Dangerously Hot!

The famed Las Vegas sign

Our second trip to Vegas was as delightful as our first visit... and certainly re-affirmed it as one of our favourite places on earth to go. Never more than 6 feet apart from each other, it was a great time to re-connect with Duncan (especially since I was so completely distracted for the past 2.5 weeks working on a Nomination Campaign).

Phantom is playing at the Venetian

The main reason for this trip to Las Vegas was Phantom of the Opera - Duncan's gift to me for our third wedding anniversary. It also gave me the opportunity to return the thought with a video ipod for him - which considering how high our dollar is right now was a steal. We also partook again in Jubillee, which is in it's 25th year of production this year and was just as fabulous as ever. We also made sure we saw TRANSFORMERS on it's opening day - and we were not disappointed!

Allie and Duncan at the Hoover Dam

We took a morning to travel 45 minutes into the desert to stand on (and in) the Hoover Dam - which in itself is a dam impressive structure, ensuring that we had a dam good time (dam, the jokes just don't get old). We did fly over the Hoover Dam on our way to the Grand Canyon last year, but seeing it up close is something else - especially when you peer over the edge for the very first time.

View from the Stratosphere of the Strip

I think I can now confirm that the Paris Buffet is my favourite place on earth to eat (and eat...) but we did have a perfect dining experience in the revolving restaurant in the Stratosphere Tower (I heart revolving restaurants). We dined on more than our fair share of succulent Chateaubriand, which was preceeded by the best Lobster Bisque I've ever had and finished with a chocolate desert shaped like the Stratosphere. Whatever shape chocolate comes in is the perfect shape for me!

Bellagio Watershow - with Rainbow

I was continously delighted by the Bellagio watershow, day and night we were able to observe it many times and never the same show twice. I love the Bellagio, it's a gorgeous casino and hotel, and even though it's newer it's usually what I think of when I think Las Vegas. Perhaps I can thank Danny Ocean for that.

Dolphin kindly posing for a picture

We finished our last afternoon in Las Vegas exploring the Mirage - a casino we largely missed on our last trip - and enjoyed seeing the new baby dolphin and the various large cats (who were mostly just trying their best to sleep through the heat). We then proceeded back to our hotel for one last meal at the Hooters - a place I am sure we will be back to even if we never stay at the Hooters Hotel again!

Duncan and Hooters Girl

Viva Las Vegas!

In Vegas for July 4th Celebrations!

July 4th Decor at the Bellagio

With the lure of Las Vegas strong in our hearts it was just a matter of time before we returned and - as I write this - we are day four into a five day return trip... a trip that has been fabulous, as it should be, and very, very HOT. I rationally know that the desert in July should be hot - but I mean, it's hot even for Vegas standards - about 46 degrees Celsius (about 116 Fahrenheit)! I don't really know how to describe how hot it feels - but lets say it's like being in an oven - the heat comes from the ground as well as above and the sweat literally evaporates before it reaches your skin. According to the Las Vegas News there have been just four days on record when the mercury has climbed to 116 degrees or higher, with the all-time local record being 117 degrees Fahrenheit. Baby, it's hot here!

We have loads of pictures to post when we return, and until then I will mention a few highlights of the trip so far: Phantom of the Opera (was brilliant), Jubilee (was perfect as always), Rollercoaster at NYNY (a unique way to see the strip), the Hoover Dam (was dam impressive), Hooters pool side bar (was too long in the sun for my poor, red, Duncan) and TRANSFORMERS (which was awesome - especially after just standing on the Hoover Dam).

Tonight we are heading to Freemont Street and then up the Stratosphere revolving restaurant - Top of the World - to watch July 4th fireworks and celebrate our wedding anniversary.

Happy 4th of July, Las Vegas!

Congratulations Raven!

My Valedictorian

Raven graduated grade six, with Honours! Not only did she receive the commendation of the Academic Excellence Award she was also chosen as Class Valedictorian - something she managed to keep a secret from me until it was time for her to go up and make the speech (which she also wrote herself). Raven also earned an A in PE - something she has worked very hard for! We are very proud of her - Congratulations, Raven - way to blast away elementary school!

Still Awake...

But very excited that Duncan is coming home today!

I am coming to a sad realization...

