Speaker List

Chief Executive Officer, Ken Keelor

Ken joined Calgary Co-op in 2014. His background in the retail food sector spans 24 years across merchandising and marketing through to private label procurement and global sourcing. Ken provides overall leadership to the organization by developing and ensuring the implementation of strategic direction and business plans for attaining corporate, financial and operational objectives.

Coun. Jeff Davison, who led city negotiations on the deal, said the arena was part of a larger strategy to revitalize Calgary's downtown in order to compete to bring big business to the city.

"What we are trying to achieve is looking at how do you successfully build an events centre within an entertainment and cultural district," Davison said on the show. "To my knowledge, we don't have any studies out there that tell us these districts can be or can't be successful. That's really where the execution and city-building comes in to leverage onto the facility you're trying to create."

Gus Yaki’s knowledge, energy and dedication have inspired countless Albertans, Canadians and individuals around the world. Gus attributes his love of nature to the three-mile walks to and from school as a child. Inspired by a bird guide given to him by one of his first teachers, Gus would pore his way through this book to find descriptions matching the birds he saw on his commutes.

Today, Gus can be found leading curious minds on Nature Calgary field trips. He has taught hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals how to better observe the nature in their own backyards. Known for his inexhaustible knowledge and infamous one-liners, Gus’ passion for birding and love for nature is something he still strives to share.

Since 1993, Gus has been making the most of Calgary’s boreal, prairie, foothills, alpine and aspen parkland regions, as he says they make for the most ideal bird watching. Gus has written a number of articles and continues to lead a number of birding and botanist events throughout the year, encouraging participants to give back to a number of environmental causes, including NCC.

As members of NCC’s Leaders in Conservation (LIC) and Conservation Volunteers programs, Gus and his partner Aileen serve as outstanding ambassadors and supporters of NCC. Not only are they active and committed LIC members, both Gus and Aileen have become true leaders through the nature walks and birding events that have helped to raise awareness and funding for NCC.

Gus serves as an inspiration to the members of NCC’s Alberta Region with his boundless knowledge and ability to truly engage, connect and teach almost everyone he meets.

The Field of Crosses Memorial Project

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The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra is a pillar of Calgary’s vibrant arts community and since 1955, has grown to be one of Canada’s most celebrated live music ensembles. Each Season, the CPO presents classical masterworks, pop favourites, bold collaborations, and cutting-edge new works. Led by Music Director Rune Bergmann, the CPO consistently attracts world renowned guest artists and dynamic conductors. The Orchestra welcomes over 100,000 visitors annually and, in 2017, launched its live-stream initiative — an immersive, digital concert experience for audiences around the world.

At the start of the 2017/2018 Season, the CPO welcomed a new era of leadership with Maestro Rune Bergmann stepping into the role as Music Director after a decade of leadership under Grammy and Emmy Award-winning conductor Roberto Minczuk.

Norwegian conductor Rune Bergmann is considered among today’s most talented Scandinavian conductors. His elegant interpretations and reputation as an inspiring and profound musician continue to attract the attention of orchestras around the world. He has been Principal Guest Conductor of Lithuania’s Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra since 2013 and Artistic Director of Norway’s innovative Fjord Cadenza Festival since its inception in 2010. Maestro Bergmann enters this role with prominent vision to showcase the CPO on the world stage.

The CPO was created in the 1955 merger of the Alberta Philharmonic and the Calgary Symphony. Performing in Calgary’s Grand Theatre to a small but enthusiastic audience at first, the Calgary Philharmonic gained wider attention in 1957 with the completion of its first home, the Jubilee Auditorium. As the audience grew and public acclaim heightened, in 1985 the Calgary Philharmonic moved to its permanent home in Arts Commons’ (formerly EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts) Jack Singer Concert Hall, one of North America’s most acoustically acclaimed venues.

Stuart Cullum is an executive leader with experience in private industry as well as the finance, post-secondary and not-for-profit sectors. He is currently President of Olds College. Established in 1913 and based in central Alberta, Olds College is a premier Canadian integrated learning and applied research institution specializing in agriculture, horticulture, and land and environmental management. Stuart's prior roles include Chief Innovation Officer with Olds College where he was responsible for leading the college's innovation agenda, by aligning academic and research programming with industry and government priorities. Stuart also served as Vice President Academic and Chief Operating Officer at Lethbridge College, where he led the college’s academic transformation strategy. As Vice President, Agriculture at Northlands in Edmonton, Alberta, Stuart oversaw the development of programs and services for the agriculture sector. 

Please note that we are in the Blue Room