Conversations That Matter is a weekly news series hosted by veteran Canadian journalist Stuart McNish. He sits down with thought leaders from around the globe to dig into the issues that matter to Canadians.
Sun, October 13, 2024
Ep 517 - A crisis of indecision in Canada Guest: Gavin Dew By Stuart McNish On June 26th, Gavin Dew posted disappointing news on his LinkedIn profile. After four years of planning, fundraising, and negotiation with the City of Abbotsford, the Tech District project was pulling the plug. Dew says, “We couldn’t keep spending time and money without a clear signal from city council that this $5-billion private sector investment would be approved.” Dew said, “I know a lot of people are disappointed. I’m proud of the work we did to develop the project vision, invite people in, and build community support. And I’m obviously disappointed at this lost opportunity to deliver affordable housing, high quality education, and a hub for food innovation in Canada’s most productive agricultural jurisdiction.” Dew went on to say the lack of a clear signal from city council “is indicative of a crisis of indecision in Canada. We have become the land of the slow maybe, where process has become an end in itself, decisions are elusive, and leaders refuse to lead.” We invited Gavin Dew to join us for a Conversation That Matters about our inability to get to “yes” and what it is doing to our reputation as a place to innovate and grow. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Sun, October 13, 2024
Ep - 516 - Weaving Two Worlds Guests: Christy Smith - Michael McPhie By Stuart McNish “The key to the Canadian economy is in the hands of First Nations,” says Christy Smith and Michael McPhie in their book, “Weaving Two Worlds,” a guide to economic reconciliation. According to Smith, “The intent of the book is to help First Nations, governments, and companies work together in the development of natural resources.” McPhie says, “We believe the resource sector and the people within it have a meaningful role to play in advancing reconciliation. Done right, the outcome will be greater social, environmental and economic well-being for all.” One court decision after another has been shaping the way Canada can and does develop its resources. According to Smith and McPhie, “Now is the time to create opportunities that provide First Nations access to the economic opportunities that will create ownership, employment, funds for education and will combat poverty. We invited Christy Smith and Michael McPhie to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the path forward, together. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Wed, September 11, 2024
Ep 515 - Electronic Recycling Done Right Mohammad Doostmohammadi By Stuart McNish “There are six elements that play a key role in optimizing fuel and chemical production,” says Mohammad Doostmohammdi of pH7. “Without them, green hydrogen, low-carbon steel, biofuels and other climate technologies are not possible.” Those six elements are platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium – and they are among the rarest on earth. While challenging to identify ore bodies with mineable resources, there is an emerging opportunity in recovery. “There are 17.4 million troy ounces of these elements that have already been mined and are available to be recovered from catalytic converters, mobile phones, computer disks and aircraft turbines.” Until now, the process of recovering these elements was uneconomical. Doostmohammdi says, “These challenges notwithstanding, several factors have combined to spotlight their growing importance.” We invited Mohammad Doostmohammdi to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the process his team has developed that reduces costs and increases productivity in the realm of critical mineral recovery. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Wed, September 11, 2024
Ep 514 - Real Estate Lessons from Singapore Guest: Ernst Lang By Stuart McNish “We can learn a few things from Singapore,” says Ernst Lang, the founder and CEO of Promerita Group. “Singapore has been getting housing right for many decades. In fact, it has found a way to make most of its housing affordable whilst also protecting the value of privately owned homes.” According to a report by the Urban Land Institute, “private homes in Singapore are the most expensive in Asia” with an average value of $1.7 million US. However, the ULI report states that public housing in Singapore is the “most attainable” when it comes to home ownership – 90 percent of the people in the country own their home. Lang says, “Even more remarkable is the cost in relation to median annual income. In Singapore, the median home price to income ratio is 5. In Vancouver, according to Rates.ca, the average home price is 249% more than an average household can afford.” How and what are they doing in Singapore that we can learn from? We invited Ernst Lang of Promerita to join us for a Conversation That Matters about Singapore’s housing market and what lessons we could apply here. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Wed, September 11, 2024
Ep 513 - British Columbia’s Lacklustre Prosperity Guest: David Williams By Stuart McNish According to the 2024 British Columbia Prosperity Index, “BC places 11th out of 21 peer jurisdictions for overall prosperity.” The study was developed with the Centre for the Study of Living Standards, which compares BC’s performance on a range of economic, business, social and environmental indicators. David Williams says, “There is no medal for 11th place and for good reason. This matters for young families and people aspiring to build a future in this province. Prosperity is crucial.” The report is filled with disheartening numbers about BC’s place on the Prosperity Index. The Index reports that British Columbia is “11th of 21 jurisdictions in Business Well-Being, 15th in Economic Well-Being, 7th in Societal Well-Being, 12th in Labour Productivity, 13th in Innovation Ranking, 13th in Income Inequality and 18th for Housing Affordability.” We invited David Williams, the Vice President of Policy at the Business Council of British Columbia, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the factors that are driving down prosperity in BC and what we can do to reverse this trend. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Wed, September 11, 2024
July 12, 2024 Ep 512 - To the Edge of Death and Back Guest: Paul Dragan By Stuart McNish Ten years ago on June 10, 2014, Paul Dragan sat down to enjoy a cup of coffee across the street from his business, Reckless Bikes. He took a sip and as he looked up, a heavyset man wearing a bicycle helmet came around the corner, pulled out a gun and shot Paul in the chest. He landed on the ground, blood pouring out of his chest. “Were it not for a series of remarkable events, I’d be dead,” says Dragan. “A doctor was standing feet away at the time I was shot. An ambulance miracle – Vancouver Hospital was minutes away and 14 minutes later, I was in the emergency room with my life in the hands of a surgeon who was not going to let me die.” Six days later Dragan woke up in a hospital bed, his wife and son next to him. For six days, they’ve been racked with the fear that Paul would die. “Classically,” says Dragan, “my first words were, ‘Where am I and what happened?’ I had no idea. I don’t even recall being shot or anything else from that morning.” We invited Paul Dragan to join us for a Conversation That Matters about his incredible journey to the darkness of death and back. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Mon, July 08, 2024
Ep 511 - Drug Free Kids Guest: Chantal Vallerand By Stuart McNish On Dec 8th, 2022, Jennifer Whiteside was appointed Minister for Mental Health and Addictions. At the time she said, “The Premier has asked me to prioritize accelerating BC’s response to the illicit drug toxicity crisis. The Premier has also asked me to expand new complex care, treatment, recovery, detox and after-care facilities across the province.” Months later, the BC Centre for Disease Control released its report showing that in 2022, overdoses from opioids and illicit drugs were now the leading cause of death for youth 10 to 18 years old. The Minister issued a statement saying, “The toxic drug crisis continues to have a devastating impact on families and communities in B.C., and the impact on children, youth is heartbreaking,” These are hollow words to Garth Mullins, an organizer with the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, who said, “It seems to me that the Minister’s job is to be the official mourner – someone who is there to cry publicly about the mass deaths but isn’t empowered.” So where does a family turn when they need help? Chantal Vallerand, the Executive Director at Drug Free Kids Canada, says, “We know how difficult it is for families. Most don’t know the boundaries of what they can and cannot say or do. We created Drug Free Kids to help parents facing the life and death reality of drugs where there is no margin for error.” We invited Chantal Vallerand of Drug Free Kids to join us for a Conversation That Matters about resources and strategies that can and do help families address the growing drug crisis in Canada. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Mon, July 08, 2024
Ep 510 - Post-Pandemic Leadership Guest: Ron Bremner By Stuart McNish COVID-19 disrupted supply lines and our lives. Now that the lockdowns are over, the lingering impact of the dramatic shifts in the workplace remain. During the pandemic, work from home became the rule. Many employees seized the opportunity and not only thrived, but they moved away – far away, so far that coming into the office became a remote possibility. “The work from home practice was needed during the pandemic; now it poses a new challenge,” says executive coach Ron Bremner. “Going forward, remote work will fracture company culture. For leaders… the new norm will be to manage in a state of chaos where they will need to be remarkably innovative as they strive to create safe, productive and effective workplaces.” “[The] key to navigating the changing dynamics of a disassociated workplace,” says Bremner, “will be to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset” – a mindset of constant adaptation and continual improvement. We invited Ron Bremner to join us for a Conversation That Matters about post-pandemic leadership. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Mon, July 08, 2024
Ep 509 - Meet the BC Conservative Leader Guest: John Rustad By Stuart McNish It’s been two years since John Rustad parted ways with the BC United Party over differences about climate change science. Regarding the reason for his removal from the party, Kevin Falcon is quoted as saying, “Climate change is one of the most critical threats facing our future.” And he added that Rustad “does not speak on behalf of [the] caucus on this issue.” Six months later, John Rustad took over the leadership of the BC Conservative Party. At the time, the party was without a sitting member of the legislature. Today, there are four. Rustad and the BC Conservative party’s rankings are soaring in the polls. Who is John Rustad and what is his vision for British Columbia, should he do the seemingly impossible and win the next election? We invited John Rustad to join us for a Conversation That Matters about his agenda for British Columbia. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Mon, July 08, 2024
Ep 508 - Generously Giving Guest: Megan Owen-Evans By Stuart McNish In the book “ Why Good Things Happen to Good People,” Stephen Post writes that “giving to others” has been shown to increase health benefits. A separate study by Michael Norton from Harvard Business School revealed that “people are happier when they spend money on others versus themselves.” Megan Owen-Evans went far beyond the giving of money – she donated a kidney and part of her liver to two different anonymous recipients. “Donating a kidney or a part of your liver is an enormous undertaking,” says Owen-Evans. “Not only do you need to take time for the surgery and recovery, [but] you also undergo a plethora of tests that consume vast amounts of time” – time that takes the donor away from work and family. “The cost in lost salary is significant.” Fully aware of the impact on donors, Owen-Evans set out to change the financial impact on these generous souls who give of themselves. As President of Neptune Terminals, Owen-Evans established a new policy: “paid time off for donors.” It's a concept that is gaining support from other major employers in British Columbia, such as Beedie Development and the David Foster Foundation. We invited Megan Owen-Evans to join us for a Conversation That Matters about corporate giving that supports employees and offers the gift of life to people in desperate need. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Wed, June 12, 2024
Ep 507 - A Bleak Market for EVs Guest: Adam Pankratz By Stuart McNish “Little did we know how fast the free market would slap the electric vehicle mandate back to reality, while Canadian taxpayers continue to subsidize green fantasies,” says Adam Pankratz, a lecturer at the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business . The “slap” is in reference to plummeting sales of electric vehicles in North America. Pankratz says, “The signs emerged in September 2023 when Volkswagen announced it was ‘cutting EV output’ due to low demand and in November, Ford announced it would ‘be scaling back’ EV battery production due to lackluster demand.” As the new year emerged, EV news stayed on the same trendline. Pankratz said, “General Motors, Mercedes Benz and even Tesla warned EV sales were projected to be significantly lower than predicted.” Add in Hertz’s decision to sell off most of its EVs and the message is clear – the market is cool on electric cars. We invited Adam Pankratz to join us for a Conversation That Matters on the trajectory of electric vehicle sales and what that says about government directives versus market forces. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join us June 18 for Conversations Live - Food Security
Wed, June 12, 2024
Ep 506 - Will AI produce a state of Deep Utopia? Guest: Nick Bostrom By Stuart McNish In his new book “Deep Utopia: Life and Meaning in a Solved World,” philosopher Nick Bostrom ponders what life could be like in a “solved world” – a world where everything works and works better than if human hands got in the way. “What then?” asks Bostrom, is the reason to work? “Is it to earn extra income or because working is an intrinsically valued activity?” Bostrom is the head of the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford and a philosopher with a background in theoretical physics, computational neuroscience, logic, and artificial intelligence. He has been called the “Superintelligent Swede” because of the deep philosophical work he undertakes as he examines the trajectory of human life at the intersection of destruction and possibility. Bostrum says, “If artificial intelligence can be achieved, it would be an event of unparalleled consequence – perhaps even a rupture to the fabric of history” – a rupture, Bostrom says, “will change the course of human history but is it the end of human history?” We invited Nick Bostrom to join us for a Conversation That Matters about our flirtatious and tempestuous relationship with the evolution of intelligence. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join us June 18 for Conversations Live - Food Sustainability
Wed, June 12, 2024
Ep 505 - Has the Floatel Sunk? Guest: Christine Kennedy By Stuart McNish The District of Squamish denied Woodfibre LNG’s application for a temporary use permit for its Bridgemans “floatel,” citing concerns over safety, environmental, and community impacts. Council also cited a lack of information from the company as its reasons for saying no to the refurbished cruise ship that is intended to act as a floating workforce accommodation. “[It’s] hard to comprehend,” said Christine Kennedy, the President of Woodfibre LNG. “The District has asked repeatedly since 2019 – to the company and to regulators – that the project workforce be housed outside of Squamish, which is exactly what the floatel delivers.” Kennedy goes on to say, “A councillor suggested that there are better solutions than a floatel. Housing options were considered and discussed with the District over a five-year engagement process, during which the District repeatedly asked the company and regulators to house non-local workers outside the community due to low vacancy rates in Squamish. Woodfibre LNG responded with the floatel. If Council had better ideas, they had five years to bring those forward.” On Tuesday May 21, Squamish Council decided to reconsider its decision and has postponed a final vote until June 4th. We invited Christine Kennedy to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the process the company followed in the development of the floatel and what this potential rejection means to the project and to BC’s investment reputation. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join us June 18 for Conversations Live - Food Security
Fri, May 17, 2024
Ep 504 - Vancouver: Beautiful, yes – but! Guest: Bridgitte Anderson By Stuart McNish No doubt about it: Vancouver is beautiful. It’s beautiful to visit, it’s a beautiful place to study, and it’s a beautiful city to retire in. “But,” says Bridgitte Anderson, the CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, “it’s not so beautiful of a place to build a robust economy.” In fact, according to a new report commissioned by GVBOT, “the region’s economic size and mix under-performs when it comes to creating high-paid jobs or high-performing companies.” Compared to 20 other “high quality mid-sized city-regions, spanning 9 pillars across economy, liveability and infrastructure and sustainability, Vancouver is well below par.” Anderson says. “Vancouver ranked 14 among the 20 cities for prosperity factors.” Looking ahead, Anderson says, “The region has to address its underlying weaknesses soon if we hope to stay competitive.” Central to our ability to compete is Vancouver’s beautiful geography, an area that is confined by sea and mountains. Anderson says, “The upshot is that we have to innovate more deeply to stimulate housing, job and economic development.” We invited Bridgitte Anderson, the CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, to join us as a guest on Conversations That Matter about where our attention needs to turn to close our productivity and prosperity gap. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Fri, May 17, 2024
