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Nathalie Salles Olivier is an extraordinary executive and team coach. Nathalie has a special skill for recognizing the best in people and also what is most difficult for them. On countless occasions over the past 20 years, I have witnessed Nathalie's listening, business acumen, and empathy create a safety that encourages the individuals and teams to dare to surface from even the most unnamable challenges. Nathalie combines a business pragmatism with a way of modeling courage that drives action for resolving the difficulty. Her clients have demonstrated off-the-charts accomplishments as individuals, families, and business teams. Nathalie is a powerful partner in the change process.
—Carole Berkson, Principal Strategist, Employee Development, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Nathalie is a talented, insightful, creative, and mindful coach who gently prods at those areas that need to shift while supporting the individual. She asks the key questions that get at the heart of the issue. She has worked with many individuals and work groups in our global manufacturing group with excellent results. I highly recommend both Nathalie and her methods to improve performance.
—Susan Sweeney, President GGB, EnPro Industries Inc.
Nathalie arrived with a solid plan and worked tirelessly to achieve positive results with both the team and individuals she coached. I was so impressed with Nathalie's work that I asked if we could expand the scope of her work. She is highly professional and friendly in her approach. She formed fast relationships with the team she worked with and has a high sense of integrity. I would recommend Nathalie to anyone who is seeking a true expert with a vested interest in their employees' success!
—Carolyn James, VP Human Resources, Engineered Products Group, EnPro Industries
Nathalie is highly recommended. Nathalie took the time to understand me and my team, and we worked out unique plans and actions to improve ourselves, our team, and our company. Nathalie, as your coach, will produce results for years to come.
—George Judd, former President & COO, BlueLinx Corporation; current President & CEO, Snappy
Nathalie does great work. She is insightful as well as passionate. She will help management work better as a team around a shared vision. She will also help each individual reach their potential.
—Mark Fackler, former CEO/Founder, Stellcom Technologies; current CEO, FMBuilt Corporation
Nathalie a d'excellentes capacités pour analyser les forces mais surtout les points à améliorer d'un groupe qui le freine dans sa performance, son travail d'équipe, ses interactions. Sur la base d'interview du groupe/des membres (discussion, 360°), elle établit une stratégie qu'elle decline ensuite sous forme de plan d'actions détaillé et inscrit dans le temps. Elle a passé 1an dans notre groupe et les performance du groupe se sont largement améliorés en terme de resultats mais surtout de collaboration entre individus.
—Sebastien Chevallier, Plant Manager, GGB
I first began to work with Nathalie Salles as part of building my leadership team at the Shell Scotford Chemical Plant outside of Ft. Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada. She is truly one of the most remarkable people that I have met in my life. Nathalie is used to working as a facilitator/consultant with senior leaders and leadership teams. She brings a strong ethical, compassionate, yet demanding approach to her work. Nathalie was constantly pushing me, as the site General Manager, in a productive fashion to challenge my paradigms, fears, and beliefs to help create a better and stronger leadership team. As a side benefit, I believe that it made me a better person.
Nathalie was able to demonstrate an easygoing, personable, yet courageous side that instilled trust in everyone she worked with. By gaining this trust, she was able to ask the tough questions and challenge people to help uncover hidden issues that we were then able to resolve. Nathalie led us through the very deep and difficult conversations that needed to take place to help take us to a new level of performance. This took great leadership and courage on her part. She has the drive, personality, tenacity, and ethics that will make her a success in anything that she undertakes.
—Glenn Bucholtz, former General Manager, Scotford Chemical Plant and Geismar Plant
I have worked with Nathalie Salles since approximately 2001. She has worked as my coach, has designed and led programs to improve the leadership in organizations I have run, and has cofacilitated workshops I have attended. During these engagements, I have found Nathalie to be professional, focused on doing whatever it takes to get others to a higher level of performance, and tenacious in her follow-through. She demonstrates strong values and the highest ethical standards in her work. I have always found her to be ethical in her business practices, but most importantly, despite a close working relationship, she has always kept my confidence unless she had explicit permission to share information, and I know she has done the same for colleagues of mine that she has also worked with.
Despite being in stressful sessions together repeatedly, I have never seen her behave in a way that was not of the highest ethical standard. Nathalie led a program to improve the leadership performance of the Ursa Leadership team. I was the unit Operations Manager, and each of these individuals worked for me, but we had a set of business goals that seemed impossible to achieve. We needed a significant improvement in capability to deliver our targets. Nathalie worked with me to diagnose and design a custom program, which she facilitated on site over a period of six months. This meant working with a rotational team (only 50 percent were on location at a time) in a consistent way even though many were skeptical of the approach. She met all commitments and exceeded my expectations for quality of delivery and speed of improvement. Our team not only met our targets but exceeded two key targets for production and cost.
Nathalie has a quiet style, but she is highly effective across a broad spectrum of audiences. I have seen her with senior leaders and hourly technicians. She is effective with both. I have also personally experienced just how forceful she can be when she has a point to make and one does not pay attention. Her persistence, confidence, and delivery style make her impossible to ignore. She always has a well-thought-out message, and she clearly delivers that message, often quite courageously. Nathalie is a quick study and adapts well to new environments. In working with her, she has had to learn enough of our business to relate to the issues and to be credible with our employees. She has done that quickly and effectively.
In summary, I've worked in this industry for almost 30 years. I have had the privilege to work with thousands of people on five continents. I have rarely encountered anyone as value driven, as committed to delivery, and as able to make a difference wherever she goes.
—Chris Sistrunk, VP Production Assets, Shell Upstream Americas
I have been very fortunate to have some executive coaching made available to me through Nathalie Salles at Abundant Strategies. Nathalie's coaching techniques involve a 360-degree review that is like no other that I have seen. Nathalie has been very helpful to me in acting on my plan to ensure steady growth and progress. This has been a very effective process, and Nathalie's expertise, knowledge, and professionalism have facilitated that process. Nathalie is an absolute pleasure to work with!
—Paul Roden, VP Washington Operations, Fairbanks Morse Engine
