks CEO Rick Lelacheur. "One management group, for the field house, the pool, there were just a lot of common threads," he adds .

And more cash required. The cost went from $40M for the field house to $112M for the field house and recreation centre. The Esks ponied up another $2.5M. Their direct investment, $7.5M, mostly from proceeds of the Edmonton Trappers sale. Plus the $15M they received from the province for stadium upgrades for a total of $22.5M, or 20% of the project cost. That's equivalent to a down payment we'd make on a house. Opens the door for conventional municipal financing. The city was on the hook for the balance $89.5M

The need was readily identified. A community centre chartered to improve health and wellness, in a part of town bereft of such amenities. Still, no matter how worthwhile, a $112M project price tag is a prescription for political heart palpitations, cold feet, and limited support. "We spent a lot of time working with city administration, and we went jointly to council and got 100% approval, says Lelacheur.

" It was significant effort by the Eskimos that enabled us to get get support and funding, says Rob Smyth, Community and Facility Services branch manager, at the city. Without their work behind the scenes, it's doubtful the we'd have been able to go ahead," he adds.

So why did it work? It started with a community vision. Build a legacy asset. Produce a community dividend. It's an example of Higher Purpose business practice, an element traditionally and sorely, in short supply. An element whose time may be nigh, according to Umair Haque, writing in the Harvard Business Review :

"... if we want to allocate precious talent, energy, and time to what matters instead of what glitters, if we want to create fundamentally new advantages— it's time to give the economy a higher purpose."

A $112M buys superior value, when it's well managed . A neighbourhood gets a facility, it could not afford, on it's own. The rest of us get to use it. It's an LRT ride away. Amplifying the city strategy to connect us with recreation and entertainment facilities, while leaving our cars parked. The Eskimos get field house to train, a new dressing room, some office space. The value proposition seems well served to me.

When it's about all of us, it's possible to garner support for just about anything in this berg. What say you?

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Arena & Airport Edmonton's Dysfunctional Under Belly

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:33:00 +0000

Let's connect some disparate dots, the floundering Arena Project and the enigmatic City Centre Airport.

The protagonists are Mayor Stephen Mandel and Cal Nichols .

Nichols is the respected Founder of Gasland Properties, Chair of the Alberta Enterprise Group, former Chair of the Oilers Investors Group and current Chair and Alternative Governor of the Oilers. Cal is the chair, of the Katz group arena project, the influence guy.

Last year, about this time, the city conducted a detailed study on airport lands. Cal resigned his position with the Oilers, to head the AEG campaign to keep the airport open. He did that to avoid conflict with his position for the Katz Group, on the arena project. That campaign failed. City Council voted to close the airport slowly, over 15 years.

Don't think, Cal was pleased with the decision. Votes, public will, and process don't seem to matter to ECCA proponents . May Day! Envision Edmonton cleared to land. Mayor Mandel, safe to say is a big supporter of revitalizing the airport lands.

Me thinks, Cal and Stephen have some issues. If body language, at a recent public event, is a metric, personal relations are strained, at best. I caught both, at the Memorial for Gary McPherson, a few weeks back. When their paths crossed, 2 feet in front of me, there was no contact, no acknowledgement, no interaction. Thought that odd for the two guys leading the parade, on major issues affecting the city. Debris from the City Centre Airport decision smoulders.

Let's look a some other dots.The $100M Katz Group 'proposed' to invest in the Arena. That got the Mayor's attention. Think of the $100M, as 20% of the proposed cost of $500M to build the arena. That's pretty close to qualifying for traditional mortgage financing. Makes the project commercially, as in non publicly, financeable. The Mayor could and did support an arena funded that way. With the city committed to tossing in complimentary infrastructure, not a paltry commitment, there was potential for a viable partnership.

Until, oops,not so fast. The Katz $100M is not for the arena, but for unspecified ancillary development, at some undetermined future date. The Mayor was not happy, with that move. Nor the next one. Just for good measure, the Katz group said they want all the arena revenue. And Northlands, get stuffed. Don't need ya. Throw a partner under the bus, when another comes along. Happens in business.

A couple of caveats to the numbers above. First the $500M cost has not been verified. Consider it a floor not a ceiling. I'll take the 'over' on the over/under, bet any day.

Now the Mayor is more than a little disgruntled with the "Pocklingtonesque", you pay, I get, manoeuvre. He too has a vision, more importantly a plan, a public one. The Quarters is a significant development proposed for the east end of downtown. It's the catalyst to re develop downtown. The Arena District scooped the notion, in a PR coup of sorts to create Revitalize Edmonton with the arena as the focal point.

The Quarters is heavy on high density housing. The Arena District is highly commercial. Synergies are possible. The Arena District could be the play-pen for the Quarters.