Ep 503 - Canada’s Sagging Productivity Guest: Jock Finlayson By Stuart McNish On March 26th, 2024, the Bank of Canada issued a report titled “Time to Break the Glass: Fixing Canada’s Productivity Problem.” Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers said at a speech in Halifax, “Productivity is a way to inoculate the economy against inflation.” The question ahead is, why has Canadian productivity sagged and how can it be turned around? Jock Finlayson, the Chief Economist at the Independent Contractors of BC, says, “Canada needs to reorient policy to focus squarely on improving productivity and real incomes per capita – both of which are stagnant and falling.” We invited Jock Finlayson to join us for a Conversation That Matters about Canada’s productivity crisis and why it matters. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Fri, May 17, 2024
Ep 502 - Is Peace Possible in Gaza? Gidi Grinstein By Stuart McNish At the time of the recording of this interview, the war in Gaza raged on. Since Oct 7, when more than 1139 Israelis had been killed and another 240 taken hostage, Israel vowed to destroy Hamas. The atrocities of that day also severely challenged Israeli’s sense of compassion for Palestinians. In Palestine, the death toll is horrifying – more than 30,000 Palestinians are believed to have died and another 72,000 have been injured. The war and humanitarian crisis that has resulted has brought calls from around the world for a ceasefire. The government of Benjamin Netanyahu shows little interest in heeding those calls. The level of hate and anger that existed before Oct 7 continues to rise, which leads to the longer term question: can peace ever be achieved? Gidi Grinstein, the founder of Reut Institute in Tel Aviv, says, “Maybe but the conditions have to be ripe.” He continues, “It won’t be easy; millions of Israelis and Palestinians do not want to live in the same country, much less a shared society.” We invited Gidi Grinstein, the co-author of (IN) SIGHTS, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about possible paths forward for Israel and Palestine. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Tue, April 09, 2024
Ep 498 - How Canada Saved Me Guest - Sasha Luchkov By Stuart McNish On February 24th, 2022, in the dark of the night in Mukachevo, Ukraine, Sasha Luchkov woke to the news that his country was under attack. Sasha, a piano protege at the age of 17, was already an accomplished pianist. He had recently placed second in the Scherzo International piano competition, where he performed Beethoven’s Sonata #17. Luchkov also performed at the Horowitz International piano competition and the Perugia MusicFest. When the war intensified, Luchkov says, “I was in fear of my life and I fled from Ukraine – first to Italy and with the help of Thrive Refuge, I made my way to Canada, which accepted me as a refugee.” Luchkov says, “Canada and Canadians have been remarkably kind and helpful to me.” Through Thrive Refuge, Sasha was able to complete his high school education and is now attending UBC’s School of Music, studying under the direction of Dr. David Fung. On April the 12th, Sasha is performing at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts in the Concert for Peace to help raise funds to support Thrive Refuge’s Fine Arts Bursary. Sasha Luchov joins us for a Conversation That Matters about his journey to finding a second chance in Canada. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join us April 23 rd for Conversations Live - One on One with Premier Edy
Tue, April 09, 2024
Ep 497 - Climate Action: The Net Zero Economy Guest - John Stackhouse By Stuart McNish “Population and economic growth spell a demand for much more energy,” states the opening paragraph of RBC’s Climate Action Institute report. The Institute is honest in its assessment of the path forward to a Net Zero economy. The bank’s John Stackhouse says, “Climate pressures spell an imperative for a different mix of energy sources.” Looking forward, the global population is forecast to exceed 9 billion by approximately 2040. “Can the world population power itself into a new age of sustainable growth?” askes the report. It goes on to ask, “Can Canada, a global leader in energy, create new technologies, realize new opportunities and create value in a Net Zero economy?” We invited RBC’s Head of Thought Leadership, John Stackhouse, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the highlights of the research the report lays out, its six major conclusions, and the path forward. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join us April 2 for Conversations Live - Energy and the Environment
Tue, April 09, 2024
Ep 496 - Ballooning Public Service Guest - Renaud Brossard By Stuart McNish According to the Montreal Economic Institute, Justin Trudeau ranks first among Canadian Prime Ministers over the past 40 years when it comes to the expansion in the size of the civil service. In a recent study, MEI notes that “over the past few decades, the number of employees in the federal public service has fluctuated somewhat under the mandate of successive governments under Justin Trudeau's current government. However, we are witnessing a truly unprocessed identity expansion.” Renaud Brossard speaks on behalf of MEI and he says, “An expanding public service has consequences that adversely affect the economy, including undue competition with the private sector for employees. And that, in turn, exacerbates the already challenging talent market.” The report goes on to show the increase on a percentage basis from Prime Ministers Mulroney to Trudeau; Mulroney and Chrétien both oversaw about 10% reduction. Martin and Harper also decreased the number of civil servants, but to a lesser extent. Prime Minister Trudeau's increase is a whopping 25%. We invited Renaud Brossard of MEI to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the report and why a rapidly expanding civil service is a cause for concern. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join us April 2 for Conversations Live - Energy and the Environment
Tue, March 19, 2024
Ep 495 - Child Sex Trafficking Guest - Cathy Peters By Stuart McNish National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Canada is February 22nd. It was instituted as part of the government’s commitment to fighting human trafficking. The point was to “raise awareness of the magnitude of modern day slavery in Canada and abroad and to take steps to combat human trafficking.” In her book, “Child Sex Trafficking in Canada,” Cathy Peters says, “This book should never have been written. But here we are. Society and culture have come to a point where the most vulnerable are not being protected.” Peters goes on to say, “As a society we have a moral obligation to address sexual exploitation immediately, resolutely and robustly.” Today’s children are targeted in ways that you have little awareness of and from around the world. These children are marginalized, vulnerable, and at risk. Peters says, “They are unaware of the insidious, coercive, and manipulative tactics of the sex industry.” We invited one of Canada’s leading advocates on behalf of vulnerable children, Cathy Peters, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about what we all need to know about child sex trafficking and how to stop it. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Tue, March 19, 2024
Ep 494 - Canada and China: What Happened? Guest - Dr Paul Evans By Stuart McNish In 1970, Canada led the Western world by recognizing China. According to Paul Evans in his book, “Engaging China,” the Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau “believed that many of the world’s major issues ‘will not be resolved completely or in any lasting way unless and until an accommodation has been reached with the Chinese nation.’” Over the course of the next 50 years, the Chinese economy and its clout grew from 1.7 percent of global GDP to more than 17.3%. China went from one of the poorest countries on earth to one of the most powerful economies. Through that growth, China invested heavily in Canadian energy and technology companies. Then at the start of this century, the relationship between Canada and China started shifting. China started to flex its muscles and Canada failed to realize it was no longer the dominant member of this relationship. China grew tired of being told what and how to manage its affairs. Enter Xi Jinping, who had no patience for moralizing and virtue signalling. Canada woke up to China’s influence and the influencing tactics at home and abroad. Over the past five years, the relationship has soured. We invited Paul Evans, Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia, to join us for a Conversation That Matters on what happened between Canada and China and what is happening between us and India. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Tue, March 19, 2024
Ep 493 - A Call to Purpose Guest - Mike Rowlands “Redefining success for the purpose economy,” Mike Rowlands says, “is to become a part of the rapidly growing movement toward social purpose in business. The social purpose focus creates healthier communities, restoration of our shared environment and better outcomes for companies’ staff, customers and other stakeholders.” Rowlands says the path to developing this framework “emerged from our work with the nonprofit sector – a sector that required new brand strategies that enriched and enhanced their organizations' messaging.” The next step on the path to a social purpose framework was the development of “Theory of Change,” which is a methodology to set out intended social change outcomes.” We invited Mike Rowlands, the CEO and President at Junxion, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about social purpose and how it focuses businesses to accept responsibility for outputs, outcomes and building a better world by being in business. By Stuart McNish Researchers at Simon Fraser University and BC Cancer have pinpointed specific physiological traits that they say “can You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Tue, March 19, 2024
Ep 492 - The Fountain of Youth Guest - Angela Brooks-Wilson By Stuart McNish Researchers at Simon Fraser University and BC Cancer have pinpointed specific physiological traits that they say “can help people live longer, healthier lives.” According to a recent study published in GeroScience, the healthiest, older adults live in a “sweet spot,” where more than 100 different physiological traits interact, and that dynamic interaction makes them healthier than their counterparts. Key to living in the “sweet spot” is homeostasis, which is a collection of mechanisms that your body uses to maintain constancy in blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and body temperature. The more consistent your body is, the healthier you are. Deviations from optimal ranges of vitamin D, calcium, glucose and other mechanisms lead to a higher risk of mortality. We invited Angela Brooks-Wilson, a co-author of the report, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about what we now know about the “sweet spot” of health and how this knowledge may equip you to live longer and healthier. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Tue, March 19, 2024
Ep 491 - The Claims of Life Guest - Diana Chapman Walsh By Stuart McNish The Claims of Life , a new book by Diana Chapman Walsh, traces the emergence of a young woman who set out believing she wasn’t particularly smart but went on to meet multiple tests of leadership in the American academy – a place where everyone wants to be heard and no one wants a boss. The Claims of Life offers readers an unusually intimate view of a trustworthy leadership that begins and ends in self-knowledge. During a transformative fourteen-year Wellesley College presidency, Walsh advanced women’s authority, compassionate governance, and self-reinvention. After Wellesley, Walsh’s interests took her to the boards of five national nonprofits, galvanizing change. She kept counsel with Nobel laureates, feminist icons, and the Dalai Lama, seeking solutions to the world’s biggest challenge: preserving our planet. We invited Diana Chapman Walsh to join us for a Conversation That Matters about a life of openness and endless possibilities. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Tue, March 19, 2024
Ep 49o - Addressing the Infrastructure Deficit Guest - Mark Liedemann By Stuart McNish The backbone of any complex society is its infrastructure. It is the glue that binds communities, provinces and countries together. The concept of infrastructure was central to Rome’s dominance for 500 years. Cody Gregory writes, “One of the key aspects of Roman society and development was its unprecedented utilization of roads, sewers and aqueducts.” Here in British Columbia, it was the railway that brought us into Confederation and it was the development of hydroelectric power that catapulted the province forward economically. Mark Liedemann, the President and CEO of Infrastructure BC says, “We’re building on those legacy projects to ensure the province has the essential structures needed to thrive.” In her letter to the Board of Infrastructure BC, Finance Minister Katrine Conroy says, “Government and public sector organizations must continue to advance results that people can see and feel in these key areas – strengthened health care, safer communities, attainable and secure housing, and a clean and fair economy that delivers affordability and prosperity.” We invited Mark Liedemann to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the never ending work of planning and building the infrastructure the province requires. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Tue, March 19, 2024
Ep 489 - The Path to Urban Net Zero Guest - Jeanette Jackson In June of 2021, Canada – along with the other G7 countries – committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. It is an audacious goal, one that affords Canada with an opportunity to play a leadership role and become the first of the G7 to reach net-zero emissions. It’s a long way from where we are at the moment. Currently, says Jeanette Jackson of Foresight, “we’re in last place, which accelerates our need to step up the pace and position Canada as a force of nature on the path to net zero.” Over the past decade, Foresight has worked relentlessly toward making net-zero a reality. Foresight has a 10-point approach to accelerate research and development in clean tech, build regional clusters and host events. Jackson says, “We’re creating the ecosystem that fosters investment in world leading companies that are serving a social purpose, that being achieving net zero by virtue of the products and services they produce and provide.” On February 6, Foresight is hosting “CityAge Vancouver: The Urban Zero Challenge.” We invited Jeanette Jackson to join us for Conversation That Matters about the opportunities and challenges ahead for us on our path to greenhouse gas reduction. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Sat, January 27, 2024
Ep 488 - A Ministry of Entrepreneurialism Guest: Naseem Javed “The world, and in particular Canada, needs to embrace entrepreneurialism as a new frontier to resuscitate our gasping economy,” says Naseen Javed, the CEO and founder of Expothon. “We need a new Ministry of Entrepreneurialism that can ignite an economic revolution.” Javed says, “This new Ministry will only work if it is managed by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. Bureaucrats, academics, and economists live in a world where their theories don’t survive contact with the real world. When you put them in charge of entrepreneurship, they pour sand in the gears of innovation, business agility, and the magic small and medium business create in solving the world’s challenges.” The potential is enormous. Canada has an opportunity to embrace this concept, says Javed. “We are a knowledge-based country. If we seize the moment and create a legislative and tax environment that fosters rather than hinders entrepreneurs, we can turn around Canada’s sagging per capita GDP and boost the economy.” We invited Naseem Javed to join us for a Conversation That Matters about unleashing the power of entrepreneurship in an effort to turn around Canada’s sinking economy. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join us Feb 6 for Conversations Live - Lethal Exports
Sat, January 27, 2024
Ep 487 - The Greatest Gift of All Guest: Paul Sitnam By Stuart McNish “Impact investing is an investment strategy that aims to generate specific beneficial social or environmental effects in addition to financial gains,” according to Investopedia. It is upheld as a societal good, but it does not include devoting your life to helping others. “The greatest gift of giving possible is your life’s work,” says Paul Sitnam. He is a living example having done just that for the past 40 years. Sitnam dedicated his life to international humanitarian work in Africa, the South Pacific and the Middle East. His service to others, he says, has “allowed me to work with people in need of a hand up, rather than a handout. I worked with people to help them recover from disasters that shook their confidence.” Sitnam says, “I quickly dispelled myself of the notion that I was going to save the world. I just tried to do the best I could with the situation I found myself in and the resources available.” He goes on to speak to the power of empathy over sympathy. “Humanitarian work,” he says, “must facilitate victims of a disaster in a manner that allows them to regain their dignity. They need to be treated as much as possible as partners rather than as vulnerable people or beneficiaries. No one likes to be thought of – and treated – as a beggar.” We invited Paul Sitnam to join us for a Conversation That Matters about making a difference by being where assistance is needed. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join us Feb 6 for Conversations Live - Lethal Exports
Sat, January 27, 2024
Ep 486 - Can First Nations Save Canada’s Economy? Guest: Chris Sankey By Stuart McNish “Canada’s per capita growth has been negative three out of the last four quarters,” says Perrin Beatty, the President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. He adds, “Canada needs to do more to attract investment” – a sentiment that was recently shared by a panel of experts for “Conversations Live” about economic reconciliation. Haisla Chief Counselor Crystal Smith said, “First Nations hold the key to the country’s economic future.” It is a belief held by Indigenous businessman Chris Sankey, who says that “we can’t afford to obstruct BC’s energy sector any longer.” In an op-ed for the Vancouver Sun, Sankey said, “The chilling effect on the investment landscape of our region and of Canada in general has been terrible.” Moving forward, Sankey is looking to LNG to generate jobs and economic growth. He says, “More than a billion dollars in indigenous procurement spending and benefits have already been negotiated with Coastal GasLink, Kitimat LNG and Woodfibre LNG. And should the Haisla make a final investment decision on Cedar LNG, the opportunities will continue to grow for everyone – not just First Nations. Everyone.” We invited Chris Sankey to join us for a Conversation That Matters about economic reconciliation and how it can reverse Canada’s sinking attractiveness to investors. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join us Feb 6 for Conversations Live - Lethal Exports
