FACILITYCalgary; compilation of news items & commentary of interest to people who have a real estate, infrastructure, construction, oil & gas or general interest in Calgary published weekly by MaxComm Communications.
FRESH TODAY - July 21, 2008
+ Alaska state legislature expected to make decision on Alaska natural gas pipeline this week, TransCanada Corporation is poised for a big win . .stay tuned
+ crude oil futures @ 4:00AM, MDT as quoted by Bloomberg.com - Nymex Crude Future US$130.64/barrel, Dated Brent Spot US$130.70/barrel, WTI Cushing Spot US$128.88 (Friday close)/barrel; oil fell $14.00 last week on concerns about the economy + easing of concern over tight supplies but is up on speculation diplomatic tensions with Iran may escalate as Iran (world's 4th largest oil producer) resisted United Nations demands it suspend nuclear research.;
+ WTO trade officials begin a make-or-break session of world trade talks today in Geneva; "now or never" for the Doha round, launched nearly 7 years ago with goals to cut farm subsidies & tariffs to help developing countries prosper through trade
+ Padraig Harrington won the British Open Golf Championship for the 2nd straight year; the tournament was played at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Birkdale, Lancashire, England
+ Black Hills Corp. closed its US$940 million acquisition of five Aquila Inc. utilities in four states
+ BP America Inc. agreed to acquire Chesapeake Energy interests in approximately 90,000 net acres of leasehold & producing natural gas properties in the Arkoma Basin Woodford Shale play for US $1.75 billion
+ Cadence Energy Ltd. merger with Daylight Resources Trust delayed as Cadence is subject to a takeover bid from Barrick Gold Corp., .. stay tuned
+ Canadian Premiers & Territorial leaders reached a historice labour-mobility agreement at their annual summit in Quebec City; by August 1, 2009, doctors, nurses, tradesmen, teachers & a host of other workers will be able to take their certification with them from province to province with no more need to take exams or apply for a separate accreditation in each province or territory
+ CPC Corporation of Taiwan agreed to invest $800 million with Indian Oilsands Corp. for development of the Axe Lake, Saskatachewan oilsands deposit
+ Duvernay Oil Corp. agreed to takeover by Shell Canada Limited for $5.9 billion
+ Fort Chicago Energy Partners LP agreed to acquire Brush II Generation Facility (70MW) US$32 million
+ Hudson's Bay Co. sold to NRDC EQUITY PARTNERS, (parent of Lord & Taylor)
+ LEBEN REIT completed sale of a majority of its real estate portfolio to WHITEROCK REIT for $80 million
+ Melcor Developments Ltd. sold Crowfoot West Business Centre. $49,675,000
+ Patriot Energy changed its name to TelTeck Solutions Inc.
+ Scotiabank agreed to acquire E*TRADE Canada from U.S.-based parent E*TRADE Financial Corporation
+ Suncor Energy Inc.'s ethanol plant in St. Clair, Ont., received $25-million from the federal government to double its ethanol production from 200 million to 400 million litres/yr.
+ Superior Well Services Inc. acquired Nuex Wireline Inc, US$6.0 million
+ The Bank of Canada announced it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 3%; the operating band for the overnight rate is unchanged & the Bank Rate remains at 3.25%
+ TransCanada Corporation's Keystone Pipeline (partnerships between TransCanada & ConocoPhillips) will be expanded; to provide additional capacity of 500,000 barrels/day to the U.S. Gulf Coast by 2012; expansion to cost US$7.0 billion
+ US President Bush an executive ban on offshore oil drilling & urged congress to approve it
+ U.S./European recession watch: home sales in the U.S. declined in June as the housing slump headed for a third year, undermining the economy & prompting businesses & consumers to trim spending; U.S. lawmakers must pass rescue plan for Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac to avert a slide in confidence in U.S. financial markets; Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, which have implicit backing of the U.S. government & get access to funds at lower rates than banks, became more indispensable this year after private providers of mortgages collapsed or were acquired. New Century Financial Corp. of Irvine, California, failed. Calabasas, California-based Countrywide Financial Corp. was bought by Bank of America Corp. IndyMac Bancorp, in Pasadena, California, was seized by bank regulators; UK property sales dropped to the lowest in at least 30 years in June - forecast says housing transactions will drop 35% this year as prices expected to fall 10% this year & 6% in 2009
+ XTO Energy Inc. closed acquisition of Bakken Sale & other properties from Headington Oil Company for US$1.05 billion
SHAKERS + Movers on the Move
+ Andrew Claerhout to VP Teachers' Private Capital @ The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
+ Barry Kadoch to CFO @ TransGlobe Property Management
+ Brian Hahn to Pres. ATCO Gas & CU Water @ ATCO Group
+ Cheryl Clark to Sr. VP Human Resources @ The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Ltd.
