Performing Arts Centre Shouldn’t be Built on a Field of Dreams

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By Jason Menard

A proposed performing arts centre in London must be built upon a foundation of more than wishes and dreams.

The London Free Press ran an article stating that a committee examining both proposals for a performing arts centre were lacking. What people should be most concerned about is not that the proposals were merely found deficient, but that neither proposal bothered to concern themselves too much about developing a sound business plan.

I’d be shocked, if I hadn’t been exposed to the centre’s proponents’ main argument — a Field of Dreams attitude that states if you build it, they will come. Continue reading →

Collaboration, Compromise Not Dirty Words

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By Jason Menard

A friend whose voice I respect on Twitter as one rooted in common sense and decorum recently attended a conference on growing her market. One of the takeaways, she Tweeted, was that the most common word heard at the conference was “collaboration.”

As in, collaborative efforts between organizations to foster growth; as in collaboration amongst different groups to maximize strengths and fortify weaknesses; as in collaboration to reach a mutually beneficial goal.

Collaboration: whether you’re talking business or politics, it’s almost always the solution.

Unfortunately, too many of us see collaboration — and its necessary ingredient compromise — as dirty words. Continue reading →

For Me Mentality Misinterprets the Political Forum

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By Jason Menard

For me.

These two words are what have been holding me back from making any sort of comment, posting any sort of reply, or engaging in any sort of debate.

For me.

As in, why bother trying to be rational because the Twitter debate is exclusively centred around, “For me.” Continue reading →

In Hockey, Life, There’s No Place Like Home

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By Jason Menard,

Whether your name is Dorothy or Dmitri, there really is no place like home.

In the wake of Alexander Burmistrov’s return to the KHL and Ilya Kovalchuk’s decision to forsake $77 million US to return to his homeland, the Winnipeg Sun’s Paul Friesen looked into whether teams should be concerned about drafting and investing in Russian players. Continue reading →

True Strength Lies in Negotiation, Compromise

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By Jason Menard

I am frequently disappointed in the decisions made by my political representatives — and I can honestly say that there’s no other way I’d rather have it.

Well, that’s not true. But until I’m appointed Supreme Overlord, I’ll just have to get over the fact that my government won’t do exactly what I what, in the way I want it, when I want it all the time. Unfortunately, there are too many who see politics as a game and expect their team to win. Continue reading →