Sun, January 07, 2024
Ep 485 - The interconnectedness of all things Guest: Wade Davis By Stuart McNish The Roman emperor Markus Aurelius posited in his book “Meditations” that “all things are implicated with one another and the bond is holy.” At the time of his writing, it was a philosophical concept. Today it has been proven by science – genomics in particular. Wade Davis, the great Canadian thinker and anthropologist, in his talk at the Dr. Rix Distinguished Keynote address “The Wayfinders of Genomic Wisdom,” said that “studies of the human genome have left no doubt about the interconnectedness of all things.” Davis went on to say, “Genomic science unveils the profound truth that we are all connected by the same genetic cloth.” He argues that “indigenous perspectives combined with genome insights can revolutionize conservation, restore ecological balance, mend cultural divisions and provide the antidote to heal an ailing world.” We invited Wade Davis to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the interconnectedness of life. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join us Jan 23 for Conversations Live - Infrastructure Deficit
Sat, January 06, 2024
Ep 484 - How to Stop Stereotyping Seniors Guest: Rudy Buttignol By Stuart McNish More than 7 million people in Canada are older than 64 – that’s just shy of 20 percent of us. I’m one of those people. The issues that all seniors face include, but are not limited to, financial security, health care, and an end to ageism. Rudy Buttignol, the President of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP), represents associations across the country advocating with all levels of government on behalf of 330,000 members. According to Buttignol, “The greatest obstacle to achieving better societal outcomes for senior citizens is ageism.” There is a generally held belief that as you age, your body and mind will fall apart and you’ll be grumpy and lonely and you're going to be ill. Buttignol says, “That’s simply not true. They are, however, the basis of bias directed at seniors.” Those attitudes towards seniors impact so many other aspects of their lives. Buttignol says, “It’s why families worry that seniors can’t remain in their homes. It affects the way health care providers treat senior patients. It’s discrimination.” Since 1983, CARP has been working to combat stereotypes about seniors. The organization also advocates for tax policy changes that will support homecare, reframing the concept of retirement residences from “institutions” to “homes.” We invited Rudy Buttignol to join us for a Conversation That Matters about aging well and why we need to respect our elders. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join us Jan 23 for Conversations Live - Infrastructure Deficit
Sat, January 06, 2024
Ep 483 - Youthful Cities: Attracting and retaining a young population Guest: Robert Barnard By Stuart McNish How a city attracts young adults to live and work matters. Robert Barnard, the founder of Youthful Cities, says, “Young adults are vital today and into the future. Attracting young people is important. Equally [as] important is retention – that is, keeping their residents in the city.” On that account, Vancouver is good at attracting but not so good at retaining. This is a problem, says Barnard. “The vitality of a city is embodied in the young people it attracts to live and work. The key to attracting young people is ensuring cities meet their needs and today, those needs include housing costs, transportation and a commitment to values such as the environment. Essential to keeping those same people are liveable salaries and affordable housing.” According to Barnard, “COVID-19 dramatically impacted young adults' ability to secure jobs and job skills.” That, in turn, will compound the already decreasing ratio of working-age young people to seniors. Barnard goes on to say, “The impact of the pandemic also means young people have higher levels of debt and housing insecurity.” Youthful Cities has developed a research program called DEVlab, which examines the workforce and skill development gaps of 15- to 29-year-olds impacted by COVID and how to meet those needs. We invited Robert Barnard of Youthful Cities to join us for a Conversation That Matters about how we engage young people in the building of better cities. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join us Jan 23 for Conversations Live - Infrastructure Deficit
Sat, January 06, 2024
Ep 482 - Save Our Streets Guest: Jess Ketchum By Stuart McNish At a press conference at the Woodwards development, the new Save Our Streets (SOS) public safety coalition said, “The growing crime, violence, vandalism and theft crisis is impacting local communities and businesses.” The costs associated with addressing security and safety, according to SOS spokesperson Jess Ketchum, are “jeopardizing the financial viability of many businesses and threatening their survival.” The compounding effects of the rising lawlessness, according to Ketchum, include but are not limited to “concerns for the safety of shoppers, concerns for the wellbeing of staff, and challenges to attract staff.” As a result, business leaders and concerned citizens formed the coalition to call for a “province-wide, non-partisan movement to raise awareness of the issues and the costs that are passed onto families.” The coalition has developed a 10-point plan, demanding actions from the government to fulfill its responsibility to address a suite of issues related to the current levels of crime, violence, and fear. I invited Jess Ketchum of SOS to join me for a Conversation That Matters about ways to combat crime and lawlessness. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join us Jan 23 for Conversations Live - Infrastructure Deficit
Sat, December 09, 2023
Ep 481 - CleanBC’s $28.1-Billion Price Tag Guest: Ken Peacock By Stuart McNish The government of British Columbia is aiming to lower CO2 emissions by 40% by 2030. It’s a bold ambition – one that will reduce the BC economy by $28.1 billion, according to a model created by the CleanBC Roadmap. Ken Peacock, the Business Council of British Columbia (BCBC)’s Chief Economist, examined the model and discovered the stunning numbers. Peacock says, “A $28.1-billion setback is significant.” After adding in emissions caps and a scheduled doubling of the carbon tax over the next seven years, Peacock points out, it “will dampen investment and cap exports.” Peacock says, “We’re concerned about serious job losses and serious impact to income over the next six years.” Canada is already the poorest performing country in the OECD in per-capita GDP growth. According to BCBC’s analysis, provincial average annual economic growth will slow to 0.4 per cent in the second half of this decade. I invited Ken Peacock to join me for a Conversation That Matters about setting realistic goals and timelines. You can see the interview on https://vancouversun.com/tag/conversations-that-matter/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Sat, December 09, 2023
Ep 480 - The Impact of Energy Poverty Guest: Jock Finlayson By Stuart McNish Energy poverty, according to the Canadian Urban Sustainability Practitioners, refers to “the experience of households or communities that struggle to heat their homes and power their lights and appliances” – a reality that is playing itself out in the Maritime provinces of Canada, and it has forced the hand of the Prime Minister to offer financial relief. In his blog, “The Honest Broker,” Roger Pielke Jr. wrote of the “Iron Law of Climate Policy,” a law that demonstrates that when push comes to shove, governments will wilt under pressure from voter’s wallets. “It is,” Pielke says, “a boundary condition.” The theory of “using higher-priced energy as a tool to accelerate decarbonization makes perfect sense – in bloodless computer models.” Noted economist Jock Finlayson agrees and adds, “In the real world, it is a theory that does not survive contact with the harsh financial realities it imposes on most people.” We invited Jock Finlayson to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the cost of implementing policies that fail to meet their objectives and the hardship they incur. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Sat, December 09, 2023
Ep 479- Social Purpose: The New Business Mantra Guest: Drew Collier By Stuart McNish Social purpose is emerging as an important and necessary part of business. “What is social purpose?” you ask. Drew Collier, the President and CEO of LGM Financial Services says, “Social purpose is the reason to be in business. It is not just a nice-to-have policy. It is the company’s reason for being – its social ambition – and it is the path to profitability.” It is, in the words of Simon Sinek, “the ‘why we do what we do,’ versus the ‘what we do.’” In 2022, Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock (the largest investment firm in the world), in his letter to CEOs, said, “Your company’s purpose is its north star. Putting your company’s purpose at the foundation of your relationships with stakeholders is critical to long-term success. Employees need to understand and connect with your purpose and when they do, they can be your staunchest advocates.” The focus on purpose is a move beyond corporate social responsibility, which is a focus on doing good things because they were good. “Social purpose,” Collier says, “is a guidepost that informs products, services, a company’s goals and strategies.” We invited Drew Collier to join us for a Conversation That Matters about a new way of doing business and doing it with an objective of contributing to a better world. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Sat, December 09, 2023
Ep 478- What is Keto Diet? Guest: Dr. David Harper By Stuart McNish “For 30 years, I taught the wrong stuff to generations of students. I taught them that a low-fat high-carb diet was the way to eat to prevent chronic disease and I got it wrong,” says Dr. David Harper, the co-author of the “BioDiet: The Scientifically Proven, Ketogenic Way to Lose Weight and Improve Health.” Harper goes on to say, “We now have 20 years of scientific evidence that a well-formulated ketogenic diet reduces chronic disease.” Harper is focused on cancer and he stresses that “a ketogenic diet is not a cure for cancer; rather, it is an effective adjunct therapy along with a standard of care.” Until recently, Harper was a visiting scientist at the BC Cancer Research Centre’s Terry Fox Laboratory. His research indicates that a ketogenic diet has multiple health benefits in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and weight reduction. “The Axis of Illness,” according to Harper are “insulin resistance, obesity and inflammation – all of which are fueled by carbohydrates leading to chronic disease.” A keto diet, coupled with exercise, is an effective way to diminish weight, inflammation and reduce insulin resistance. We invited Dr David Harper to join us for a Conversation That Matters about food as medicine. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Sat, December 09, 2023
Ep 477 - Canada: The World is a Hard Place Guest: John Rapley By Stuart McNish In the diplomatic spat between India and Canada, a rising India shows Canada that money is power, says John Rapley, a political economist at the University of Cambridge. He goes on to say that Canada is finding the world a hard place, and points out that it comes as a shock to Canada, namely because of its sense of itself. Canada has historically been dominant – one of the world's biggest economies, a founding member of the world's most powerful military alliance, and a rich country whose aid programs gave it considerable leverage over developing countries. But as Ottawa squares off with New Delhi over the recent alleged assassination of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil, Rapley says, “It is being left largely to fight its own battle.” In other words, Canada has stranded itself diplomatically at a time when the U.S. and U.K. have been building the so-called “quad” with Australia, India and Japan, as a safeguard to rising tensions with China. It gets worse, Rapley says. “Not only does Canada now occupy a less significant geopolitical space, but the country is a notorious shirk, or as an ally, with a recently leaked Pentagon paper revealing that Canada's NATO partners no longer consider us as a serious member of the alliance.” We invited John Rapley to join us for a Conversation That Matters about Canada's shrinking reputation internationally. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Sat, December 09, 2023
Ep 476 - Eat More - That’s the Message Guest: Dr Marion Nestle By Stuart McNish “We live in a food environment that encourages people to eat as much as possible,” says Dr. Marion Nestle. “Fighting those overwhelming messages and mustering up resistance is next to impossible!” The history of the “consume more” movement, says Nestle, “came about as a remedy to diseases of deficiency.” The message was so successful that Healthline now estimates that “42 percent of Americans are obese and two-thirds are overweight.” In her book, “Food Politics,” Dr. Nestle demonstrates the impact of the 900-billion-dollar-plus food industry and its ability to influence our health. Dr. Nestle says, “Our over-efficient food industry must do everything possible to persuade people to eat more – more food, more often, and in larger portions – no matter what it does to waistlines or wellbeing.” We invited Dr. Marion Nestle, whom Forbes magazine listed as the number-two most powerful foodie in the world, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about food. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Sat, December 09, 2023
Ep 475 - Rent Control: A Blunt Tool Guest: David Hutniak By Stuart McNish Housing affordability is a North American-wide issue. In the U.S., only seven states and Washington, D.C. have imposed rent controls as a measure to address housing affordability. Only seven states – largely because it is believed they don't work. In a poll conducted by the American Economic Association, 93% of its members agreed that a ceiling on rent controls reduces the quality and quantity of housing. David Hutniak, the CEO of Landlord B.C., in a recent letter to Premier Eby, said, “Rent control is a flagship political tool and a promise that is far more complex than it first appears. It is not the comprehensive form of tenant protection it is billed to be. It is commonly accepted that rent controls benefit current tenants. It does so at the expense of future ones.” Hutniak further pointed out that rent control is a blunt tool that continually delivers negative blows to the British Columbian rental housing market. Tenants and landlords both want a balanced rental market. Hutniak adds, “When the provincial government continues to penalize landlords for a problem created by all three levels of government, landlords and developers are less inclined to grow their businesses [and] less likely to build new rental housing.” The result is a reduction in the supply of housing. We invited David Hutniak of Landlord B.C. to join us for a Conversation That Matters about effective ways to create affordable rental housing. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Sat, December 09, 2023
Ep 474 - How Markets Shape Cities Guest: Alain Bertaud By Stuart McNish What is a city and why does it exist? That may seem like a simple question but according to Alain Bertaud, the author of “Order Without Design: How Markets Shape Cities,” the answer is “not merely to house people but rather accommodate labour markets.” He goes on to acknowledge, “People are the most important part. They are the main attraction.” The challenge for city planners, argues Bertaud, is that “they run into the interdependence between state and markets and the tension that results when allocating resources.” When facilitating the needs of markets, Bertaud contends that “planners are focused on building codes and architecture and not the needs of markets.” He says that planners need to work with urban economists. We invited Alain Bertaud, the author of “Order Without Design: How Markets Shape Cities,” to join us for a Conversation That Matters about how markets shape our cities. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Sat, December 09, 2023
Ep 473 - The Looming Great Relocation Guest: Laura Alfaro By Stuart McNish “Nearshoring, friendshoring and onshoring” are terms that are becoming common in reference to moves within the United States to address a number of issues associated with global value chains. According to co-author Laura Alfaro of a paper that was prepared for the Jackson Hole Symposium in 2023, there is a, “Looming Great Relocation” on the horizon. Alfaro says, “The evidence is clear – the US reliance on China peaked in 2017. The introduction of tariffs by President Trump, the continued application of those tariffs by President Biden, and the ongoing power play between the two countries has brought about changes to distribution channels.” According to Alfaro, “Vietnam and Mexico have and [will] continue to rise in prominence as preferred trading partners. And while Canada has slipped over the past 30 years, it still remains a strong trading partner.” We invited Laura Alfaro of the Harvard Business School to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the shifting trade patterns and relationships that are underway. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Sat, December 09, 2023
Ep 472 - The Importance of Workplace Accessibility Guest: Joel Dembe By Stuart McNish “Accessibility” is a word that you hear more of, and for good reason. Canadian Paralympian Joel Dembe says, “Being accessible is essential when creating a strong and inclusive workplace and society. And it's good business. It’s good business in so many ways – namely it’s good for the bottom line.” According to Jason Keck, the CEO and Co-Founder of Broker Buddha, “Diverse and inclusive companies are 35% more likely to surpass their competitors.” Joel Dembe adds, “Companies with diverse workplaces are six times more likely to be innovative and anticipate choppy headwaters and then adapt to meet new opportunities.” According to the Web Accessibility Platform, AudioEye, “more than 1.3 billion people, that’s one in six people who live with some type of a disability.” Joel Dembe points out, “ I often tell business leaders we have to see disability as an economic opportunity.” We invited tennis and accessibility champion and RBC Senior Manager of Communications Joel Dembe to join us for a Conversation That Matters about removing barriers.