+ Chuck Hunt to Exec. Managing Dir. @ Grubb & Ellis Company
+ Douglas Olson to CVO @ Antrim Energy Inc.
+ Glen Silvestri to VP Teachers' Private Capital @ The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
+ Jamey Fitzgibbon to Pres. & COO @ Oilsands Quest Inc.
+ Jason Chang to VP Fixed Income Capital Management @ The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
+ Jeffrey Sherman to CEP @ Hudson's Bay Co.
+ Kevin Keenan to Partner, Global Projects Department @ Baker Botts LLP
+ Kevin Kerr to VP Infrastructure @ The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
Sept. 26; 5th Annual Meaning of Life Luncheon - Laugh a litle, Live a Lot! with Brent Butt; in Support of Hospice Calgary, Hyatt Regency, Calgary; info/tickets: tracy.aylesworth@hospicecalgary.com
Oct. 1-2; National Design-Build Conference, King Edward Hotel, Toronto; info/registration: www.cdbi.org/events/index.html
Oct. 22; Calgary Real Estate Forum; TELUS Convention Centre, Calgary; info/registration: http://www.mmpiwest.com/realestateforumswest/calg ary/
Oct. 23; Calgary Real Estate Leasing Conference; TELUS Convention Centre, Calgary; info/registration: http://www.mmpiwest.com/realestateforumswest/calg ary/
Nov. 24 - 25; P3 2008, CCPPP National Conference & Awards, Toronto Hilton, Toronto; info/registration:
Aug. 8; Canaccord Capital Inc., Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Vancouver
Aug. 13 - 16; Toastmasters' Annual International Convention, Telus Convention Centre, Calgary; info/registration http://www.toastmasters.org/2008convention
+ Oct. 23; Energy Exploration Technologies Inc., Annual General Meeting, Calgary
SAVE THE DATE - Charity & Industry Golf Tournaments
July 22; 3rd Annual Calgary Oil & Gas Golf Classic, Lynx Ridge Golf Club, Calgary, info/registration: Peter Singleton @ 403-230-5888
July 29; Second Annual Terry Ruttan Memorial Golf Tournament, supporting the Calgary YWCA; Country Hills Golf Club, Calgary; info/registration: KristaLee@nortruck.com
August 15; University of Lethbridge Alumni Association - Calgary Chapter 7th Annual Alumni & Friends Golf Tournament, Shaw-nee Slopes, Calgary; info/registration: kfilbert@shaw.ca
Sept. 3; Mortgage Loans Association of Alberta, Calgary Chapter, 2008 Annual Golf Tournament. Inglewood Golf & Curling Club; info/registration: kheron@montrosecalgary.com
Sept. 10; 3rd Annual Dragon Around the Course Golf Classic, in support of Langdon School Council Society; Speargrass Golf Course, Carseland; info/registration: srotar1u@telus.net
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
Put it off and you'll never be finished!
Procrastination is a pox on productivity or, an untapped poorly managed resource - which is it for you?
MaxComm Communications presents a new series of seminars well suited to conference programs, sales meetings or training sessions:
Keynote presentation 'Put it off and you'll never be finished'
Warm up act 'Getting ready to not be ready'
Interactive Work shop: 'Being prepared to be unprepared'
Mark Kolke lists properties For Judicial Sale on behalf of lenders engaged in foreclosure actions to realize on security for recovery of defaulted mortgage loans. He operates this website to aid in the marketing of these properties and to host the listings of other agents marketing properties offered by way of Judicial Sale
"Forgiveness means giving up all hope for a better past." - Lily Tomlin
"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." - Thomas Alva Edison
"Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent." - Marilyn vos Savant
"God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless." - Chester Nimitz
"Think of the long view of life, not just what's going to happen today or tomorrow. Don't give up what you most want in life for something you think you want now." - Richard Scott
"Don't ever give up on something or someone that you can't go a full day without thinking about." - unknown
"You can live to be a hundred if you give up all the things that make you want to live to be a hundred." - Woody Allen
"Giving up, giving in, give it up, give, give in; these words mean so much, sound so much the same but giving up and giving in - these are not the same, never, never, never the same. Give in? . .sometimes. To let it go, to give up? . . never." - Mark Kolke
After a particularly poor game of golf, a popular club member skipped the clubhouse and started to go home. As he was walking to the parking lot to get his car, a policeman stopped him and asked, "Did you tee off on the sixteenth hole about twenty minutes ago?" "Yes," the golfer responded. "Did you happen to hook your ball so that it went over the trees and off the course?" "Yes, I did. How did you know?" he asked. "Well," said the policeman very seriously, "Your ball flew out onto the highway and crashed through a driver's windshield. The car went out of control, crashing into five other cars and a fire truck. The fire truck couldn't make it to the fire, and the building burned down. So, what are you going to do about it?" The golfer thought it over carefully and responded... "I think I'll close my stance a little bit, tighten my grip and lower my right thumb."