They are only a few blocks apart. Walking distance. Walking, is going to be' the mode ' of transport, in the new down town

We are three years into The Quarters proposal. Progress is tedious. A new Downtown Redevelopment Plan has been approved. Re Zoning is completed. A Public Financing Plan will be presented to Council, in August. The urban planning process pretty mundane.

There's private interest in building a hotel on the corner of Jasper and 96h street. Currently that site is a parking lot. Subject to approvals construction could start, next spring. Assuming it is economically prudent to do so. Lots of caveats in development. When it proceeds the hotel will be he first private foray into downtown redevelopment.

"We've asked developers for expressions of interest, on other city own land,in the Quarters, says Kathleen Young , development manager, in the city's special projects office. "Responses have just started to come in," she says.

So the Mayor's plan in the Quarters is inching forward. The Arena District is stalled, momentarily. It's clear the Mayor and Cal Nichols, Katz Group Chairman, have some issues. Certainly a few crucial things they don't agree on. It's a bromide to say; we'll agree to disagree. No solution in that remedy. Theatre of the absurd? Waste of time and public money? Power brokers, broken? No leaders or leadership? Settling scores? What do you think?

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Boondoggle - Edmonton Arena District

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:27:00 +0000

Boondoggle...

Term for a scheme that wastes time and money

So why does a golden opportunity become a boondoggle?

"What seems to be missing in the arena planning exercise is a co-operative spirit toward achieving an excellent downtown design. It seems to have turned into a funding shell game without a proper cost-and-benefit assessment of various development and operational options." Architect Gene Dub

Why, when the Arena District is an opportunity to do business better and do better business...

"The basics of the business are that you need all of the revenue sources, ancillary and direct, to create a business case that works. It's very, very difficult, perhaps even impossible, to live on pure gate receipts and revenues that are directly associated with hockey."

Oilers' President Pat Laforge

... do intelligent men seek to 'game' the system?

" I've said all along that we can't count on the largesse of the owner's Visa card to keep hockey in Edmonton and the building provides the sustainability model that you need through good times and bad."Oilers' President Pat Laforge

Why is business, as it is done, so short-sighted, so greedy so manipulative so abusive, so condescending?

"funding is a big concern with many taxpayers, but that issue is part of the process that will be

addressed later."

Bob Black VP Katz Sports&Entertainment

...when there is opportunity ...To be open and forthcoming

Why are public proceedings, processes, rules, procedures, so myopic, so limiting, so closed, so complicated?

Download now or watch on posterous

Arena Process.mov (1297 KB)

Zoning Public Meeting listen up, we going to tell you some stuff!

...when they can be simple, open, and understandable.

Why is it, or has it become so divisive,

questions about the funding model "have been distracting from the zoning application." Bob Black VP Katz Sports&Entertainment

...When there is such great promise ...To engage

...not enrage.

...When there is such potential t

o Unite

... not divide

... To Set New Standards

Download now or watch on posterous

Standards.mov (1200 KB)

LEED Recognized Standards let's make them better

... not adapt current ones.

Why is the fire that ignites the engine, propels us forward, creates value, delivers benefit, without exception, without exclusion, defused?

We set standards, daily, in Edmonton. We don't cherry pick them. We set the bar, not reach for it. We accept reasonable risk. We expect enduring reward for doing so. We are generous, not greedy. We are inclusive not exclusive. We embrace open, honest accountable, dialogue, debate, and discussion, not closed, authoritarian, deceitful, dictation.

... We believe in Edmonton. We believe in the promise of this city and its people. We see all the positive things happening downtown and want to be a part of it. And we believe that, together, we have the chance to do something extraordinary.

... excerpt from the Edmonton Arena District vision statement.

Together that's good, when do we meet? Will be a first when 'we' do. You'll know us, when you see us. We're Edmontonians.

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Hired to Be Fired

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:36:00 +0000

Professional sports coaches live by the axiom. Actually we all do. Been fired, hired, and done the firing, only one of those is pleasant. Two are brutally difficult, suspect there's folks who relate.

Don't know Rob Daum personally, can relate to how he feels. At best abandoned, at worst angry, and somewhere in the middle, a little panicked to regenerate cash flow.

Local sports media respect him. His coaching record is good. If the metric is last season's record, then all the coaches in the organization should be replaced. His loyalty to the programs he's worked in is unquestioned.

Bad things happen to good people too. Why? Why have the Oilers mishandled another personnel issue? Is their some merit in what Sheldon Souray said a while back Roundly dismissed then as disgruntled player comments, perhaps now there's some legitimacy to his claims. Actions suggest there's some legitimacy to Souray's claims.

Communication is not a strong suit in the organization. Skillful communication, internally and externally is an art, a manifestation of leadership. It's not the message that matters so much. Talk after all is easy. It is what you do and how it is done. There's a 'correct' way to 'fire' or not "re-hire" in this case. It's a process which is sorely inept in all of business practice. I thought this was a good read on the topic.

