WILD BOAR + LIVE MUSIC + LOCAL BEER + SUNSHINE = ONE ALBERTA VIEWS INTERN VERY GRATEFUL FOR HIS JOB.

The good people of Alley Kat Brewery and Slow Food Edmonton demonstrated Sunday how delicious Slow Food can be at the 4th annual Wild Boar and Beer BBQ. 

Mind you the raspberry mead did seem to be moving quickly …

Alberta Views was present promoting its summer issue featuring a Local Food Guide of farms, farmers’ markets and restaurants. Just look at all those happy beautiful people with free copies. I like to think their smiles are the result of our engaging journalism and not just numerous samplings of beer. 

 The 'beer' component of the Wild Boar and Beer Festival.

Neil from Alley Kat Brewery serving up wild boar  from Hog Wild.

And then there was none ...

A pretty darn good home-made mustard.

A pretty darn good band, too.

 (Why can't every day be Wild Boar and Beer day? Sigh ...)

Happy new Alberta Views readers ...

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This? THIS? This is what all the fuss is about?

Talk about milking it – this Alberta Milk ad appeared in July’s Alberta Views, leaving readers of CBC news to debate human rights in Alberta until the cows come home. The ad features three Hutterians from a colony near Viking, AB. 

If I may say, that’s the REAL story: that Viking has made semi-national news. There is nothing new about photography in, on or about a Hutterite colony. That milk’s been out of the cow for some time now. (See Alberta Views’ stunning photo-essay in our January 2009 issue.)

Alberta Views January-February 2009 Cover

For the heck of it, some comments skimmed off the top to show an assortment of Alberta views.

• jmgall wrote: I find it very interesting that they refuse to have their pictures taken for drivers licenses, but get their pictures taken for other things.

• Jaydude777 wrote: Jeesh! Sure didn't take the Anti-Religious Thought Police long to show up. 

• roundjohn wrote: Don’t be too critical of the Hutterites. We could learn a hell of a lot from these people.

• AB RALPH wrote: Hypocrisy at its best. Do these men have their pictures on their driver's licenses. Just wondering? Again you make any contention you want and find some religious statement to back it up.

• mkconnie wrote: Why so angry? Can we not accept our fellow citizens and their right to their beliefs, just as we so strongly (on this site) promote ours? How does a Hutterite not having a photo taken affront you so personally? Chill. Peace out.
  

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Coming soon to a farmers’ market near you!

Alberta Views will be popping up at farmers’ markets across the province this summer. Most markets function on a ‘make it, bake it or grow it in Alberta’ proviso, so its fitting because Alberta Views is an independent and homegrown Alberta magazine, and it’s trying to grow. (Baking it is not advisable.) 

Boy, Alberta Views at farmers’ markets – what’s next, FARMERS writing articles in the magazine? Well, yes.

The July-August issue features an Alberta farmer, Kris Vester of  Blue Mountain Biodynamic, talking about “the most radical work a young person can undertake” – growing local food for local people. You’ll also find our Local Food Guide with almost 200 farms, restaurants and farmers’ markets in Alberta where you can find local food and see when it’s in season. And – I won’t spoil it for you if you haven’t already read – but this issue is all about finding brilliant and sustainable solutions to food, energy and development in Alberta.

Thank you everyone who came out last Saturday to the Red Deer Farmers’ Market and stopped by, especially those who picked up a copy (or subscription) of the magazine or collected on my offer of a free cribbage lesson. There are now 12 new readers of Alberta Views and three new crib players. The world is indeed a better place.

Also a great big thanks to Tim Van Horn Photography for taking this picture.

See you this summer,

Peter

(Intern)

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Come Sail Away – Let’s Make the Best of Tailings Ponds!

This Letter to the Editor appeared in the Edmonton Journal concerning Alberta’s vast square-kilometerage of oilsands tailings ponds. Donna Rurka in Lloydminster, AB brought this photo caption typo to our attention. Thanks Donna!

However, journalist to journalist, we naturally assume the Journal intended to use the term ‘sailings ponds’ and the real error is not in spelling but, in fact, the omission of a sailboat. The Journal thus raises a nifty and ingenious solution that at 130 sq. km – larger than Sylvan Lake, Moose Lake and Beaver Lake combined – maybe we should start using these cesspits as sailing ponds.

 

Look for multiple award-winning journalist Chris Turner’s article on micro-generation and how to take power into your own hands in the upcoming July-August issue of Alberta Views magazine.

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SLED ISLAND - The morning after ...

Indeed, there will be many a Calgarian waking up this a.m. with a shiny pink bracelet and subscription to Alberta Views – 62 to be exact.

A mighty big thanks to all 62 of you lovely people for stopping by our Alberta Views table last night at the Broken City. The Alberta Showcase (feat. Robin Hunter, Rural Alberta Advantage, Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir and Ramblin’ Ambassadors) was rootin’ tootin’ – and we can tell from the 62 almost incoherently-written addresses this morning that people had a lot of fun.

Enjoy your five free issues (which will begin in a few days) and if you like us, please don't feel weird about calling sometime ...

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SLED ISLAND

(Between the two of us, you must postpone your wedding day.)

>

I’m sorry to say whatever plans you have this weekend you must cancel them.

