Mark Kolke visits with interesting Calgarians - to catch a glimpse of what drives them, how they see the world and what they see in Calgary's future - and shares what caught his attention.
This week's conversation with Rod Thomas, Gen. Mgr., Calgary Petroleum Club
Last week's conversation with Mark Salkeld , Pres. & CEO at PSAC
“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” – John Lubbock
“Whoever loveth me, loveth my hound.” – Thomas More
NEWS TODAY August 20 / 2013
+ Alberta Gov’t re-examining Carbon Capture and Storage program – seeking public input
+ CalgaryCity Hall complex re-opened following food-damage repairs
+ Prime Minister Harper said he will ask the Governor General to prorogue Parliament until October; new speech from the throne in the works, planning for next election in 2015 . . . while Senate expense audits and investigations continue to dog his government
+ Statoil agreed to sell certain North Sea oilfields to OMV for $1.65 billion
+ TSX stocks fell yesterday on concerns over FED adjustments
+ unrest in Egypt continues amid army crackdown, rioting and likely release of former President Hosni Mubarek
PAST WEEK
NEWS REVIEW August 13 - 19
+ Apache Corporation agreed to sell-off its coal-bed methane properties, Nevis, North Grant and South Grand lands, to Ember Resources Inc. for $214 million
+ ATB Financial adopting D + H technology to manage its mortgage business
+ Berkshire Hathaway Holdings reported acquiring a $500 million stake in Suncor Energy Inc.
+ Caspian Energy Inc. settled its case with Alberta Securities Commission; breach of rules determined to be inadvertent, $10,000 fine
+ Canadian Pacific Railway ordered by Quebec government to be responsible for clean-up costs of Lac-Megantic derailment disaster; CPR claims it is not responsible. Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway (now in a bankruptcy filing) was a subcontractor to CPR for the cargo belonging to World Fuel Services Corp. – the disaster killed 47 people, costs still being tallied
+ Davis + Henderson completed is US$1.2 billion acquisition of Harland Financial Solutions
+ flood relief programs change; Redford government announced significant changes in their flood policy programs in response to strong opposition from Albertans feeling railroaded by hastily developed policy with long range implications for land use and value; background. Also, further relief/extension of time for heritage properties
+ GWL Realty Advisors announced it will go forward with the long-planned-for East Tower of First Canadian Centre; 28 storey development is subject to prior-leasing commitments of 50% before construction will start . . . expected completion in 2017
+ H & R REIT completed its integration of Primaris REIT acquisition
+ Keyera Corp. and Plains Midstream Canada ULC dissolved their planned JV to develop and operated the Western Reach Pipeline system
+ LoneStar Geophysical Canada signed deal with Petro North Corp. for strategic First Nations and Metis coalition for large scale seismic acquisition
+ Omnitrax Inc., operator the Churchill Manitoba port, exploring shipping oil to Europe out of Churchill . . .
+ SEC barred Conrad Black from serving as a director of any U.S. corporation, fined $4.1 million
+ Sunshine Oilsands Ltd. entered JV for Muskwa and Godin areas; undisclosed partner to invest $250 million
+ TORQ Transloading planning $100 million rail hub for crude handling; to be constructed at Kerrobert, SK, to be served by CPR
+ U.S. Fed watch continues as its $85 billion/month bond buying stimulus program ise easing to and end, Bernanke term drawing to a close, markets nervous – outlook from PIMCO
+ U.S. Government activated charges against JP Morgan Chase traders Martin-Artajo and Grout in connection with $6 billion in trading losses; seems they are avoiding arrest . . .
+ B-Viro Systems Canada LP building a biosolids management facility for the City of Greater Sudbury, On; financing of $42 million project by Laurentian Bank of Canada
+ FAM REIT closed its $39 million purchase of The Promontory project in Mississauga
INTERESTING REAL ESTATE NEWS OTHER PLACES
+ Ivanhoe Cambridge agreed to acquire AIMCo’s 50% interest in Place Ville Marie complex in Montreal for $400 million
+ Pure Industrial REIT closed the sale of 2 industrial properties in Vaughan, Ontario for $7.55 million
+ Tricon Capital Group Inc. established US$50 million investment with JV partner to expand its residential land holdings in Houston
SAVE THE DATE /
charity golf tournaments
+ Aug. 20; Alberta Venture’s 2013 Most Influential Tournament, Silvertip Golf Resort, Canmore, info/register
+ Aug. 26; Women’s Celebrity Golf Invitational, Pinebrook Golf and Country Club, info/registration