Leadership inspires, creates allegiance motivates. It is compassionate. Not in the modern sense. In the latin sense "with passion", understanding and empathy. Like a skilled power forward Leadership is a big need for the local hockey side .

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Culture +Dogma=Inertia at Grant MacEwan U

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 03:42:00 +0000

There's sentiment our institutions and corporations are so cluttered by culture and dogma, policies and procedures, they are paralyzed. When it comes to Grant MacEwan University's Wellness Centre, it's a sad and true commentary. Remember the great pool closure fiasco, 3 months ago?

Closed minds prevail. It appears the systemic neglect, which characterized pool operations for the last 3 years, is back on. I don't understand how discontinuing swim lessons engages the community, or creates potential to increase revenue to off set the operating costs.

Granted community swim lessons are not a panacea by any means. Community contact is though. And the Wellness Centre is caught in a huge dilemma. Half of its' revenue comes from community membership.So community should be pretty important. It doesn't seem to be. Unless of course the con is on.

So here's my suggestion. Be bold. Act. Create. Be and do better. Expand the fitness area by building a two storey addition to the south, towards 4h AVE. That solves the space issue for the fitness area, provides for more program offerings, and more membership opportunities. More community contact. Heck may be even some extension course take up. Imagine that!

Be bold, brand the Corner of 4th Ave & 9th Street, the MacEwan Wellness Corner, a two storey block of Wellness related businesses, running north from 4th Ave to 5th Ave.

Create two revenue streams, rent and revenue share. Do the latter by discounting the rent, slightly below market. Take an equity position in each businesses' sales. Help them win and the University wins. Be better. Do business a little differently.

Create a Wellness Centre Foundation. Revenue flows in to off-set costs of running the Wellness Centre, including the pool.
The word on the street is the University will get the pool closure right, this time. The various groups analyzing the situation are merely pawns, in a ruse. I have no way to measure that word. I've heard it. What I do know is across the street, to the west, Christenson Developments has new Seniors Housing coming. Down the street to the east, there's an Arena and Entertainment District, coming. At the corner of 4th Ave & 5th Street, to the south, there's a large condo, in the final stages of construction. I see customers living there.

Healy Ford is on the move. More high density housing is coming to the neighbourhood. And when the city moves ahead with the LRT expansion, which is in high gear, at the moment, there will be a station at 4th Ave & 5th Street. That brings the entire city to the campus door step.

Opportunity is in the neighbourhood, knocking a the door. My goodness a neighbourhood where you could live, work, learn, be well, and entertained within 8 blocks. Sure hope Grant MacEwan U hears the knock and answers the bell. Not optimistic though, your thoughts?

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Tale of two Edmonton Events - Expo 2017 and ArenaDistrict

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 22:24:00 +0000

Fired up? Inspired by the Edmonton Arena District? Itching to do something.

What about by Expo 2017, top of mind, do you care?

Two projects, portending great vision for our city. Which gets your attention, time, interest and energy? I like Expo 2017. Why? Leadership, leaders who invite participation, coalesce a cause, and collaborate. There's a sense of ease to the Expo bid. Like the North Saskatchewan meandering through town in the spring, the Expo Bid process flows, relentlessly.

There are tangible results. Introduced last fall, six months later it has garnered qualified provincial support. City support with an accelerated plan for the LRT. Regional support with airport expansion. Tangible infrastructure assets to show the feds, we have 'skin' in the game. Demonstrate to the Expo people, we are equipped to surpass their hosting standards. All because the first question, in the Expo Bid is "why"? The purpose, what the leadership believes. Not want the leadership 'wants'.

Leaders are powerful people, who 'peddle' influence. Leadership inspires action. Examining the ArenaDistrict and Expo leadership under the inspiration metric, ArenaDistrict comes second. Katz Sports and Entertainment tells us what they want. Pay for the arena. Wants first. Vision second. It's them and us. For the Expo leadership, is just us, all of us.

Why is unanswered Edmonton revitalization question. Why, the purpose, the belief, the inspiration behind all this revitalization 'talk' . Creating an 'entertainment district', is a result. That's not why?

Why, missing from revitalization, is the top priority for Expo '17. On why, the two groups go east and west. It's not buy-in. It's inspiration. Getting an entire community 'fired-up" in the vernacular of the time. Paraphrasing Martin Luther King; he said, "I believe...," not I have a comprehensive plan, minus the details which we'll talk about later.

So why might be: Edmonton is city which challenges norms. We believe 'we' can re-design down town Edmonton to make it a better place to 'live". How, by tapping the collective wisdom of the community, in an open frank discussion. What, re build downtown Edmonton, deploying new made in Edmonton standards for financing, engineering, environmental stewardship, (zero waste, alternative energy systems). Create a new city centre which offers an array of new housing options. Accommodates current area residents. Attracts the best in Global Entertainment. Drives Tourism. Supports local business. Do you want to help?

Fired up?

