April 23rd: Avian things.

Brett Bain: Navigating new rules for Federal subsidy programs is wearing. But on the positive side, he’s been able to avoid laying off his staff.

Sean Baylis: Isolated, he is in Canmore. Fortunately, cycling opportunities abound between there and Banff – great head space for strategizing about the markets. Negative oil prices mean grim things for now. But next year should see mid 30 prices and the year after, mid 40s. Some signposts already look positive. Vermillion Energy was up 13%.

•• For more, talk to Sean.

Jim Bladon: Everything has changed but life goes on: Jim and Kim celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary by ordering In from their favourite restaurant. 

•• Financial Services are an interesting space to be in right now. Every time you turn around, there’s another program: Relief for Students • Help for the Hospitality Industry • Aid for Agriculture. It’s all new and somewhat confusing but ATB is figuring it all out. 

•• Though how farmers will practice social distancing during seeding is a mystery. 

Paul Boucher: Paul performed as host.

Ian Campbell:

Matt Dart:

Todd Dean: Checked out the Priddis Greens flowers website and called Kerry (Andy’s Daughter in law): she will soon be delivering flowers and potting Todd’s flower pots. One call and his garden beautification for 2020 is taken care of. You too can get quality floral products and horticultural expertise and assistance at www.tlcgardens.ca (when you do an order, use the promo code ht4c8v, and you will be able to pick up the plants at Priddis Greens when they’re ready.)

George Doherty: Sylvan Lake is cutting its nose off in spite of its face: they’re telling cottage owners not to come to the lake, which has George wondering if that means they also don’t want him to pay his local taxes . Tit for tat, eh!

•• Lynx Ridge is looking at opening soon, for members only. 

•• Expect drugstores to limit prescriptions to one month batches … and don’t call this a money grab. It’s the only way they’re going to meet the demand, given current supply issues.

Don Doolan:.Efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19 seem ineffective in meat packing plants. And now Montana is talking about opening up businesses of many kinds. Just …. be brave.

Tony Fisher: Despite all the doom and gloom, Tony's business is alive. Hot tub owners still need water treatment products and online table tennis is growing. But it is difficult - He’s had to lay off staff and government programs don’t really seem to fit. It’s stressful for everyone.

Gord Forsyth:

Mel Gibson: These “COVID Times” are begging all kinds of questions: Can companies claim insurance for business interruption? Will Cargill be on the hook for its workforce with covid-19 issues? Or will the WCB step up? Or will insurance cover (some of) the costs? 

•• Meanwhile, residential break-ins are way down. Car insurance costs are being reduced. But before you breathe a sigh of relief, there’s a cube van on our streets that’s knocking over neighbourhood post office boxes.

Henry Heuver:

David Hicks:

Dan Kennelly: Recently discharged from the Rockyview (after his operation), Dan had praise for the AHS system. The staff was very nice, amazing actually. With no visitors allowed, they are able to get more work done (than with visitors under foot). 

• Dan’s father recently passed away and this isolation thing has been hard on everyone in the family, especially his Mom. The family can’t get together until who knows when.

Andy Lockhart: There’s a little good and a little bad in everything: the snow is gone from the yard … and all the work that needs to be done is now uncovered.

JD MacDonald:

Michael McLennan: While walking his off-leash dog on convenient acreage, he cogitated about laying off staff and dealing with landlords looking for regular rent payments.

Ross Mikkelsen: Ross suggests we invite (ex Bird) Jeff Bradshaw to one of our Zoom meets. Jeff is interviewing business folks about the current and ongoing crisis. He’s indeed getting it from ‘the horse’s mouth’.

•• Head shaking in amazement, Ross described how a Moncton Government operated “marine toxicity lab” is handling the crisis: they sent everyone home BUT First, they instructed staff to kill everything in the lab. All 6,000 fish, frogs, anemones etc.!!! It makes him shudder to speculate about the future of the Vancouver Aquarium.

Mike Mikkelson:

Brad Pachal:

Gerry Parcells:

Dwayne Vinck:

Bob Wiggins:

George Roberts:

Associates

Gregg Callander:

Alumni

Ken Eades:

Bill Hoogstratten:

Tom Olson: He’s writing a book about how institution’s have failed us. This current crisis will provide some good material. 

•• Some people are ‘sharing’ dinner via the internet while enjoying Hello Fresh: they order and prepare the same meal and then, dine together over FaceTime or similar. 

•• Tom bemoans the absence of critical thinking skills as he watches people ‘not’ social distance.

Bruce Roblin:

Chris Wright: