+ Andy Mackintosh to Exec. VP @ SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.

+ Dale Rollins to COO @ Orca Exploration Group Inc.

+ David Manning to Alberta Representative in Washington @ Government of Alberta

+ Debbie Sulkers to VP Human Resources @ Pembina Pipeline Corporation

+ Mark Hadley to VP Exploration @ Contact Exploration Inc.

+ Melanie Trent to Sr. VP & CAO @ Rowan Companies Inc.

+ Rick Hoffman to Exec. VP & CFO @ Farm Credit Canada

+ Thomas Burke to COO @ Rowan Companies Inc.

[send us your firm’s appointment notices to:  research@maxcomm.ca ]

+ the Government of Alberta announced an additional $189 million in funding for rebuilding in Slave Lake and area

+ Edmonton Medical Examiner’s office to get $21 million upgrade; completion by 2013

+ Alberta Infrastructure announced it will upgrade the Evan-Thomas water treatment facility in Kananaskis Country – an RFP is out for this P3 project

A new executive is told by his boss that he is expected to play in the corporate golf tournament next week. Not knowing how to play he decides he better take a lesson. The club pro advises that they start with the putter and then progress to the short irons before tackling the long irons and woods. The man explains that he has to start with the driver as he is expected to play in the corporate tournament. The pro relents and tries to teach him as best he can. On the day of the tournament the new exec steps to the first tee, a 165 yard par 3 hole. One of his partners suggests on this hole perhaps a 4 iron might be a better choice. The exec explains that he has only had one golf lesson and the driver is the only club he has hit. The exec takes a mighty swing and proceeds to slice the ball right into the woods. After a few minutes the exec finds the ball and once again pulls his driver out of the bag. His partner suggests that he would be better off hitting a short chip back onto the fairway. Again the new exec explains that he only knows how to hit the driver. He proceeds to take a mighty swing, hitting the tree directly in front of him. The ball careens off the tree, striking the exec in the middle of the forehead, knocking him dead. Saint Peter is surprised to see the executive so soon, and asked, "How did you get here?" "In two!" he replied.

+ Asian markets rattled; shares plummet as financial fears spread

+ energy prices live link to Bloomberg.com commodities data ; oil down another 5% yesterday a world markets roiled

+ TSX down 4% yesterday, Wall Street down 5.5% - 634 points – as worries grow over U.S. bond rating downgrade

+ U.S. municipal bonds likely to be downgraded in wake of S&P downgrade of U.S. Treasuries

+  Chateau World Vacations Inc. et al charged with 168 counts of fraud relating to Canmore and Harvey Heights time-share projects

+ CNRL’s Horizon oilsands upgrader poised to re-start after 7-month repair process following fire; concerns about re-start being disruptive to the synthetic crude market; $2 billion expansion of project set over to next year

+ Connacher Oil and Gas Limited engaged advisors to secure JV partner for Great Divide oilsands assets

+ H &R REIT agreed to acquire Two Gotham Center (LEED Silver) in Long Island City for US$415.5 million

+ Parkland Fuel Corp. sold its transportation business to Seaboard Liquid Carriers for $23.5 million

+ Pason Systems Inc. announced its 12 mth. CapEx budget of $64 million

+ Pason Systems Inc. acquired 3PS Inc. for US$25 million

+ Pembina Pipeline Corporation brought Nipisi & Mitsue pipelines on-stream

+ Progress Energy Resources Corp. closed its $1.07 billion strategic partnership with PETRONAS for development in the Montney shale

+ Shell Canada’s $1.35 billion Quest-carbon capture project got regulator approval

+ Standard & Poors downgraded U.S. government debt from AAA to AA+; S & P facing sharp criticism for the downgrade

+ Torque Energy Inc. completed its amalgamation with Dundee Energy Limited

+ weekly economic update from ATB Financial

+ Century Mining Corporation is on the market to raise $1,065,000 in new equity

+ International Millennium Mining Corp. closed $900,000 equity private placement

+ Nordic Oil and Gas Ltd. closed $110,000 debt financing

+ Vantex Resources Ltd. closed $1,060,012 warrants issue

“Every disaster screams for humor.”- Silvia Millecam

“Public calamity is a mighty leveler.” – Edmund Burke

+ Aug. 10; Afexa Life Sciences Inc., Edmonton, Annual General Meeting

+ Sept. 9; Homburg Invest Inc., Halifax, Annual General Meeting

FACILITYCalgary is published from Calgary every Tuesday morning