FACILITYCalgary, a compilation of news items & commentary of interest to people who have a real estate, infrastructure, construction, oil & gas or general interest in Calgary, brought to you weekly by MaxComm Communications, keeping you up to date on issues affecting 'business in Calgary'.
FRESH TODAY - Monday, February 25, 2008
+ crude oil prices @6:15 AM, MST as quoted by bloomberg.com; Nymex Crude Future US$98.60/barrel, Dated Brent Spot US$97.52/barrel, WTI Cushing Spot (Friday's close) US$98.96/barrel; driven by political tensions in the Middle East, crude oil struck a record US$101.27/ barrel Wednesday helped by tensions between Exxon Mobil & the Venezuelan government, who are threatening to cut exports. Attacks in Nigeria raised concerns of further supply disruptions; OPEC considering production reductions in 2nd qtr on expectations of lessening demand; meanwhile, tensions over Iran's nuclear ambitions & border clashes in Iraq have raised concerns supplies from those countries may be disrupted
+ Federal Government budget to be introduced in Parliament tomorrow - debt reduction & manufacturing industry stimulus .. or not, tax cuts . . or not . . . expected to be focal points; Prime Minister Stephen Harper's minority government will attempt to goad the opposition parties into triggering an election before an economic slowdown undermines his chances of winning a majority; votes scheduled starting this week on the budget & plan to extend a military mission in Afghanistan, any of which, if defeated would force an election
+ 45% of U.S. economists surveyed forecast a U.S. recession in 2008, more than double the number when surveyed 3 months ago
+ Milagro Energy Inc. agreed to be taken over by Second Wave Petroleum Ltd.
+ Royal Bank of Canada sub. RBC Centura Banks, Inc., completed its acquisition of Alabama National BanCorporation
+ Tiger Woods won the World Golf Championships- Accenture Match Play Championship played at The Gallery Golf Club at Dove Mountain, Tucson, Arizona; he won US$1.35 million, his 6th straight tournament title, passing Arnold Palmer on the U.S. PGA Tour's all- time wins list with 63 PGA Tour wins in just 13 seasons
+ Alberta government announced surplus of $4.2 billion, nearly double projections in last April's budget
+ BMO Capital Markets took $490 million write-down connected with asset backed commercial paper exposure
+ Cushman & Wakefield LePage acquired Divaris Alexander Corporation
+ Enbridge Inc. got NEB approval for its $ 3 billion 1,600-kilometre Alberta Clipper Pipeline Project
+ Enterra Energy Trust closed its acquisition of $40.925 million of oil & gas properties
+ Enmax Corp. agreed to acquire Cordero Energy Inc.
+ InterGen agreed to acquire TransAlta Corporation's 511 MW Mexico portfolio, consisting of two operating power plants, 252 MW Campeche facility & 259 MW Chihuahua facility; value of the transaction US$303.5 million
+ Nabors Industries Ltd. closed US$575 million debt financing
+ Nordic Oil and Gas Ltd. closed $1,026,840 equity financing
+ Questerre Energy Corporation agreed to acquired Terrenex Ltd.
+ Royal Bank of Canada agreed to acquire Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management Ltd.
+ XTO Energy closed US$1.265 billion equity financing
SHAKERS + Movers on the Move
+ Aly Lalani to VP & Partner @ CMN Calgary Inc.
+ Bruce March to Chairman, Pres. & CEO @ Imperial Oil Limited, replacing Tim Hearn who is retiring
+ Claes Palmgren to VP Reservoir Engineering @ Oilsands Quest Technology Inc.
+ Colleen Galenzoski to Principal @ Grant Thornton
+ Doug Dorey to Sr. Director @ Altus HealthTrust Canada
+ Erdal Yildirim to Pres. @ Oilsands Quest Technology Inc.
+ Eric Tripp to Pres. @ BMO Capital Markets
+ Jeff Moran to VP Technology & Chief Information Officer @ Canadian Payments Association
+ Michael Gillispie to VP Marketing & Sales North America @ Railpower Technologies Corp.
+ Naomi Nind to Partner @ Parlee McLaws LLP
+ Peter Lockhart to VP Leasing @ WAM Development Group
+ Randy Shapiro to Partner @ Parlee McLaws LLP
+ Raul Castro to Pres. @ Government of Cuba
+ Robb Winfield to Controller @ Panhandle Oil and Gas Inc.
