This article from the Calgary Dollars bi-monthly newspaper pretty much mirrors what I’ve been (obnoxiously?) preaching re: the upcoming municipal election candidates—Higgins and Nenshi in particular. Please understand that supporting the arts and culture sectors is not atop either of their priority lists, even if their admittedly eloquent campaigning makes you think it is. Also note that this article must have be published before Kent Hehr dropped out (for lack of funding). And that Paul Hughes is just way too awesome a guy to ever get enough votes in Calgary :(

This article from the Calgary Dollars bi-monthly newspaper pretty much mirrors what I’ve been (obnoxiously?) preaching re: the upcoming municipal election candidates—Higgins and Nenshi in particular. Please understand that supporting the arts and culture sectors is not atop either of their priority lists, even if their admittedly eloquent campaigning makes you think it is.

Also note that this article must have be published before Kent Hehr dropped out (for lack of funding). And that Paul Hughes is just way too awesome a guy to ever get enough votes in Calgary :(

Have you heard about Calgary Dollars? — Well, it’s genius. Calgary Dollars are the same as real money (i.e. you can actually buy things other than Monopoly properties with them), except you can only spend them at certain locations around Calgary (like The Plaza, The Uptown, Broken City, many, many more). And why would you want money that you can’t spend anywhere you want? Two very good reasons: It’s free. (read on) It promotes a sustainable, locally produced and consumed economy. Which means that it supports people and businesses in your own area, rather than subsidizing costs by exploiting foreign interests (which is one of the basic tenets of most corporations). In other words, it makes you spend and sell locally. This is not only the healthiest kind of economy (since it pragmatically develops an area’s talents and resources), it also mutually benefits all of its participants since it relies on strengthened community, shared interests, and consciously smarter living. And Calgary already has this up and running! The coolest thing is, to get you started in the program, they are offering 20 Calgary Dollars (that’s equivalent to CAD $20) for free, just for signing up. I strongly encourage you to sign up for Reason #2 alone, but since a few clicks is all it takes to make yourself $20, it’s kind of a no-brainer. And I’ll make you a deal: enter “cinesmith” into the “I heard about Calgary Dollars from” field and I’ll buy your ticket and popcorn next time we head to the movies!

Have you heard about Calgary Dollars? — Well, it’s genius.

Calgary Dollars are the same as real money (i.e. you can actually buy things other than Monopoly properties with them), except you can only spend them at certain locations around Calgary (like The Plaza, The Uptown, Broken City, many, many more).

And why would you want money that you can’t spend anywhere you want? Two very good reasons:

  1. It’s free. (read on)
  2. It promotes a sustainable, locally produced and consumed economy.

Which means that it supports people and businesses in your own area, rather than subsidizing costs by exploiting foreign interests (which is one of the basic tenets of most corporations). In other words, it makes you spend and sell locally. This is not only the healthiest kind of economy (since it pragmatically develops an area’s talents and resources), it also mutually benefits all of its participants since it relies on strengthened community, shared interests, and consciously smarter living.

And Calgary already has this up and running!

The coolest thing is, to get you started in the program, they are offering 20 Calgary Dollars (that’s equivalent to CAD $20) for free, just for signing up. I strongly encourage you to sign up for Reason #2 alone, but since a few clicks is all it takes to make yourself $20, it’s kind of a no-brainer.

And I’ll make you a deal: enter “cinesmith” into the “I heard about Calgary Dollars from” field and I’ll buy your ticket and popcorn next time we head to the movies!