If you had 10 hours to volunteer your time and expertise, which group would get it? Edmonton ArenaAD, or Expo2017 Why? Which group do you think would accept your offer ?

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5 Snippets from the EIA AGM At AGA

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Thu, 13 May 2010 16:38:00 +0000

At Edmonton International Airports' Annual General Meeting at the AGA tonight, I learned...

1) One million passengers use Calgary instead of EIA. That's 20, 737's fully loaded a day. Use it or lose it folks! More jobs here, if those flights originate here!

2) Six million folks used EIA in 2009, down from 6.4 million, in 2008 Revenue $126.9M Earnings $7M, both down from 2008 due to the recession.

3) Ten thousand folks work at EIA, or in related business pull in $450M in wages. That's an economic driver for the region.

4) Recession cut terminal expansion costs by 25%. On a Billion $, that's $250M. Expansion 2012 is on target, and eh under budget.

Click to watch EIA Terminal Video

5) Bus Service to EIA coming real soon, "We're committed" said Edmonton Councillor Don Iveson, during a question and answer session.

On the bus service, according to EIA CEO Reg Milley, a deal was reached a year ago. It's unclear why it lost momentum. However not this time. Edmonton, Leduc, Leduc County, and EIA are in. They are going ahead. Capital Regional Board meets May 20Th. Expect a rubber stamp of approval and other municipalities to step up. Service possibly by July, maybe sooner from the Century Park LRT Station.

This a step in an accelerated LRT expansion plan, announced earlier this month. Interestingly, count on LRT to the Airport. "We have designed a route and a building to accommodate the LRT", Milley said.

The driver for that is Expo 2017. Skeptics on that event, take note. There is an unseen undercurrent of support percolating for Expo. A LRT plan to service sites and the airport could be key elements in securing the bid.

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Summer Musings on Alberta Spring Day

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Tue, 04 May 2010 20:17:00 +0000

Ruminating hard today, about a recent foray to the Oakanagan. The tough decision, drive 10 hours, flyeia with West Jet, 52 minutes. Well not quite, need to factor airport hassle time. So real travel time was 2 hours and 20 minutes, my house to YLW. Cost with seat sale, less than driving by large order of magnitude.

Golf wine and real estate were on the agenda. Golf for the focus for this post. Played The Pinnacle, 9-holer next to Gallagher's Canyon. Great little track to 'figure' it out on, after winter of benign neglect. Will be good for in season adjustments, too.

Better, if you are inclined to practice, is the range facility, at Gallagher's. Doubled ended range, large, well expansive, grass tee box. Sand trap and chipping area. Lessons available as you would expect.

Played the Harvest, too. Now this little devil can fool you with elevations and wind. Greens were mid April speed. Can just imagine what they'd be like now, eh mid summer, remember that? The par three, 16th is a nice little challenge. Above the pin on mid summer greens, mid summer nightmare!

Black Mountain is Melcor Golf facility, in north Kelowna. Needs some finishing touches before it deserves the Score Canada rating it has. No warm up area, or putting green. Not sure how that can be,but it is. Course itself is set in on bench high above Kelowna. Typical Melcor track, real estate surrounding it. Hope they don't build the houses too close.

Six par 4's under 380 may deter big hitters. However can attest staying 3 over on those is a pretty good challenge. Holes 13-17 will make or break the outing.

Par 3 11 th at Black Mountain 184 or 154 yds

Here, you get 2 par 3s, over 200 yards and 3, par 4's under 375. Have fun! And trust me 360 yard par fours can be a lot of eh, fun, combined with fair amount of muttering. As always straight is 'good'. Despite some missing ingredients I'd play it again for that stretch of holes.

Got to Osoyoos too. Played the Desert Gold at the Country Club. Another mountain track with spectacular vistas, short par fours, again in the 340 to 385 range. Accuracy is the game of choice. And when you tackle the 527 yard par 5, 6th, use a hybrid twice to get in place for your approach to the green.

My playing partners had serious case of lock-jaw, when I pulled out the driver and hit two, into the toolies.

Eh left is no good here, just trust me.

They made amends for themselves over lunch, though. Food at the Osoyoos GC is very good and reasonably priced.

The best part of the south Oakanagan is sunny warm weather. Actually hot +25 two weeks ago. They tell me t'was the same here, then, remember?

And for two small, albeit tourist oriented towns, Oliver and Osoyoos, boost 81 holes of golf and more coming. There's 36 at the Osoyoos Country, 9 with 9 more coming at Sonora Dunes, owned by the Osoyoos Indian band. Didn't play Fairview Mountain this time but will, next trip. NK'Mip another OIB facility, is also on the radar.

Sunny days ahead, and o yes one more little gem tucked off the beaten path, Saint Andrews on the Lake. This deserves a visit just to take a photograph. Huge clubhouse, worth a stop for lunch and a beverage.

Just Stop in

Musings on a spring day in Edmonton.