I've been a Vista user now for about three months - those three months have been characterized somewhat by disappointment and frustration (Duncan even managed to break Vista in the first week). Don't get me wrong, the Northern Lights screen saver is AWESOME (I could stare at that for hours) but a screen saver does not an OS make! Everything else, even the new Office 2007, has presented it's own challenges. It's slow, it's not compatible (whose brilliant idea was that?), something (I'm not sure what) is sucking my ram, sometimes I have trouble connecting to the internet, and the security features (as illustrated so well in the ad above) drive me crazy. I don't need all these extra steps in order to get something done or sent, and to be frank the things that Vista decides on it's own to disallow bugs me more than you can know.

I almost bought a printer last month, it was 50% off. I asked the salesperson if it would work with Vista and she shook her head sadly and said "No." I found myself quipping in apology "thats okay, my laptop doesn't work with Vista either..."

Now it seems that a Mac will be joining our previously PC only home. I am sure the side to side comparision will be documented.

The Front Page!

Allie Wojtaszek, Special to the Journal

I was surprised to see a local news story I had recently participated on the front page of the Edmonton Journal this morning. A pleasant surprise, though, and my picture looks great. Don't forget to look at my other Listen pictures in the Journal's Photo Gallery. I am becoming a real photographer!

See also my Listen Bird Group on Flickr. I uploaded a bunch of new Listen pics.

In Recognition of Oustanding Service

Congratulations Duncan!

Premier Stelmach attended Edmonton Meadowlarks AGM tonight as our guest speaker. The Premier presented four Leaders' Awards to members of our constituency - Duncan was one of them, all very well deserved. It's great to see such a strong and vibrant constituency association as we head into nominations and the next election!

Rent controls are just not the answer

My friend Daveberta had an interesting post yesterday where he tries to imply that somehow the PC Party actually controls the Premier and that by voting down policy at our AGM to consider rent controls we are forcing Premier Stelmach's hand on the issue. That's an interesting argument but it's (thankfully) not accurate.

The way the policy discussion was structured at this AGM illustrates how important an issue this is to our Party membership. 83 Constituencies submitted Policy Resolutions and then the membership voted on the five most important that would be discussed at the AGM. The mere fact that this was one of the five policies that made it proves how important an issue this is to us.

The fact remains though, that when everything is considered, Rent Control is not a solution to Alberta's Housing Crisis.

As a renter I struggle with this issue, but I do try to see it from the view of the Albertan property owner as well. If you have a property that you rent out, I assume that you do so not as a service to Albertans but to make a profit, to secure your families lively hood, or to create a safe future for your retirement. With rising costs, utilities, property taxes, higher wages for maintenance workers, higher contract costs for upkeep and the legal fees associated with renting - what would motivate someone to continue to rent (especially with property prices at an all time high) if they could not meet all these new needs, rising bills AND still support their families and the goals they set out to achieve when deciding to invest in rental properties?

Further, why on earth would any developer or potential owner even build new rental units if rent controls were in place? Why not just build condos or houses and sell them - at least you will get market value for them.

Nothing is cheap in our province, and I suspect (knowing a few) that most landlords are good people who have families to support and bills to pay, just like us. We do need to find a solution - one that works for all Albertan's - and in the mean time find a way to support the lowest income members of our province who are having the hardest time dealing with these rising costs. But rent control is not the answer.

More Dis-May

Paul Well's has a great post about the continuing saga of Elizabeth May trying to staunchly defend her ill-thought comments comparing the Prime Minister to Neville Chamberlain. He first jokes (great Simpson's reference here) "She has a point. If people accused Elizabeth May of talking about Nazis every time she talks about Nazis, where would we be?" But then continues, more seriously, to the heart of the matter, saying "What is thuddingly obvious to any serious observer is that May cannot have meant anything by the Harper-Chamberlain comparison except what she is accused of having meant. If I say somebody's action is "a grievance worse than Neville Chamberlain's appeasement of the Nazis," ... I mean that in the face of a greater moral danger than the one Hitler represented, he is showing instincts of appeasement. What is also clear is that May meant every word of it." Go to Inkless Wells and read his entire post on the subject.

Power to the People...

Thanks to Shaw I'm blogging live from the PC AGM and Convention here in Edmonton. I wanted to mention a few thoughts that arose from the heated discussion at our AGM earlier this evening regarding raising our membership fees, which our Provincial Party Executive had attempted to do already (and without consultation) at an executive meeting.

The strength in our Party lies within it's core - at the grassroots level - with it's constituencies and their members. These members have long resisted raising membership dues, especially as a method of fundraising, and with good reason: a $5.00 fee makes membership in our party available to anyone and everyone who wants it. I think it is of utmost importance that everyone who wants to participate in the democratic process be able to do so, and the price of a membership to a political party should never be a barrier to this.

