By Barb Gustafson

Like the rest of Canada, I have been watching the Olympics. When that’s all that’s on seven TV channels, it’s pretty hard not to watch at least some of it. Continue Reading

By Barb Gustafson

There are a lot of things Alberta and Saskatchewan differ on, but we do agree on Family Day, a statutory holiday in February (also known as Louis Riel Day in Manitoba and Islander Day in Prince Edward Island). Continue Reading

By Barb Gustafson, Sask-a-tuned

Do aboriginal people need separate educational institutions? If so, how should they be managed? What would be different about them? Continue Reading

By Barb Gustafson, Sask-a-tuned

Nobody’s perfect, especially elected representatives of any stripe, but the imperfections of the Saskatchewan government have been highlighted in the past few weeks. Continue Reading

It’s truly winter in Saskatchewan, as we are digging out of a snowstorm that hit the southern half of the province over the past few days. Continue Reading

By Barb Gustafson, Sask-a-tuned columnist

While Alberta’s premier may be looking over his shoulder to see who’s leaving his cabinet or how close the Wild Rose Party is nipping at his heels, in Saskatchewan, the love affair with Premier Brad Wall continues.  Wall is enjoying a wave of popularity that has not abated, or at least not much, since he was elected in 2007. Continue Reading

Barb Gustafson

The story of the week in Saskatchewan has been the conclusion to the Eric Tillman saga, with some interesting differences of opinion on how it should have ended.  Tillman was the highly successful general manager of the Saskatchewan Roughriders who was instrumental in rebuilding the team into a Grey Cup winner in 2007 and a Grey Cup almost-winner in 2009. While a general manager of a professional sports team doesn’t carry the same kind of public profile as a star player or even the coach, Tillman was generally well liked and respected. Continue Reading

Barb Gustafson

“How did you know you were back in the cold?” asked a friend when I returned from a recent holiday in Hawaii.  “When there was snow drifting into the passageway between the plane and the airport terminal,” I replied.  Oh, it’s tough to come back from the warm breezes of Honolulu to the snow of Calgary (you folk s have a lot more snow than Saskatchewan does) and then the cold of Saskatoon, but all good things must come to an end, and reality – along with Mastercard bills – must be faced. Continue Reading

Barb Gustafson

As I teach the business life cycle to students in my classes, I often use the media, and newspapers in particular, as an illustration. In part, that’s because I still have a personal interest in newspapers, having spent many years working in that field. The other reason is because the newspaper industry is such a example of the life cycle and an example that got even better – or worse – this week. Continue Reading

Barb Gustafson

The cold – and colds – have hit home, so excuse me if I’m looking at the world through blue-coloured glasses this week.   Furnaces kicked into gear this week, a clear sign that the beautiful weather of September has come to its end and we’re entering the time of coats, gloves and, before long, snow. The good news offsetting this reality is that SaskEnergy, our natural gas supplier, is going to reduce its rates slightly beginning in November. Continue Reading