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Global's Trouble Shooter - New News Old News Better News

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 20:05:00 +0000

Watched my first local news cast, in long while, last Thursday night, April 1. Sad and true, I don't watch much TV anymore. Like the Edmonontian Generation, hardly ever watch the news.

By the time 6 o'clock comes, I pretty much know the issues. Researched what I need to know, on the net. Use the hour better at the pool, at Grant MacEwan University.

Now, the however, last Thursday's, April 1, Global TVs Trouble Shooter report got my attention. Titled Landscaping Nightmare, it's a report of a landscaping project gone bad. It's an example of how local television fails and could succeed.

Watch it .

This is old news style production, present the story. Gee, that's too bad. Buyer beware, We're done .

Instead of the end to a trouble shooting report. Lets resolve the issue. Bring resources to bear. Perhaps like this. Global News, decided to do something about this. We contacted the Landscaping class, at Nait. The students have agreed to take on the restoration as a class project. Donate their time and labor.

Our sponsor, Salisbury Green House has agreed to over see the students. Make sure the design will work. Get the project finished. We are going to document the effort and keep you informed on the progress, here on the News at Six at GlobalEdmonton.com on our FaceBook Page and Twitter.

Collaboration, relationship building, facilitation, news as a service, imagine that. Add value to a sponsorship. Ah yes, solve a problem. Create a reputation for problem solving. Collaborate with viewers, sources, and contributors, all the same folks by the way.

Time to re-brand the Trouble Shooter. Position locals news as a community service. Create solutions, not trouble shoot them. No CRTC save local news regulation required. Good likelihood of attracting more participating eye balls and sponsors too.

What do you think?

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MacEwan U Pool Now What

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:23:00 +0000

So Journalist Jeff asked "So, was this a bad decision made without consultation or is the squeaky wheel just getting oil"?, about

Pool at MacEwan city centre campus to stay open

Neither and both if I may proffer a response.

Neither:

In 2006 Board of Governors gave the Administration a three-year window to address the issues of cost and use, lower the former increase the latter. Both are proving to be more difficult than anticipated to resolve.

Students and patrons united to show the facility is valuable to them, well us, I'm one. Got squeaky well squawked a bit, got oiled, as JJ might say, now what.

Now and what are all that matters. Sink or swim by June 2011.

Three Suggestions, One question to Revitalize the MacEwan U Aquatic Centre

Lets:

Crowd Source

Ask patrons and the community to contribute to a solution.

Explore synergies with the City, and Regional municipalities.

There are 21 pools in Metro Edmonton and 4 more coming. Is there a network effect in there? Is the public library system a model to emulate?

Think beyond facility to health education and community.

Question

Are there 5 more corporate visionaries willing to emulate Greg Christenson?

Initiate Collaborate and Revitalize. Sink or swim. We'll know shortly.

Suggestions Welcome!

Revitalize Thinking at MacEwan U.

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:17:00 +0000

Addition by subtraction is zero.

Addition: MacEwan University is amalgamating 3 satellite campuses down town and spending $20M on a Staff Service Centre. Lots of money.

Subtraction : MacEwan University is closing the Aquatic Centre No money!

How does closing a strategic community asset revitalize, enable, engage, and entice people to come down town?

Full disclosure, I'm a 15 year patron, at the Wellness Centre. I use the pool 3 times a week. Journey down town from the south side regularly.The Aquatic Centre is allegedly expensive to run and not busy enough.

By The Numbers
The University allegedly lost $5.5 M due to government funding cuts. The University will allegedly save $500K by closing the Aquatic Centre.

Except

MacEwan spokesman David Beharry clarified the school's position Friday, saying the $500,000 in savings won't be immediate."It will come over the long-term," he said. The university will spend $700,000 to renovate the pool space. There will be additional costs for buying weights and cardio machines. Edmonton Journal .

More numbers

"The institution will be able to cover the drop in funding with a $14-million reserve fund built up over the last several years", said Brent Quinton, MacEwan's vice-president university services. "Our plan is to use the $14 million over the next three years."
Edmonton Journal

So if we apply $4.6M from the reserve to this year's operating loss, then the loss is $400K not $5.5M. All numbers supplied by Grant MacEwan University.

Wow, there's a lot of figuring going on, at MacEwan U. Do those numbers make any sense? Not to me. How about you?

Lets move on.

Exploring solutions to the cost challenges of running an aquatic centre.
Let's agree operating costs are a high. Let's cut the energy by 50% over three years. How about a solar based Down Town District, Distributed Energy plant. Enmax built a Distributed Energy Centre, in Calgary.

Why can't 'we' do that here? Use solar energy with natural gas as a back up. How about capturing the energy leakage? Capital Power have you got any suggestions? Epcor, Stantec, PCL what about you? We could always ask Enmax too.