In attempting to raise our fees in a closed meeting (and inform us of it later), our executive forgot about the most important people in our party - us. Today, the grassroots members of the PC Party of Alberta sent a clear message in voting down the proposed fee elevation... we know that power lies within our voice, our vote and we will not tolerate anyone trying to take this away from us. Power to the People.

Christmas in Wonderland

Dinner tonight at Old Spaghetti Factory (WEM) provided additional entertainment as we watched the filming of a scene for the movie "Christmas in Wonderland" which is in production right now at West Edmonton Mall. The scene (performed by a couple of stunt doubles Jodi Stecyk and Troy Dorchester, filling in for actors Chris Kattan and Preston Lacy) involves a race through the mall on small motorbikes with some well placed mishaps on the way; culminating with a spectacular crash through a glass window overlooking the Waterpark - and a wet landing.

I found it very interesting to see first hand the amount of work and effort that goes into a production like this, especially the amount of time that it takes to set up for a scene that is actually only a few seconds long.

Stupid Is As Stupid Does...

I've been trying to figure out what to say about the Stéphane Dion/Elizabeth May "Deal" that hasn't already been said on other blogs and then I saw this. I think it says it all!

The Children of Petawawa

Having both been a soldier and a parent in my life the stories from CFB Petawawa, where it is reported that many children are "on the brink of suicide," have weighed heavy on my heart.

A Canadian childhood is supposed to be full of fun and carefree times, an opportunity to explore your world in safety and discover who it is you would like to be when you grow up. For the children of Petawawa, where many of Canada's Afgahnistan related deaths and injuries have had the largest impact, stress, anxiety and fear is more dominant. Their flags at school fly at half mast often, once for 49 days straight!

It's been reported in the news that the children are afraid of being called out of class in case they find out their mother or father are dead and that others hide in their homes with all the lights off, reasoning that if they can't be found when a military official comes to tell them their parents are dead, it won't be true.

We expect our soldiers to be brave (and they are), but thats a little too much to ask of their kids. These children need help - and I am happy that it appears they will now be getting it - but I am at a loss to understand why the support took so long to get into place when we knew this would happen.

Part of supporting our troops is making sure we look after their children and keep them safe until they return. It's the least we can do.

Vancouver Island 2007

Vancouver Island 2007
Originally uploaded by Allie Wojtaszek.

The winters here in Alberta get the best of me at times; they are just too long. By March, when the place of my birth is unfurling spring's glory in many tiny blossoms, I am more than ready for winter to be a memory. The trouble is that spring doesn't really begin where I live until the end of May (any vegetation trying to grow before the May long week end is past is usually short lived). May is still a long ways away.

So in search of spring I embarked on a weekend adventure - involving Comox, Courtney, Campbell River, Oyster Bay, Rathtrevor Beach in Parksville and Quadra Island.

More pictures here!

Soundwave vs. Dollansky (and CAUS)

"... We do not inherit this Earth from our ancestors. We borrow it from Megatron. Lastly, I seek to eradicate unnecessary fees that burden our students. I speak of the portion of SU fees that are paid to CAUS. The Council of Alberta University Students. This external advocacy organization cannot match my superior intellect and brute force!"

In case you're wondering, Stephen Dollansky did indeed win. And so did us humans.

Blog Catch Up - Would you like Fries with that?

This is what happens when I don't alot myself enough time to blog; I fall behind and I make myself feel better with a hefty helping of "blog-catchup." So, without further ado:


Duncan's Lobby Conference is this week and he's been very busy recently putting everything together to ensure a great conference for all involved. Thankfully he wasn't too busy to take me for green beer on St Patrick's Day - a first for me! Being a religion scholar means St Patrick isn't my favourite Saint, so I'd hadn't yet indulged!


When my darling "little" boy all of a sudden told me he needs a haircut and new dress shoes (he wears a size 11 mens now!) I suspected something was up - turns out he had a big concert band competition - the very next day. They did wonderfully, of course, and the Ajudicator awarded his Band with a "Superior" and a "Very Excellent," top marks!


My lovely daughter has always been a straight "A" student, with the lone except of PE, where she always seems to get a "B." While I don't think a "B" in PE class is anything to be upset about, it has become an obsession of hers to increase this mark (she does remind me of myself at times). I do suppose it could be worse, she could discover Facebook!


