Three stories this week on Balance of Power:
• How leadership campaigns win once voting starts
• Nova Scotia politics with MLA Claudia Chender
• The hidden cost of maintaining a political image
Watch:
Hello I would like to share with you my new-and-improved website that compiles 46 years' worth of baby-names data in Alberta:
albertababynames.com
It now includes the latest data (for 2025) and a similar-names function to easily browse through various spellings in naming trends.
For a personal finance story, I'm looking to speak with Canadians about transportation costs + housing. Did you buy a more affordable house farther out, then find vehicle costs + travel time added up? Or are you considering transportation in a house hunt? DM or email cailynn.klingbeil@gmail.com Thx!
Alberta’s immigration referendum questions sound simple. They’re not.
Dr. Bronwyn Bragg explains the narrative they create.
This referendum question has a problem.
Welcome to Balance of Power
A fresh lens on the forces shaping Canada’s future
This week:
• Alberta’s immigration referendum
• The economics of immigration and the labour market
• Why facts often lose to political narratives
• Guest: Dr. Bronwyn Bragg
▶ Watch now:
How to Think Critically About Data (Even if you're not a data nerd like me) A free 45-minute Lunch & Learn session with Robson Fletcher, Data & Storytelling Strategist. Topics include: - How statistics & data visualization can mislead -- intentionally or accidentally - Practical tips for evaluating data you are presented with - Why feelings DO matter when it comes to facts Tuesday, March 17 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Via Google Meet (pre-registration required)
I'm no longer a data journalist but, as an independent practitoner, one of my goals is still to help people make sense of the daily deluge of data we're all swimming in.
To that end, I'm hosting this free online session on March 17.
You don't have to be a nerd to come nerd out with me... 🤓
🧵
On this week's Balance of Power podcast, we talk about Smith's immigration referendum questions with Dr. Bronwyn Bragg, a human geographer who studies labour migration & precarious work. Dr. Bragg's perspective & passion is a must-listen. open.spotify.com/episode/7Kb0... #ableg
An incredibly interesting conversation with @mharrisondupre.bsky.social on AI chatbots and news the Tumbler Ridge shooter’s ChatGPT use almost prompted OpenAI to warn police last summer (but they didn’t)
On CBC’s Front Burner, and lucky me got to guest host: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/c...
Thank you, appreciate you saying so!
"The budget will break a law implemented by Premier Danielle Smith’s own government three years ago that aimed to prohibit deficits, except under exceptional circumstances."
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber...
Net migration in Alberta. Up, up, up, down, down, down.
Net international migration to Alberta totalled 197 in Q3 2025, down 99% from 32,046 in the same quarter a year prior.
Ha, such a small town!
I love this @calgaryherald.com look-back at Calgary's 1 millionth citizen, 20 years later, as #yyc races to 2 million citizens. calgaryherald.com/news/local-n...
And, because Calgary remains the *biggest* small town, of course I went to jr high school with his cousin.
Thank you!
Join @sphillipsab.bsky.social, Leah Ward and I for a new political podcast for people who know politics isn’t polite.
Helping clients like this is why we started Champion Communications nearly seven years ago.
I was in Edmonton today with First Nations leaders, who spoke at a packed press conference about vehemently opposing a petition that could lead Alberta to become the 51st state.
I wrote about my childhood friend Alexi Pretti. Please read it and share it and remember him as a human being. @theverge.com
This is a really incredible piece. Share it widely 🎁https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/01/minneapolis-uprising/685755/?gift=C-rzmQ8PsUHt15odxTKJDn7xrpPNxSpotkNz_P27oI0
A small group of Albertans has been advocating for the province to separate from Canada and become the 51st state.
I wonder if seeing the U.S. Secretary of War say something like this about an existing state, hours after a second civilian was shot dead by federal authorities, gives them any pause.
Statement from Michael and Susan Pretti Parents of Alex Jeffrey Pretti “We are heartbroken but also very angry. Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not throw around the ‘hero’ term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman. The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He had his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down, all while being pepper sprayed. Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you.
Kare 11 local news just read, in full, this statement from Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Pretti.
"Please get the truth out about our son."
"The remarks hit many of us at the Herald like a physical punch. Our dear friend Michelle Lang, a wonderful person and one of the best reporters ever to walk into that newsroom, was killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb on Dec. 20, 2009."
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...
Love that!
16 days into 2026 and Calgary is averaging 1 person/day getting hit by cars. And that is just the reported incidents.... #roadsafety
"not related to system volume"?! Interesting!
"I used to be someone who didn't know who they'd be without work. Now I'm amassing so many hobbies that work is simply what I do when I'm not doing my hobbies."
A fun read on the power of hobbies: www.businessinsider.com/trailrunning...
Yes it's January. Yes you should start thinking about the summer camping season.
gooutside.substack.com/p/camping-re...
I've entered the wild parenting stage that is trying to manage Kindergarten in Alberta. This means... just under three hours a day at school! Limited childcare options! Transportation gaps between the school and childcare! Send advice please, ideally involving no one needing to quit their job.🤦♀️
100%
