A view of the city moving Heart of the Beast, a sculpture left behind by the Occupy Calgary protesters in Olympic Plaza.

The sculpture was moved to storage while the city figures out what to do with it.

At a press conference on October 28, Tom Sampson, deputy chief of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency, let out a whopper: Occupy Calgary protesters in Olympic Plaza have caused $40,000 worth of damage to the park since they took up residence two weeks ago.

The figure was quickly parroted by the local media, instantly sent out via Twitter and then followed up by news reports. But where, exactly, did that figure come from? No one seemed to know.

According to Cara Katterhagen, speaking on behalf of CEMA (Sampson was in a course all day and unavailable for comment), the figure is a "guesstimate" from the parks department. Actual figures won't be known until the city can access the site and determine the state of the park.

According the … Read More

Local photographer Joey Podlubny decided to document those who are participating in the Occupy Calgary camps. In his own words, the goal of the project is "to create an individual voice as a part of the collective whole. To provide insight to others on what the goals are, what the dreams are and who is standing up for them."

Fast Forward Weekly presented an advance screening of The Company Men at the Uptown theatre.

Here's what some audience members had to say.

Some liked it, others not so much.

 Well done, HP Rodeo! You made me proud to be a crazy Calgaryian last night at the SNOWBLOWER  2011 outdoor dance party! 

 It felt like one of those "If you build it, they will come" moments out of Field of Dreams.

The stage was set. The burn barrels were burning, the tea was brewing, the dancefloor boards ready and waiting to be danced upon. 

but IT WAS COLD!

-23 c COLD! Cold enough to make you face actually hurt and then go numb in about 5 minutes.

I'm from BC, I aint used to that kinda cold!

Taking photos was painful and shortlived, cuz my camera would freeze and read "memory card error" right when I had the best shot!(

The thawing out of the hands afterwards was more painful than a third degree burn, I imagine..

I almost didn't even go, figuring NO ONE would be … Read More

Fast Forward Weekly presented the advanced screening of The Green Hornet 3D on Wednesday night, and here's what audience members had to say.

Um, Calgary?

I know you're busy, but you know that shoebox program? The one intended to convert poor kids to Christianity? The one that benefits from tons of glowing local news coverage each year? The one you can't publicly question without being labelled a Scrooge? The one that you — yes, you — help support with your tax dollars — you knew that, didn't you? — thanks to the involvement of local emergency services (ambulances and helicopters!) that back the cause each year?

Yes, that's the one. Operation Christmas Child. Run by Franklin Graham and Samaritan's Purse.

Well, you might be interested in knowing that Samaritan's Purse trotted out none other than Sarah Palin to help give out shoeboxes in Haiti on the weekend. From CNN:

Former Alaska Gov … Read More

OK, first, let's get the full disclosure out of the way. I volunteer for an orgazniation called ArtsVote Calgary, which seeks to ensure arts and culture are an important part of the discussion in the lead up to the municipal election and beyond.

This morning, a crew of volunteers from ArtsVote appeared on Breakfast Television to ask Barb Higgins pointed questions about the arts in this city and what her positions are. I was supposed to be there, but man, that show is on early. I'm sorry I missed it.

Here's one of the questions as an example:

"In your arts, culture and sports platform, you talk about creating arts incubator spaces in vacant City properties and the construction of the new Central Library, both of which are important to … Read More

Committed to "speaking out and bringing the truth of God's word to bare on all aspects of society and life," Concerned Christians Canada has sent out an email urging Calgarians to support Rick McIver in the upcoming civic election.

The email is surprising for two reasons. The attacks on Barb Higgins are oddly superficial, but more surprising is the fact that Concerned Christians don't seem to be aware that it's a three horse race, and there's this guy named Nenshi in contention.

Here's the letter. Judge for yoursef.

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If you are receiving this message and you don't live in Calgary, but you know people who live in Calgary, would you be so kind as to forward this message to those people you know in Calgary. It is really important that they get … Read More