Opinion: Calgary's X-Factor for global event bids: A passionate and dedicated volunteer force
In an important time for international relations, it wasn't the G7, United Nations or NATO summits emulating peaceful fellowship among an overwhelming contingent of global representatives (140 countries to be exact). At least, not in the way the Rotary International Convention did last week in Calgary.
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Rotary is a global network of more than 1.2 million neighbours, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe and in our communities.
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The first Rotary Club of Calgary was chartered in 1914.
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This has evolved into an organization bringing together people with a multitude of social interest-led projects. From raising funds to support humanitarian programs, joining forces for economic development or providing global health and disaster relief, hundreds of thousands worldwide continue looking outward for ways to make this world a little brighter.
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Like Rotary's primary mission to eradicate polio and with an ambitious mission for peaceful multinational engagement — facilitated by a small but mighty bid committee — in 2017 a then newly formed Calgary host committee generated the bid for the 2025 convention, even before we knew there would be an expanded BMO Centre. Our goal back then was to put Calgary on the map to create a legacy for Rotary, Calgary, and Rotary in Calgary.
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This global network descended on our city last week with 16,000 delegates. In thanks to Rotary International, and Calgary and southern Alberta's Rotary Clubs, all involved view the convention — objectively and with the passion Rotarians are known for — as an extraordinary success.
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From the moment delegates landed at Calgary's International Airport, met by world-famous white cowboy-hatted volunteers, and made their way to way to the Stampede grounds, you knew something special was happening. There was no mistaking that Rotary was in town. And even less doubt the city was engaged alongside us.
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All involved shined, not only in the past week but over years of planning.
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This list starts with our friends from Tourism Calgary. Led by CEO Alisha Reynolds, a standard for how destination-marketing organizations interact with third-party conventions was set. Shelley Zucht-Shorter and Cassandra Graves set a clear tone, simultaneously ensuring every detail was attended to, every opportunity to raise our city's profile was capitalized on and every investment dollar leveraged the economic power of our convention.
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Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account On Friday though, Trump let loose on Canada and a whole pile of other topics while speaking with reporters. 'We don't have a deal with Canada,' Trump said. 'August 1 is going to come, and we will have most of our deals finished, if not all. We haven't really had a lot of luck with Canada. I think Canada could be one where they'll just pay tariffs. It's not really a negotiation.' 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Somehow, it all fell apart. There is plenty of blame to go around, and Trump will shoulder a great deal of that blame. He's erratic, he's unpredictable, his negotiating style is to create havoc to throw his negotiation partner off balance. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. All of that is true though for every other country in the world and those other countries are getting deals. Canada is not only not getting a deal, but our negotiating style is also irritating Trump to the point that he lashes out. Some Canadians will take joy in irritating Trump, but I'm looking at the rising unemployment, especially in communities like Windsor that rely on the auto sector. Job one for the Carney government should be to protect the jobs of Canadians, not to leave them dangling as our negotiators play games. A month ago, Prime Minister Mark Carney appointed Ambassador Kristen Hillman as Canada's chief negotiator. It's time to pull her – she's not getting the job done. 'She's a wonk,' said one experienced government hand. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'She's good at advising and putting issues into perspective. She's not a negotiator,' said someone with experience working alongside Hillman on this file. RECOMMENDED VIDEO The Americans are looking to secure a deal with us and instead of sending in a salesperson, a closer, we're sending in the accounting team. It won't work. We aren't even trying to secure the same kind of deal. The Americans are looking for a deal in principle, a high-level deal in broad strokes, we are pushing for something more comprehensive than the Americans are interested in. And at the same time as we say we want to negotiate a more comprehensive deal, we put nothing forward – everything is about waiting for them to move. The Americans, you may have noticed, are busy with other countries who want to negotiate. They don't have time for teams playing games. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. One source said that Hillman is playing a similar strategy to what the Canadian delegation used in renegotiating NAFTA in 2017. The problem with that is those tactics irritated the Americans so much that they froze us out, signed a deal with Mexico and we had to play catch up. Mark Carney won the election by promising the public he was best positioned to deal with Donald Trump. So far, he hasn't delivered – and that is hurting Canadian jobs and Canadian companies. Enough of the games, it's time for Carney to replace Hillman and send in someone who can and is willing to negotiate a deal. blilley@ Hockey Sports Toronto & GTA Toronto Blue Jays Columnists
