Farewell, Kelly

I found out late last night that my friend and former colleague Kelly Fitzgibbon had passed away earlier in the day. I feel terrible for her husband and their two daughters and the many other people she touched during her all too brief life. 

What I remember most about Kelly is her consistent refusal to put up with anything she saw as unjust. She was a wonderful advocate for the marginalized and was speaking out for people the very day before she died. She also had a fantastic sense of humour, a great work ethic, and a huge heart. She shared her journey with cancer over social media and I always found her thoughts amazingly gracious, inspiring, and free of self-pity, even though she had every reason to feel sorry for herself. 

Kelly and I only worked together at the Alberta Liberal caucus for a few years, and we didn't stay in touch in person after that, though we connected on social media off and on. Even so, I still think of her as a friend and I value the time I spent working and laughing with her. 

I hope your destiny finds you in a better place, Kelly. 

It Remains Undemolished

Fancy Furniture Famine

Here's the furniture the facilities people moved in to replace the fancy MLA furniture. It was still a pretty nice office. Not shown: sofa. 

Fancy Furniture Feast

For a couple of days in 2008, I had fancy MLA furniture in my office at the Legislature Annex. Then they came and took it away. Which is fair, after all, because the furniture is meant for MLAs and there's only so much of it to go around. Dig the fancy TV I had to monitor Question Period. 

An Optimist's Vote

Adapted from a Facebook post from yesterday...

Sylvia and I just returned home after voting in today's Alberta provincial election. We supported the re-election bid of Jon Carson, a member of Rachel Notley's New Democratic Party. Effectively, this means we're voting for another four years of Notley/NDP government in Alberta.

I worked for the Alberta Liberal caucus for six and a half years because I thought at the time they were the best progressive alternative to the late-era PCs. But I was happy to vote for the NDP in 2015 because Rachel Notley and her team proved they had the drive and the vision to bring long-overdue change to Alberta. Since being elected, they've governed sensibly during incredibly challenging times, bringing dignity to the Legislature and making the tough decisions needed for our long-term prosperity: doing the incredibly hard work of starting real economic diversification, instituting a carbon tax to curb our emissions, winding down coal, improving farm safety, cutting child poverty in half, setting a minimum wage, and protecting the vulnerable. The UCP would deliberately undo all that progress and waste millions of taxpayer dollars on referenda on issues that are outside the realm of provincial power anyway. On top of all that, Rachel Notley and her people have run a virtually scandal-free government, whereas the UCP has corruption built in thanks to their tainted leadership race, vandalism of election signs (sometimes using fascist iconography) and utterly vile pronouncements from a number of UCP candidates, most left unrebuked by leader Jason Kenney.

Despite having worked for the Liberals for years and my support for the NDP now, I don't consider myself a partisan. I'll vote for any team that fights for my values: compassion, reason, science-based decision making, long-term thinking, support for public institutions, care for the vulnerable, ethical behaviour. Right now, Rachel's NDP is the best fit for me, and, I believe, this province. In a few hours, I'll find out if my fellow Albertans agree. 

Earl Explains

Or maybe I'm asking for clarification. Alberta Liberal Caucus, 2010. 

Dome Through a Dome

Shot on impulse back when I was making regular use of the gym underneath the Alberta Legislature. 

Earl's Celebrity Encounters

Circa 1984/85, Con-Version science fiction conventions, Calgary: Peter David (author, various media tie-in novels and popular comic books) secured autograph and exchanged a few words, Bjo Trimble (noted famous Star Trek fan, helped drive letter-writing campaign that forestalled cancellation of the original series), exchanged words in elevator; David Brin (author, Kiln Time, Earth, The Postman, etc.); witness to brief encounter in elevator when friend nearly backed into Brin's child)

1986, Edmonton car show: James Doohan (actor, Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, Star Trek); presented him with a t-shirt I designed with Stephen Fitzpatrick; Doohan accepted the gift with great grace, even though the shirt was obviously several sizes too small

September 1987, Ottawa: Brian Mulroney, Prime Minster of Canada

Circa 1988/98, Edmonton science fiction convention: Mark Lenard (actor, Sarek, Star Trek); enjoyed brief 10-15 minute conversation, so starstruck I immediately forgot details

September 2010, Chateau Lacombe, Edmonton: James Cameron (director, The Terminator, Terminator 2, Aliens, Avatar, etc.), had brief chat as part of Official Opposition Leader David Swann's delegation during Cameron's visit to Edmonton and the oil sands

December 2010, University of Alberta: Ed Stelmach, Premier of Alberta

April 2016, Calgary Expo: William Shatner (actor, Star Trek), paid photo opportunity, exchanged a single warm-hearted phrase. 