Sat, December 09, 2023
Ep 471 - The Great Remobilization Guest: Olaf Groth By Stuart McNish “In August 2022, when central bankers from around the world gathered for their annual meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a consensus emerged that the current methods for managing business cycles are woefully insufficient for managing today’s current economic and societal crises.” says Olaf Groth, one of the authors of a new book, “The Great Remobilization.” “We have the energy crisis. We have the food crisis,” continues Groth. “We have the supply chain crisis and we have the war in Ukraine, all of which have profound implications for the economic performance of the world.” The book goes on to say the limited abilities of bankers and governments to address large-scale issues demand a new way of addressing challenges. Groth says, “The stakes have never been higher. Incremental changes won’t work. We need step-change redesigns of our global frameworks.” We invited Olaf Groth, one of the co-authors of “The Great Remobilization,” to join us for a Conversation That Matters about a framework that will assist leaders to address the tectonic shifts that are underway. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Sat, December 09, 2023
Ep 470 - The Reasonableness of Being Unreasonable Guest: Bob Stamnes By Stuart McNish “The logic of being unreasonable sounds like an oxymoron,” says Bob Stamnes, one of Canada’s most creative ad Execs. “Unless, of course, you know exactly why you are being unreasonable.” According to the Oxford Dictionary, logic is “reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity.” Stamnes says, “Unreasonable logic is when you stick to the facts and make sensible conclusions where others leap to emotionally safe decisions. Reasonable people will always come up with reasons why new or different approaches can’t be done because, after all, no one else has done it that way. Those people are doomed to live in the age of average.” Stamnes says, “To lift yourself out of average and become unreasonable, you need to commit to being creative, funny, seductive, outrageous or outraged.” Stamnes says to reshape your thinking by “changing what’s cool, what’s normal, and change what people aspire to do.” We invited Bob Stamnes to join us for a Conversation That Matters about navigating your way through the maze of life in unconventional ways. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Sun, October 15, 2023
Ep 469 - Boosting scientific innovations in British Columbia Guest: Brenda Bailey By Stuart McNish In April of 2023, the government of British Columbia announced a new life sciences and biomedical strategy. The objective is to position BC as a global hub in these sectors. Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Brenda Bailey says, “We’re boosting our world-class talent, innovators, entrepreneurs and anchor companies to create high-quality jobs.” The Minister’s claim about world-class talent is backed up by the fact that almost every COVID-19 vaccine candidate that reached late-stage development was either initiated, developed or manufactured by a BC company or scientist. Minister Bailey says, “We are focused on building on these made-in-BC accomplishments.” We invited Minister Bailey to join us for a Conversation That Matters about BC’s strategy to build a vibrant life sciences, biomedical and high-tech base that will help to reshape our future. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me Oct 3 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: AI - Friend or Foe https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Sun, October 15, 2023
Ep 468 - The electric helicopter revolution Guest: Danny Sitnam By Stuart McNish Can we achieve liftoff of electric helicopter passenger service? Danny Sitnam, the President and Founder of Helijet says, "Yes we can! But…" The “but…” Sitnam refers to is, in fact, many “yes, but”s. Yes, helicopters can be powered by electricity – but the power plant for helicopters still needs to be built. Yes, batteries can carry enough of a charge to fly from Vancouver to Victoria – but the weight will eliminate a number of seats. Yes “we can” – but regulations need to change. Sitnam says, "These are challenges that we can address and overcome. No – WILL overcome." It may still be years before you’ll be able to hop onto an electric helicopter for a quieter and a low carbon intense flight to Victoria, but those flights will be arriving. We invited Danny Sitnam of Helijet to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the process of flying in electric vertical-takeoff and -landing aircraft. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me Oct 3 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: AI - Friend or Foe https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Sun, October 15, 2023
Ep 473 - The Looming Great Relocation Guest: Laura Alfaro By Stuart McNish “Nearshoring, friendshoring and onshoring” are terms that are becoming common in reference to moves within the United States to address a number of issues associated with global value chains. According to co-author Laura Alfaro of a paper that was prepared for the Jackson Hole Symposium in 2023, there is a, “Looming Great Relocation” on the horizon. Alfaro says, “The evidence is clear – the US reliance on China peaked in 2017. The introduction of tariffs by President Trump, the continued application of those tariffs by President Biden, and the ongoing power play between the two countries has brought about changes to distribution channels.” According to Alfaro, “Vietnam and Mexico have and [will] continue to rise in prominence as preferred trading partners. And while Canada has slipped over the past 30 years, it still remains a strong trading partner.” We invited Laura Alfaro of the Harvard Business School to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the shifting trade patterns and relationships that are underway. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me Nov 21 for Conversations Live - Economic Reconciliation https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Sun, October 15, 2023
Ep 472 - The Importance of Workplace Accessibility Guest: Joel Dembe By Stuart McNish “Accessibility” is a word that you hear more of, and for good reason. Canadian Paralympian Joel Dembe says, “Being accessible is essential when creating a strong and inclusive workplace and society. And it's good business. It’s good business in so many ways – namely it’s good for the bottom line.” According to Jason Keck, the CEO and Co-Founder of Broker Buddha, “Diverse and inclusive companies are 35% more likely to surpass their competitors.” Joel Dembe adds, “Companies with diverse workplaces are six times more likely to be innovative and anticipate choppy headwaters and then adapt to meet new opportunities.” According to the Web Accessibility Platform, AudioEye, “more than 1.3 billion people, that’s one in six people who live with some type of a disability.” Joel Dembe points out, “ I often tell business leaders we have to see disability as an economic opportunity.” We invited tennis and accessibility champion and RBC Senior Manager of Communications Joel Dembe to join us for a Conversation That Matters about removing barriers. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me Oct 10 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: Workplace Accessibility https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Sun, October 15, 2023
Ep 471 - The Great Remobilization Guest: Olaf Groth By Stuart McNish “In August 2022, when central bankers from around the world gathered for their annual meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a consensus emerged that the current methods for managing business cycles are woefully insufficient for managing today’s current economic and societal crises.” says Olaf Groth, one of the authors of a new book, “The Great Remobilization.” “We have the energy crisis. We have the food crisis,” continues Groth. “We have the supply chain crisis and we have the war in Ukraine, all of which have profound implications for the economic performance of the world.” The book goes on to say the limited abilities of bankers and governments to address large-scale issues demand a new way of addressing challenges. Groth says, “The stakes have never been higher. Incremental changes won’t work. We need step-change redesigns of our global frameworks.” We invited Olaf Groth, one of the co-authors of “The Great Remobilization,” to join us for a Conversation That Matters about a framework that will assist leaders to address the tectonic shifts that are underway. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me Oct 3 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: AI - Friend or Foe https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Sun, October 15, 2023
Ep 470 - The Reasonableness of Being Unreasonable Guest: Bob Stamnes By Stuart McNish “The logic of being unreasonable sounds like an oxymoron,” says Bob Stamnes, one of Canada’s most creative ad Execs. “Unless, of course, you know exactly why you are being unreasonable.” According to the Oxford Dictionary, logic is “reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity.” Stamnes says, “Unreasonable logic is when you stick to the facts and make sensible conclusions where others leap to emotionally safe decisions. Reasonable people will always come up with reasons why new or different approaches can’t be done because, after all, no one else has done it that way. Those people are doomed to live in the age of average.” Stamnes says, “To lift yourself out of average and become unreasonable, you need to commit to being creative, funny, seductive, outrageous or outraged.” Stamnes says to reshape your thinking by “changing what’s cool, what’s normal, and change what people aspire to do.” We invited Bob Stamnes to join us for a Conversation That Matters about navigating your way through the maze of life in unconventional ways. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me Oct 3 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: AI - Friend or Foe https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Sun, October 15, 2023
Ep 469 - Boosting scientific innovations in British Columbia Guest: Brenda Bailey By Stuart McNish In April of 2023, the government of British Columbia announced a new life sciences and biomedical strategy. The objective is to position BC as a global hub in these sectors. Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Brenda Bailey says, “We’re boosting our world-class talent, innovators, entrepreneurs and anchor companies to create high-quality jobs.” The Minister’s claim about world-class talent is backed up by the fact that almost every COVID-19 vaccine candidate that reached late-stage development was either initiated, developed or manufactured by a BC company or scientist. Minister Bailey says, “We are focused on building on these made-in-BC accomplishments.” We invited Minister Bailey to join us for a Conversation That Matters about BC’s strategy to build a vibrant life sciences, biomedical and high-tech base that will help to reshape our future. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me Oct 3 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: AI - Friend or Foe https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Sun, October 15, 2023
Ep 468 - The electric helicopter revolution Guest: Danny Sitnam By Stuart McNish Can we achieve liftoff of electric helicopter passenger service? Danny Sitnam, the President and Founder of Helijet says, "Yes we can! But…" The “but…” Sitnam refers to is, in fact, many “yes, but”s. Yes, helicopters can be powered by electricity – but the power plant for helicopters still needs to be built. Yes, batteries can carry enough of a charge to fly from Vancouver to Victoria – but the weight will eliminate a number of seats. Yes “we can” – but regulations need to change. Sitnam says, "These are challenges that we can address and overcome. No – WILL overcome." It may still be years before you’ll be able to hop onto an electric helicopter for a quieter and a low carbon intense flight to Victoria, but those flights will be arriving. We invited Danny Sitnam of Helijet to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the process of flying in electric vertical-takeoff and -landing aircraft. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me Oct 3 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: AI - Friend or Foe https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Sun, October 15, 2023
Ep 467 - Is Canada Sinking? Guest: Chris Gardner By Stuart McNish “We’re in trouble!” says Chris Gardner. “Big trouble and it's going to get worse, much worse.” The President of the Independent Contractors of British Columbia says, “The Prime Minister and Minister of Finance work in a building 4,427 kilometres from Surrey.” He says, “They’re even further away than that from understanding the challenges facing construction contractors, small business owners, entrepreneurs, and everyday Canadians.” Gardner makes four compelling arguments: “First - health care is a disaster. Second – our rail, port and road infrastructure has failed to keep pace with growth. Third – we are in the middle of an unprecedented housing affordability challenge. And finally – public safety is at an all-time low and sinking.” His assertions are on the heels of projections from the OECD, which states that Canada is ranked dead last among 38 advanced economies. Gardner contends, “For Canadians looking to Ottawa to unleash the potential of entrepreneurs, investors, businesspeople, and young workers dreaming about the opportunities the future holds, it’s difficult not to conclude that Ottawa is fighting against them.” We invited Chris Gardner to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the mess Canada is in, how our international reputation has tanked, and the harsh truth behind how we got here. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me Oct 3 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: AI - Friend or Foe https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Sun, October 15, 2023
Ep 466 - Ozempic and Weight Loss Guest: Dr Devyn Parsons By Stuart McNish It has been called a wonder drug for its unintended benefits to anyone wrestling with obesity. Ozempic does for obese people what their bodies can no longer do – shedding weight. Dr. Devyn Parsons, an obesity specialist, says, “Your body locks onto what it believes is your ideal weight – that, being the highest weight of your life. And it doesn’t want to let go.” According to a study published by the American Journal of Public Health, “the odds of returning to normal weight for a man with obesity is one in 210 and, for women, one in 124. The odds worsen as weight increases.” Dr Parsons adds, “For those who do lose weight, keeping it off is an even more difficult battle. That’s because your body reprograms itself to believe that your highest weight will ward off starvation.” We invited obesity specialist Dr. Devyn Parsons to join us for a Conversation That Matters about obesity and Ozempic. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me Oct 3 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: AI - Friend or Foe https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Sun, October 15, 2023
Ep 465 - Seeing Street Kids’ Potential Guest: Krista Thompson By Stuart McNish “The reasons why children end up on the streets are complex. Often, their arrival represents an active decision on their part in response to serious rights violations at home,” says Moses Ogutu in “Under The Bridge: The Invisible Lives of Street Children.” Ogutu was a child of the street for five years. Today, he is an international business and trade lecturer at the African Leadership University and a 2017 Mandela Rhodes Scholar. Ogutu’s life journey is proof that children who end up on the streets can and do rise above the challenges they face. Ogutu points out that homelessness among youth is a global problem and in each jurisdiction, the reason a child arrives on the street is individual and globally similar. Krista Thompson, the past CEO of Vancouver’s Covenant House, agrees. “There are many successful intervention strategies that work to help young people who clearly have smarts and grit and problem-solving abilities to move forward toward a more positive future.” One such strategy is “Relentless Support,” a program that Covenant House offers. We invited Krista Thompson to join us for a Conversation That Matters about ensuring that young people are not forgotten, are visible, and supported to grow, develop, and realize their potential. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me Oct 3 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: AI - Friend or Foe https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Wed, August 30, 2023
