Conversations That Matter

Conversations That Matter Ep 54: Michael Dixon

Episode 54

Dr. Michael Dixon

Tomatosphere - Growing veggies in space!

This week’s Conversation That Matters features Dr. Michael Dixon and his team have figured out how to grow tomatoes in space and anywhere on earth including the Canadian high arctic.

“The technology that we evolved to compete with that challenge here in Canada, is almost identical to what you would use on the moon and Mars. And so it's eminently transferrable.” Dixon goes on to say the earthly benefit of figuring out how to grow vegetables in space means we can provide food security at home anywhere all the time.

Conversations That Matter is a partner program with the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. Join veteran Broadcaster Stuart McNish each week for these important and engaging Conversations shaping our future.

Please become a subscriber and support the production of the program at www.conversationsthatmatter.tv

Conversations That Matter EP 52: Dimitri Pantazzopoulos

Episode 52

Dimitri Pantazopoulos

Can you trust election polls?

This week’s Conversation That Matters features Dimitri Pantazopoulos, the only person who called the 2013 correctly in BC’s last general election. He takes us inside the world of polling. A world he says is complex, so complex that unless you have access to the methodology used in the sample, you’re left having to trust you instincts to know if the poll is accurate.

“It comes down to the methodology. We use live interviewers which I think remains the gold standard”, says Pantazopoulos. He also points out, what matters is where key question are asked in the interview. When asked off the top the likelihood of an accurate answer increases dramatically.

He went on to say technology is working against accuracy in polling, he says he envisions a day where the industry may have to return to door to door canvassing.

Conversations That Matter is a partner program with the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. Join veteran Broadcaster Stuart McNish each week for these important and engaging Conversations shaping our future.

Please become a subscriber and support the production of the program at www.conversationsthatmatter.tv

A Conversation That Matters Ep 51 with Shauna Sylvester

Episode 51

Shauna Sylvester

Renewable Cities

This week’s Conversation That Matters features Shauna Sylvester the driving force behind “Renewable Cities” a conference that became a newtwork focused on what cities can do to become 100% renewable and it’s  gone global.

Sylvester says, “I went and interviewed over 100 people across the country and internationally to really get a sense of what is within the toolbox that cities can do and what is not within their control?”

Renewable Cities is about what cities have control over, efficiency, zoning, density, green buildings, better transportation and walkability. Sylvester says, “You can create places where people live close to where they work so that they're not having to get into their car.”

Conversations That Matter is a partner program with the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. Join veteran Broadcaster Stuart McNish each week for these important and engaging Conversations shaping our future.

Please become a subscriber and support the production of the program at www.conversationsthatmatter.tv

A Conversation That Matters Ep 50 with Ross Beaty

Episode 50

Ross Beaty

Forget the future, Green energy is here and it's booming

This week’s Conversation That Matters features Ross Beaty who founded more than 12 resource based companies before switching to green power. Beaty discusses why his business focus changed and where he sees the future in energy.

Beaty says, “In terms of new power production, in 2014 globally, there's more new power production from renewable sources, than from fossil fuels, which is a very very cool thing. So it's no longer alternative, it's mainstream, it's no longer expensive in all places, it's very much comparable to most other forms of power generation if not cheaper.”

His companies are in geo-thermal, wind, solar and run-of-river power generation. He says more money was invested globally in these forms of energy than in new carbon burning projects in the past year. He points out, however, it is not a glamourous investment, “it's like a utility, it's kind of boring. But it gives you stable and predictable returns.”

Conversations That Matter is a partner program with the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. Join veteran Broadcaster Stuart McNish each week for these important and engaging Conversations shaping our future.

Please become a subscriber and support the production of the program at www.conversationsthatmatter.tv

A Conversation That Matters with Marta Cunningham

Episode 49

Marta Cunningham

LGBTQ - When will the killing stop?

This week’s Conversation That Matters features Marta Cunningham the American documentary film producer of Valentine Road, a film that looks inside the world of hate directed at Gays, Lesbians and Transgendered.

The film looks at both sides of the murder of Lawrence King, a young man who was shot by a fellow classmate because he let it be known he liked the boy. Cunningham says the film, “isn’t just about the victim but also the perpetrator. It starts with who he was as a person, and how the community at that school, the environment and the culture of hatred that was at that school.”

Cunningham’s film won critical acclaim at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and was acquired by HBO. She says it’s release comes at a time of flux in North America. She says, “we’ve got this incredible progressive movement, of acceptance. And then we have states popping up right and left that not only are not for marriage equality, but are actually thinking about barring people from restaurants that are LGBTQ,

Conversations That Matter is a partner program with the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. Join veteran Broadcaster Stuart McNish each week for these important and engaging Conversations shaping our future.