Duncan was invited by the ATA to be part of thier Political Action conference by being part of their Blogger Panel. Ken Chapman, Nicole Martel, Daveberta and of course, Duncan, spoke to the Political Action Officers about blogs as alternative media, as political tools and about how to have influence in the blogosphere. I was happy to be there and I enjoyed the dialogue. It was interesting to hear the personal motivations and stories behind each of their blogging and some of the questions that the teachers asked are still rattling around in my head, daring to provoke some non work related thoughts. The horror!

Four Years Later...

As Bush sends more troops to Iraq in an attempt to regain control in Baghdad, and as Congress considers alternate measures to bring their troops home, world wide protests mark the fourth anniversary of the Iraq invasion and occupation. It's a not so happy kind of anniversary, one you hope doesn't have to come next year.

Parenting with Love... and Logic?

There are all these books out there about parenting with Love and Logic. I know this because I have read my fair share of them, and up until this exact point of time in my parenting career I would say that they have been helpful and welcome.

I believe that teens are perhaps the most endearing, challenging and important group of people in our society - our strongest critics, our future leaders and eventually, our caregivers. This belief, combined with the memory of my own teenhood challenges and the fact that I love my children, lead me to figure the parenting teenagers "stage" would be easy. Or at least, easier for me. Because I am just that good.

Boy, was I wrong. And it really has nothing to do with Logic...

"Raising teens is like trying to nail jello to a tree"
- some poor, unknown parent of a teenager

I really do try, but there are times I am still on the recieving end of "the look" again (if you're a parent of a teen I am sure you know this one - it's the "You're so Retarded" look). I can't wait to be smart and cool again! Can't they see how totally awesome I am?

Finally, a gift you can send to your 'frienemies'

What do you get that wannabe Wise Guy who already has everything? The plush severed horse head! Same effect - no mess!

Speech From the Throne

How'd they know I was coming today?

New Camera!

New Camera!
Originally uploaded by Allie Wojtaszek.

Here is one of my first pictures taken with my new camera. I have seen this picture for some time but have never had a camera that was able to capture it like this! Obviously, still much to learn, but I am having fun!

Enjoying the Wiikend!

After playing the Wii for the better part of the day we decided to watch the Flames/Oilers game last night over at our pub. Turns out they were showing something called "UFC" instead. I wish I could say I am more cultured for the experience, but somehow I doubt it. I prefer my fights on ice.

Today has been Wii, Wii and even more Wii. I know time is a luxury and we have taken a lot this weekend to relax and have fun, but damn, this Wii is way more fun then I could have thought! Nintendo has outdone itself, and it's not just the games. We are also enjoying the little extra's like our Mii's, surfing the internet and looking at our pictures on the TV.

Since I have my new camera now too I have also spent some time surfing through the many pages of Flickr, trying to get some ideas for shots I would like to try. I've added some brilliant pictures from all over the world to my Flickr Favourites, which I am hoping you can see if you click on the link. It's hard not to be inspired by these pictures - we live on a beautiful planet with a lot of interesting people.

The kidlets come home this evening and I am really looking forward to having them home again. I and hoping they enjoyed their weekend as much as we have ours.

Chronology of a Wii

Forty Wii available!!! This must have been what it was like
when Jesus turned all that water into wine...

Hey... What's a PS3?

05:30... The "O" stands for "Oh my god it's early!"
The people in front of us have been here since 1:30am.

Starbucks opened at 6:35am.
There was much rejoicing!

Just an hour to go now... the line up is much longer
but the wait is much easier in the sunlight.

They handed out the tickets at about 9:10 am
- we are actually going to get one this time!

Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!

Next we drag our mattress and bedding down to the living room and gather the neccessary "weekend supplies."

Zelda, here we come!

Happy Family Day Alberta

We saw Bridge to Terabithia today. The story of Terabithia is one of my favourite childhood experiences, one I shared with each of my children as soon as they were able to read. We really enjoyed it on the big screen, they did a good job with it.

Making Sweet, Sweet Love

My guy has been carefully painting his Warhammer 40K Army (Sisters of Battle) for almost two months now. This involves their careful construction, precise priming and then the creation via painting of each tiny character - with a considerable amount of fussing I might add. Then when they are dried I am made to admire each one, first paying homage to the newly painted ones and then all the ones that came before her. It has become my favourite part of his newest hobby, this love making... but sometimes Duncan does enough for the both of us!

An Immolator, assembled and primed

Still fondling it...

Pretty soon he'll need a room!

Happy Blogiversary!

Summer's Daydreams is 4 years old today!