Ep 464 - Addressing Renewable Energy’s Weak Link Guest: Matt Harper By Stuart McNish Will vanadium redox flow batteries address an issue that has been the Achilles’ heel of renewable energy production – how to store the power generated by wind and solar power generation? The sector has challenges, such as the inability of renewable energy sources to produce consistent on-demand power needed to supply an ever-fluctuating need. Matt Harper of Vancouver-based Invinity Energy Systems, a leader in battery storage systems says, “Yes. And in doing so, we will be filling a significant need in jurisdictions where there is a huge increase in the amount of renewable power being generated – power that needs a home until it is required for use: places like California, Australia and Alberta.” We invited Matt Harper to join us for a Conversation That Matters about harnessing, storing, discharging and recharging renewable energy to meet the electricity needs of the future. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me Oct 3 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: AI - Friend or Foe https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Wed, August 30, 2023
Ep 463 - Working Towards Ending Genocide Guest: Dr James Smith By Stuart McNish “More than 60% of the population of Rwanda was born after the genocide in 1994. They feel its effects, but have little knowledge of what caused it to happen,” says Dr. James Smith of Aegis Trust. The ravages of genocide tear familes, communities and societies apart. Smith adds, “It takes decades of reconciliation, peace-building and support to repair the damage done, and constant vigilance to ensure it does not happen again.” Central to ensuring it doesn’t happen again is the need to help people who have no concept of peace or how to plan to start to envision a future. Dr. Smith says, “The victims of genocide spent years focused on the minutes ahead of them, relying on their wits to stay alive. Tomorrow, next week, next month never existed, so there was no need to plan or work toward a better future.” Since 2008, Aegis’ peace-building education program has reached thousands of young Rwandans – a “Peace Education” program that is changing attitudes and behaviour among students and their communities. We invited Dr James Smith from Aegis Trust to join us from Kigali, Rwanda for a Conversation That Matters about working toward the prediction, prevention and ultimate elimination of genocide. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me Oct 3 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: AI - Friend or Foe https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Wed, August 30, 2023
Ep 461 - Life in Canada after fleeing Syria Guest: Nour Suliman By Stuart McNish It’s been eight years since 25,000 Syrian refugees were resettled in Canada. Our country, in keeping with our commitment to the United Nations Commission for Refugees, is “obliged to protect refugees and treat them according to international standards.” Nour Suliman and her family fled to Canada after dodging bullets, landmines and barrel bombs in Syria. Nour and her family were some of the 13 million Syrians forced from their homes. Some moved within their country; others fled fearing for their lives. In an earlier Conversations That Matter interview, Nour said, “17 of us would pack into my father’s car at a moment's notice. My grandparents, parents, aunt and uncle and my cousins all squeezed into the car to escape numerous deadly threats.” It has now been 7 years since Nour and her family arrived in Canada. We invited Nour Suliman to join us for a Conversation That Matters to share how life in her new home is unfolding. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me Oct 3 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: AI - Friend or Foe https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Wed, August 30, 2023
Ep 462 - How to reduce adverse drug reactions Guest: Amani Saini By Stuart McNish According to the Food and Drug Administration in the United States, “there are more than 2.2 million serious adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients, causing over 106,000 deaths annually.” The British Pharmacological Society in a “Fatal Adverse Drug Reaction” global study says, “Adverse drug reactions are the most common cause of hospital admission and one of the top seven causes of death.” In Canada, Amani Saini’s sister had a critical adverse drug reaction to an over-the-counter medicine. Her sister’s near-deadly ordeal led Amani to investigate the causes and rate of hospitalization and death in Canada. The numbers were disturbing. Amani says, “There are an estimated 200,000 adverse drug reactions in Canada. More than 10,000 people a year are dying and the cost to the healthcare system exceeds more than $13 billion.” We invited Amani Saini to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the work and mission of Adverse Drug Reaction Canada and its mission to reduce ADRs. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me Oct 3 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: AI - Friend or Foe https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Fri, August 25, 2023
Ep 466 - Ozempic and Weight Loss Guest: Dr Devyn Parsons By Stuart McNish It has been called a wonder drug for its unintended benefits to anyone wrestling with obesity. Ozempic does for obese people what their bodies can no longer do – shedding weight. Dr. Devyn Parsons, an obesity specialist, says, “Your body locks onto what it believes is your ideal weight – that, being the highest weight of your life. And it doesn’t want to let go.” According to a study published by the American Journal of Public Health, “the odds of returning to normal weight for a man with obesity is one in 210 and, for women, one in 124. The odds worsen as weight increases.” Dr Parsons adds, “For those who do lose weight, keeping it off is an even more difficult battle. That’s because your body reprograms itself to believe that your highest weight will ward off starvation.” We invited obesity specialist Dr. Devyn Parsons to join us for a Conversation That Matters about obesity and Ozempic. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me Oct 3 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: AI - Friend or Foe https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Fri, August 25, 2023
Ep 465 - Seeing Street Kids’ Potential Guest: Krista Thompson By Stuart McNish “The reasons why children end up on the streets are complex. Often, their arrival represents an active decision on their part in response to serious rights violations at home,” says Moses Ogutu in “Under The Bridge: The Invisible Lives of Street Children.” Ogutu was a child of the street for five years. Today, he is an international business and trade lecturer at the African Leadership University and a 2017 Mandela Rhodes Scholar. Ogutu’s life journey is proof that children who end up on the streets can and do rise above the challenges they face. Ogutu points out that homelessness among youth is a global problem and in each jurisdiction, the reason a child arrives on the street is individual and globally similar. Krista Thompson, the past CEO of Vancouver’s Covenant House, agrees. “There are many successful intervention strategies that work to help young people who clearly have smarts and grit and problem-solving abilities to move forward toward a more positive future.” One such strategy is “Relentless Support,” a program that Covenant House offers. We invited Krista Thompson to join us for a Conversation That Matters about ensuring that young people are not forgotten, are visible, and supported to grow, develop, and realize their potential. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me Oct 3 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: AI - Friend or Foe https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Fri, July 14, 2023
Ep 460 - Creating Sustainable Pet Food Guest: Christine Mallier By Stuart McNish Cats and dogs are everywhere in Canada and they outnumber children under 14 by a big margin. According to the Canadian Animal Health Institute, there are 16.5 million cats and dogs in Canada. Statistics Canada, for 2021, puts the child population at 15.6% or 6.2 million. In other words, we love our pets. There are myriad reasons why people love pets. One is they never grow up and move away. According to Mindpath Health, “Pets need you now, next week and years from now; they don’t ask for much and you’ll never have to pay for their college tuition.” That love of pets led two friends in Chilliwack to create Petcurean, a company committed to producing premium food for pets. The idea took off and sales are soaring, not only because the food is nutritious and delicious, but also because the company is committed to sustainable agricultural practices. We invited Christine Mallier, the sustainability manager at Petcurean, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about caring for our pets and our planet. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me Oct 3 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: AI - Friend or Foe https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Fri, July 07, 2023
Ep 459- British Columbia’s economy is a question mark Guest: Jock Finlayson By Stuart McNish British Columbia is but a speck on the global GDP map. “We are 0.3% – in other words, not very significant,” says economist Jock Finlayson. He goes on to point out that our place in the world isn’t about to change. In fact, it’s going to slip. “We are entering a lost decade of real per-capita GDP growth, which means growing real salaries will be challenging.” It’s not all doom and gloom, however. BC does have some strengths. Finlayson says, “Steady in-migration is creating a positive consumer faced economic setting. We have an educated workforce. There are positive signs in the life sciences and tech sectors. BC has a strong and exceptionally diverse natural resource economy and, importantly, we are the gateway to Asia.” That’s the good news on the other side of the balance sheet. Finlayson points out, “We are a long way from the economic, political and financial power centres of Canada. The cost of housing is staggering. BC has the highest household debt burden in Canada. When it comes to head offices, there are few and NIMBYism makes getting anything done difficult.” We invited Jock Finlayson to join us for a Conversation That Matters about BC’s economy – now and for the foreseeable future. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me Oct 3 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: AI - Friend or Foe https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Fri, July 07, 2023
Ep 458 - Vaccinating against rejection Guest: Dr Eli Joseph By Stuart McNish It is common to be intimidated by rejection. The thought of failing or getting turned down for an opportunity that we have always wanted can influence the way we make genuine decisions toward our goals. Moreover, the overall experience of getting rejected can negatively affect our self-esteem. Dr Eli Joseph says, “You can get over this fear of rejection! In fact, you can become immune to it.” Based on his own experience of thousands upon thousands of rejections, he says, “I emerged from the ordeal of rejection stronger than I was before.” In a sense, he was following Mithridates’ example of dosing poison to become immune to poison. Dr Joseph points out that “the total of human accomplishment is rooted in the fact that everything that has been developed and learned was through trial and error.” According to him, “Failure and rejection are on a continuum; either can stop you in your tracks or they can motivate you to go further, try harder, become stronger and immunize you against undermining your self esteem.” We invited Dr Eli Joseph, the author of “The Perfect Rejection Resume,” to join us for a Conversation That Matters about embracing your bumpy, rejection-laden path through life. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me Sept 19 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: AI - Friend or Foe https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Fri, July 07, 2023
Ep 457 - Can Fish be Farmed on Land? Guest: Tony Pantages By Stuart McNish In February 2023, federal Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray announced that licenses for 15 open-net Atlantic salmon farms around British Columbia's Discovery Island will not be renewed – a planned cancellation that has now been delayed in large part due to concerns raised by indigenous leaders, who point to problems associated with moving fish farms on shore. Norway has generated a depth of knowledge and experience in the field of land-based salmon farming in state-of-the-art recirculating aquaculture systems and is leading the way, including identifying challenges. According to Norwegian SciTech News, “ land-based fish farming is not free of challenges. The sector suffers from mass mortalities and fish meat tainted with an earthy flavour because the biological conditions in land-based facilities are difficult to control and very young fish are sensitive to poor water quality. In the worst cases, many thousands of smolt can die relatively suddenly, which can lead to major losses.” BC-based Octaform has developed a land-based construction system that is addressing the issues associated with land-based fish farms in Norway and around the world, and is poised to offer the same technology and construction methods to the sector in BC. Tony Pantages, the CEO of Octaform, says, “We have a technology that addresses the issues related to land-based fish farming.” We invited Tony Pantages to join us for a Conversation That Matters about protecting wild salmon through the use of new tank materials and construction materials and processes. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me Sept 19 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Fri, July 07, 2023
Ep 456 - A Lost Decade Ahead for Canada Guest: David Williams By Stuart McNish “The Canadian economy is on track to be the worst performing economy out of 38 advanced countries over the next 40 years, with the lowest growth in real GDP per capita,” says David Williams, the Vice-President of Policy at the Business Council of British Columbia. He goes on to say, “Young Canadians entering the workforce today are facing 40 years of stagnant average real incomes, according to OECD projections.” That is a dire warning to policymakers in Canada: one that demands a need to address the underlying causes. “If they don’t,” Williams says, “there will be a decline in real incomes relative to all other advanced OECD countries.” We invited David Williams to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the bleak forecast of stagnation young Canadians will face over the course of their careers. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me June 20 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Fri, July 07, 2023
Ep 455 - Women on Corporate Boards Guest: Jennifer Reynolds By Stuart McNish Here, it is 2023 and according to Forbes Magazine, only ten percent of Fortune 500 companies are led by women. The magazine, however, sees that ten percent as “a new milestone. While these numbers may not seem like a cause for celebration, they are when one considers the history of women achieving top leadership roles in business.” The history of women at the top of Fortune 500 companies has included just two CEOs for decades. Forbes points out that “as recently as 2000, only four women led Fortune 500 companies.” Fast-forward to today and 53 women are in the top spot at those same companies. Where to go from here? Is it a straight line to gender parity? In a Harvard Business Review study from 2006, “when there is one woman on a board, progress is difficult, but when three or more women are on a board, dynamics shift.” The question, according to the foundation Women Corporate Directors is, “How are these leaders effecting change in the world?” We invited Jennifer Reynolds, the CEO of Women Corporate Directors, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about changes in the structure of boardrooms and how companies benefit from more women and greater diversity in senior roles. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me June 20 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Sat, June 03, 2023
