| New home for Movies That Matter
Movies That Matter is moving to a new location in the Epcor Centre’s Engineered Air Theatre from its former home at the University of Calgary.
Movies That Matter, which was started by the Calgary International Film Festival, CJSW, NUTV and The Gauntlet, screens first-run documentaries about important topics around the world.
Movies That Matter has been on a hiatus since last November, but will start up again on September 11 with the screening of Favela Rising, a Brazilian film set in the slums of Rio de Janeiro.
Kevin Allen, one of the founders of the series, says about two-thirds of regular viewers aren’t university students, so organizers decided to move it from the U of C to a more convenient location.
"We thought a downtown location might be more amenable to people," says Allen. "The Engineered Air Theatre is a pretty intimate venue."
Allen says organizers are still planning to hold panel discussions after film presentations.
Compton Petroleum granted extension from EUB
There’s still no word on whether Compton Petroleum will proceed with drilling four sour gas wells right outside Calgary’s city limits. The company was supposed to inform the Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) on August 15 about whether it would proceed with its project, but the EUB has given Compton an extension until November 1.
The EUB gave Compton permission to proceed with its wells, subject to certain conditions, after a lengthy public hearing. Compton originally asked for a reduced emergency planning zone (EPZ) of only 4 kilometres, but the EUB denied that, ordering the company to plan for a 9.7 kilometre EPZ.
The Calgary Health Region has filed an application to appeal the EUB’s decision in court, citing concerns about public safety if the project proceeds.
Derek Longfield, vice-president of special projects for Compton, says the company needs more time to make its decision due to the Calgary Health Region’s legal challenge.
New provincial environmental protection commission
Alberta Environment Minister Guy Boutilier has announced a new environmental protection commission that will make recommendations on how the province should respond to environmental incidents in the future.
The commission was formed after the CN derailment at Lake Wabamun, in which more than 700,000 litres of bunker oil and wood preservative spilled into the lake, outraging residents.
Safe school petition
Egale Canada is circulating a petition which calls on provincial and territorial ministers of education to "take concrete action to provide a safe, caring and inclusive school environment" for all lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered students and staff as well as their families.
The petition states that students are "harassed and bullied because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression," and that many students "do not see themselves or their families represented in the school curriculum." The petition goes on to say, "teaching acceptance and respect is always age-appropriate."
For more information on the petition go to www.egale.ca.
CORRECTION
In the Fast Forward Best of Calgary reader’s poll results in the August 11-17 issue, a photo of the graffiti behind Broken City was incorrectly identified as the graffiti behind The Source. We apologize for tagging it incorrectly. |
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