Black Mirror Season 4.5

Last night, I dreamed I was the involuntary viewer/protagonist of seven episodes of Black Mirror. An elevator served as the dream's framing device; I rode it up and down to different floors, and when I stepped onto a floor, its respective episode would begin.

I only remember two; one began with the elevator car suddenly losing its ceiling and walls, revealing pitch darkness all around. I dropped prone and clung to the remaining floor as the elevator plunged sideways and down, eventually flinging me into an ornate bedroom where it was revealed that my bride (not Sylvia) wasn't human; she peeled all her skin off and revealed a faceless mannequin beneath, the suddenly-revealed backstory revealing the ironic twist: my character had complained about robots dehumanizing marriage.

In the other episode I recall, I was joined in the elevator by an old colleague named Judy, back from my days at the Official Opposition. We chatted for a moment, and when the elevator doors opened, she vanished and I stepped out to meet at least a dozen Kevin Tafts (or would that be Kevins Taft?). Each Kevin had a different costume and role, and we appeared to be attending a very classy fundraiser for the Alberta Liberals, held in a swank hotel gilt in gold and diamond. Kevin welcomed me "back," (whatever that meant), and encouraged me to climb a makeshift ladder to the ceiling of the ballroom, a ladder made of sofas, love seats, and recliners stacked atop one another.

"Watch it--precarious," he warned. I begged off and retreated down a dark, candlelit corridor, which turned out to be a strangely-designed restaurant. I thought I saw some of my old caucus friends there, but the Black Mirror dead channel static ended the episode. 

Green Legislature

In September of 2006, I shot some photos around the Alberta Legislature, where I was working at the time. Most turned out normally, but a series of three came out like this: completely green. I shot the images on film, and I'm quite puzzled by this result. 

A Palpable Hit

Good enough to get to first base! From 2010, when I was playing baseball with the Alberta Liberal Caucus. 

10-4

Way back in 2007, I helped out at a town hall on affordable child care - or rather, the lack of same in Alberta. Weslyn Mather, an Alberta Liberal MLA at the time, hosted the event because she was passionate about the issue and really cared about the welfare of all children. She passed a few months ago, and Alberta lost a superb, devoted public servant. She made a difference. 

Farewell, Weslyn

Former Alberta Liberal MLAs Bill Bonko and Weslyn Mather at a 2007 event in Calgary. 

I was fortunate enough to work with Weslyn Mather for two years during the latter half of her 2004-2008 term as an Alberta Liberal MLA. I was impressed by Weslyn's deeply sincere commitment to public service, particularly her advocacy for the welfare of children. She was also a powerful advocate for accessible child care for everyone, an issue Alberta struggles with to this day. I was very saddened when Weslyn lost her bid for re-election in 2008; she was a wonderful MLA and public servant, and the Alberta Legislature was a poorer place without her.

I'm even more saddened to learn that Weslyn passed away yesterday. She was a kind, compassionate human being, the sort of person you're grateful to have known, the sort of person you're glad answered the call to public service.

I hope Weslyn's family and friends will find some comfort in their memories of this remarkable woman. May she rest in peace knowing she did her part to help build a better Alberta. 

Congratulations Kent and Darshan

As everyone knows by now, in the end Calgarians decided to send my old bosses Kent Hehr and Darshan Kang off to Ottawa to represent them in Parliament. I couldn't be more thrilled for either man, and I know they'll represent their constituents very well indeed.

Sometimes I still feel a little sad that I've mostly pulled away from politics, particularly at election time. I did a tiny bit of work for Kent's campaign this time around, mainly handling some correspondence, and I'm very grateful I had the opportunity to do so.

I know Darshan and Kent will have a million things to do as they slip into their new roles, but I do have a few requests, in no particular order:

• Renegotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership and stand up for fair copyright terms.
• Protect net neutrality.
• Repeal C-51. 
• Launch an inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women.
• Un-muzzle Canada's scientists.
• Fund the CBC properly, so they can do their job. 
• Get serious about fighting climate change. 
• Move us toward a transferable ballot before the next election. 
• Increase contributions to the Canada Pension Plan, a good Liberal idea that died before it could be implemented. 
• Bring back the mandatory long-form census. 

Of course none of this can happen overnight, and I know both Kent and Darshan have plenty of their own ideas to build a better country, and there's lots of good stuff in the Liberal platform. But a few additional ideas can't hurt. 

Mixed Emotions

While I'm glad to see Harper shown the door and very happy to see Darshan Kang elected in Calgary Skyview, I'm sorry the New Democrats were hammered so hard and that it looks like Kent Hehr has not won in Calgary Centre. I will of course not count Kent out until all the votes are counted, but at this moment it's not looking good. More on Kent tomorrow.

Whatever happens, I hope the Trudeau government quickly gets to work undoing the damage of the Harper years.

EDIT: looks like Kent is catching up. Come on Kent!

UPDATE 2: KENT WINS! YEAH!