Ep 454 - The Power of Giving Guest: John Bromley By Stuart McNish In the book “ Why Good Things Happen to Good People,” Stephen Post writes that “giving to others” has been shown to increase health benefits. A separate study by Michael Norton from Harvard Business School revealed that “people are happier when they spend money on others versus themselves.” These are all wonderful reasons to give. As Martin McNish stated in “Give a Damn” (a Conversations That Matter episode), “giving proves that you can make a difference in the lives of others and to not give is to give up on the belief that you can make a difference.” Give a Damn is a small crowdfunding not-for-profit that raises money for micro-charities that do not have the resources to fundraise. Here’s the challenge, says McNish. “We too are small and only have limited resources, all of which are dedicated to raising awareness and money for other charities.” Enter Charitable Impact, a Vancouver-based foundation that was created to help donors and charities connect. John Bromley says, “It started with the goal of making it easier for people to come together to change the world.” We invited John Bromley of Charitable Impact to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the power of giving. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me June 20 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Sat, June 03, 2023
Ep 453 - Top Sixty Over 60 Guest: Helen Hirsh Spence By Stuart McNish “‘Sorry, you’re too old. Sorry, you’re too experienced. Sorry. Sorry, but we’re looking for someone younger who will stay with us longer.’ These are just some of the reasons employers use to overlook talented over 60 applicants,” says Helen Hirsh Spence of Top Sixty Over Sixty. The mission, according to the organization’s website, is to “provide tools and training to address ageism and promote age diversity in the workplace.” Organizations that turn their back on workers over 60 are doing themselves a disservice. According to a Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health study, “Older workers are skilled and experienced, they stay with jobs longer and take fewer days off, they have a strong work ethic and they demonstrate [that] age-diverse workplaces make for the best teams.” The study goes on to point out that “older workers attract more business.” Remarkably, tourism companies that employ older workers appeal to older tourists who have the greatest amount of discretionary income. The study points out that “the Upper West Side of New York Apple store strategically places older workers toward the front of the store so customers who might be overwhelmed by technology feel more comfortable.” We invited Helen Hirsh Spence of Top Sixty Over Sixty to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the benefits to businesses that are age smart. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me June 20 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Thu, May 18, 2023
Ep 452 - Wrestling with Democracy Guest: Dennis Pilon By Stuart McNish Justin Trudeau had promised that the 2015 federal election would be the last time a government would be chosen in Canada using the first-past-the-post voting system. That promise promptly evaporated and morphed into support for a proportional representation voting system. In the following months, the Prime Minister directed the Minister of Democratic Institutions to drop the idea. In 2021, the Liberals set a record for the lowest vote share of a party that would go on to form government, winning 32.6 percent of the popular vote, while losing the popular vote. According to the federal Elections Canada, voter turnout numbers were just less than half of the population of the country. Only 17 million of Canada’s 35 million people voted. The Liberals only received 5.6 million votes, yet went on to form a minority government in a coalition with the NDP, which received only 2.3 percent of the popular vote. Despite those numbers, the Liberals and the NDP signed a pact to support one another and govern as though they have a majority mandate. The results suggest that democracy is not being served and needs to be reformed. Dennis Pilon, a York University Professor in the Department of Politics, urges caution in making such an assertion. He argues, “Voting system reform has been a part of larger struggles over defining democracy itself.” We invited Professor Dennis Pilon to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the way in which we choose our government and whether the system needs to be reformed. Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca Join me June 20 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: BC’s Economy - A SWOT Analysis https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Thu, May 18, 2023
Ep 451 - Cathedral Thinking Guest: Rick Antonson By Stuart McNish Groucho Marx once quipped, “Why should I care about future generations? What have they ever done for me?” According to Rick Antonson, “You have a responsibility to your children’s great grandchildren.” In fact, Antonson says, “You need to wrench yourself from your phone and become a cathedral thinker about the big issues of our times.” The concept crosses many cultures. Chief Oren Lyons, of the Onondaga Nation, a member of the Iroquois Confederacy, says, “Looking ahead is one of the first mandates given us as chiefs, to make sure every decision that we make relates to the welfare and well-being of the seventh generation to come.” Antonson rhetorically asks, “Is cathedral thinking a relic of the past or does it still apply?” He says, “Yes. More, now than ever, we need to apply it to social policy issues, racial injustice, technological risks such as AI, public health and space to name but a few.” We invited Rick Antonson to join us for a Conversation That Matters about why we should care about future generations. Join me May 16 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: Life Sciences - BC’s Innovation Future https://www.conversationslive.ca/ If you love communications and speech writing you'll gain valuable insights from Presidential SpeechWriting which I narrated. Here’s the link
Wed, May 03, 2023
May 5, 2023 Ep 450 - Fighting Cancer with CAR-T Cells Guest: Sarah Roth By Stuart McNish Cancer – there are more than 200 different types. The odds are high that you or someone you know will get cancer. It is an insidious disease; it can start almost anywhere in your body and spread. Stopping its spread is the work of cancer researchers all over the world and experts in British Columbia are developing breakthroughs. Recently a multi-site Phase-I clinical trial, launched by BC Cancer and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, of made-in-Canada chimeric antigen receptor T-cells demonstrated positive results. CAR-T cells are powerful new tools for treating cancer that are created by genetically modifying a person’s existing T-cells. These T-cells are being used to target CD19, a protein marker found on all B-cells in patients with leukemia and lymphoma. Phase-II will allow BC Cancer to produce the CAR-T cell product and run the trial for 20 patients in BC over the next two years. Dr. Brad Nelson, director of Deeley Research Centre, says, “Over the next several years, BC Cancer’s CAR-T cell program will expand beyond leukemia and lymphoma to create new and improved treatments for a wide spectrum of cancers.” Sarah Roth, the CEO of the BC Cancer Foundation, says, “The Deeley Research Centre in Victoria is a world pioneer in immunotherapy, harnessing the body’s own immune system to prevent, control and eliminate cancer – and has already revolutionized cancer care.” We invited Sarah Roth to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the many research projects underway in British Columbia that will help us defeat cancer. Join me May 16 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: Life Sciences - BC’s Innovation Future https://www.conversationslive.ca/
Mon, May 01, 2023
Ep 449 - Eight Deaths a Day Guest: Troy Clifford By Stuart McNish Eight people in British Columbia will die today from a drug overdose – eight people yesterday, eight the day before, eight the day before that, and so on. On March 22nd, BC’s Emergency Health Service responded to 205 overdose poisoning patients – “a new provincial record” says Troy Clifford, the Provincial President of the Ambulance Paramedics & Emergency Dispatchers of BC. He continues to say, “On April 2nd, BCEHS experienced the nineteenth consecutive day in a row where we attended to more than 100 overdose calls. It’s taking a toll on the system and putting paramedics at risk.” “Every single one of those calls for assistance brings with it tremendous risks to paramedics,” he says. “We’re first responders who encounter and adapt to a wide range of on-scene hazards at every overdose call. Paramedics, in addition to being medical professionals, need to be highly attuned to apparent and hidden threats [and] employ exceptional interpersonal skills and assertiveness, when needed in order to protect themselves.” “The working conditions are challenging,” says Clifford. “Paramedics face two types of hazards – immediate ones like uncapped needles and aggressive patients. Then there are the even more worrying ones like weapons, aggressive bystanders, and the threats associated with working in confined spaces, all of which undermine a paramedic's ability to be and feel safe.” We invited Troy Clifford the Provincial President of the Ambulance Paramedics & Emergency Dispatchers of BC to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the relentless toll drug poisoning is having on patients, the system, and paramedics. Join me May 16 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: Life Sciences - BC’s Innovation Future https://www.conversationslive.ca/ If you love communications and speech writing you'll gain valuable insights from Presidential SpeechWriting which I narrated. Here’s the link
Mon, May 01, 2023
Ep 448 - Space – The Final Food Frontier Guest: Prof. Mike Dixon By Stuart McNish Captain James T. Kirk starts “Star Trek” by saying, “Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore new worlds; to seek out new life and civilizations; to boldly go where no one has gone before!” Five years is a long time and packing five years of food would be impossible. While the writers of the series dealt with the production of food in a variety of ways – everything from coloured cubes to a protein resequencer that could replicate certain foods and an onboard hydroponic greenhouse to grow fruits and vegetables. The reality of producing food in space is extremely complex. And if we are planning three and more years in space missions, we need to learn how to grow it on the way and on whichever plant we land. At the University of Guelph, Professor Mike Dixon and a team of researchers have been tackling this challenge for 20 plus years, and Dixon says, “We can grow food – not all of the food we grow here on earth, but we can grow food.” That, he points out, is just the beginning. “Being in space means you have no choice. You have to have a zero environmental footprint – that means zero waste. The waste you produce has to be recycled and put back to work immediately. We can’t wait for nature because nature isn’t fast enough.” We invited Professor Michael Dixon to join us for a Conversation That Matters about growing food in space and what lessons we can apply to growing climate-smart food here. Join me May 16 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: Life Sciences - BC’s Innovation Future https://www.conversationslive.ca/ If you love communications and speech writing you'll gain valuable insights from Presidential SpeechWriting which I narrated. Here’s the link
Mon, May 01, 2023
Ep 447 - One Girl Can Guest: Natasha Questel By Stuart McNish “Every girl should have the opportunity to rise to her full potential,” says Natasha Questel, the CEO of One Girl Can, a British Columbia-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing assistance to some of the world’s most vulnerable girls. Questel adds, “Girls with high-potential deserve a chance to rise above extreme poverty and gender inequality.” As citizens of the world, we have a responsibility to aid others in reaching their full potential. Questel says, “One Girl Can is dedicated to educating, training and mentoring girls – to empower them to achieve their goals, earn a meaningful living and build better lives for themselves, their families and their communities.” One Girl Can is an organization that is built on three foundational pillars: “education, training and mentoring.” Questel notes, “I am a living example of what one girl can do given a chance. I came from humble beginnings in Trinidad – I went on to graduate from the Stanford Graduate School of Business LEAD program and ultimately became the President of Happy Planet.” We invited Natash Questel to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the mission of One Girl Can. Join me May 16 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: Life Sciences - BC’s Innovation Future https://www.conversationslive.ca/ If you love communications and speech writing you'll gain valuable insights from Presidential SpeechWriting which I narrated.
Mon, May 01, 2023
Ep 446 - Can data help at-risk youth? Guest: Bill Warburton By Stuart McNish Can “a scientific approach to addressing social issues using administrative data” improve outcomes in education, health, social services and crime? That is the hypothesis of a new paper published by four distinguished Canadian economists. The authors say there is a “relationship between measures of secondary educational attainment and indicators of poor outcome later in life. Poor outcomes are seen to primarily manifest among high school dropouts.” One of the authors of the paper, Bill Warburton, says that, “By using data, we can identify 2,000 students in a given year that are at extreme risk of having poor educational outcomes.” Warburton goes on to say, “The earlier we can identify these students, the earlier we can provide them with the specific resources they need to dramatically improve the likelihood of graduating from high school.” The paper boldly states the challenge: “At first blush, the solution seems clear: governments should invest in proven interventions early in children’s lives.” But Warburton says, “The political will needs to be there because, as a BC cabinet member pointed out, there is a deficiency in public trust, noting the very long time between investment and payoff.” We invited economist Bill Warburton to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the data and how we can use it to improve students' lives. Join me April 6 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall with Premier David Eby. https://www.conversationslive.ca/ If you love communications and speech writing you'll gain valuable insights from Presidential SpeechWriting which I narrated.
Mon, May 01, 2023
Ep 445 - Purpose and how it works Guest: Jade Simmons By Stuart McNish The world as you knew it has been upended. First, by the pandemic; and now emerging from lockdown, what you thought was going to be a return to your old life isn’t happening – and it's not going to. Jade Simmons knows all too well that life does not unfold the way you hope it will. She says, “You have to know what you want and where to find it.” Simmons says, “Finding purpose in life isn’t easy. It’s not a formula that you pick up on the internet and suddenly realize this is what my life is about. It takes work and it takes the right kind of work.” Simmons knows this – she is a highly-regarded concert pianist and sought-after professional speaker who, one day, said: "I need to shift my focus, I need to shake it up and find my true calling.” “People are leaving their jobs, changing careers, starting businesses and ministries, often taking bold leaps,” says Simmons. She continues, “I remixed my careers in classical music and professional speaking and I want to empower others to do the same.” We invited Jade Simmons, the number-one maverick in classical music, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about how to find freedom through finding purpose. Join me April 6 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall with Premier David Eby. If you love communications and speech writing you'll gain valuable insights from Presidential SpeechWriting which I narrated.
