The Pulse: Dec. 9, 2022

Shawn Kanungo makes his living speaking and strategizing about disruption. He has published hundreds of videos. He has tens of thousands of followers on social media.

So why on Earth would he do something as old-school as writing a book?

"When everything's fast and easy and transactional and seamless … actually doing something slow and traditional and boring and just tangible can actually create disproportionate value," he said.

Hence, The Bold Ones: Innovate and Disrupt to Become Truly Indispensable, which was published by McGraw-Hill on Dec. 6. It's billed as a "practical and inspirational playbook" for those wishing to advance their careers and push their companies forward, drawing lessons from a variety of "change agents" throughout history.

Putting his ideas down on paper also helps him illustrate a theory he has about the power of wasting time — there are faster, more optimized ways to convey and consume information, but those are not necessarily the best ways.

"Wasting your time is great," he told Bloom co-host Faaiza Ramji. "That's where you explore, you play, you build trust and relationships, and we should waste more of our time."

Writing a book is also the sort of thing you do "if you want to be in this game of thought leadership," which Kanungo most certainly does. After 12 years of consulting at Deloitte, he fully committed to a career as a keynote speaker and strategist through Queen & Rook in 2018.

• Mayor Amarjeet Sohi kicked off the 2023-2026 budget deliberations on Dec. 7 with a multi-item motion pitching a series of investments into public transit, bike lanes, green projects and retrofits, Chinatown improvements, and affordable housing, along with a series of cuts, including axing the 100 Street pedestrian bridge project and reducing the extent of repairs to the High Level Bridge. "We want to let Edmontonians know that council as a whole deeply believes in improving our public services, keeping them affordable, at the same time taking action on climate change, on affordable housing, social housing, doing our part in ending houselessness, as well as building a city that is free from racism and shows a strong commitment to reconciliation," Sohi said. "I hope the majority of council supports this approach."
• The city announced 25 recipients of this year's Community Safety and Well-being (CSWB) Grant, who will receive a combined $1.58 million. "These diverse community organizations have put forward inspiring and innovative projects to advance our collective goals of prioritizing anti-racism and reconciliation, eradicating poverty, improving mental health, and advocating for justice," said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. The program received 226 applications this year.
• Service at Corona LRT Station was disrupted on Dec. 8 around 7:30am after Edmonton Transit Service suspended operations because a man was trespassing in the station ceiling. The area contains operational equipment, and the man was deemed a potential safety risk to staff, passengers, and himself. Police later said he escaped through a street-level manhole. Service resumed around 9am.
• The city is looking for around 45 Edmontonians to join 15 civic boards, which include agencies, committees, and commissions that provide input into council decision-making. In a release, the city described serving on a civic board as "an exciting opportunity to use your expertise and unique perspectives to positively impact our city." The city's website includes a list of civic boards currently accepting applications. The deadline to apply is Jan. 15.
• The father of Ben Stelter, the six-year-old Edmonton Oilers fan who passed away from an aggressive glioblastoma brain tumour on Aug. 9, announced the launch of the Ben Stelter Fund to help children who are battling cancer. The fund, which was kickstarted with $100,000 donated by Connor McDavid and local entrepreneur Ashif Mawji, will support four key pillars: outcome-based research into glioblastoma and other pediatric cancers, medical equipment, magical experiences for children, and venture philanthropy. "We want Ben's name and his legacy to go on forever, and I think this is the perfect way," said Ben's father Mike.
• The federal government announced over $3.5 million in funding for Canada Snowboard in 2022-2023, including $450,000 to host the Style Experience FIS Snowboard Big Air World Cup in Edmonton from Dec. 9 to 10, and the Welcome to Paradise Para-Snowboard World Cup in Kelowna, British Columbia from Dec. 15 to 21. "Edmonton is a world-class sports city, and we are ready to welcome athletes, families, support teams, and visitors from around the world," said Randy Boissonnault, the federal tourism minister and MP for Edmonton Centre.

Experiences to take in this weekend include a book launch, a naughty take on a Christmas classic, a documentary about Afghan refugees in Edmonton, a whimsical market, and an epic snowboarding event.

• Dec. 9, 9:30pm: Nutcracker: A Burlesque
• Dec. 9, 7pm: NeWest Press Book Launch: How to Hold A Pebble at Café Bel-Air
• Dec. 10, 3pm: Memories in a Box: Across Borders — Documentary Premiere at Metro Cinema
• Dec. 10: The Style Experience FIS Snowboard Big Air World Cup at Commonwealth Stadium
• Dec. 11, 10am: DisEnchanted Market YEG at the Alberta Aviation Museum

Find even more things to do in the Arts Roundup.

Photo: The Style Experience is the first stop in the 2022-2023 Shred the North Series, run by Canada Snowboard. (D. Stewart)