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 [email protected] 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:

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...

"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.

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.

Join @sphillipsab.bsky.social, Leah Ward and I for a new political podcast for people who know politics isn’t polite.

Trump trying to destabilise Canada from within.

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.

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...

16 days into 2026 and Calgary is averaging 1 person/day getting hit by cars. And that is just the reported incidents.... #roadsafety

"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.🤦‍♀️

This is an independent venture, but I’ll be working in partnership with two firms run by people I know & respect (who are all former journalists, too): @curtisbrownmb.bsky.social & @mawelch.bsky.social with Probe Research @annaliseak.bsky.social & @alexyyc.bsky.social with Champion Communications

As they say, *ahem*, some personal news: After 20 years in journalism, including a decade at CBC News, I'm moving on to something different. I’m launching my own independent practice as a Data & Storytelling Strategist. Yes, I'm giving up a stable job in order to hang up my own shingle. Why? 🧵👇

Couldn't agree more. I left Twitter in 2023 and there's been so many more reasons to leave since then. The fact that many politicians, not to mention smart journalists, academics and people remain boggles my mind. What are you accomplishing by staying?

"I believe we’re not fully human unless we are experiencing life together,” Ms. Hill says. 🥹 www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article...

"Infrastructure deterioration is a problem across Canada...But Calgary’s situation is particularly severe as the fastest-growing major city in the country, with a low density resulting in more kilometres of pipe per resident than any other major Canadian city." #yyccc www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

NEW EP: Episode 1900 Crisis Without a Comms Collapse PATREON: Carter & Phillips on Calgary's water main break and how the city's comms are actually working. How do you manage a crisis when no one's paying attention? Zain's out - Annalise is in.

"Researchers found no significant differences in well-being between people living in single detached homes, duplexes, townhouses, laneway houses and apartment buildings (basement units smaller than 300 square feet were the only negative exception)."

“It takes many years, not of heavy lifting, but light lifting – light kinds of interactions. Then suddenly, you have something incredibly strong. But you can’t put the strong thing together without a lot of threads.” A nice feature on friendship: www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/ad12d82...

"If you read a book in 2025—just one book—you belong to an endangered species...fewer than half of Americans had read a single book in the previous 12 months; only 38 percent had read a novel or short story." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

Water Main Break: See the graphic below for a summary of the most recent and important information at this time. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the day as City crews and staff continue their work on-site. #yyc #yyccc

What if investing in infrastructure, both in building it high quality and maintaining it through regular investments is actually important? (You could say I’m subtweeting a city but honestly it’s a continent wide phenomenon)

Story trails in Kimberley, hiking clothes we actually love, Switzerland's epic playgrounds and après ski raclette... these are a few of the outdoor things we loved in 2025. Our full Go Outside post is here gooutside.substack.com/p/outdoor-th... I'm curious, what's on your list?

I recognize spreading the word that the ACC Elizabeth Parker Hut lottery is now open diminishes my chances of getting a spot but also, maybe you'll enter & win and have 4 extra spaces for me! 🤞🤞🤞 $16 to enter. 2 entries for ACC members. 1 if you are not. One of the most magical places on earth!

Alberta coal mining opponents ‘exasperated’ after citizen petition cancelled globalnews.ca/news/1157895... #Alberta #abpoli

The UCP has made 2025 one of the darkest years for Alberta’s democracy. Albertans can turn on the lights in 2026. By simply being Albertan. Let me explain. 🧵 open.substack.com/pub/drjaredw...

We're now three weeks since #yyc's first big snowfall and trying to push a stroller around this city is still a pain. This is a well-used route next to a shopping centre (North Hill Centre). #yycwalk #yyccc

Time for my annual reminder that Calgary is cold and snowy and wonderful and we need a Winter Mayor! What's that!? Read on: open.substack.com/pub/gooutsid... #yyccc

“We’re cutting away at access points for the poorest Calgarians when we start making these moves.” “We just decreased taxes for Calgarians but with this move, we’re going to eliminate any benefit of that increase for the ones who need it the most." calgaryherald.com/news/council... #yyccc

On Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Sam Mraiche www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... w/ @tomcardoso.bsky.social @markmackinnon.bsky.social @hoserlibrarian.bsky.social

Abertans have had their say — and every time, we've said no to coal. Demand answers, and demand action. Send a letter to your MLA telling them you oppose coal mining in the #EasternSlopes of Alberta's #RockyMountains. And ask them: What are you doing, or going to do, about it? #MountainsNotMines

Waiting for a Chinook is *not* a good snow clearing strategy. Waiting for a Chinook is *not* a good snow clearing strategy. Waiting for a Chinook is *not* a good snow clearing strategy. #yyccc

Apropos of nothing in particular…

Colleen Jones asked me to interview her a couple of months ago during a chemotherapy appointment. She told me to write one heck of a story. I hope I did her proud. About always believing something wonderful is about to happen. My tribute to Colleen: www.cbc.ca/sports/olymp...

NEW: Global News has learned the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has paused $129M in federal Housing Accelerator Fund money to the City of Calgary pending further clarity on citywide rezoning. globalnews.ca/news/1154274...