Mon, May 01, 2023
Ep 444 - Grey Zone Warfare Guest: Calvin Chrustie By Stuart McNish According to “On Track,'' the magazine published by the CDA (Conference of Defence Associations) Institute, “hybrid warfare,” also known as grey zone conflict or unrestricted warfare, is a real and present danger. “On Track” states that “these are just three terms used to describe the same phenomenon – multi-faceted attacks against a country that have serious implications for its national security and defence institutions. They may include military elements, but may also be mounted using cyber tools, public and commercial corruption, weaponization of legal systems, transnational organized crime, and disinformation campaigns, along with a host of other methods. Effective responses will demand an unprecedented level of cooperation between military, intelligence, cyber and other security experts in partnership with experts in the management of conflict in business, legal and public settings.” Critical risk expert Calvin Chrustie points out that FBI Director Christopher Wray stated, “The Chinese government is a serious threat to Western business. The Chinese government sees cyber as the pathway to cheat and steal. In addition to traditional and cyber enabled thievery, there are even more insidious tactics they use to essentially walk through your front door and rob you… by making investments and creating partnerships that position their proxies… They use elaborate shell games to disguise these efforts from foreign companies… including shutting off data that used to enable effective due diligence… A 2017 law allowed them to force Chinese employees in China to assist in Chinese intelligence operations.” We invited Calvin Chrustie, a critical risk consultant with a depth of experience in anti-terrorism and complex international investigations and intelligence operations, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the nefarious activities of countries that do not have Canada’s best interests at heart. Join me Mar 28 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: Climate Smart Ag - Raising Better Food? If you love communications and speech writing you'll gain valuable insights from Presidential SpeechWriting which I narrated.
Wed, March 15, 2023
Ep 443 - Monitoring the Ocean in Real-Time Guest: Dr. Scott Beatty By Stuart McNish The odds are good that you live on the coast. In Canada, according to Natural Resources Canada, 38.3 percent of us live within 20 kilometres of the coast. In the US, more than 52 percent live within miles of the coast. What happens on the waters that lap against our shores matters. According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, “we rely on our oceans for food, jobs, [and] clean air. Our social fabric is woven into the vast history of maritime and indigenous traditions.” What happens at sea is, however, a mystery. Key to understanding what is happening along the vast coastline is data – real-time data. Not just modelling or satellite imagery – real data gathered from the ocean and beamed up in real-time. Enter Victoria-based MarineLabs’ “CoastAware” ocean buoys that are now providing critical information to ships’ captains, coastal communities, port authorities and governments. Data that helps to ensure safe passage, data that helps ports react to changing weather, and data that ensures coastal communities have time to batten down the hatches in advance of storms and rogue waves. We invited Dr. Scott Beatty of MarineLabs to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the importance of real-time wind and wave data and the long-term insights it provides to coastal communities and the plan for changing climatic conditions. Join me Mar 28 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: Climate Smart Ag - Raising Better Food? If you love communications and speech writing you'll gain valuable insights from Presidential SpeechWriting which I narrated.
Wed, March 15, 2023
Ep 442 - What is Putin’s End Game? Guest: John Stufflebeem By Stuart McNish The one-year mark of the invasion of Ukraine has come and we’ve sailed past it with no end in sight. Vice Admiral (Ret) of the US Navy John Stufflebeem says, “Putin continues to ramp up pressure by withdrawing from the New START treaty, implying he's getting closer to going nuclear.” Stufflebeem says, “For as long as Putin remains in power, he will continue his ‘military operation’ of defending Russia and use it to work to exhaust and destroy American and NATO resolve and weapons.” Stufflebeem goes on to say, “The Russian leader is throwing many more bodies at the front than the allied forces have bullets to shoot back with.” As a result, Stufflebeem says, “There are two threats at work. First: Putin’s goal of breaking up NATO, which has the Polish government so nervous they will be next, that they’re offering to build a substantial US military base in Poland.” The second threat, Stufflebeem says, is in Asia: “Premier Xi of China is fully aware of the depletion of American armaments and he is calculating what the US resolve will be, should he move to annex Taiwan.” We invited retired Vice-Admiral and military historian John Stufflebeem to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the tense and fluid conflict in Ukraine that is slowly drawing the major powers into a proxy war between Western and Eastern centres of influence. Join me Mar 28 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: Climate Smart Ag - Raising Better Food? If you love communications and speech writing you'll gain valuable insights from Presidential SpeechWriting which I narrated.
Wed, March 15, 2023
Ep 441 - Our Digital Technology Supercluster Guest: Sue Paish In space, a supercluster forms massive structures of galaxies called filaments or supercluster complexes. Here in British Columbia, the Canadian digital supercluster was designed to build networks of “big and small tech companies to develop, scale and unleash digital technology breakthroughs,” says Sue Paish, the CEO of the Digital Technology Supercluster. The initiative is a joint Canadian government and member collective that was designed to bring together business, academia, community and government agencies to work on and solve some of our biggest challenges. Paish says, “We have more than 1100 members and growing, who are dedicated to advancing net-zero technologies, securing food supply chains, building a healthier Canada and developing a skilled workforce.” Since its inception, the digital supercluster has supported over 490 projects that are valued at more than $3.5 billion, a number that includes more than 80 COVID-19 response projects. In 2022, the federal government committed to investing another $750 through to 2028 in the five different innovation clusters. We invited Sue Paish of BC’s Digital Technology Supercluster to join us for a Conversation That Matters on the progress and challenges of developing a “Silicon Valley North.” Join me Mar 28 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: Climate Smart Ag - Raising Better Food? If you love communications and speech writing you'll gain valuable insights from Presidential SpeechWriting which I narrated.
Wed, March 15, 2023
Ep 440 - Surviving the Tech Layoffs Guest: Brian Pulliam Tech layoffs have been making the headlines. The numbers are staggering, according to TrueUp’s tech layoff tracker. In 2022, through more than 1,400 rounds of layoffs, 220,000 people lost their jobs. And the layoffs continued through January this year, where another 107,000 people were let go. Then in February, the layoffs carried on, and another 35,000 people were shown the door. The emotional and financial impact is devastating, especially considering the unprecedented growth in the sector between 2008 and now. People hired in 2009 experienced “eleven years of summer,” says Brian Pulliam of Refactor Coaching. He goes on to say, “Don’t lament the loss of your job despite the punch in the gut that it feels like. Refocus and find a new and better path.” For some, that may seem insensitive. But Pulliam explains, “For many in the tech sector, they are in golden handcuffs. They may not like their jobs, but the money is so incredible [that] they feel handcuffed to it, rather than pursue a career that is more in keeping with their likes and values. Getting fired with severance can [be] – and often – is a gift.” We invited Brian Pulliam to join us for a Conversation That Matters about how to survive a tech industry layoff. Join me Mar 28 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: Climate Smart Ag - Raising Better Food? If you love communications and speech writing you'll gain valuable insights from Presidential SpeechWriting which I narrated. Here’s the link
Tue, February 21, 2023
Ep 439 - A Recipe for a Life Well-Lived Guest: Dr. Doug Clement “May you live long and prosper” (“dif-tor-heh”) is an idiom from a Jewish term and is popularly attributed to Commander Spock of Star Trek. While that may be so, it is also an apt description of the life of Dr. Doug Clement. “The questions,” asks Clement, “is how do you do both? Live long and prosper?” The average life expectancy in British Columbia is just north of 82 years. “So living long isn’t the issue,” says Clement, “but living long isn’t a guarantee [that] you will live well, especially when you cross the 60-year mark.” According to Clement, there are a plethora of factors that contribute to wellness. He says they include “physical and mental fitness, an ongoing sense of purpose and contribution, a sufficient amount of money to alleviate financial stress, and happiness.” Clement also points to the findings of the Grant Study of Adult Development, a Harvard program that tracked the lives of 238 people between 1938 and 2000, which states, “The surprising finding is that our relationships and how happy we are in our relationships has a powerful influence on our health.” We invited Dr. Doug Clement to join us for a Conversation That Matters about his recipe for a life well-lived. Join me Feb 21 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: Can we solve the Rental Housing Puzzle? If you love communications and speech writing you'll gain valuable insights from Presidential SpeechWriting which I narrated. Here’s the link
Tue, February 21, 2023
Ep 438 - Acupuncture Guest: Dr Linda Rapson Renowned acupuncturist Dr. Linda Rapson was the 2021 co-winner of the Dr. Rogers Prize for Excellence in Complementary & Alternative Medicine. The $250,000 prize is the largest of its kind and available only to work conducted in Canada. Dr. Rapson is an appropriate recipient. Throughout her career, she has battled the establishment. From the time she entered medical school in 1965 as one of only 13 women, she has broken down barriers and, as stated on the Dr. Rogers Prize website, “swam uphill developing unfailing courage and a thick skin to ensure that her creative and caring view would reach the conservative medical community.” In 1974, after years of compassion for her patients who were suffering from acute and chronic pain, Dr. Rapson entered the practice of acupuncture. Once again, she was a groundbreaker. She has advocated for patients' access to acupuncture, gone to battle with regulators, and worked with chiropractic, naturopathic and acupuncture professional organizations and associations. Dr. Rapson has applied acupuncture treatment in hospices for palliative care and initiated groundbreaking HIV/AIDS treatments. She is currently introducing acupuncture as a treatment for people facing opioid and drug addiction. We invited Dr. Linda Rapson to join us for a Conversation That Matters about acupuncture and the role of complementary treatment in health. Join me Feb 21 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: Can we solve the Rental Housing Puzzle? If you love communications and speech writing you'll gain valuable insights from Presidential SpeechWriting which I narrated. Here’s the link
Tue, February 21, 2023
Ep 437 - The Cold & Flu Rescue Kit Guest: Dr Samuel Gutman You feel a tickle in your throat; you notice your child snuffling; or your older parent is zapped of energy. You can’t help but wonder: COVID? Or what other respiratory disease is going to work inside your and your loved ones’ bodies? “We are all hyper-aware, just having endured three years of COVID”, says Dr. Samuel Gutman. “I was an ER doc who, for 3 decades, saw the look of fear on the faces of people who flooded emergency departments looking for answers.” With more than six million Canadians who can’t get a family doc, patients have few choices to find answers. Gutman says, “So they come to the ER and, in doing so, they are creating another form of congestion – hours-long waits to see a doctor. And who can blame them?” It’s not just COVID. The list of fears includes Strep A, Influenza A and B, and now RSVs – all of which are sending Canadian families to the ER. “I’ve treated patients who have waited more than 12 hours,'' says Gutman. “It’s heartbreaking.” Out of compassion and necessity, Gutman and a team of other healthcare professionals went to work to develop a kit that puts the power to diagnose what is ailing you, your child, or your parents in your hands – an at-home tool called the “Cold & Flu Rescue Kit,” which provides accurate and quick test results and is backed up online and over-the-phone. The benefits are many and include knowing what is the appropriate course of action. We invited Dr. Samuel Gutman to join us for a Conversation That Matters about tackling one of our biggest health care fears, not knowing what is wrong, and whether the government should be providing you with this valuable tool. Join me Feb 21 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: Can we solve the Rental Housing Puzzle? If you love communications and speech writing you'll gain valuable insights from Presidential SpeechWriting which I narrated. Here’s the link
Tue, February 21, 2023
Ep 436 - Personalized Cancer Genomics Guest: Marco Marra Unlocking the genomic code of cancer – all types of cancer – is an ongoing research endeavour that, when completed, will be a great leap forward. POG is a BC Cancer, Genome BC and Terry Fox Research Institute program designed to offer personalized oncogenomic treatment to cancer patients. The program is a clinical research initiative that started in 2012. The aim is to decode the genome – the entire DNA and RNA inside the cell – of each patient’s cancer and provide that information in a way that can be a part of treatment planning and decision-making. The POG program has and is working. Since its beginning, data sharing has been recognized as a fundamentally important component that supports and enhances local, national and international research which drives innovation and science in cancer research. We invited Dr Marco Marra of BC Cancer to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the final frontier in defeating cancer. Join me Feb 21 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall: Can we solve the Rental Housing Puzzle? If you love communications and speech writing you'll gain valuable insights from Presidential SpeechWriting which I narrated. Here’s the link
Tue, February 21, 2023
Ep 435 - British Columbia’s Forestry Woes, Explained Guest: John Brink In December 2021, Vancouver Sun columnist Vaughn Palmer penned a startling piece about British Columbia’s forest industry. His headline read, “BC forest companies expanding at a rapid pace, but not at home.” That means BC-based forest companies were and continue to invest heavily in wood product production everywhere except the home province they come from. The flow of forestry capital out of BC is accelerating, including investments made by Canfor, which last year invested $420 million to acquire Alberta-based Millar Western Forest Products. And the rush to get out of BC continues to spiral upward; on the day of this recording, Canfor announced the closing of a pulp line in Prince George, terminating 300 jobs. It’s not all bad news. John Brink, the founder of the Brink Group company, is a successful entrepreneur who came to Canada with the proverbial 25 cents in his pocket. He went to work at a sawmill north in the 1960s. He set his sights on owning a wood products manufacturing company. He succeeded and continues to thrive despite the troubles the industry faces. Brink says, “It was my dream and it is my passion to ensure forestry products and jobs remain a vital part of the BC economy.” We invited John Brink to join us for a Conversation That Matter about how we got to the current state of forestry in BC. Join me Feb 21 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall examines the Rental Housing Paradox If you love communications and speech writing you'll gain valuable insights from Presidential SpeechWriting which I narrated. Here’s the link
Tue, February 21, 2023
Ep 434 - The State of Salmon in British Columbia Guest: Jason Hwang Salmon are one of the most magnificent species that you rarely get to see, especially when they go to sea. The migratory route from freshwater to the open expanse of the Gulf of Alaska and then back again is unparalleled. No other species travels these great distances without an overhead view – salmon travel to and from their spawning grounds, guided by some internal sonar that is remarkably precise. Jason Hwang says, “They swim thousands of kilometres and return to the exact same spot. We still don’t fully understand how they do it. It is truly remarkable.” Over the past 100 years, their numbers have crashed. We know many of the reasons why – spawning ground disruption or destruction, coastal eel grass depletion, predators, and the science also points to impacts from open-pen fish farms. Then there is the mystery of what happens when they head out to the open ocean. Add in a changing climate and the impact is devastating on British Columbia’s salmon populations. Despite the bad news, some salmon populations are showing signs of resilience. Hwang says, “It’s impressive how salmon are able to adapt.” He goes on to say, “It’s important to note they need us to make responsible choices about salmon habitat.” We invited Jason Hwang, the Vice President of Salmon at the Pacific Salmon Foundation, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the state of salmon in BC. Join me Jan 17 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall with Ian Anderson formerly of Transmountain, Chief Crystal Smith, Haisla Nation, Mark Jacquard, SFU, Ross Beaty, Alterra Power, and Fortis CEO Roger Dall'Antonia. If you love communications and speech writing you'll gain valuable insights from Presidential SpeechWriting which I narrated. Here’s the link
Tue, February 21, 2023
Ep 433 - Unlocking the Magic of Probiotics Guest - Dr. Gregor Reid In 1983, Dr. Gregor Reid had a wild and crazy idea. He pondered, “Is lactobacilli bacteria good for your health?” It was an idea that was years ahead of its time. Back then, probiotics didn’t exist. No one thought of or considered the microbiome – in fact, the term microbiome didn’t exist. Dr. Reid faced ridicule: “Oh, I was called a whole host of names.” Dr. Reid looked over the horizon and around the corner of history, and foresaw the use of beneficial microbes to treat and prevent disease. He has been proven to be right and, in doing so, provided a strong vision for the evolution of the field. From what was an idea, a worldwide industry has evolved. As of 2021, the probiotics field is estimated to generate more than $60 billion annually and it has spanned the development of multiple products that are available and in use around the world. We invited Dr. Gregor Reid, the 2021 Dr. Rogers Prize co-winner, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about where the future of probiotics will take us. Join me Jan 17 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall with Ian Anderson formerly of Transmountain, Chief Crystal Smith, Haisla Nation, Mark Jacquard, SFU, Ross Beaty, Alterra Power, and Fortis CEO Roger Dall'Antonia. If you love communications and speech writing you'll gain valuable insights from Presidential SpeechWriting which I narrated. Here’s the link
Tue, February 21, 2023
Dec 30, 2022 Ep 432 - A Wicked Problem Guest: Douglas Todd In his book, “White Angel,” John MacLachlan Gray describes the Vancouver of the 1920s as “a dirty, smelly, corrupt hellhole.” Anyone who passes through the Downtown Eastside of the city today might wonder if he was referring to 2020 – an unfortunate consideration because, in 2008, then-mayor Gregor Roberstson promised to end homelessness. When Robertson left office, the Vancouver Sun reported that “tent-city organizers said that they ‘savour Gregor’s resignation and the humiliating end of Vision Vancouver.” When he left office, there were 2,181 homeless people in Vancouver. Today, it is difficult to know the exact number because for the second year in a row, the City of Vancouver cancelled its homeless count. No matter the number, the situation is worse. As Douglas Todd, a senior Vancouver Sun journalist, wrote in a recent opinion piece, “It’s impossible to find someone who doesn’t feel compassion for the residents of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.” With that said, the situation gets worse year over year. Todd asks, “Why has so much philanthropy and community activism – and arguably billions of dollars of government and charitable money – had such minimal effect? Why does compassion appear to be failing?” We invited Douglas Todd to join us for a Conversation That Matters about how we got to now in the Downtown Eastside and how to figure out where to go. Join me Jan 17 for Conversations Live - A Vancouver Sun Town Hall with Ian Anderson formerly of Transmountain, Chief Crystal Smith, Haisla Nation, Mark Jacquard, SFU, Ross Beaty, Alterra Power, and Fortis CEO Roger Dall'Antonia. If you love communications and speech writing you'll gain valuable insights from Presidential SpeechWriting which I narrated.