I must start this off by saying I never met Nathalie in person, yet we know each other so well! Allow me to explain: I heard rave reviews of the 360 feedback process that Nathalie had provided other Shell colleagues with whom I have worked, so I decided to give it a go. I am so happy I did! Nathalie set up a structured interview process with over a half dozen people I worked with. She conducted in-depth interviews, and rather than just give me a bunch of raw feedback, she very insightfully synthesized the results into key themes. We spent a number of hours by phone going over the feedback and putting together an action plan. How satisfied was I with what was delivered? I was so impressed that I, in turn, recommended her to a number of my direct reports as an excellent development vehicle. In summary, Nathalie is a pleasure to deal with. She is very intuitive and insightful. She is a consummate professional in her field, and I am very happy to provide a strong recommendation on her work.
—Bill Rothwell, former VP Innovation & Technology, Shell Global Solutions; current SVP Business Development, Calysta Energy
Nathalie was my personal coach for a number of years. She is able to listen with deep caring empathy, all while pushing you to create better business results and a better life for you and those around you. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that I am a better man for having worked with Nathalie in particular!
—Rik Glover, former Sr. Engineering Manager, Fairchild Semiconductor; current VP of Operation Integration, AdvancePierre Foods
Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to work with Nathalie Salles on my professional journey. As my executive coach, she has provided guidance that has helped me navigate various obstacles and opportunities. She has challenged me to search deeply within myself in a safe and comfortable environment that has allowed me to release my full potential as an executive. Her coaching techniques, thought-provoking questions, and calming personality have resulted in a successful client relationship. Working with her has been an extreme pleasure, and I would highly recommend her to any organization or executive looking for a coach to help them grow, develop, and stretch.
—Warren Marshall, VP of Manufacturing, Fairbanks Morse Engine
Nathalie has the unique skills and intuition to speak the truth that comes across as learning and not as judging. She describes both the positive and the challenging areas of leadership skill and possesses the ability to have a learning dialogue that gets to heart of the issue(s). Furthermore, she has knowledge of how the executive leader works and the dynamics that the executive faces and is able to facilitate learning from that position of expertise. I have learned a lot from her as well as grown professionally and am grateful for having her as a coach.
—David Torrance, former VP / General Manager, Plastomer Technologies; current President, Renaissance Executive Forums Dallas
The support and insight she has provided me have been outstanding. She is thoughtful, balanced, dedicated to her work, and interested only in bringing out the best in people. She has been a delight to work with, and I look forward to her continued excellent support and assistance in the future.
—Ken Walker, President, EnPro Industries
In the domain of executive coaching, Natalie stands out as a professional with extreme abilities and insight into sustainable alternatives for effective leadership habits. Her abilities to diagnose organizational and individual barriers and opportunities for high performance are excellent.
—Bruce Holmes, CEO, NextGen AeroSciences
Nathalie enables us to see how we create our lives through our beliefs and actions. Nathalie was my coach for one year during the time I was establishing the service organization. She was instrumental in helping me during a major organizational and cultural change. I would highly recommend Nathalie.
—Carolyn Pineda, VP, Sabre
Nathalie is a fantastic coach whose caring continues after the session ends. She is extremely dedicated to her work. Nathalie's life is devoted to leaving the world better via people and the environment. She simply has made me better by giving me a few new tools, methods to approach problems, and a better understanding of myself. I really enjoy working with her, and my life is better as a result of her coaching.
—Eric Vaillancourt, President, Garlock Sealing Products
Coaching helped me establish clear goals and implement a balanced approach to achieving them. Nathalie is a warm and genuine person with wonderful insight and a great skill for gently holding me accountable to my goals.
—Mike Rauth, Senior Director, Fairchild Semiconductor
Nathalie is an astute coach who knows how to connect on a personal level to build trust, deliver constructive critique with grace and grit, and come up with creative techniques to push personal and professional development. In short, Nathalie has helped me advance into a professional space I hadn't imagined I would be in a year ago.
—Matt Streng, Senior Advisor Youth Development, Mercy Corps
Nathalie has had a profound influence on my life. Through the tools and techniques that she has shared, I have become a more complete person—not only as a leader at work but as a father, husband, and friend. Her laid-back, 'chill' approach to teaching and learning is infectious. She has inspired and coached me through the separation from my ego and the renewal of my spiritual self. It feels a little strange to 'recommend' Nathalie. The fact is this: If you are ready for Nathalie, Nathalie will most certainly find you. 'Don't seek the truth. Just cease to cherish opinions.'
—Shaun Fuller, Director of Business Development, Fairbanks Morse Engine
The time I spent with Nathalie has really open my mind and allowed me to continue to work on myself. She has provided me with great tools and a new thought process that continues to help me drive my self-awareness in order to understand my ego drivers. From the first day, I felt a connection with Nathalie, which allowed for open and authentic communications.
—Richard Farbaniec, Global Segment Manager Fluid Power, GGB
Nathalie is a dedicated coach who puts her client's agenda first. She demonstrated great empathy, while making sure we kept my objectives in mind. She helped a lot in clarifying by creating goals and breaking them down into actionable tasks. Nathalie is easy to work with. I am happy to recommend her as a life/career coach.
—Curt Mandell, Senior Consultant, Expressworks International, LLC
I have worked with Nathalie as my coach for four years. Nathalie provides me with a unique perspective on difficult situations on both a professional and personal level. Nathalie will also force me to confront difficult situations head on.
—Dave Dalton, VP, BlueLinx Corporation
Natalie's capability as a career coach is superb. More profound is the long-lasting impact of her coaching and her willingness to extend herself well beyond the norm to provide truly transformational support. Natalie's personal skills, her business acumen, and her humanity make her both a wonderful resource and a tremendous value.
—Sherry Borener, Director, government agency focused on aeronautics
Nathalie is professional, passionate, and insightful! She helped see some really difficult things from a different perspective that made change a little easier.
—Jeff Wyatt, CEO, Venchurs
I have had the privilege to work with Nathalie in two different capacities over the last 10 years. She has been a resource for me as a coach and an environmental partner/advocate in our own personal growth and education of others about 'our' impact on people and the planet. As a coach, Nathalie has good listening skills and is very empathetic and intuitive but can be direct when needed or is appropriate. As a project partner and environmental advocate, she inspires/challenges people to find new ways of thinking, seeks to understand what drives behaviors, and works to develop people, education, and communities of thought so that others join the work to protect our environment and those that live in it.