Please become a subscriber and support the production of the program at www.conversationsthatmatter.tv

Conversations That Matter Ep 48 Murray Leith

Episode 48

Murray Leith

The Markets - follow the trendlines not the headlines

This week’s Conversation That Matters features Murray Leith the head of research at Odlum Brown and his message is, “we’ve seen market volatility before and we’ll see it again”. He points out fluctuations are a natural part of the investment cycle.

Leith says, “this correction is not a surprise because China’s economy is slowing and the market is starting to worry that they will resort to currency depreciation to stimulate growth.” He goes on to say, “when the market reacted on Monday you didn’t rush to sell your house and private business owners didn’t sell their companies, so why be so quick to sell your investments.”

Conversations That Matter is a partner program with the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. Join veteran Broadcaster Stuart McNish each week for these important and engaging Conversations shaping our future.

Please become a subscriber and support the production of the program at www.conversationsthatmatter.tv

A Conversation That Matters with Pierre Cléroux

Episode 47

Pierre Cleroux

Where have the young entrepreneurs gone?

This week’s Conversation That Matters features Pierre Cleroux the Chief Economist at BDC  who says, “over the past 10 years fewer and fewer young Canadians are choosing to become entrepreneurs.”

Cleroux says the decline in entrepreneurship can have serious consequences for the economy now and well into the future, “it’s a concern because new entrepreneurs are very important in the creation of new jobs and they play a fundamental role in the development of innovation.”

There are a number of reasons why the rates of young entrepreneurs are dropping, they include but are not limited to: a. high education debts upon graduation, b. a strong job market, c. high risk and d. a very complex business landscape.

Conversations That Matter is a partner program with the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. Join veteran Broadcaster Stuart McNish each week for these important and engaging Conversations shaping our future.

Please become a subscriber and support the production of the program at www.conversationsthatmatter.tv

A Conversation That Matters with Dave MacDonald

Episode 46 David MacDonald

Turning mental illness into wellness

This week’s Conversation That Matters features David MacDonald the driving force behind the Clubhouse movement in BC. A model of helping people transition from illness to wellness, a program that provides assistance, skills training and a network of support.

The Clubhouse model is a work focused environment. MacDonald says, “the work is meaningful because it reflects  everyday challenges. The program includes assistance in returning to school, gaining employment, finding a place to live and the myriad issues and concerns associated with mental health.”

MacDonald says, “people with mental health challenges have the same wishes, dreams and desires as anyone but they have a harder time achieving them.” Over the past 30 years Pathways in Richmond has helped thousands lead productive lives.

Conversations That Matter is a partner program with the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. Join veteran Broadcaster Stuart McNish each week for these important and engaging Conversations shaping our future.

Please become a subscriber and support the production of the program at www.conversationsthatmatter.tv

A Conversation That Matters with Dr. David Kahane

Episode 45 David Kahane

Canadian Science at the forefront of research

This week’s Conversations That Matter features Dr. David Kahane the Director of Alberta’s Climate Dialogue, a citizen group that addressed Edmonton’s call for recommendations on energy neutrality.

Dr. Kahane lead 60 people from diverse backgrounds that accurately reflected the makeup of the city, “a group of citizens that were genuinely diverse, that had the chance to do some learning and hear from each other and this is their considered set of recommendations.” City Council unanimously accepted the plan and used it to form its energy policy.

Conversations That Matter is a partner program with the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. Join veteran Broadcaster Stuart McNish each week for these important and engaging Conversations shaping our future.

Please become a subscriber and support the production of the program at www.conversationsthatmatter.tv

A Conversation That Matters with Dr. Alan Bernstein

Episode 44 Dr. Alan Bernstein

Canadian Science at the forefront of research

This week’s Conversation That Matters features Dr. Alan Bernstein the President and CEO of CIFAR a scientific research institute that is paring the best Canadian scientific minds with the best in the world to address the complex and pressing issues facing us all.

Dr. Bernstein says, “there are a lot of problems the world faces that are not unique to any one country. If you think about climate, terrorism, brain and mind, sustainable energy, cancer, they’re global issues and they need to be addressed in a global way.” He goes on to point out that Canada accounts for five per cent of the world’s scientific literature so it’s important to team up with the best in the world.

Conversations That Matter is a partner program with the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. Join veteran Broadcaster Stuart McNish each week for these important and engaging Conversations shaping our future on The Vancouver Sun website.

Please become a subscriber and support the production of the program at www.conversationsthatmatter.tv