Fri, February 17, 2023
Ep 431 - The Magic, Mystery and Power of Words Guest: Jonathan Berkowitz By Stuart McNish Words are magical things. Words, when spoken out loud in performance, can be and often are like music. When rhythm, timber, pitch and pace are spoken aloud, they are like notes of music. Words – whether spoken, read or thought – ignite a complex series of neural circuits that bring meaning to words. Words can be and are fun unto themselves. Pulling together a combination of words – like “cantankerous old curmudgeon” – oddly and in a contradictory way, is fun to do. Just ask Jonathan Berkowitz, the author of “The Whirl of Words and Tales from the Word Guy,” who says, “Oh yes, they are!” His love of words, he says, “comes from a home where “life was salted with stories and peppered with puns, each delivered with relish.” He goes on to say, “Words are a part of every language.” For the purposes of this piece, the focus is on English, a global and welcoming language. Berkowitz, in a chapter of his book, called “The Birds and The Bees: Where do words come from?”, said the answer is, “English words come from everywhere, they are created, emerge, are adopted and liberated.” We invited Jonathan Berkowitz to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the magic, the mystery, and power of words.
Fri, February 17, 2023
Ep 430 - How we can Save Plastic Guest: Bob Masterson Plastics are ubiquitous. You can’t go anywhere without them. Your kitchen, for example, is filled with them and most likely you don’t realize how much a part of your life they are. Turn on a light switch – the switch, the face plate, the coating around the wires are all made from plastic. Turn on the tap and drain the sink, and it is plastic that delivers the water and takes it away. Not to mention, all of the wraps on foods that are in your fridge or pantry. And then there are the drink containers and sauces. Bob Masterson, the President and CEO of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada says, “The overwhelming majority of plastic products last for decades because they were designed that way.” He also says, “Far too much plastic waste ends up in landfills and as litter and in water – and the industry is committed to reducing that waste.” The industry association has launched a campaign working with producers, recyclers and organizations to repurpose plastic called “Save Plastic.” Masterson says, “It is a call to action – a call for a meaningful change.” He goes on to say, “Almost $8 billions’ worth of plastic waste is sent to landfills – waste that can be recuperated.” We invited Bob Masterson of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada to join us for a Conversation That Matters about turning plastics into a renewable resource.
Fri, February 17, 2023
Ep 429 - Sounding the Ambulance Alarm Guest: Troy Clifford By Stuart McNish Imagine that a loved one in your family has fallen and hurt themselves. They can’t move. You call 9-1-1 and ask for an ambulance to be sent to your home – at least, that’s what you thought was the best way to care for your cherished family member. “Now, you can’t help but wonder if an ambulance will arrive,” says Troy Clifford, the Provincial President of the Ambulance Paramedics and Dispatchers of British Columbia union. From the streets of Vancouver to Valemount and everywhere in between, calling for an ambulance and having one arrive in a timely and life saving manner is becoming iffy. Clifford says, “It’s the service that is on life support and we’re sounding the alarm.” Simply put, paramedics are in the business of helping people when they are having one of the worst days of their lives. Clifford says, “It’s the system that is failing at the bureaucratic and operational levels; it’s not because our members can’t treat patients.” The union says over 30% of staff are either off work getting treatment for PTSD or still working while traumatized and seeking treatment. The union is asking for public support, by asking you to go to SoundingTheAlarm.ca. We invited Troy Clifford of the BC Ambulance Paramedics and Dispatchers Union to join us for a Conversation That Matter about one of our most precious public safety and healthcare services.
Fri, February 17, 2023
Ep 428 - HIV/AIDS is still a Pandemic Guest: Dr Julio Montaner By Stuart McNish In 1996, Julio Montaner hosted the Vancouver International AIDS Conference and, at the same time, shared the HAART antiretroviral treatment that he and a team of committed scientists were pioneering in Vancouver. Since then, he has pioneered the concept of Treatment as Prevention (TasP). Dr Montaner was the first person to advocate for the expansion of HAART coverage to curb the impact on the HIV/AIDS pandemic and to decrease progression to AIDS and death. Dr Montaner says, “It’s more than that – the antiretroviral treatment is also decreasing HIV transmission”. So effective have been Dr Montaners efforts that TasP has been implemented with great success in British Columbia and it is progressively been embraced in countries around the world; in 2013, it was fully incorporated into the World Health Organization’s Consolidated ARV Guidelines. We invited Dr Julio Montaner to join us for a Conversation That Matter about HIV/AIDS, where we are in treatment, where we need to go and what roadblocks still need to be removed.
Fri, February 17, 2023
Ep 427 - Working with Artificial Intelligence Guest: Thomas Davenport By Stuart McNish “The world does not lack for management ideas [sic]. Thousands of researchers, practitioners, and other experts produce tens of thousands of articles, books, papers, posts, and podcasts each year. But only a scant few promise to truly move the needle on practice, and fewer still date to reach into the future of what management will become. It is this rare breed of idea – meaningful to practice, grounded in evidence, and built for the future – that we seek to present,” says Robert Holland, the Editor-in-chief of MIT Sloan Management Review. “Working with AI, Real Stories of Human-Machine Collaboration” endeavours to show that the needle can and will move through the addition of artificial intelligence to the complex work of today’s world. Thomas H. Davenport, one of the co-authors of the book says, “There is no shortage of commentary on what artificial intelligence will do to human jobs. It’s easy to find a multiplicity of predictions, prescriptions, or denunciations. It is not so easy, however, to find descriptions of how people work day-to-day with smart machines.” We invited Thomas Davenport to join us for a Conversation That Matters about our emerging and ever-expanding relationship with a technology that scares a wide range of people, including Elon Musk and Bill Gates.
Fri, February 17, 2023
Ep 426 - Can Farming Survive Gov Policy? Guest: Kritjan Hebert By Stuart McNish Farming is a risky business and it’s even riskier when bad government policies undermine good farming and agricultural practices. Kristjan Hebert says, “I can deal with a bad year, a bad crop, and even Mother Nature, but I can’t insure against bad policy.” He is speaking to the federal government’s plan to cut back on the amount of nitrogen Canada emits by use of fertilizers. That plan would see a 30% reduction in emissions from fertilizers – a plan that farmers warn will result in a dramatic reduction in food production coupled with a dramatic increase in the cost of food. Kristjan Hebert says, “Villainizing farmers is counterproductive because farmers are committed to protecting the environment.” He points to the fact that farmers invest heavily in scientific practices in soil testing, crop rotation, nutrient management, and chemical applications. Adding to that, during the crop rotation process many farmers grow pulses that naturally return nitrogen to the soil. Hebert says, “It all adds up to a care for the land and the environment and farmers do that because the land is their lifeblood.” We invited Kristjan Hebert to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the myriad ways in which agriculture benefits the environment and how farmers are constantly striving to improve best practices.
Fri, February 17, 2023
Ep 425 - Is Breast Cancer Research Flawed? Guest: Paula Gordon By Stuart McNish If you are a woman in your 40s, don’t worry about a mammogram. At least that’s what Canadian research has been saying since the 1980s. Dr. Paula Gordon, a renowned radiology researcher and clinical professor at the University of British Columbia, says, “The research is wrong!” In a commentary paper that was published in the Journal of Medical Screening, Gordon and colleagues point out the Canadian National Breast Screening Study classified women incorrectly. Gordon says, “Two trial groups were created – one group where women were given a mammogram and other not. The intent was to determine if a mammogram in women under 40 would reduce the likelihood of death. Here’s the problem, according to Gordon: “All of the women had a breast examination before the program started. And to complicate matters, the women with existing breast lumps were placed in the study group that would receive a mammogram.” The result was that the mammogram group saw a higher mortality rate. The women were supposed to be randomly selected, but they weren’t. As a result, the disproportionate death rate diminished the apparent value of a mammogram. Those results led many provincial governments to not fund nor recommend mammograms for women under 50. We invited Dr. Paula Gordon to join us for a Conversation That Matters about providing women with the best possible information about their health.
Fri, February 17, 2023
Ep 424 - YVR - Gateway Airport Guest: Tamara Vrooman By Stuart McNish Anyone who passes through Vancouver’s YVR airport recognizes that the facility – like the city, the region and the province it services – is beautiful. So many other airports around the world are utilitarian structures designed to move people with no regard for the aesthetics that make people feel as if they are in a special place. Tamara Vrooman, the CEO of YVR agrees: “It’s spectacular!” YVR is not only beautiful – it's functional as well. Tourism and cargo facilitate 20.2 billion dollars in total economic output and 10.4 billion in total GDP, along with 1.4 billion in revenue to the government. More than 26,000 people work at the airport and another 126,000 indirect jobs are linked to the airport. In other words, YVR is a big deal. The airport is also a vital part of British Columbia’s role as a gateway between North America and Asia, and North America and Europe. Going forward, the airport’s 2037 Master Plan envisions “strengthening the non-passenger side of the business by putting land assets into productive use in cargo and logistics and activating digital opportunities.” We invited Tamara Vrooman, the CEO of YVR, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the airport’s role as a diverse global hub.
Fri, February 17, 2023
Ep 423 - Canada’s Gateway Port Guest: Duncan Wilson By Stuart McNish Dock workers, truck drivers, forklift operators, tug boat deck hands, ships pilots, and crane operators rarely make the news. In fact, the only time we hear about them is when, in rare cases, something stops working the way it does 99.9% of the time. Duncan Wilson, the VP of Environment and External Affairs at the Port of Vancouver says, “These are the people whose work makes our lives work. They are the lifeblood of the country, the province, the region and our city and they are so good at their jobs that sometimes that gets forgotten.” While their work has an impact in Europe, Asia and North America, it is work that doesn’t sparkle the way high tech does, so it is easily overlooked. Wilson says, “The Port of Vancouver is a shining jewel on the west coast of North America. No other port is as diversified nor has a gateway network like Vancouver.” The Port is so vital to Canada that it generates close to 1% of the national GDP. The Port employs more than 40,000 people and it is linked to more than 100,000 supply chain jobs. We invited Duncan Wilson to join us for a Conversation that Matters about the role and value of our gateway port.
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