—Teresa Hetrick, Venture Integrator, Shell Oil
Nathalie is amazingly genuine and sincere. She not only listens to what you say but also to what you don't say. She always shows empathy and caring, and also has the strength to suggest and challenge new and potentially difficult growth opportunities.
–Pam Foye, Project Analyst, Shell Oil
Nathalie has an exceptional level of insight that she shares in a way that is life changing. She guides others in such a natural way, you feel as though you are talking to a trusted lifelong friend.
—Shiloh Kelly, former Corporate Marketing and National Sustainability Lead, BlueLinx Corporation; current Chief Marketing Officer, CHI
As a CEO, there was no better investment I made than the time and money spent with Nathalie and her team. I highly recommend her and would be happy to provide a reference over the telephone.
—Murat Armbruster, former Senior Fellow, The Carbon War Room; current CEO and Founder, CoEfficient, LLC
Nathalie is very helpful in understanding what is driving a person to do dysfunctional things, and ways of looking at people to enable you to better understand what is going on, and how to knock down barriers to moving forward on your personal goals for yourself or goals for your company. She is also very passionate about her work and a very caring and compassionate person. I would highly recommend Nathalie for helping coach you and your company to address the human dynamics issues that you have at work or at home. She has been a tremendous help with myself, my family, and my coworkers.
—Darryl Delano, Product Line Director, Fairchild Semiconductor
Nathalie has been my coach and mentor in my growth journey. Her expertise, personal care, insightfulness, and dedication have made tremendous differences in my personal and professional growth. Working with her has been wonderful.
—David Hinton, Deputy Director, government agency in the aerospace/aeronautics industry
Nathalie Salles is thoughtful, patient, insightful, and courageous in her approach to her work. On a personal level, she has integrity and a sense of humor, which helps when you are dealing with very serious issues. I look forward to working with Nathalie again in the future and cannot recommend her more highly.
—Kim Spencer, VP, ISCA Technologies, Inc.
Nathalie was my leadership development coach. She was a true partner as I worked to improve my leadership skills. She challenged me when I needed a push and made sure I took the time to learn key lessons along the way. I consider her as one of my most trusted friends today and would recommend her to others.
—Joe Allaben, Corporate Director, Flint Hills Resources
Nathalie was (and always will be) my coach. She could not be any better in all aspects, and I was so fortunate to have met her in my life. Nathalie, as a coach, is perfect.
—Thomas Mende, President, Klausner Trading Usa
Nathalie has tremendous passion and talent for helping people overcome their challenges and move toward their goals. Her skills in active listening, creative troubleshooting, and fearlessness with respect to constructive critique are superb. I witnessed in her a commitment to go beyond the call of duty, time and time again, and learned from her the power one has within her or himself to create change starting with oneself.
—Robin Fletcher, Executive Coach
Nathalie is a great coach! I learned in depth about myself, my patterns of behavior, and their effect on my goals. Nathalie helped me to see how I was preventing myself from success and to see ways out of the patterns. I highly recommend Nathalie.
—Terry Johnson, Director, Fairchild Semiconductor
I've known Nathalie for over eight years and worked with her as a coach for three years. Working with Nathalie had been a profound experience. She challenged me, helping me create structure and accountability to myself, my team, and my family. She helped me identify the true motivations behind my thoughts and actions and built this framework for coaching around them. Her approach was respectful of my nature, but never shy. We debated and discussed openly and at ease and reached many new conclusions together. She helped me to see the complexities of my life in plain terms, understand them, and feel empowered to work on improving them. I am thankful for my coach, Nathalie. Anyone would be lucky to work with her and draw from her inspiration and wisdom to find improvement within them.
—Melvin Ferebee, Manager, space technology project office at government agency
Nathalie is a very insightful and intuitive coach. As a colleague I have enjoyed collaborating with her on the many teams we worked on from Shell, to NASA, to Fairchild Semiconductor. Nathalie is skilled at narrowing in on the challenges needing to be addressed individually and organizationally. I highly recommend her as a coach and consultant.
—Laura Gates, Leadership Development Speaker, Learning as Leadership
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Timeline: Wilson-Raybould outlines her months of pressure from Trudeau and other officials
Published February 27, 2019 Updated February 28, 2019
This article was published more than 6 months ago. Some information in it may no longer be current.
"For a period of approximately four months between September and December, 2018, I experienced a consistent and sustained effort by many people within the government to seek to politically interfere in the exercise of prosecutorial discretion in my role as the attorney-general of Canada in an inappropriate effort to secure a deferred prosecution with SNC-Lavalin."
That is how former attorney-general Jody Wilson-Raybould began a detailed explanation of her concerns about being pressed by members of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and other officials. Here is a summary of the key events, according to the former minister's committee testimony on Wednesday.
Sept. 4, 2018: Ms. Wilson-Raybould and her chief of staff, Jessica Prince, are in Australia following a meeting of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing countries when they receive a decision by Kathleen Roussel, the director of public prosecutions (DPP). The note said the DPP is of the view that prosecutors will not seek a negotiated settlement in relation to criminal charges SNC-Lavalin faces and that no public announcement will be made.
Sept. 6: Ben Chin, the chief of staff to Finance Minister Bill Morneau, e-mails Ms. Prince.
"He wanted to talk about SNC and what we could do, if anything, to address this," Ms. Wilson-Raybould said. "He said to her that if they don't get a DPA [deferred prosecution agreement], they will leave Montreal, and it's the Quebec election right now, so we can't have that happen. He said that they have a big meeting up on Tuesday and that this bad news may go public."
The same day, Ms. Wilson-Raybould requests a one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss "another matter of urgency" as soon as she was back in Canada. A meeting would then be scheduled for Sept. 17.
Sept. 11: A follow-up conversation takes place between Mr. Chin and François Giroux, a member of Ms. Wilson-Raybould's staff. Mr. Chin points out that SNC-Lavalin's legal counsel is former Supreme Court justice Frank Iacobucci and details terms that SNC was prepared to agree to as part of a negotiated settlement.
Sept. 16: Ms. Wilson-Raybould's chief of staff speaks by phone with Mathieu Bouchard and Elder Marques, two senior advisers in the Prime Minister's Office. "They said they think we should be able to find a more reasonable resolution here," Ms. Wilson-Raybould said. The two PMO advisers recommended that the government should seek outside advice on the SNC issue.
