FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1997. All Rights Reserved.
NEWS
by FFWD staffWriters celebrate the right to read
Writers, publishers, librarians, booksellers, educators and readers from across Canada will celebrate Freedom to Read Week, February 24 to March 2, with readings from banned and challenged books. Novelists, playwrights, poets, journalists and creators of books for young people will take part in the 13th annual campaign, sponsored by the Freedom of Expression Committee of the Book and Periodical Council.
In many communities, local writers have been invited into school and university classrooms to discuss censorship with students and faculty. Public and school libraries and bookstores will create displays to remind Canadians that intellectual freedom is fundamental in a democratic society. In Calgary, the week will be marked with the presentation of the annual Sandpiper / Steinbeck Award to the individual who has done the most to preserve and encourage freedom of expression.
Ironically, controversy over banning books has recently heated up in Ontario, where parents in Milton are protesting the presence of Foxfire on their high school's curriculum. Foxfire, by American novelist Joyce Carol Oates, it about a gang of girls who attack their town's thuggish male chauvinists, then move on to wilder crimes. The book is considered explicit and the lead character is a lesbian.
Cops planning to crack down on safety violations
City drivers beware. Starting this week and running to March 3, city police will be cracking down on drivers who fail to slow down for yellow lights or yield to pedestrians, especially at busy intersections considered high priority. The initiative is part of the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program and police plan to enforce "zero tolerance" for all such offenses.
Green Party fields candidate against Manning and Brown
A new candidate in the federal riding of Calgary-Southwest wants Calgarians to know there is a "Green" alternative to the battle between Reform leader Preston Manning and Conservative nomination hopeful Jan Brown. Sol Candel, a 45-year-old Calgary businessman, has thrown his name in the ring and will be seeking the federal Green Party nomination. The Green Party nomination meeting will be held February 25 and will be open to members at a location to be announced. Contact the Green Party for more information. Calgary lawyer Paul Drager, co-chairman of the International Relations Committee for the city's 2005 Expo bid, previously announced his nomination bid for the Liberals.
In Brown's former riding, Calgary-Southeast, former director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation Jason Kenney won the Reform nomination February 15 on the first ballot with 79 per cent of the 634 ballots.
Provincial leaders gearing up for televised debate
The Alberta Chamber of Commerce will host the province's only televised leaders debate Thursday, February 27 in Red Deer. The debate will start at 7 p.m. and is expected to run anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes. Participants will include Progressive Conservative leader Ralph Klein, Liberal leader Grant Mitchell, New Democrat leader Pam Barrett and Social Credit leader Randy Thorsteinson.
Alberta Chamber of Commerce president Cheryl Knebel said with the election approaching, the debate is a significant event that will be watched by people all over the province. Red Deer was chosen for its neutrality.
Strikes looming over wages
Calgary may be facing teachers and nurses strikes in the near future. Both groups are fighting to regain wages lost when the government imposed five-per-cent paycuts at the start of its "restructuring" three years ago. They are also concerned about funding levels and working conditions.
Klein said if nurses' contract negotiations fail, the government would intervene to prevent a province-wide strike. Teachers, who have been taking part in protests at Klein's Calgary office, are also currently involved in negotiations.
More lottery loot heading to communities
Just in time for the election, the province has announced that Alberta communities will receive an additional $50 million in lottery revenue starting April 1, 1998 to be shared equally on a per capita basis. Dr. Stephen West, the minister responsible for the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, said the new funding is based on the 1995 report on New Directions for Lotteries and Gaming, which recommended that communities share directly in lottery revenues.
Community Lottery Boards will be set up to distribute the funding with details on board selection and responsibilities to be finalized by June, 1997.
Warmer weather leads to wetter walking
Chinook temperatures over the past week have created a meltdown on Calgary streets and sidewalks. Slushy streets and giant puddles resulted in several complaints and some communities reported that roads were impassable. As a result, the city may rent specialized equipment to clear streets and sidewalks. In the interim, firefighters and city crews worked to break up ice jams blocking city sewers.
The warm weather is expected to continue, which may help the situation to resolve on its own.
Carnival of Beers celebrates diversity in brewing world
Bottlescrew Bill's Old English Pub in Calgary is holding a 10-day Carnival of Beers from Thursday, February 20 to Saturday, March 1 to celebrate the diversity of tastes and flavors in the world of beer. Daily activities include spin-the-wheel, putt-for-prizes, grab bag beer and more. Saturday will feature a public beer tasting of about 40 beers from 18 different Canadian breweries - tickets are $15 each with $5 from each ticket sold going to the Alberta Children' Hospital Foundation. Last year's carnival raised just over $1,200 for the hospital and organizers hope to raise $1,500 this year. For more information, call Bottlescrew Bill's.
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