April Thursday Fireside Chats

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Thursday, April 5th, 2018
5:00 PM

The Courtenay-Alberni Green Party Association will host four April Thursday afternoon chats in the Courtenay Westerly Hotel main lounge, 5 – 7 PM. Four experts will facilitate discussions regarding interesting Canadian issues that rarely make headlines. All have local relevance and national significance. The dialogue between expert and audiences will not include any electronic tools. It’s an opportunity to participate in a social event as well as political one. The chats are public events, with a request for donations to pay overhead costs.

During the April 5 event the focus will be on Arctic tourism. Jane Sproull and Callum Thomson are professionals in the fields of northern art history and archeology and for 30 years have worked as freelance guides and lecturers for small-ship expedition tours in Canada and worldwide. They will chat about how cruise tourism is changing the Arctic, and how different companies handle the responsibility to protect this fragile area and its people.

On April 12, Naturalist Glenn Naylor will provide tips on how to reduce human -wildlife conflicts, particularly with bears and cougars. These animals may be backyard visitors or encountered along a hiking trail. Glenn was an Alberta Conservation Officer for 36 years in Canmore, and has built a reputation as a photographer.

At the April 19 chat, Dr. Jay Van Oostdam will outline the human health impacts of environmental contaminants in the Arctic. Jay retired to the Comox Valley after a career as a senior researcher with Health Canada He also co-chaired the Human Health Assessment group of the International Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP).

*The final fireside chat leader, April 26, will be Sandra Hamilton, Canada’s First Social MBA, who *poses the question ”Why is it so difficult to get a local potato into the local hospital?” She is interested in the power of leveraging taxpayer funded contracts to support sustainable food systems; community economic development; skills training and other important public policy goals such as indigenous reconciliation

Host is Betty Donaldson.

Drinks may be purchased at the bar prior to the events. Green-inspired menu options will be available in the Westerly restaurant after the chats. It has a growing reputation for creative, affordable dinners.