Privy Council Clerk Michael Wernick waits to testify before the House of Commons justice committee in Ottawa on Feb. 21, 2019.
CHRIS WATTIE/Reuters
Sept. 17: Ms. Wilson-Raybould meets with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Privy Council Clerk Michael Wernick on the matter of an Indigenous-rights recognition framework.
"The Prime Minister asks me to help out – to find a solution here for SNC – citing that if there was no DPA there would be many jobs lost and that SNC will move from Montreal," she said. "I told him that I had done my due diligence and made up my mind on SNC and that I was not going to interfere with the decision of the DPP." The minister said Mr. Trudeau reiterated his concerns. Then later when Mr. Wernick was making the case in favour of a DPA, "the PM jumped in stressing that there is an election in Quebec... 'and I am an MP in Quebec – the member for Papineau.'"
"I was quite taken aback," Ms. Wilson-Raybould said. "My response – and I remember this vividly – was to ask the PM a direct question while looking him in the eye – I asked: 'Are you politically interfering with my role [or] decision as the A-G? I would strongly advise against it.' The Prime Minister said: 'No, no, no – we just need to find a solution.'" Ms. Wilson-Raybould agreed to have a further conversation with the Clerk and her deputy minister, "but that these conversations would not change my mind."
Sept. 19, 2018: Ms. Wilson-Raybould and Mr. Wernick meet one-on-one in her office.
"The Clerk brought up job losses and that this is not about the Quebec election or the PM being a Montreal MP," she recalled.
Later that day, Ms. Prince receives a phone call from Mr. Bouchard and Mr. Marques from the PMO. They raise the idea of an "informal reach out" to the DPP. Ms. Prince told the PMO advisers that she knew the minister was not comfortable with that "as it looked like and probably did constitute political interference."
Finance Minister Bill Morneau leaves a cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Feb. 26, 2019.
Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
Ms. Wilson-Raybould also speaks with Bill Morneau, the Finance Minister, in the House of Commons. "He again stressed the need to save jobs, and I told him that engagements from his office to mine on SNC had to stop – that they were inappropriate."
Oct. 18: After a month-long pause in communications with her office, Mr. Bouchard from the PMO calls Ms. Prince to ask about seeking an external legal opinion on the DPP's decision not to extend an invitation to negotiate a settlement.
Oct. 26: Mr. Bouchard again raises the issue of an external legal opinion, even though SNC-Lavalin had days earlier filed a request with the Federal Court of Canada to the DPP's decision.
"Mathieu said that if – six months from the election – SNC announces they are moving their headquarters out of Canada, that is bad," the former minister recalled. "He said: 'We can have the best policy in the world, but we need to be re-elected.'"
Nov. 22: Ms. Wilson-Raybould meets with Mr. Bouchard and Mr. Marques, at the request of the PMO. The meeting lasts about an hour-and-a-half.
"I was irritated by having to have this meeting as I had already told the PM et cetera that a DPA on SNC was not going to be happen," she said. They continue to suggest hiring an outside adviser. "I said no. My mind had been made up and they needed to stop – enough," she said.
Dec. 5: Gerald Butts, the principal secretary to the Prime Minister, meets with Ms. Wilson-Raybould in the restaurant of the Château Laurier hotel in Ottawa.
"I wanted to speak about a number of things, including bringing up SNC and the barrage of people hounding me and my staff," Ms. Wilson-Raybould told the justice committee. "Towards the end of the meeting I raised how I needed everyone to stop talking to me about SNC as I had made up my mind and the engagements were inappropriate. Gerry then took over the conversation and said how we need a solution to the SNC stuff – he said I needed to find a solution. I said no."
Dec. 7: Ms. Wilson-Raybould receives a letter from the Prime Minister, dated Dec. 6, attaching a letter from the chief executive of SNC-Lavalin dated Oct. 15. She responds with a letter stating that the matter is before the courts and that the decision on negotiated settlements is made independently of her office.
Katie Telford, chief of staff to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, arrives at a caucus meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Feb. 27, 2019.
Dec. 18: Ms. Prince, Ms. Wilson-Raybould's chief of staff, is urgently summoned to meet with Mr. Butts and Katie Telford, the Prime Minister's chief of staff. "They told her that they felt like the issue was getting worse and that I was not doing anything," Ms. Wilson-Raybould said. Ms. Prince and her then discussed the meeting via text messages, which Ms. Wilson-Raybould read to MPs.
"Gerry said 'Jess, there is no solution here that doesn't involve some interference,'" wrote Ms. Prince, according to Ms. Wilson-Raybould. "At least they are finally being honest about what they are asking you to do!" the text continued. "Katie was like 'we don't want to debate legalities anymore.' … They kept being like 'we aren't lawyers, but there has to be some solution here.'"
Ms. Prince said the two most senior PMO officials proposed retaining a former Supreme Court justice to offer advice.
Dec. 19: Mr. Wernick calls Ms. Wilson-Raybould, who is at home. "The Clerk said that the PM is quite determined, quite firm, but he wants to know why the DPA route which Parliament provided for isn't being used. He said: 'I think he is gonna find a way to get it done one way or another. So, he is in that kinda mood and I wanted you to be aware of that.'"
Ms. Wilson-Raybould told MPs she then warned the Clerk that "we were treading on dangerous ground here – and I issued a stern warning because as the A-G… I cannot act in a partisan way and I cannot be politically motivated. And all of this screams of that."
Gerald Butts, senior political adviser to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, leaves the Prime Minister's office on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa in October, 2018.
Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
Ms. Wilson-Raybould said she viewed the comments directed at her over those two days as "veiled threats" and that "there were many different occasions where the appropriateness line was crossed."
Jan. 7, 2019: The Prime Minister calls Ms. Wilson-Raybould to inform her that she was being shuffled out of the justice portfolio.
"I will not go into details of this call, or subsequent communications about the shuffle, but I will say that I stated I believed the reason was because of the SNC matter," Ms. Wilson-Raybould told the committee. "They denied this to be the case."
Jan. 11: Mr. Wernick calls Ms. Wilson-Raybould's former deputy minister to tell her that a shuffle is happening and that there will be a new minister of justice.
"As part of this conversation, the Clerk tells the deputy that one of the first conversations that the new minister will be expected to have with the PM will be on SNC-Lavalin," Ms. Wilson-Raybould said.
Read more: Wilson-Raybould alleges 'consistent and sustained' effort by Trudeau, officials to 'politically interfere' in SNC-Lavalin case
Read the full text of Ms. Wilson-Raybould's opening statement
Globe editorial: Jody Wilson-Raybould's accusation goes to the very heart of Canadian justice
Gerald Butts
Jody Wilson-Raybould
Wilson-Raybould fields marathon session of questioning from justice committee
Liberal caucus split as Wilson-Raybould testimony dampens re-election hopes Subscriber content
Indigenous community applauds Wilson-Raybould's testimony
Follow Bill Curry on Twitter @curryb