Benefits
Tap community expertise in Renewable Energy
Commercialize Renewable Energy Research
Reduce Energy Footprint
Reduce Aquatic Centre Energy Costs
Demonstrate what a smart city is

Aquatic Centre as an asset.
Here's a suggestion. If students are too busy during the day to use the Aquatic Centre, open it to Wellness Entrepreneurs in the community, like Flo Stomp at FJS Rehab.

FJS offers aquatic based physiotherapy. It's a niche rehabilitation procedure for folks who are unable to do traditional physio. The aquatic centre is an ideal site for a service like that. Even more so with new Seniors Condos coming.

Possibilities Might the rehab specialists at the Glenrose Hospital be interested in using the aquatic centre? Could a relationship between the MacEwan Wellness Centre and the Glenrose lead to study, research, and breakthroughs in aquatic rehabilitation exercise?

Might that attract the best and brightest in that field, not just down town, but to Edmonton itself? Is that not a core value of the "Revitalize Edmonton" movement, not to mention MacEwan University? How about DND? Do our vets need a facility to heal and rehab. MacEwan's got one.

Benefits

Create strategic community relationships
Establish the MacEwan University brand in the community

Lots of revitalization platitudes on You Tube from the Arena District promoters, recently

Is this revitalize stuff real, or just PR? EdmontonAD, here's a neighbourhood asset to revitalize. It comes complete with Health Education and Community core principles of your movement.

Let's put some ' do' in revitalize. Build a new box. Jettison the empty one!

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New Arena is Boring

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:27:00 +0000

RIP Arena 1.0!

Were you inspired, last week, by Mr Katz's video? Do you share his vision? Do you know what it is? Are you captivated by the PR campaign?

Is the Mayor's idea of a $5 ticket tax, yet another ticket tax, on top of the current one, anything but a lame, lazy, politically expedient traditional financing model. Why don't we just pay cash for it? Is any one thinking how that could be done? Why does the community need to create more debt? How is creating more debt a benefit?

The financing 'deal' as proposed, is unacceptable. Can you imagine any one on the Arena committee accepting this deal, if it was presented to them. Ok it's an opening salvo. That's an old strategy, too. An old closed non-transparent way of doing business. The way things are done. Is the best, our business and political elite has to offer.

Surely, Mr Elzinga will do better than grease the skids for slot machines. And surely he won't recommend taking the gaming license away from the Horse Racing industry and give it to The Oilers Community Foundation. That's a zero sum game. Do we need more gambling?

Mayor Stephen, what happen to your vision of east end re development? Where did it go? Gosh wasn't this revitalization supposed to be dramatic inspirational, new and different? Engage the community. Tap it's collective expertise.

Why do we need another Casino, hotel, franchised coffee shops, and bars, we've got those on every corner, now.

Why do we use Los Angeles, Columbus, and Indianapolis, as standards.

Why are we not creating our own and have other communities use ours?

Is this all there is? I've asked that before.

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Gamers Chart New Course-Virtual Reality Meets Dirt

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:03:00 +0000

Previously we introduced 3DI Interactive Inc., an Edmonton Alberta, company specializing in High Fidelity Simulation. Integrating gaming realism with point of view simulation is the magic 3DI sauce. The company is moving gaming beyond aimless destruction into realistic, practical, presentation. Augmenting simulation by extending a narrow, cockpit-point-of-view perspective, to encompass an entire environment. And most importantly monetizing the process.

With realism nailed, what's next? Perspective! Change it . While doing that, show people how to use and take care of the equipment. Make training more intuitive, memorable, and affordable. There's a very focused business proposition, here. Solve some problems. Create value.

There's more than dirt to this simulation business. There's a host of resource opportunities to pursue. The latest venture is an oil and natural gas simulator. Bring the rig just about anywhere. Show how to run it, safely. Shorten the training cycle, reduce risk.

Innovation is magic. Find something that shortens a production cycle, resolves a bottleneck, or makes a process safer. 3DI stumbled into one with the Snubco simulator.

That blue valve icon to the right, in the picture above, was an in-house creation to aid the coders in building the simulator. It doesn't exist on the platform control panel. Snubco liked the idea and is now working to add it to the platform control screen so that operators can see right in to the. Virtual reality becomes real.

Going forward. Backward is not practical. The vision is remotely controlled machines operated from a central control room, perhaps a living room and a smart phone, or the cab of a truck and a tablet, OK, iPad! Makes sense as the resources become harder to get from remote environments.

"Don't go where the path may lead.
Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

Ralph Waldo Emerson American poet and philosopher .

There are risks, benefits, and rewards, exercising that option. Seems an apt mantra for what's going on at 3DI. Smart crew, rendering its own path, in real-time, with Pure Light .

Links

3DI Interactive Inc.
Ray Tracing
Snubco
Caterpillar
Mack Male's 3DI Profile

Virtual Reality Meets Dirt

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:55:00 +0000

Now, that's a core gaming activity! It's tough to take the gamer completely out of the game. Gaming, the virtual kind, is a huge business. For those over 30 who don't get it,hang in here for a moment. The gamers at 3DI Interactive INC., are on a mission to change things.

