Alberta appoints first chief nursing officer for primary care

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Last week, we asked you what kind of public investment Calgary needs most—and you had lots to say! Even though Calgary wasn't included in the recent federal housing announcement, most of you think affordable housing should be one of our top two priorities. Readers shared stories about living paycheque to paycheque, struggling to save for down payments on minimum wage, and finding that despite all the new construction being celebrated by city officials, very little is actually priced for low-income residents.

👀 In today's edition:

• Fire claims six townhouses and dog’s life

• Off-duty bus driver pepper sprayed and assaulted

• Man tunnels into his neighbour’s home

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Alberta appoints first chief nursing officer for primary care

Primary Care Alberta has made history by appointing Dr. Kim Hogarth as the province's first chief nursing officer—a role that's among the first of its kind in Canada. It's a big deal for Alberta's healthcare system, especially since nurses make up nearly half of PCA's workforce and are often the first point of contact for patients.

"Primary care works best when every member of the team contributes their expertise, including at the leadership table," says PCA CEO Kim Simmonds. Dr. Hogarth will team up with Dr. Ernst Greyvenstein, PCA's chief medical officer, creating a leadership duo that brings both nursing and medical voices to the table when making decisions about primary care.

Dr. Hogarth isn't new to healthcare leadership. She's worked as everything from a registered nurse to a nurse practitioner, with hands-on experience in rural emergency rooms, labour and delivery, and acute care. She'll juggle her new chief nursing officer duties while continuing as PCA's executive director. As a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta, she's also passionate about building stronger partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province.

Need to know

🏠 Police charged a 46-year-old Calgary man after he allegedly tunnelled through a fireplace wall from his downstairs suite into his upstairs neighbour's home to gain unauthorized access.

🚌 Two people were arrested after an off-duty Calgary Transit bus driver was pepper-sprayed and assaulted while walking near downtown's 7th Avenue and Centre Street on Saturday evening, adding to a growing pattern of attacks on transit workers in the city.

🕯️ Hundreds of people gathered at Calgary City Hall on Sunday evening for a vigil honouring Charlie Kirk, the American conservative activist who was fatally shot at Utah Valley University, with similar memorial events also taking place in Edmonton and Red Deer.

🔥 A Saturday night fire in Calgary's Seton community destroyed six townhouses containing 10 units, killed one dog, and displaced at least 10 residents while one person suffered minor injuries.

💻 A new CBRE report revealed that Calgary's technology sector experienced explosive 61.1% job growth from 2021 to 2024, making it the fastest-growing tech market in North America with tech talent now representing 7.9% of the city's economy.

🚗 Calgary's Traffic Safety Team issued only seven noise violation tickets during its summer crackdown on excessively loud vehicles, despite announcing plans in June to aggressively target drivers exceeding the 96-decibel limit.

🤖 Red Deer Polytechnic introduced a robotic dog named Dr. Woof to campus as an educational tool that can perform various tasks from entertaining students with dances to conducting dangerous inspections in mines and confined spaces using its AI-powered sensors and cameras.

🗳️ Former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney publicly criticized the possibility of an Alberta sovereignty referendum, warning it would create deep social divisions and arguing that separatist movements represent only a tiny minority of chronically discontented residents.

👨🏻 Over 120 boys are waiting for a male mentor. Big Brothers Big Sisters is calling on men to step up. Volunteering a few hours a week can be transformative. Be the reason he stops waiting.*

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State & Main brings downtown dining to Uxborough

State & Main Kitchen + Bar opened its third Calgary restaurant this month in the Uxborough neighbourhood, featuring a large 116-seat patio and positioning itself as a local alternative to downtown dining. The new location joins existing State & Main restaurants in Calgary's Nolan Hill and Mahogany communities.

The restaurant is strategically located near McMahon Stadium, Foothills Medical Centre, and the University of Calgary, targeting professionals, families, students and sports fans. "This location is designed to be the go-to destination for anyone who wants the downtown experience without the hassle of venturing downtown," said Richard Homer-Dixon, vice president and State & Main brand leader.

State & Main Uxborough serves elevated comfort food including steak, burgers and flatbreads, with food and drink specials five days a week and happy hour twice daily. The restaurant also offers weekend brunch service and is open daily from 11 a.m. at 24 Uxborough Place NW.

Where to eat and drink

🍴 Flower & Wolf: Experience elevated gastro dining with an entirely made-from-scratch menu featuring locally sourced ingredients and bespoke cocktails in a welcoming atmosphere that serves everything from breakfast to late dinner.

🍴 Fonda Fora: Embark on a culinary journey through Mexico's rich heritage with contemporary takes on traditional dishes featuring fresh seafood and seasonal, corn-forward creations served all day long.

Have a food or drink suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

Things to do

🎟️ Future of the City Festival: Join thought leaders and innovators for an evening of panel discussions exploring how Calgary can develop community spaces that foster belonging and grow its innovation ecosystem through strategic planning and collaboration.

🎟️ Candlelight: Tribute to Metallica: Experience the raw power of heavy metal transformed into an intimate acoustic journey as talented string musicians perform iconic songs by the legendary band under the warm glow of candlelight in Calgary's stunning Central Library.

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