Category Archives: Rich and/or Famous

Fortress Calgary: The “Gate” in Mahogany Manor

Posted on December 7, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

What is it about gated communities that sends us into orbit? Calgary Planning Commission (CPC) just approved the construction of a “gate” in the southern Calgary to keep the hoi polloi out of Mahogany Manor despite the fact that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Justice, Privacy and Surveillance, Rich and/or Famous, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 26 Comments

Breakfast with Hillary Clinton

Posted on March 9, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

Hillary Rodham Clinton was in Calgary last week to give the keynote address at a breakfast meeting of 2500 Calgarians who paid about $500 to hear her speak.  Luckily my friend, the Zen Banker, invited me to attend as her … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Politics, Politics and Government, Rich and/or Famous, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

“What Makes Canada So Great?”

Posted on February 16, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

Michaela Pereira, CNN television personality and news anchor (I use the term loosely)  asked a member of the Canadian Olympic skiing team this question:  “What makes Canada so great?” My immediate reaction was:  What a goofy question.  Luckily the Canadian … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government, Rich and/or Famous | Tagged , , , , , | 37 Comments

Redford and Mandela: Hypocrisy and Hope

Posted on December 8, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

The Redford government’s capacity for hypocrisy knows no bounds.  In the same week that Redford’s PC government passed two corrosive pieces of anti-labour legislation, Ms Redford reflected on what she’d learned as a young lawyer working with Nelson Mandela to … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government, Rich and/or Famous | Tagged , , , , | 29 Comments

Congratulations Mayor Nenshi!

Posted on October 27, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

John Macfarlane, editor of The Walrus,* asks the question:  When did society turn against its best and brightest and more importantly, why?  He was bemoaning the fact that Torontonians had elected Rob Ford—a man he described as wearing “his ignorance … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government, Rich and/or Famous | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

Dinner with Justin Trudeau: Gimmick or Doing Politics Differently?

Posted on September 29, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

“Have dinner with me, Susan.”  What a charming invitation.  Too bad it’s part of a fundraising campaign directed at 300,000 supporters of the federal Liberal party. But wait…let’s think about this for a moment.  For a $5.00 donation, Ms Soapbox … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Rich and/or Famous | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments

Conrad Black and Danielle Smith

Posted on May 12, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

Conrad Black, the Canadian media mogul and convicted felon* was in Calgary last week to have a “conversation” with the Calgary business elite (and me) over lunch at the Calgary Petroleum Club. The big question is why does Baron Black … Continue reading →

Posted in Lectures, Politics and Government, Rich and/or Famous | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments