By Action Canada Fellow Heather Watts’24
This author would like to acknowledge this blog post was written in the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat, known to some as the Greater Toronto Area. This author appreciates the opportunity to share her reflections on the 24-25 Fellowship Cohort’s time spent in Calgary, Alberta, the traditional territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy (the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai First Nations), as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda First Nations (the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Wesley), and is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III.
Calgary, Alberta, is often synonymous with the natural resources sector, and it was the first stop for the 2024-2025 Action Canada Fellowship Cohort. After spending weeks connecting over Zoom and WhatsApp, it was a privilege to come together in-person to embark on this ten-month community of learning.
As someone new to the world of the natural resources sector, I appreciated hearing from Ruhee Ismail-Teja at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, who provided an overview of Calgary, the third-largest and third-most diverse major city in Canada. Our cohort learned that Calgary’s economy is known for its big ups and downs due to its reliance on the oil and gas industry. When oil prices are high, the city booms with rapid growth, many new jobs, and a booming real estate market. The skyline fills with new buildings, and people flock to the city, making it a lively and prosperous place. But when oil prices drop, Calgary hits tough times. Job losses, business closures, and falling property values challenge everyone. These bust periods strain the local economy and public services, showing how much the city depends on the energy market. To deal with these ups and downs, Calgary is working on diversifying its economy and investing in sustainable energy technologies to build a more stable and resilient future.
As my background is in the education sector, I am also a newcomer to the world of public policy. Hearing from one of our fellowship mentors, Rachel Wernick, supported my understanding of what policy is, who they are for, and the cycle of policy-making. This led to a deep discussion among the fellows of what sound public policy ought to be rather than what it currently is.
One of the most impactful experiences during the study tour was the Walk for Reconciliation on June 21, 2024, National Indigenous Peoples Day. This annual event takes place in June to commemorate the Statement of Apology to former students of Indian Residential Schools on behalf of the Government of Canada on June 11, 2008. Walking along the Bow River, which passes under the Reconciliation Bridge, we were led by drummers and singers who offered honour songs to Residential School Survivors, families, and those who never returned home from these institutions. Throughout this walk and our eventual arrival at Fort Calgary, where we listened to various speakers, I reflected on the fundamental questions that were raised: what narratives continue to be upheld? What constitutes knowledge? Who is taught about, and in what way are they remembered, revered, and celebrated? Why do these questions matter when thinking about public policy? Pinging back to Day 2 of our study tour and the Policy 101 workshop with Rachel Wernick, public policy surrounds the creation of guidelines and actions to solve or address real-world problems. By the 1880s, the federal government had adopted an official policy of funding residential schools across Canada. The explicit intent was to separate Indigenous children from their families, lands, and cultures. Whose real-world problem was this addressing? What narrative did this policy continue to uphold?
I am incredibly grateful for the offerings throughout this study tour, especially to the speakers who generously offered their time, the staff who took care of every detail, and the rest of my cohort for their passion, friendship, and challenge.