Call your boss, your dentist, your fiancé – whoever! – and cancel that business meeting, root canal, wedding – whatever! Don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll understand. Maybe not your fiancé …

Trust us, if you’re not at Sled Island, and in particular Broken City for the Alberta Showcase Thursday night, you will live always with profound regret. If you need more convincing than that, I’ve got five un-debatable reasons right here. 

The bands Thursday night, June 25, at The Broken City:

- Robin Hunter

- The Rural Alberta Advantage

- Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir

- Ramblin’ Ambassadors

And as a bonus:

- Me! I will be at front door jotting down your address because price of admission to Sled Island includes a five-issue subscription to Alberta Views.

How could you not want to attend this? See you there! (Apologies in advance to any spurned fiancés out there.)

Peter

(AV Intern)
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Alberta Views goes to Lilac Fest

Obama said it: “If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress.”

And, we at Alberta Views should add: If you keep walking down said path, ie. Calgary’s 4th St., and you’re willing to stop at our booth during Lilac Fest, well then you’ll REALLY make some progress.

Yes, Lilac Fest was a scribblin’ good time for all those who stopped by our Alberta Views booth to jot down, or in many cases just shout obscenities from across the crowd, about what they would do if elected Premier.

Associate Editor Evan Osenton and Circulation Manager Beth Ed (below) display what a day’s worth of dry-erase engaged citizenry looks like. The staff of AV logged an entire festival day of work (equal to 1,001 regular days) and for this we thank everyone. Poor Evan appears to have been in the sun too long …

Look for us this summer as our booth pops up at festivals across the province. Next stop: Sled Island!

Please check back for updates and political hilarity.
Peter
AV Intern
(Click for a larger image)


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Small Magazine Wins Big Award

Alberta Views won Magazine of the Year at the 32nd annual National Magazine Awards in Toronto on Friday night.

The judges celebrated Alberta Views as “packaged so compellingly that it commands universal attention.” They added: “It is an impassioned and authentic voice [and] is defining what idea-driven, socially driven magazines should be.” Publisher Jackie Flanagan accepted the award, noting that misconceptions about her home province continue to be corrected because of Alberta Views.

Writer Chris Turner won a Gold Award in the Best Essay category for his story about Alberta’s proposed nuclear power plant (The Big Decision) in the October 2008 issue of Alberta Views. Raymond Biesinger was shortlisted for Best Spot Illustration for his artwork accompanying Alberta Views’ popular Numbers page. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees. A tip of the hat to Alberta writers Chris Koentges , winning an impressive 2 Gold and 2 Silver awards and Kris Demeanor for his award, Best New Magazine Writer.

“We’re not the only Albertans who won,” said Evan Osenton, Alberta Views’ Associate Editor. “This award recognizes the hundreds of writers, academics, photographers, artists, citizens and activists who contribute to the magazine. This province simply oozes creativity and intellect; Alberta Views gets to showcase it.”

From June 10 to 17, we are celebrating by offering a subscription to Canada’s Magazine of the Year at 20% off the regular price! To subscribe to 10 issues for just $25, go to our subscription page and enter the promo code: Huzzah!
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June Issue Now on Newsstands

Citizen Bloggers
By Dave Cournoyer
Online social media and networks provide new ways for Albertans to get political. Welcome to Citizenship 2.0.
This feature is now available online.

The Tomes, They Are a-Changin'
By George Melnyk
Local books are more vital—and more threatened—than ever. How Alberta's publishers are meeting the digital age.

Double Life
By Maurice Yacowar
Roy Farran was a local hero—a mentor and newspaper publisher who became Solicitor General of Alberta. He also had a hidden past.

Mr. Tree
By Jeremy Klaszus
"One question gnaws at me as my Opapa recalls his happy childhood in Germany: How much did you know?" The final instalment of a special three-part feature.
Part one and two are now online.

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Painting the Province Green(ish)

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, we were nominated for more awards (as you might know from a previous post).

Evan, our editor was nominated for a Western Magazine Award for his article, Painting the Province Green. Much has changed since he penned that piece only a year or so ago. George Read is no longer the leader, Joe Anglin has taken the party in a new direction and Edwin Erickson has left (for Greener pastures?).

Another hat tip goes out to Daveberta for this post. You must read the comments on his post. It's a who's who of Green politics hashing their issues out. The original post was about a letter or an accounting, an air clearing, a defence or maybe an invective penned by David Crowe, former CFO for the Alberta Greens.

Happy Friday!

Beth
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Will the Real Alberta Please Stand Up?

Film Screening at the Royal Alberta Museum, Saturday, June 6 at 1 pm in the Museum Theatre

What does Alberta represent to you? Setting out to define the real soul of his home province, filmmaker Geo Takach meets oodles of Albertan icons and keen observers from coast to coast, and paints a fast-paced, funny and surprising portrait of the province that people love to pigeonhole. Will the Real Alberta Please Stand Up? has its television premiere on Friday, June 12 at 7 pm on City TV stations across Canada.

Geo’s expanded account of his findings is in the May 2009 issue of Alberta Views, now available online.

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Martha & Henry's New Friends

Props to daveberta for an excellent find yesterday.

The May issue of Alberta Views features a story by Sheila Pratt about severely normal Rimbey couple Martha and Henry who popped up during the Klein era to represent the interests of "regular folks" in Alberta.

Now the Nova Scotia PC's have created Tom and Linda Risk in an attempt to do the same. They've even given them their own facebook accounts.

You can read Dave's post here.

Beth
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