3DI is one of those small, under the radar, 'smart companies', which Edmonton likes to brag about.'That's our boys', may become a tag line, when Edmonton knows more about them and what they are doing.

The enterprisers at 3DI have scoped an opportunity. Moving dirt and maintaining the machines that do, is big business in Alberta. A cost reducing solution can be a winner! 3DI is working on several. They're meshing gaming's highly authentic graphics, and point of view simulation, into a heavy equipment training and operational safety solution. Virtual Reality meets dirt!

Affable Andrew Czarnietzki leads a like-minded, highly skilled group, with extensive computer programming, engineering, design, and mathematical backgrounds. Like a lot of local gamers, Andrew thought he'd make a career designing games at BioWare. Wasn't to be.

With a keen collective eye for innovation, the group turned a $8K gaming license into a thriving new business. 3DI cut a deal with Epic Games to license the Unreal Gaming Engine, differentiating themselves in the market place, in the process. There was one caveat with Epic Games. The license could not be used for gaming.

Though dirt is the focus now, 3DI started in architectural rendering. Like most start-ups, failure is common. It can spark innovation, seed an opportunity, or lead to oblivion.

The challenge make 'renderings' more authentic. Do it in real-time. Compress the time it takes to create a project. Make the process seamless to the user. Create more realistic lighting.

Pure Light simplifies and shortens the work flow. It's a game changer. Now a product offering. Interestingly, 3DI licensed one of their architectural clients, which enabled them to offer a more efficient, cost-effective, in-house solution to their clients.

That may seem counter productive; however, the client has been repositioned as a customer for Pure Light updates and revisions. Create value. Capture some of it . Enable the client. Smart ! A recipe for success, and a catalyst for bigger solutions such as big machine simulation, coming up in part 2.

Links

3DI Interactive Inc.
Ray Tracing
Snubco
Caterpillar
Mack Male's 3DI Profile

ThinkTank - Ask your friends,customers,citizens...

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 01:52:00 +0000

ThinkTank

Ask your friends

ThinkTank is an installable web application that captures and organizes replies to your status updates on Twitter.

Get the ThinkTank source code, follow @thinktankapp on Twitter, and join the mailing list.

Screenshots of ThinkTank in action:

Twitter threads compiled by ThinkTank:

What was your best gadget/gizmo acquisition of the year?

What do you eat first thing in the morning?

What do you do to protect your laptop's data on open networks and in case of theft?

Free/cheap image editor for the Mac? Something more than Preview, less than Photoshop... what do you use?

Here's more on archiving, curating, and republishing public Twitter conversations.

Recently on the ThinkTank Mailing List
License?
by Thong Kuah
-
2 minutes ago
Hi I got here via [link]. This matches something I had in mind for some time. Thinking of trying it out. May I know what is ...
Re: [ThinkTank App] ThinkTank now at Expert Labs, will help the White House's Grand Challenges initiative
by Dan Brickley
-
3 hours ago
Congrats! Glad to see this work get some recognition... Dan
Re: [ThinkTank App] ThinkTank now at Expert Labs, will help the White House's Grand Challenges initiative
by Christoffer Viken
-
3 hours ago
Great news... If free is "free as in freedom" then count me in... Once I can actually afford a computer I'll have ...
Re: [ThinkTank App] ThinkTank now at Expert Labs, will help the White House's Grand Challenges initiative
by Wmfox3
-
3 hours ago
Wow, Gina. That's huge. How might this accelerate the timetable? Sent from my iPhone

This is the project formerly known as Twitalytic by Gina Trapani.

It is nice to be nice.

via thinktankapp.com

This could be very usefu tool to enable discussion and particiaption in all the various civic issues in Edmonton, these days.

How about a community wide real and virtual think tank on the new arena. A benefit of our hpyer connected world, it would only take moments to implement to start gathering information.

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Arena 1.0 DOA

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:37:00 +0000

Is that all there is?

All there is, an arena, casino, skating rink, hotel?

I mean really, is that all, there is?

Really, all there is, another River Cree Resort, downtown...

Vision

Well then, lets keep dancing! Let's bring out the best, the brightest, lets enable, engage, enlist and share.

An ' Entertainment District' implies 'community' of people. Last week's vision for the entertainment district is rather limited. Actually, there wasn't much about 'district' at all. It was bereft of people. There's got to be more than the lowest denominator of things we already have.

Let's start with Purpose. Outcomes before incomes. Why before who and how. So if we are talking Entertainment District, why are we talking about it? Then, how will it, if it's still on the table, relate to the Art Gallery, the Citadel Theater, the Library, Shaw Conference Centre, neighbourhood hotels, the icons, institutions, in the neighbourhood. What of the artisans and entrepreneurs? The little guys who'll bring life, energy, esprit, business, and people to the district and actually live there.