Edmonton Science Centre

The Alberta Legislature Buildings
Built entirely out of Lego!

Today we hung out at the Edmonton Science Centre, which the kids found very amusing. We partook in Imax's Hurricane on the Bayou and I must admit, seeing Hurricane Katrina on the Imax screen was slightly frightening. I learned that it is the Bayou and surrounding wetlands that usually protect inland cities like New Orleans from hurricanes (the storms lose force as they travel over land) but that Louisiana's wetlands have been disappearing at the rate of a football field sized swath every 35 minutes - and along with it a natural barrier of defence.

It was also the opening day for the lego exhibit "Secrets of the Pharaohs." The Pyramid was still under construction and we were able to spend some time building the pieces and adding them the the pryamid, which will eventually be four feet high.

I was a big fan of the giftshop - the kids got science kits, Duncan got a stuffed alligator and I got Tim Flannery's book The Weather Makers. So far my book is good - giving my brain even more to think about.

The Winds of Change...

If I hear one more person exclaim in a really loudly obnoxious voice "Whomever believes in global warming obviously can't see how cold it is here right now" I think someone might get slapped. Is the basic science of weather so beyond them that they honestly don't understand how it works?

Here's a quick and dirty lesson (my apologies for its simplicity):

1. Ocean currents affect climate and weather.



2. The surface waters of the oceans store heat.



3. As the ocean temperature rises, it heats the air next to it and well, hot air rises. When this happens, air from else where flows in to fill the gap - in this particular case the cold arctic air usually referred to as the "jet stream."

Thus winters that are cold and snowy in Canada are caused, paradoxically, by warming surface water in the North Pacific.

Keep on Blogging in the Free World

He makes me smile with my heart.

I am looking forward to this long weekend and Family Day. This past week has been somewhat difficult to juggle with the flu deciding to visit each one of us separately and in different ways, but I think now that it has finally gone on it's way life will return to its normal bliss. It's hard to believe that February is almost over, two months in this new year almost done. I need to refocus a bit so I don't start missing things. Perhaps then I can find my blogging groove again as well; I'm really missing that.

In other news wojtaszek.ca is up.

My Sweet Valentine...

A friend greeted me today over msn: "Hello friend who has reason to celebrate."

Yes, I do think that about says it all!

Alright, Enough Snow Already!

Anymore snow and the dog's going over the fence!

Right now the weather channel says our temperature "feels like" -29°C, which is the same as saying "OMG it's cold." It's been like this for over a month now, which is too long in my books. At least the weather is supposed to return to "normal temperatures" next week - although thats been said before...

I think it might be time to book a trip to the Motherland, where it's about 10°C, for relief (wonder if I can apply for refugee status while there?).

Just showing off a little...

Faces of the Fallen Interactive News Story

You Witness News - Yahoo News

The man I am spending my week with...

We managed to find some snow to play in!

I am blogging this week from lovely Cochrane Alberta, where I have the pleasure of looking after my friends son for a week before I start back to work. Apart from it being a nice mini-break I do miss my family who are back in Edmonton waiting to face the blizzard that will hit there tonight. I am keeping a watchful eye on the news.

You'd think I'd have some time to get back into blogging, but this little man kept me busy all day - except for when he napped and then I did too!

Auld Lang Syne!

Our Family in Disneyland

This was the year I turned 34 years old – getting old, next year is the big 35! 2006 has been a fabulous year for me and my family.

NEW HANGOUT: Starbucks (We’re hopelessly hooked)

BEST GIFT: Disneyland for Christmas!

FAVORITE SONG: Sweet Neo-Con

NEW HOBBY: Photography!

BEST MOVIE: An Inconvenient Truth

BEST DVD: Cars

BEST VIDEO GAME: Animal Crossing Wild World

BIGGEST CHANGE: Wesley changed schools this year

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Finding family time among the demands of politics!

BIGGEST BLESSING OF THE YEAR:
New Family Member! Duncan's step Mom was able to join us from Vietnam this year.

MOST STIRRING POLITICAL ISSUE: I worked very hard on two Leadership Campaigns, Dave Hancock and Ed Stelmach, this entire year.

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and our Wedding Anniversary which is on 07/07/07 (hopefully the two events will coincide). Also – Order of the Phoenix!

PREDICTIONS FOR 2007: A smoke free Alberta!

LOOKING BACK: 2005 and 2004 and 2003

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
I wish you all the best for a happy, safe and prosperous 2007!

