Category: Calgary

Murphy Beya’s brilliant season

Posted on by Alex Hamilton

Originally published in The Weal, March 19, 2018.

Much of the credit for the SAIT Trojans men’s basketball team’s success this season goes to Murphy Beya, who has capped off his college career with his best season yet.

The forward won Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) All-Conference honours this season, and was shortly after was named tournament MVP at the ACAC championships in Lethbridge, Alta.

The highlight of the tournament for Beya was his game-tying three-point shot with 2.9 seconds left in the semi-final game against NAIT.

Beya described the shot as a broken play, where he eventually “thought he had an open shot” and took it.

“As soon as I hit that shot, I knew we had them,” said Beya.

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Ties to anti-abortion groups dog the UCP

Posted on by Alex Hamilton

Originally written January 2018.

As it forms a platform and prepares for the 2019 provincial election, the United Conservative Party (UCP) and its leader, Jason Kenney, may face controversy over perceived anti-abortion policy.

Minister of Status of Women Stephanie McLean sees the UCP’s abortion policies as potentially dangerous because of these ties.

An abortion rights group, Alberta Pro-Choice Coalition, and the head of a progressive non-profit group, Progress Alberta, also are concerned about Kenney, pointing to his long record of approval by anti-abortion groups.

Should Kenney become premier in 2019, they do not trust his pledge not to cut access to abortion.

On the opposing side, an anti-abortion group recently tied to the UCP said that their aims are modest, and even supported by Albertans.

In an email interview, McLean said “it’s becoming clear just how extremist and reckless Jason Kenney and the UCP really are” on women’s reproductive rights.

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Transit advocates worry about neglect

Transit advocates worry about neglect

Posted on by Alex Hamilton

Originally written December 2017.

After Calgary Transit narrowly avoided budget cuts, advocates say that maintaining service, and possibly spending more on transit, is needed since demand is increasing and often overlooked.

The city had wanted to cut 46,800 hours of bus service to help balance the budget, but on Nov. 29, city council voted to spend $4 million to maintain service.

The amendment to reverse the proposed cuts was put forth by the new councillor for Ward 3, Jyoti Gondek.

In a phone interview, Gondek said that the measure was necessary to maintaining a consistent vision for Calgary Transit.

Gondek said that cutting service time would eventually “force people into behaviour that is regressive, not progressive.”

She said it “seemed counterintuitive” for council to enact transit cuts while also committing to low-income transit passes and the Green Line expansion.

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City of Calgary faces hurdles before legalized pot arrives

Posted on by Alex Hamilton
The Green Room in Calgary, AB, 8 St SW
One of the medical marijuana dispensary The Green Room’s locations in Calgary.

Originally written October 2017.

In preparing for legalized marijuana, the City of Calgary faces many tough decisions for regulating cannabis-related businesses and managing public safety concerns versus benefits.

Under Parliament’s Bill C-45 passed this April, provinces and cities are responsible for licensing distribution and sale of marijuana, restricting where it can be consumed, and changing impaired driving laws.

Matt Zabloski, project lead for preparing the City of Calgary’s cannabis regulations, said that the federal government’s July 2018 target for legalization has not given the City very much time.

Zabloski said the biggest challenge has been coordinating between the municipal and provincial government.

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