Need more Vision.

Leadership

Missing in action, so far, don't you think? The current Oilers' owner is presented and packaged as different more capable guy, than the last private owner. He has the potential to be. He's got some pretty cool relationships, which could enable the community. One with Astral Media connects him to Warner Music. Think concerts. Well, just imagine.

Need more Leadership

Greed

Arena 1.0 is so 1990's! Need all the cash. Be unabashedly greedy. Marginalize those who disagree. Polarize the debate. Classical hall marks of a dysfunctional command and control business as usual system. A lame and boring practice which devalues community. Portrays Edmontonians as rubes to be cajoled and manipulated.

Only the greedy find a need to bamboozle.

"The city could borrow money to build the arena, which it would own, then pay off the loan with a "community revitalization levy" using property taxes generated by the rest of the development," said Bob Black, the company's vice-president of sports and entertainment. Edmonton Journal

Except, times are different disingenuous assertions dissolve, instantly, with insight ...

" not our City’s place to give private industry access to government borrowing power. We are fortunate enough as municipalities in Alberta to borrow through something called Alberta Capital Finance, which – thanks to the fiscal discipline of both local governments and the province – enjoys among the best credit ratings you’ll find (and thus lowest interest rates) anywhere. The public sector has earned this. The private sector has not." Don Iveson

... investigation and analysis,

" According to Gary Klassen, the city's general manager of planning and development, a big downtown development like Edmonton City Centre pays 1.4 per cent of its assessed value in property taxes. So even if -- and it's a big if -- all the developments spurred by the arena had a total assessed property value of $1 billion, they'd generate $14 million a year in taxes"... Edmonton Journal

Transparency is difficult, when playing in a cloistered sand box. It's better than exposing one self, though. There's a tendency to be overwhelmed by the complexity of the current macro financial morass. Seems complicated, complex and a lot of work. No need, to be confused. New Arena 1.0 is our quagmire.

Greed is why our business and financial system is morally bankrupt, dysfunctional and perpetually gamed. Why there is less wealth, than 3 years ago. Greed is local, too. Capitalism on the way up. Socialism everywhere else. Pass the costs to whoever can be enlisted to accept them.

It can be different.

Need less Greed

Great

Great companies start a movement and build a consensus. Imagine the Entertainment District with an articulated consensus. Imagine, if everybody understood 'why'.

Capital is formed when people agree that something has value, in a hyper-connected world, millions of people can debate, discuss, and decide in the blink of an eye. It's never been easier to capitalize something. Capital is not scare.

Need More Great.

Good

The toughest things for any business to do is to rethink how their business is done. What it could look like in the future. New is risky, unproven, takes work, requires energy, encourages ideas, listens, fails and restarts. Not that hard to do, when the page is blank. Good companies enable all, exclude no one.

Need more Good.

Call to Action

Read Good to Great. Great to Good.

Invest an hour Watch

Mr Katz re-start with a proposal which enables your son and includes my grandson!

Failure is OK. Arena 1.0 is dead. Next!

Your thoughts...

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Pandora Back from Dead, Not in Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:07:00 +0000

For long time, a few years back, probably 4 now, Pandora was my in house radio. Then of course music industry tried to shut it down with hugely excessive royalty rates. They succeeded in True North Strong and Free. Still not available. I've asked Tim Westergren for an update.

Elsewhere though it's making a comeback big time. Got $35 million in VC cash. Someone thinks there's a successful business. Going forward you'll get it in your car, on your ipod, off your TV, just not in Canada of course.

Gigaom thinks its game changer, it isn't. Until it changes the local game, It doesn't. It doesn't exist.

Just another example of Canada being left behind, technologically. Google Voice and Nexus other examples of a small country, with small thinkers. Instead of enabling Canadian artists we disable them. Recording industry pleased about that. Keeps them in control, they think, with small minds of course.

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Free Start for Personal Makeover

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Winter) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:22:00 +0000

Free is my favourite price, wellness my advocation. I define it as:

“an integrated method of living, oriented to maximizing individual potential and performance, requiring balance and purposeful direction, within the environment where we function.”

So I hit up, Reg Nugent, the Supervisor at Grant MacEwan Sport and Wellness Centre, for 4 free passes.

For dropping in, you get full facility access, fitness area, pool, steam room. A guided tour with certified trainer and 15 minute mini consult, on what you would like, need, to accomplish.

So what's your need? Nutrition, injury rehab, sport specific training advice, a starter, or group program, the MacEwan staff will collaborate to set you on the right path.

As long time member, here's some names to remember when you take up the offer.

Sport Specific Training

Rochelle

Re Hab

Joanna

Avaleigh

Christina

And here's a link to the staff.

Send me a DM via Twitter, with your email, date and time. We'll set it up.

Be Well, Be Effective, B !

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