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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This is an overview of the 2012 Iranian legislative election in Tehran, Rey, Shemiranat and Eslamshahr electoral district.

Results

First round

Second round

Notes and references

Parliamentary elections in Tehran
2010s in Tehran
2012 elections in Iran

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Germany: 14-Year-Old Girl Stabbed to Death by Asylum Seeker From Africa
Ulm, Germany – A 14-year-old girl was stabbed to death by an asylum seeker from Eritrea on Monday.
A 13-year-old child was also injured in the attack that happened while the girls were on their way to school early in the morning.
According to German police, "the attacker had come from a neighboring accommodation for asylum seekers and had fled there again after the crime. When the police searched it with special forces, they found three residents there, all asylum seekers from Eritrea."
"According to the investigators' findings so far, the girls were probably attacked with a knife. The girls were on their way to school at the time. The 14-year-old had to be revived at the scene after the attack before being taken to the hospital, where she died despite all medical efforts. The 13-year-old, also a German national, had to be treated in a clinic with serious but not life-threatening injuries." German police said in a press release.
A 14-year-old girl has died after she and another teenage girl were attacked by an unidentified man on their way to school in southwestern Germany on Monday, local broadcaster SWR reported, citing police.
A police spokesperson had earlier confirmed a media report that two girls had been injured in an attack in Illerkirchberg, a town of around 5,000 people west of Munich.
After arriving at the scene and tending to the two severely injured girls, police found that a suspect had fled into a neighbouring building, Wolfgang Juergens, spokesperson for police in the German city of Ulm, told SWR earlier on Monday.
SWR later reported that the police had taken the suspect as well as two residents of the building into custody.
The post Germany: 14-Year-Old Girl Stabbed to Death by Asylum Seeker From Africa appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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Welcome to the little corner of my blog dedicated to my adventures with Young Living Essential Oils!
Anyone who follows my blog has surely noticed that I have recently ventured into the world of Young Living and Essential Oils. It was a slow start for me into oiling, but now I am picking up steam!! Ever since buying my Premium Starter Kit, I've found so many uses for my oils every day, and it's hard NOT to share.
So maybe you have some questions about Essential Oils? Or about Young Living? I've compiled a list of common questions to get you started, but if you have questions I haven't addressed or you would like additional information, please e-mail me! I'd love to hear from you!
Why did you choose Young Living Essential Oils?
I first heard of Young Living Essential Oils through friends that used them. I was curious, but definitely skeptical. But everyone was really having great results and seeing a positive impact to their lives, and my curiosity finally got the best of me. I reached out to my friend Dory and tried to find out what these oils were all about. She was so generous with her knowledge and information- and she invited me to some classes to learn more. During one of those classes, I won a prize which gave me the ability to get a bottle of oil at the wholesale price. Awesome! So I grabbed a bottle of Lavender and started experimenting with it. I also ended up getting a bottle of Thieves to see how that might help us in our everyday lives.
As I started to do some research on Young Living and Essential Oils in general, I found there are a ton of companies out there; however, what drew me to Young Living was their Seed to Seal promise. I love that the oils are tested before being bottled for sale, and I feel like because of the quality controls in place I am delivered a phenomenal product.
Below are some common questions I've been asked, and my answers. Enjoy! And if you have additional questions, contact me!
This is a tough one because there are so many great oils! I think probably Lavender is my favorite because it is just SO versatile. I also really like the scent (which is funny because initially I did NOT- it's quite strong and not really what I've come to know as lavender).
What is your favorite non-oil?
This has to be my NingXia Red! I love this antioxidant drink and the boost it gives me to power through my day. I especially love that you only need 1-2 oz PER DAY to reap the benefits. That means that one bottle goes a long way!
Why should I get a Premium Starter Kit anyway?
Because of the incredible value and the amazing wholesale discount! The premium starter kit gives you over $300 worth of products for just $160. If you are interested in 2 or more oils, it really makes sense to just get the kit. The diffuser alone is worth it!
So, what actually comes in this Premium Starter Kit?
How do I get my own Premium Starter Kit?
That's easy! Just click here and follow the steps to select your Premium Starter Kit (be sure to sign up as a Member, not a Retail Customer), or e-mail me (beingfrankenfield@gmail.com) and I'll help to walk you through the process!
If I sign up for a Premium Starter Kit, does that mean that I have to sell oils?
Absolutely not! You will never be pressured to sell anything to anyone. You simply get the benefit of a 24% wholesale member discount! However to keep that discount, you will have to spend $50 over the course of the year, but that's it! No fees, no monthly purchase requirements, no selling. Unless you want to…that decision is yours to make and change as you see fit.
That's okay! Getting started with essential oils is something that you should feel 100% good with. Join an online virtual class (or ask me about hosting a class in person, if you live in the greater-Richmond area) to learn more about the oils, do research on your own, and talk to friends. You never know in your circle might already be oiling! And of course, do not be shy about asking questions! I'd also be happy to send you a sample to ease your nerves and let you see exactly what life with oils is all about! And you can check out my Young Living website: http://myyl.com/BFrankenfield for more information about our oils, products, and amazing company!
If you want more than just a sample, I do a monthly order and would gladly add an oil or two to my order for you. I always offer new oilers their first bottle at my wholesale discount (24% off) and a second bottle at 10% off. But if you're looking at three or more bottles of oil, the Premium Starter Kit is really the way to go. I'm sure at $160 it seems like a lot of money, and it's definitely an investment, but you get SO MUCH out of it. The diffuser alone might just become your new favorite thing (I know I love it!).
There is a LOT to learn about Essential Oils and Young Living, and one of the things I've most enjoyed has been having the opportunity to participate in (and TEACH!) classes about oils. I always learn something new- even if I'm the one teaching- and I love the educational atmosphere that my greater oily community has built and encouraged.
Want to host your own class? Contact me to find out how!
Do you have other questions? Check out our Facebook pages, Oily enJoyMint or One Breath At A Thyme, our One Breath At A Thyme team website, or send me an e-mail (beingfrankenfield@gmail.com)!


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Q: ClassNotFoundException geosparksql.UDT.GeometryUDT I have been trying to convert a GeoPandas dataframe to PySpark Dataframe with no success. Currently, I have extended the DataFrame class to convert a GPD DF to Spark DF with the following:
from pyspark.sql import DataFrame
from pyspark.sql.types import IntegerType, StringType, FloatType, BooleanType, DateType, TimestampType, StructField, StructType
!pip install geospark
from geospark.sql.types import GeometryType

class SPandas(DataFrame):
  def __init__(self, sqlC, objgpd):
    esquema = dict(objgpd.dtypes)
    equivalencias = {'int64' : IntegerType, 'object' : StringType, 'float64' : FloatType,
                     'bool' : BooleanType, 'datetime64' : DateType,
                     'timedelta' : TimestampType, 'geometry' : GeometryType}

    for clave, valor in esquema.items():
      try:
        esquema[clave] = equivalencias[str(valor)]
      except KeyError:
        esquema[clave] = StringType

    esquema = StructType([ StructField(v, esquema[v](), False) for v in esquema.keys() ])
    datos = sqlC.createDataFrame(objgpd, schema=esquema)
    super(self.__class__, self).__init__(datos._jdf, datos.sql_ctx)

The preceding code compiles without error, but when trying to 'take' an item from the DataFrame I get the following error:
fp = "Paralela/Barrios/Barrios.shp"
map_df = gpd.read_file(fp)
mapa_sp = SPandas(sqlC, map_df)
mapa_sp.take(1)

Py4JJavaError: An error occurred while calling o21.applySchemaToPythonRDD.
: java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: org.apache.spark.sql.geosparksql.UDT.GeometryUDT

The problem is with the 'geometry' column of the GDP DF, as it works flawlessly without it. The 'geometry' column has Shapely Polygon objects which should be recognized by the GeometryType class of GeoSpark.
Is there any way to install org.apache.spark.sql.geosparksql.UDT.GeometryUDT? I'm using Google Colab.

A: You need to include geospark dependency in hour project and add the jar to your runtime env. classpath . Below version of jar is compatible with spark-core_2.11:2.3.0
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.datasyslab</groupId>
    <artifactId>geospark</artifactId>
    <version>1.3.1</version>
    <scope>provided</scope>
</dependency>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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The north end of the trail follows Highland Mesa Drive, then veers away from the street through an open space tract. Just north of Interstate 40, the trail drops down a steep hillside to an underpass beneath the interstate that was originally used as a crossing for sheep herds. On the south side of the interstate the trail connects to the University Heights neighborhood.
Forest Meadows Street to University Heights Drive North
Concrete: 17 percent of the trail (0.1 mi | 0.2 km)
Asphalt: 67 percent of the trail (0.4 mi | 0.4 km)
Aggregate: 17 percent of the trail (0.1 mi | 0.2 km)
Moderate grades: 17 percent of the trail has grades between 5 and 10 percent (500 ft | 152 m)
Steep grades: 9 percent of the trail has grades between 10 and 15 percent (250 ft | 76 m)
Elevation range: 55 ft | 17 m
Trail will be extended east along Forest Meadows Street to Woodlands Village Boulevard.