+ Russel Robertson to Interim CFO @ BMO Financial Group as Interim
+ Thomas Flynn to Chief Risk Officer @ BMO Financial Group
+ Thomas Milroy to CEO @ BMO Capital Markets
+ Yvan Bourdeau to Vice-Chair @ BMO Capital Markets
MARK Your Calendar; Business Events, Functions etc.
Feb 27.; A New Perspective, Presentation by John Desmont to Downtown Calgary, Globe Cinema, Calgary; info/registration: info@downtowncalgary.com
March 5; OPEC - 148th (Ordinary) Meeting of the OPEC Conference, Vienna, Austria; info: http://www.opec.org
March 6 - 7; Houston Technology Center 4th Annual Energy Technology Venture Capital Conference, Marriott Houston Westchase; info/register: http://www.houstontech.org/en/cev/?634
Apr. 1; 10th annual Montreal Real Estate Forum, Chaired by Philip O'Brien, CEO, Viger DMC International, Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, Montreal; info/registration: http://www.realestateforums.com/mtl/mtl/frame.html
Apr. 14; 2008 Western Business Outlook Briefing , The Conference Board of Canada; Calgary TELUS Convention Centre; info/register: http://www.conferenceboard.ca
July 14; 8th Annual Ronald McDonald House Southern Alberta Charity Golf Classic, Silvertip Resort, Canmore; Lawson Projects is the Presenting Sponsor; info/registration: lorne@lawsonprojects.com or colleen@rmhsouthernalberta.org
note: if you are sponsoring / supporting a charity tournament in the Calgary area in 2008 we are happy to list them early here; just send your tournament data and contact information to: research@maxcomm.ca
INFRASTRUCTURE News / P3 / Go Green
+ PLANDFLEX CORPORATION will develop and or acquire commercial and institutional properties: Public Private Partnerships (P3), development for governments, NGOs, school boards, hospital boards, municipalities etc., build-to-suit developments for strong credit tenants location focus is smaller & major communities in Western Canada. Inquiries and/or property offerings to:
PLANDFLEX CORPORATION
Attn: Mark Kolke, President
Suite 1000, 888 - 3rd Street SW
Calgary, AB T2P 5C5
Phone: 403-444-6939
e-mail: mark.kolke@maxcomm.ca
+ Enmax Corp, a utility owned by the city of Calgary, will invest $1.6 billion to build two power plants capable of supplying more than 2/3rds of Calgary's electricity requirement. Also, they intent to build a 1,000 megawatt gas or gasified coal facility that should be completed in 2011. Also planned is a 120 megawatt plant to meet peak demand, also natural- gas fired, to be operating by the middle of next year.
+ the BC government budget committed $95 million to establish the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions
Calgary Office Space For Lease
office leasing services
for leasing/purchasing assistance, contact: Mark Kolke
"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." - Epicurus
"You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, 'Why not?'" - George Bernard Shaw
"A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world." - Oscar Wilde
"Don't be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams." - unknown
"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible." - T.E. Lawrence
"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." - Dr. Seuss
"Do not lose hold of your dreams or aspirations. For if you do, you may still exist but you have ceased to live." - Henry David Thoreau
"Sorting goal from tasks from wishes from dreams - twists of choice, of chance, twists and turns proving the world is divided in two - those who change and those who don't, those who grow and those who don't, those who settle and those who don't, those who question and those who don't." - Mark Kolke
"One of the advantages bowling has over golf is that you seldom lose a bowling ball." - Don Carter
"I've lost balls in every hazard and on every course I've tried. But, when I lose a ball in the ball washer, it's time to take stock." - Milton Gross
Gary is so naïve that he thinks Masters & Johnson is a golf tournament.
Mrs. Smith was out golfing one day when she hit her ball into the woods. She went into the woods to look for it and found a frog in a trap. The frog looked up at her and said, "If you release me from this trap, I will grant you three wishes." Not a person to miss a trick, Mrs. Smith immediately freed the frog. The frog thanked her and said "I'm sorry but I failed to mention that there is a condition to your wishes -- that whatever you wish for yourself, Mr. Smith will get ten times more or better!" Mrs. Smith replied, "That's OK - I'm happy to accept your condition. For my first wish, I want to be the most beautiful woman in the world." The frog warned her, "You do realize that this wish will also make Mr. Smith the most handsome man in the world, women will flock to him like bees to honey." Mrs. Smith replied, "It's not a problem, because I will be the most beautiful woman and he will only have eyes for me. So, "KAZAM" -- Mrs. Smith is the most beautiful woman in the world! For her second wish, Mrs. Smith asked to be the richest woman in the world. The frog said, "That will make Mr. Smith the richest man in the world and he will be ten times richer than you." Mrs. Smith said, "It's not a problem, because what's mine is his and what's his is mine." So, "KAZAM"- Mrs. Smith is the richest woman in the world! The frog then inquired about her third wish to which Mrs. Smith answered, "I'd like a mild heart attack." Moral of the story: Women are clever. Don't mess with them.