Why Men Can't Wrap Presents

As I sit here listening to my husband struggling to wrap my gifts in the adjacent room (he mutters a lot under his breath) I read this on Larry Johnsrude's blog. It is perhaps the most hilarious thing I have read in some time, and Duncan is in stitches as I read it out loud to him. Thanks to Larry for a laugh this early Christmas Morn!

Christmas time is for Family

Happy Holidays from the Wojtaszek - Smyth - Campbell Family!

Happy Chanukkah!

Thanks to Cora for inviting us to enjoy their last night of Hanukkah with them - the Latkes were delicious and we had a lot of fun getting a good spin on the dreidels - playing for chocolate money of course!

Disney's California Adventure Park

My Favourite shot of the day...

I think... it was a hard choice, as there are many! We spent all day today, after eating brunch at the House of Blues in Downtown Disney, in Disney's California Adventure - and we had so much fun! California Screamin' might just be my favourite ride (Roller Coaster) - everytime I was on it I had the thoughts that this (speed, wind in the face, happiness, freedom, adrenaline, fun) is what life is really about! Will have to go ride all the rides in Disneyland tomorrow just to make sure!

Disneyland, California

Where Dreams Come True!

Long Beach, California!

First day in California - we went from Anaheim to Long Beach to walk along the water front and visit Hooters, Long Beach. More pictures HERE.

Life Returning to Normal?

Not quite yet... I will still be busy with campaign related stuff until I leave for Disneyland. I haven't even given a first thought to Christmas yet (as some one said to me yesterday "Allie, you're running out of time!") but I am confident I will pull it together. Received a great blog related message in a Christmas card a couple of days ago (thanks Lilly). It said:

"Can't wait until after Dec 2nd for you to resume normal posting. Local Politics make my eyes glaze over - Sorry!!"

Hmmmm... Normal. Not sure I remember yet what normal is!

Kevin Taft Can't Count

"Ed was everyone's compromise second choice" said Liberal Leader Kevin taft. "That's why he won."

Last Totals, before counting the second choice votes had Ed Stelmach in first place - with 482 votes ahead of second place Jim Dinning. Calculating the second choice votes gave 25,813 to Stelmach for a total of 77,577 - keeping him in first place by 22,068.

Here's another number Taft should count - 144,022 Progressive Conservatives came out yesterday to elect a new Leader. How many voted for him in his "Leadership" election?

And who invited Taft to our party anyway?

Nice Guys DO Finish First!

Premier Ed Stelmach

All this week my husband has been asking me "Why can't you just stop working and come to bed?"

This is why.

And it feels good.

PC Alberta Leadership 2006

Running Total:

With 81 polls reporting:
Jim Dinning — 49,440
Ted Morton — 38,167
Ed Stelmach — 45,890

Total Votes Cast: 133,497

PS. Believe it or not, I am blogging from the ladies washroom - it's the only place I could find with a plug in.

Don't Forget to Vote Today!

When you go to the polling station in your constituency today to vote you will be given a preferential ballot listing three names (Ed Stelmach, Jim Dinning and Ted Morton). You will be asked to rank the two candidates that you prefer by placing a "1" beside your first choice and a "2" beside your second choice.

You can opt to only select one candidate (your ballot will be considered valid), but I wouldn’t recommend it. If your preferred candidate does not make it into the top two after the first count then your second choice will be counted instead; if you have neglected to make a second choice your vote just won’t count, meaning you won’t have an influence on the outcome (if no one candidate gets a clear majority on the first count then second ballot choices will decide the leadership). It’s worth noting they only count the second choice votes of the third place candidate, and not those of the top two.

You can not vote twice for one single candidate. You must make either one or two selections, indicating your choice with a number 1 and 2 respectively. Do not mark a third choice – if you do your ballot may be considered spoiled.

You can still vote even if you didn't vote in the first ballot last Saturday. Buy a $5.00 PC Alberta membership at the Polling Station in your constituency between 9:00am and 7:00pm today.

If you don't know your constituency you can find it using this link.

Duncan Wojtaszek, Debate Commentator

"Stelmach demonstrated a clear ability to listen and be inclusive while he never played down his ideas: a supplemental Alberta pension or money for municipalities were strongly advocated for. Plus both Jim and Ted thought so too - they were agreeing with Ed most of the time."

"All three echoed their same lines. Dr. Morton talking about Ottawa, Mr. Dinning offered broad visions and platitudes, and Ed offering an inclusive and effective government. I'm voting for Ed."

In Edmonton Journal (subscription only).