Jessica Barrett, Calgary Herald

Jessica Barrett

Calgary Herald

Vancouver, WA, United States

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Recent:
  • Unknown
Past:
  • Calgary Herald
  • Financial Post
  • Edmonton Journal
  • The Vancouver Sun
  • The Montreal Gazette

Past articles by Jessica:

A future without work?

Tinkerine Studios’ loft-like space in central Vancouver seems innocent enough. Part hip startup, part modern hobby shop, its minimal work stations and fresh white walls contrast candy-coloured plastic trinkets lining the shelves, each one produced by Tinkerine’s marquee product: a line of 3D printers. For those who haven’t seen the process in action, 3D printing can be a hard concept to grasp.… → Read More

Which generations dominate the workforce now?

Millennials, Generation X and Baby Boomers: Here's a look at the major demographic groups and where they fit in in the workforce → Read More

Culture of entitlement not limited to youth

Millennials are most often accused of a lack of duty and discipline in the workplace, but studies suggest entitlement is going up across the western world, among every age group → Read More

The entitled Millennial? The Boomer who won’t retire? Is it time to toss the clichés?

Canadians are on the edge of a talent revolution, where age diversity spanning 4 generations is transforming workplaces on the same scale as industrialization and the Internet → Read More

Work in Progress: Good job versus bad job

On a recent night off in Austin, Texas, a city known for its plethora of independent music venues, funky bars and eclectic restaurants, Vancouver's Grant Daisley found himself checking out the local grocery store. Specifically the Whole Foods Market, the same high-end food chain he works for as a regional marketer back in B.C. The excursion, after a day of meetings with other company staff was,… → Read More

The death of lifelong jobs: Unlike past generations, younger workers are having to adjust to employment instability

Freelancing helped Sandra Poczobut purchase her charming home. Monday through Wednesday she’d be in Toronto teaching specialized job-skills classes for new immigrants through a social services agency. An accomplished visual artist, she also taught continuing education courses through the Ontario College of Art and Design and balanced residencies at art galleries in the Toronto area. The… → Read More

The Disconnect: Do we really have a skills shortage? Or just a communication problem

The most vexing problem in Canada's economy has been reduced to a pithy tagline: Jobs without people and people without jobs. Variations of the phrase punctuate government pamphlets, industry white papers and economic reports, all aiming to get to the bottom of a stubborn paradox: a relatively high national unemployment rate -- particularly among youth -- that persists as employers complain they… → Read More

Health minister ‘surprised’ at fertility clinic’s policy

Alberta Health Minister Fred Horne says the former policy of a Calgary fertility clinic to restrict patients to using sperm donors of their same racial background highlights the need for clear ethical guidelines as the province moves toward funding invitro fertilization. “This is a really good example of how when we look at this, these kinds of issues, it’s about a lot more than the money… → Read More

Fertility clinic claims it ended policy about ethnic donors ‘more than a year ago’

The Calgary fertility clinic that has come under fire for refusing to treat patients who wish to use sperm donors of a different race is now denying the policy exists and claiming a fertility specialist on its staff was not speaking for the clinic when he made controversial remarks about “rainbow families.” In a statement released late Monday, the Regional Fertility Program claims the policy was… → Read More

Scene of Calgary’s worst mass slaying listed for sale

At first glance, there’s nothing notable about the blue and stucco house on the corner of Butler Crescent in the city’s northwest. With paint slightly peeling under the eaves and a brimming garbage bin in the driveway, it looks like any other fixer-upper on the market, just waiting for someone to see the potential of its sturdy structure, large corner lot and mature, leafy trees. → Read More

No ‘rainbow families’: Ethnic donor stipulation at fertility centre ‘floors’ local woman

A Calgary woman says she was shocked to learn of a policy at the city’s only fertility treatment centre that restricts patients from using sperm, eggs or embryos from donors who do not match their ethnic background. Catherine, who asked to use only her first name, said she sought invitro fertilization at the Regional Fertility Program last March as a single woman. During routine consultations… → Read More

No ‘rainbow families’: Ethnic donor stipulation at fertility centre ‘floors’ local woman

A Calgary woman says she was shocked to learn of a policy at the city’s only fertility treatment centre that restricts patients from using sperm, eggs or embryos from donors who do not match their ethnic background. Catherine, who asked to use only her first name, said she sought invitro fertilization at the Regional Fertility Program last March as a single woman. During routine consultations… → Read More

No ‘rainbow families’: Ethnic donor stipulation at fertility centre ‘floors’ local woman

A Calgary woman says she was shocked to learn of a policy at the city’s only fertility treatment centre that restricts patients from using sperm, eggs or embryos from donors who do not match their ethnic background. Catherine, who asked to use only her first name, said she sought invitro fertilization at the Regional Fertility Program last March as a single woman. During routine consultations… → Read More

City opts to leave seniors transit rates alone

Drastic proposed changes to seniors transit fares are likely off the table for the time being, following a lengthy debate in front of the city’s transportation committee. Dozens of seniors and anti-poverty activists braved the four-hour meeting on Friday to speak out against Calgary Transit’s proposal for a revised fare strategy that would have seen a deeply discounted $95 annual pass for regular-income… → Read More

City opts to leave seniors transit rates alone

Drastic proposed changes to seniors transit fares are likely off the table for the time being, following a lengthy debate in front of the city’s transportation committee. Dozens of seniors and anti-poverty activists braved the four-hour meeting on Friday to speak out against Calgary Transit’s proposal for a revised fare strategy that would have seen a deeply discounted $95 annual pass… → Read More

Doctor’s refusal to prescribe birth control creates ‘barrier’ for patients: ethicist

A Calgary physician who is refusing to prescribe birth control to patients at a walk-in clinic in the city’s southwest may not be fulfilling her obligation to patient health, say experts in medical ethics. “I think this doctor may be, because of her religious attitudes, unable to meet an important range of patients’ health needs,” said Arthur Schafer, director of the Centre for Professional and Applied… → Read More

Doctor's refusal to prescribe birth control creates 'barrier' for patients: ethicist

A Calgary physician who is refusing to prescribe birth control to patients at a walk-in clinic in the city’s southwest may not be fulfilling her obligation to patient health, say experts in medical ethics. “I think this doctor may be, because of her religious attitudes, unable to meet an important range of patients’ health needs,” said Arthur Schafer, director of the Centre… → Read More

Heritage Park exhibit to honour Famous 5 suffragettes

Caitlin McClung never met her great-grandmother, but she carries on her legacy in more than just name. → Read More

‘National disgrace’: Alberta First Nations sue federal government over drinking water

Four Alberta First Nations are suing the federal government over its alleged inaction to address the deplorable condition of drinking water on nearly three-quarters of aboriginal reserves in Canada. Representatives from the Sucker Creek, Ermineskin, Kainai and Tsuu T’ina nations filed the suit in Calgary federal court Monday morning.In its statement of claim, the group alleges the government… → Read More

‘National disgrace’: Alberta First Nations sue federal government over drinking water

Four Alberta First Nations are suing the federal government over what it says are deplorable and persistent drinking water conditions on aboriginal reserves. Representatives from the Sucker Creek, Erminskin, Kainai and Tsuu T’ina nations filed the suit in federal court Monday morning.In its statement of claim, the group alleges the government has created and sustaining conditions where unsafe… → Read More