MaxComm Communications - Writing Services
Innovative strategies, inspiring work plans and cutting- edge initiatives; we are writers, editors and business communicators who help you frame your message right the first time, on time.
www.frameyourmessage.com is our website - featuring information on services, writer credentials - writing, speaking, coaching -
We have established a presence in Houston, Los Angeles and Maui - staffing up in each market with well credentialed writers in those markets with subject area expertise and availability. Our work is 99% English content for audiences in Canada, US, UK, Australia:
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Mark Kolke writes a daily column (posted at http://markmusing.com ) Musings, after his morning walk. To subscribe (free) to receive his daily musings, write to mark@markmusing.com Musings are e-mailed daily to subscribers and are posted/archived on his blog http://markismusing.blogspot.com & on his Musing site:
+ our objective is to feature information and links to articles which provide insights, ideas and services to help our readers access useful resources to help employees at all levels build on their skills.
+ the Toastmasters program offers an opportunity to improve professional skills; public speaking, leadership training, confidence building - a great way to give your career a boost as you climb the ladder. Toastmasters International - 210,000 members in 90 countries; 65 Toastmasters clubs in Calgary. Toastmasters offer a supportive environment, networking opportunities & a proven program to help people overcome their worst fear - public speaking.
+ Spoken Word Toastmasters . . meets every Tuesday at 5:30 PM at North Hill COOP community room (basement), 540 - 16ave., NE, Calgary, AB; contact club president for further info: nelson.keung@siemens.com . . next meeting February 26; http://members.shaw.ca/spoken_word
+ Singles and Friends Toastmasters, offers a 'singles only' format - opportunity for socializing & speaking; meets every Wed. @ 7 PM. Info: http://singlesnfriends.freetoasthost.info next meeting February 27
+ MVP Advanced Toastmasters Club, meets @ 7 PM, 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month @ Fluor facility in south Calgary; a club for experienced Toastmasters wishing to hone their skills in a place where the bar is set high; contact club President for further info: Mark.Kolke@frameyourmessage.com or Gerda.Timm@Fluor.com .. next meeting Feb. 28, 7PM http://mvpadvanced.freetoasthost.net
FACILITYCalgary, a MaxComm Communications publication, e-published every Monday. Subscription is free. To subscribe, write to: facilitycalgary@maxcomm.ca
+ I watched Alberta's party leaders debate; watching a street brawl in Rocky Mountain House on a Friday night would be more entertaining, watching paint dry would have been more informative. Noboy won, Ed didn't lose. Next subject . .
+ mainstream media, as usual, in Alberta seem to see themselves as the official opposition by default - which, given the lack of two marbles to rub together between the Liberals & the other 3, seems fair; I have no problem with that except it would be nice to see some balance in coverage - like recognizing the incredible job the government, the health care system & educators in Alberta have done these past dozen years in the face of spiraling costs, huge in-migration & explosive development. What the media, Mr. Taft & Mr. Mason seem to forget is that government did not create those pressures - they simply responded to them on our behalf. I think they've done a superb job of improvement. I think there is lots of room for improvement. If a long term employee produced a consistently high level of performance & effectiveness, then any responsible employer would renew their contract while establishing new benchmarks for measurement & ignore jackals yapping at the door. Neither Mr. Taft or Mr. Mason have ever managed a business, a department or a venture of any kind yet they boast as if those who are running things are inept, ought to be replaced & purport they could do better. Given the track record of the PC government, notwithstanding Getty's ineptitude & Klein's single issue focus/laziness is awesome compared to any government in any state or province lately or ever. Re- electing the Stelmach government is not just the only responsible choice, it is a good one. As for Ed, he needs some coaching. C'mon out to a Toastmasters meeting Ed, we'll help you out.
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