DCE Electrical and Leopard Controls understanding of the Electrical and building automation industry has enabled both companies to rapidly expand over the last 10 years. They are now in an enviable position of not only being one of the largest independent Electrical Installation and Building Management companies in Western Australia, but also one of the most respected. Art of timber was engaged to do the flooring by BHO interiors, who were providing Design and Project Management services for their office renovation in Abernethy Road, Belmont. The existing site was old, dark and needed a major refurbishment to the whole place.


Lighting Replacement Lampshade for use in Antique, Vintage or Contemporary Ceiling Fan Light, Pendant, Hanging Swag Lamp, Wall Sconce or Flush Mount or Semi-Drop Ceiling Fixture.
Blown Opal Glass lightshade, Schoolhouse shape, flame polished fitter rim.
Bulge: 8 1/4 inches W.
Fitter: 4 inches W to outer edges.
Gently Used. No chips, cracks. Minuscule signs of use.


"Give yourself a gift of five minutes of contemplation in awe of everything you see around you. Go outside and turn your attention to the many miracles around you. This five minute a day regimen of appreciation and gratitude will help you to focus your life in awe. Remind yourself that you are just as much a miracle as the lark and the snail." Wayne Dyer.
We are lucky on this world of ours to be surrounded by miracles. The sun rising in the morning, soft warm rain on your face, frosty blades of grass, these are all wonders that we can experience and savour. You are a miracle too, never forget that.
Wayne Dyer has some wonderful words to say on the subjects of gratitude, abundance and mindfulness.


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Mexican gov't has cut p.r. spending by 50 pct., president says
Mexico City, Apr 17 (efe-epa).- The Mexican government published new guidelines for communications on Wednesday, with public advertising spending being cut by 50 percent and the emphasis now on spreading outlays among more media outlets.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador during a press conference at the National Palace on April 17, 2019, EPA- EFE/José Méndez
"We are going to manage the advertising funds with austerity. The ad budget will be reduced by 50 percent compared to previous years," President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said during his daily press conference at the National Palace.
Although the 50 percent reduction had already been announced, the federal government's new Social Communication Policy was published Wednesday in the Official Gazette (DOF).
Presidential spokesman Jesus Ramirez Cuevas said the new administration, which took office on Dec. 1, is aiming for a more horizontal and democratic conversation without pressuring communications outlets.
The official budget for 2019 is 4.7 billion pesos (about $250 million).
During Enrique Peña Nieto's last year in office in 2018, the authorized budget had been less, just under 4 billion pesos ($209 million), but the government ended up spending almost 9 billion pesos ($476 million).
"In some cases, the budget approved by Congress was doubled or tripled in an extraordinary way, with no explanation," Ramirez Cuevas said.
In addition to the budget cut, the new guidelines will forbid annual contracts with the media, and agreements will be sought for every advertising campaign.
The goal is to distribute the scarce resources more evenly within the media space.
"No media outlet - no matter how dominant - should have more than 25 percent of the advertising budget" for a single campaign, he said.
The Social Communications office will not hire any external advertising agencies and will produce the ad campaigns themselves.
In keeping with the austerity plan, they will also use 100 percent of the assigned airtime and receive limited funds for extra time only when an ad campaign "calls for it."
Ramirez Cuevas also said that the Finance Ministry has determined the price that will be paid for advertising on around 3,300 media platforms.
"With the government's austerity plan, the media was asked to adapt to the new conditions and the budget cuts," reducing average ad rates by 10 percent, Ramirez Cuevas said.
In Mexico, according to official figures, there are 2,052 radio stations, 865 television channels, some 1,590 print media outlets and thousands of digital media platforms, although no definitive figures exist for the latter.


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Brian R Corbin's Reflections on Religion and Life
Living Your Faith as Citizens and Leaders in Politics, Culture, Society and Business
Catholic Charities USA
Church-State
Papal Teachings
Faith&Science
Caritas Needs $4.3 Million for Haiti
http://zenit.org/article-23598?l=english
ZE08091105 – 2008-09-11
Permalink: http://zenit.org/article-23598?l=english
ROME, SEPT. 11, 2008 (Zenit.org).- A Haitian bishop is appealing for help to keep more of his countrymen from dying in the wake of the four deadly storms that tore apart the Caribbean island.
Caritas Internationalis has launched an emergency appeal for $4.3 million to help the 600,000 who were left homeless by the four storms that hit Haiti over the last month.
Gonaives, on the west coast, is one of the hardest-hit cities, Caritas reported. Its bishop, Yves Marie Péan, said, "Already many people have succumbed. Many more will die if we can't get them the immediate support they require. Help us provide for these many victims through the continued efforts of Caritas."
The series of natural disasters affecting Haiti comes at a critical time, as the vast majority of the population is already struggling with rising living costs. Haiti was the scene of violent food riots in April.
Caritas reported that the 2008 hurricane season coupled with the increase in food prices have considerably impacted people's ability to cope.
Benedict XVI appealed for help for the island nation during the address before praying the midday Angelus last Sunday.
"I am close to the whole nation and I hope that it will receive as soon as possible the necessary aid," he said.
Filed under: Caritas, Papal Teachings
Brian R Corbin at TWITTER
Brian R. Corbin's Review of Church's Social Mission and Doctrine
Catholic Charities Youngstown
Religion and Morality


Come along to a Coffee And Cards class at Mitre 10 Mega Cafe. Have fun making two cards with Fran using 'Stampinup" stamps, ink and paper.
Give it a try it really is fun. Please note this class is not suitable for younger children. Please text Fran on 0212408169 to reserve your space.


The culture media that NCMA uses (or has used) are listed below. Clicking on a recipe will bring up the NCMA's preferred method of formulation, as well as any usage notes the NCMA has made. Currently, the NCMA is using L1 and L1 derivatives instead of f/2 and f/2 derivatives. All of our seawater media, with the exception of YBC II, are made in natural seawater. The pH should be between 7.8-8.2 after seawater media that are autoclaved for sterilization reequilibrate to room temperature.
The NCMA can ship media formulation kits for the L1, K, and f/2 families, and also sells these media and their derivatives in premixed form, filtered seawater, etc. Please note that we have also included, as a service, recipes that are commonly used, but not necessarily by us.


