Calgary News Briefs - May 2015

Athlete inspires young volleyball enthusiasts

 On April 11 and 12, Canadian National Men’s Team veteran Dallas Soonias was in Calgary visiting local youth tournaments and promoting the upcoming Fédération Internationale de Volleyball Men’s World League match between Canada and Cuba to take place May 16 and 17 at the Corral at Stampede Park. A former University of Alberta Golden Bear from Red Deer and member of the Cape Croker reserve, Soonias has played on the national team for over 10 years, including the 2014 championships when Canada finished seventh place at the FIVB Men’s World Championships. He is the first Aboriginal Canadian to represent Canada at the highest level of his sport.

Federal government slammed for lack of action

Panelists at the Canadian Energy Research Institute conference last month slammed the federal government for its lack of action to resolve Aboriginal land claims. Instead, said panelist Keith Bergner, a partner with Vancouver law firm Lawson Lundell LLP, “interim solutions,” which involve First Nations negotiating directly with resource development companies, are going ahead. Impact benefit agreements are short term solutions. Panellist Dean Manywounds, chair of the Indian Resource Council of Canada and a councillor for the Tsuu T’ina First Nation, said the federal government is leaving it up to provinces and industry to work with First Nations. Panellist Brian McGuigan, a lawyer, hired as manager of Aboriginal policy for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, said he would like to see stronger government action to reduce poverty and marginalization of Aboriginal communities as an essential first step to reconciliation.

Portrait of Chief Walking Buffalo Donated to museum

Calgary family Brian and Marianne Connelly donated a pastel portrait of Chief Walking Buffalo, created by Nicholas de Grandmaison in the 1950s, to the Luxton Home Museum in Banff. The Connelly family purchased the portrait at Hodgins Art Auction 10 years ago, intending to donate it to an institute that would honour Chief Walking Buffalo. After purchasing the painting, the couple moved to the United Kingdom and it wasn’t until Marianne Connelly returned to Calgary after her husband’s death, that she found a home for the portrait. Chief Walking Buffalo, a great Canadian peace hero, is known for the role he played in overcoming lawyer F. B. Bennett’s efforts to acquire the Stoney’s land in 1918 for Calgary Power at no cost. In 1959, at the age of 88, Chief Walking Buffalo set out on a seven-month peace mission to Europe, Australasia and Africa. 

Homelessness research symposium

Service providers, individuals with lived experience, academia, government and community stakeholders gathered for a two-day research symposium in Calgary last month to discuss homelessness. The third annual symposium was hosted by the Calgary Homeless Foundation along with The School of Public Policy, Homeward Trust Edmonton, Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research as well as the 7 Cities on Housing and Homelessness. Participants shared advances in data collection for client programs and system outcomes, as well as presented new knowledge about best practices in data collection and analysis. Key note speakers were Dr. Stephen Gaetz, director of the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness/Homeless Hub, and Dr. Tim Aubry, Faculty of Social Sciences Research Chair in Community Mental Health and Homelessness with the University of Ottawa.

Photo Caption: Dallas Soonias, an Aboriginal athlete from Red Deer and a member of the Cape Croker reserve, has been on the national volleyball team for more than 10 years.