A couple of old guys were golfing when one said he was going to Dr. Taylor for a new set of dentures in the morning. His friend remarked that he had gone to the same dentist a few years before. "Is that so?" the first said. "Did he do a good job?" "Well, I was on the course yesterday when the fellow on the ninth hole hooked a shot," he said. "The ball must have been going 200 mph when it hit me in the stomach. That," he added, "was the first time in two years my teeth didn't hurt."
Fred got home from his Sunday round of golf later than normal and very tired. "Bad day at the course?" his wife asked. "Everything was going fine," he said. "Then Harry had a heart attack and died on the 10th tee." "Oh, that's awful!" "You're not kidding. For the whole back nine it was hit the ball, drag Harry, hit the ball, drag Harry."
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:
oil & gas, energy
environment
education
real estate, development, residential & commercial
+ 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; 70+ Toastmasters clubs in Calgary. Toastmasters offer a supportive environment, networking opportunities & a proven program to help people overcome their worst fear - public speaking. http://www.toastmasters.org/websiteApps/
+ 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 VP Membership, Shelley.Musfelt@fluor.com - next meeting July 24, 7PM; http://mvpadvanced.freetoasthost.net
Mark Kolke, President of MaxComm Realty Advisors, MaxComm Communications and Plandflex Corporation, has been working in real estate finance, management, leasing, sales and consulting work in Alberta for twenty-eight years. His license to practice real estate in Alberta is sponsored by MaxWell South Star Realty where he is an Associate dealing in commercial, residential and agricultural properties. He moved back to Calgary nine years ago after twenty- seven years in Edmonton. He advises tenants, buyers, developers and institutional clients on issues involving residential developments, commercial real estate and public private partnerships (P3s).
MaxComm Realty Advisors / MaxWell South Star Realty
888 - 3rd Street SW, Suite 1000, Calgary, Alberta T2P 5C5
Phone: 403-444-6939
e-mail: mark.kolke@office-space-calgary.com
Mark Kolke, Realtor, is an Associate under contract to MaxWell South Star Realty
FACILITYCalgary, a MaxComm Communications publication, e-published every Monday. Subscription is free. To subscribe, write to: facilitycalgary@maxcomm.ca
Please keep me on your list . Thanks, Dennis Wong, CFA, Vice President - Portfolio Manager, Artis REIT
Really enjoy the newsletter - Many thanks, Sally Elliott, Investor Relations, Toronto, Pengrowth Corporation
Mark; I enjoy the notice weekly. Have you thought about a blog section to have members post or send in stuff. Just a thought, always good to share ideas. Cheers and Happy Stampede, Gregory A. Liakopoulos, Partner, Real Property and Planning, McCarthy Tétrault LLP
COMMENTARY, rants + argument
+ oil prices are up & down like a yo-yo . . or maybe a toilet seat; one week the 'law of supply & demand' argument wins headlines, the next week it is rhetoric about sentiment being out of step with reality but few headlines are focused on the natural gas situation; as hurricane season unfolds a lot of people have their fingers crossed hoping for a correction in storage stats the just won't come . . stay tuned because gas at the pump is not the only thing worth watching
+ each time Bay Street & politicians talk bank mergers it seems there are few risks & tons of benefits; I've not heard a thundering headline in the last year touting bank mergers (Canadian majors + a US bank) since the sub-prime crisis hit - hopefully, the next time those who choose to rule us bring this issue back to the front burner we can, I hope, have enough memory to recall why our Canadian banking system is envied around the world - perhaps because of it we are not at the edge of the dangling precipice our southern friends are right now . . but we can see it from here!
FACILITYCalgary newsletters may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, re- disseminated, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly, in any medium without the prior written permission of MaxComm Communications