Kent's Story

It was a great pleasure and honour to work with Kent Hehr for several years during his time as a Member of the Legislative Assembly. If you live in Calgary Centre, I hope you'll vote for Kent to be your Member of Parliament. In a time when it's all too easy to be jaded about politicians, Kent stands out as a true champion of the people, of evidence-based decision-making, of critical thought, of human rights and compassion and respect for everyone. No matter who wins the federal election, if Kent is one of the 338 men and women Canadians send to Ottawa, the level of thought and discourse in Parliament will be considerably elevated. Good luck, Kent! 

Catcher in the Sand

I think Lisa Bowers or Tanara McLean shot this photo of my short-lived amateur career as a catcher for the Alberta Liberal caucus ball team back in - gasp - 2010. I was a terrible player, though not as bad as I'd feared. I caught the ball most of the time and even scored a couple of base hits over the summer.

I wonder if I still have those sneakers. 

Summer's Lease, or Earl versus the Glue

This photo was shot years ago, back when I was working for the Alberta Liberal Caucus at the time that party formed Alberta's Official Opposition. I seem to be struggling with a bottle of glue. I'm not sure why this photo was taken, but it is one of the last shots of me taken with old-school film, and there's a Shakespeare quote near the bottom of the frame, hidden from my view at the time and completely unnoticed by me until now. It feels like the universe was trying to tell me something, but I'm not sure exactly what. 

A Bittersweet Victory, or: Orange with Envy

As a progressive I'm naturally pretty thrilled by Albertans' decision to elect an NDP government in Alberta last night. I believe new premier Rachel Notley has the smarts, compassion and grit to make Alberta a better place. 

But at the same time I'm sad that I wasn't a part of such a historic moment - and I could have been. Back in 2006 I took a job with Kevin Taft's Liberals because I honestly believed that party stood the best chance of toppling the Progressive Conservatives. Even though I considered myself a New Democrat at heart, Taft's Liberals were progressive enough to pass muster, at least when factoring in the pragmatic desire to win government. 

Well, we all know how that turned out. During the six and a half years and two elections I stuck with the Liberals, we went through three leaders and lost a little less than half our MLAs with each passing vote. After the election of 2012 I'd finally had enough, and moved on. 

I'm proud of the work I did for the Liberals, and I don't regret my years with them. But today I wish I'd followed my heart and dreamed bigger. It would have been pretty amazing to be on Notley's team, to experience victory rather than defeat, and to know that victory meant a better tomorrow for Albertans - particularly the vulnerable and disadvantaged, or so I hope and believe. 

While I'm disappointed in myself, my failure of imagination or simple cowardice - call it what you want - merely highlights the virtues of those stalwart New Democrat volunteers and perennial candidates who finally earned their richly deserved rewards last night. I'm very happy for the many Albertans who bled orange for years or even decades for their moment in history. 

Perhaps the most bittersweet moment for me was watching my friend Naomi's sister, Jessica Littlewood, win Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville for the NDP handily. When I ran there in 2008 against Ed Stelmach, he beat me by 10,000 votes. And in a strange coincidence, Naomi shot my official photographs for my campaign. Needless to say I'm delighted for Jessica and Naomi, but it doesn't take any of the sting out of that 2008 loss. 

What's important, though, is not that any particular person or party wins any particular election. What's important is that we govern ourselves with wisdom and caring, and there are people in every political party who really do have the best interests of the people at heart. That's why I'm so happy Liberal leader David Swann held on to his seat last night; he'll continue to be an important voice for public health care and farm worker safety in the Legislature, and this time around the governing party might be more sympathetic to his concerns. We can hope! 

Kent Hehr for Calgary Centre

Kent Hehr (left), shortly after being sworn in as an MLA in 2008. With him are former Official Opposition Leader Kevin Taft (centre) and Darshan Kang, also a new MLA in 2008 and, like Kent, running for the federal Liberals in Calgary in 2015.

Many of you have noticed that I don't write much about politics anymore; it's because I was pretty burned out after my six and a half years with the Official Opposition in Alberta. But when I learned that Kent Hehr, currently the Alberta Liberal MLA for Calgary Buffalo, wants to become the next Member of Parliament for Calgary Centre, I wanted to help. Being in politics for a few years can make you a little bit cynical about politicians, but Kent really is different, and he proved that every day I worked with him. So when the opportunity arose to write a short testimonial about Kent, I was happy to oblige.

After you click that link to read about my experiences with Kent and why I think Canada will be a better place with him on Parliament Hill, I hope you'll consider donating to Kent's campaign. I donated $400 last year and I'll donate again this year.

If you care about evidence-based decision making, investing in public institutions, human rights and looking out for the little guy, I urge you to learn more about Kent and to follow his campaign - especially if you live in Calgary Centre. He won't let you down.