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THE VIOLIN A Social History of the World's Most Versatile Instrument
Tags: presentations
May 15, 2013 By Eliza0 Comments
(W. W. Norton) - 'The Violin: A Social History of the World's Most Versatile Instrument' by David Schoenbaum
Amateur musicians are often among the most sensitive and trustworthy chroniclers of the art. One thinks immediately of presidential historian Edmund Morris's acutely perceptive take on "Beethoven: The Universal Composer"; longtime USA Today columnist Jeannie Williams's unshrinking evaluation of a magnificent tenor and a deeply difficult man, "Jon Vickers: A Hero's Life"; and painter Ira Glackens's irresistibly lively study of the first world-famous American singer, "Yankee Diva: Lillian Nordica and the Golden Days of Opera."
And now historian David Schoenbaum, best known for books such as "Hitler's Social Revolution" and "The United States and the State of Israel," has ventured forth with "The Violin," which is informed, he says, by his status as a "lifelong amateur violinist." It's a terrific read — one of those rare epical surveys that can be read in a single long stretch or picked up and savored, chapter by chapter.
"The Violin" examines its subject from a wide variety of perspectives, from its first known appearance in the early 16th century ("By a happy coincidence, the origins of the violin coincide with the introduction of printing," Schoenbaum observes) through the legendary early Italian instruments crafted by Amati, Guarneri and Stradivari, on to the early 21st century, where "an estimated 50 to 80 percent of the student violins on the market were Chinese instruments of respectable quality and affordable price."
Ah, yes — price. It is no secret that the greatest of the early violins have proved one of the supreme investments of all time, better than California or New York real estate, if not quite on the level of start-up shares in Microsoft or Apple. Schoenbaum charts this market — which began after World War II and has gone ever higher, even through recession years — with the skills of a top financial reporter.
Nothing associated with the violin seems beyond the author's interest. His topics include the development of the modern bow; differing schools of instruction; the creation (and, too often, early ruination) of prodigies. He takes us through poems, plays and novels in which the violin has a central role, including "The Kreutzer Sonata," Leo Tolstoy's bizarre attack on supposed seductive qualities in music, which Schoenbaum rightly calls "among the most famous rants in world literature." We are given the plot of Jascha Heifetz's first film, "They Shall Have Music" (1939), in which a first hearing of the violinist in concert at Carnegie Hall turns a juvenile delinquent into a budding fiddler, as suddenly and wholeheartedly as though he'd been struck on the road to Damascus.
There are anecdotes about violinists ranging from superstars such as Itzhak Perlman and Midori to occasional practitioners such as Minister Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam, who played a mostly private recital in North Carolina but did not neglect to invite the New York Times. ("Mr Farrakhan's sound is that of the authentic player," a critic reported.) The frustrations of generations of Soviet musicians are encapsulated in the career of David Oistrakh, who was trotted out again and again by his handlers over the years, always accompanied by spies. "Whatever its faults, I owe this regime my life," he declared. On his first tour of the United States, he played 39 concerts in less than two months. When his colleague Isaac Stern asked him about the hectic schedule, Oistrakh's answer was revealing. "If I stopped playing, I'd start thinking," he said, "and if I start thinking, I'll die."
Schoenbaum deftly melds history, criticism, legend and occasional snatches of good gossip into a book that will be necessary reading for anybody who plays (or tries to play) the violin, and it ought to appeal to anybody simply in search of some engrossing and exhaustive nonfiction.
Tim Page (The Washington Post) / December 15, 2012
Weblink : http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Photo credit : http://www.washingtonpost.com/
High levels of engagement in lockdown music teaching New research on how music was taught during lockdown
Puppy Pads And Slit Masks: How COVID Changed The Look Of Music Education COVID-era problems put pressure on teachers to work creatively, while fearing for the future
Musical training can improve attention and working memory in children – study Cognitive benefits of musical training could last a lifetime
According The Accordion Its Historical Due Discover the history and development of this humble instrument.
Les révélations classiques de l'Adami 2011, Marianne Crébassa
Grand Opera Production I Turandot


These random acts of kindness cards will help your family focus on serving others throughout the Christmas season!
Spreading random acts of kindness is one of our favorite holiday traditions. Since the season is full of so many gifts, this has been a simple way to give back. I love finding practical ways for my kids to learn to serve others. When we teach these things when our kids are young, we are able to impart lasting truth on their lives.
One way we have been incorporating this is by having our Elf deliver a random act of kindness challenge every day. When we received an Elf, I really was not planning to do the whole Elf thing. Don't get me wrong, I see nothing wrong with it. It just was not a good fit for our family.
Instead of stressing over the Elf watching my kids and so on, we decided he was a toy and to have fun hiding him. This past year, we added in an extra element of fun where the kids find the Elf with his special random acts of kindness challenge!
It is such a simple and intentional Christmas activity!
Make your own cards or print off the random acts of kindness cards to use.
Cut them out and place in a bag for each access.
Every day (or whatever frequency you desire) have the Elf arrive with a card attached.
Then have fun serving others!
What are ways you teach your kids about kindness during Christmas?
Love this idea? Pin the image below to save!


text:
Alfie Boe - Photo By Ros O'Gorman
Michael Ball and Alfie Boe Target UK No 1 This Week
by Music-News.com on November 24, 2020
Michael Ball & Alfie Boe are on course for their third UK Number 1 album together but have Korean boyband BTS to overcome to secure the top spot.
Renowned singer and broadcaster Ball and acclaimed tenor Boe are at Number 1 on this week's Official Chart Update with their fourth album and first festive collection Together at Christmas. The holiday album currently has the most CD sales so far this week and has an overall lead of over 7,000 chart sales.
Ball & Boe's three previous LPs all reached the Top 2, with first and second albums Together and Together Again reaching Number 1, and third set Back Together topping out at Number 2.
BTS are at Number 2 with their fifth Korean-language studio album BE, which is the most downloaded album of the week so far, plus the most-streamed new release. Following its release on vinyl last week, Folklore by Taylor Swift rebounds from last week's Number 36 to Number 3 midweek.
Last week's chart-topper Power Up from AC/DC drops to 4, while Iron Maiden live album Nights Of The Dead – Legacy Of The Beast rounds out the midweek Top 5 at 5.
Neil Diamond and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's Classic Diamonds shines at Number 6, reissued Pink Floyd live album Delicate Sound of Thunder rumbles at Number 7, and another live album Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' Idiot Prayer: Nick Cave Alone is at Number 8.
Wakefield indie-rock band The Cribs are heading for a sixth UK Top 40 album with Night Network (12), US easy listening singer Josh Groban is in pursuit of a Top 20 debut for In Harmony (13) and a new entry is on the cards for British-Australian comedian Tim Minchin's first album Apart Together (14). A 20th anniversary vinyl reissue of Coldplay's debut album Parachutes is also in line for the Top 20 (17).
The deluxe release of The Kanneh-Masons' first family album Carnival could see the album return to the Top 40 at Number 21, Jamie Cullum yuletide album The Pianoman at Christmas is sleigh-riding to Number 23, Elvis Presley's From Elvis in Nashville is new at Number 31, David Bowie live album No Trendy Réchauffé is at Number 36.
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Tagged as: 00s, 10s, Alfie Boe. classical, UK
Former Reality Star Pardons Lil Wayne
Rapper Lil Wayne is a fee man after being pardoned by a former reality TV star.
Justin Timberlake To Play For President Biden
Justin Timberlake and Demi Lovato will help to celebrate Joe Biden's inauguration as the 46th President of the United States during a star-studded TV special.
Shakira Sells Music Catalogue
Shakira has sold her music publishing catalogue to Hipgnosis Songs.
#Noise11 Now listen ... Eagle Rock turns 50 and @rosswilsonmusic drops in to explain the songs origins and history… https://t.co/Vp0SX6STxN about 2 hours ago from Twitter Web App ReplyRetweetFavorite
Eagle Rock Turns 50 and Ross Wilson Talks About Its Origins https://t.co/yLbOOtK2Pz about 2 hours ago from WordPress.com ReplyRetweetFavorite
Former Reality Star Pardons Lil Wayne https://t.co/Jobfreuxu5 about 3 hours ago from WordPress.com ReplyRetweetFavorite


We enjoyed going to the Lancaster Quilt Show today. I didn't take photos of the quilts but I did snap a shot of Mom, Ann, and Nancy.
Tomorrow, we'll head back to Ann's house in Maryland for the night and then I'll drive Mom home to Virginia on Saturday.
from all over the country, right there!
This picture will stimulate more memories than pictures of the quilts in years to come. I have lots and lots of pictures of quilts from Minnesota Quilters shows. Very few have people in them. They aren't nearly as memorable. Enjoy the rest of your time together. That's what it's all about! Always love seeing your mom.
Time spent together is better than any purchase can be. You chose wisely.


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3 Top Stocks to Build TFSA Wealth
Enbridge (TSX:ENB) Stock: Should You Panic After Biden's Keystone XL Bombshell?
The Motley Fool Canada » Coronavirus » Bombardier Stock: How Low Could it Go?
Bombardier Stock: How Low Could it Go?
Andrew Walker | September 24, 2020 | More on: BBD.B
The share price of Bombardier (TSX:BBD.B) continues to hit new lows. Long-term holders of Bombardier stock face massive losses, and pundits wonder if the stock might actually disappear.
Bombardier stock crash
Aside from a few short periods of investor optimism fueled by enthusiastic turnaround predictions, Bombardier stock has been a capital killer for investors.
The stock traded above $20 per share 20 years ago. Since then, the decline indicates how tough it is to compete in the global commercial aircraft industry without being a giant. The financial crisis and now the pandemic made the situation worse, although much of the pain can be attributed to operational challenges in both the aerospace and rail businesses.
At the time of writing, Bombardier stock trades at just $0.37 per share.
CSeries impact on Bombardier stock
Analysts attribute most of trouble in the past decade to the CSeries jet program. Bombardier ambitiously designed a new fuel-efficient series of jets to compete in the mid-range segment of the commercial jet market. The planes actually turned out to be a great product, but development and manufacturing delays caused the program to run a number of years and several billion dollars over budget.
Early buyers of the jets became frustrated. Potential new buyers decided to stay on the sidelines.
It's too bad, because Bombardier had a great window of opportunity to win orders when oil traded around US$100 per barrel. Once oil prices tanked, the price for jet fuel came down enough to erode much of the benefits derived from buying the CSeries instead of cheaper planes.
Debt piled up, and Bombardier needed to find buyers quickly to avoid a possible bankruptcy. By early 2016, Bombardier stock traded below $1 per share. The board shelved the dividend and brought in new management. A decision to sell CSeries jets at heavily discounted prices helped stabilize the situation, but a deal with Delta Air Lines ran into trouble with the U.S. government due to claims Bombardier used aid from Quebec to sell the planes at a significant loss. The implementation of steep tariffs on CSeries jets sold to U.S. customers put the Delta deal in jeopardy.
Bombardier sold a majority stake in the CSeries to Airbus to sidestep the tariffs, which the U.S. then dropped. The European giant is making the planes at its U.S. facilities. Airbus recently took full control of the remaining part of the CSeries, now branded A220.
Train woes
Bombardier's rail group had its own issues with delivery delays and manufacturing problems.
The very public spat with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) over delayed deliveries on a large streetcar order might have contributed to the loss of several key bids. In recent years, Bombardier missed out on light rail contracts in Boston, Chicago and Montreal. Canada's Via Rail even gave a $1 billion contract to a competitor.
Bombardier just announced definitive plans to sell its rail group to Alstom. The deal should provide net proceeds of roughly US$4 billion to Bombardier.
Will Bombardier stock survive?
Bombardier carries roughly US$9 billion in debt. A successful completion of the rail group sale next year would provide essential capital to help pay back debt coming due in the next two years. Bombardier already sold off all of the commercial airline divisions and will be left as a pure-play maker of business jets.
The company's prospects looked better before the arrival of the pandemic. Now, it is uncertain if the private jet sector will be strong enough to get Bombardier through the storm.
Contrarian investors should be careful betting on a new rally. The company might pull off a turnaround, but there is also a risk it could disappear.
If you have some cash to invest on a contrarian stock, I would look for other opportunities today.
Motley Fool Canada Makes 5G Buy Alert
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5G has the potential to radically change our lives and society as we know it, but if you're an investor, the implications are even greater — and potentially much more lucrative.
To learn more about it and its revolutionary potential to change the industry — and potentially your bank account — click on the link below to get the full scoop.
Fool contributor Andrew Walker has no position in any stock mentioned.


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Essay Contest Marks Autism Support Center's 30th Anniversary
by nleavitt | Apr 1, 2021 | Autism Support Center, News
Northeast Arc is celebrating Autism Awareness Month and the 30th anniversary of its Autism Support Center by partnering with the Salem News for an essay contest.
We are asking community members to write a short essay (250 words or less) on their experiences living with, learning from, and loving someone with autism during a pandemic.
"As we are coming off an unprecedented period of restriction due to the pandemic, which I think highlighted the fact that people with autism and other developmental disabilities often live in isolation every day," said Jo Ann Simons, president and CEO of Northeast Arc. "I hope we have all learned how lonely isolation can be and think of ways in which we can help those with disabilities feel more included in society."
Although April is Autism Awareness Month, at the Northeast Arc we prefer to call it Autism Acceptance Month.
"We are way past awareness of this disorder," said Gloria Ricardi Castillo, director of Northeast Arc's Autism Support Center, which today serves nearly 3,000 families from all over Northeast Massachusetts. "With the prevalence of autism today we need to be focused on acceptance."
This month marks a special milestone for Northeast Arc — we opened the Autism Support Center in April 1991, a collaboration among parents, Northeast Arc Family Support staff, and the state Department of Developmental Services. Together, we sought a federal grant to support families coping with autism. At the time, specialized autism services and programs were either rare or non-existent, and there was limited research on the disorder. Back then, the prevalence of autism was one in 10,000 births — in 2020, the Center for Disease Control reported that approximately 1 in 54 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
The support center provided services and opportunities to build relationships for parents who otherwise thought they were alone in dealing with an autism diagnosis.
"They shared information such as which pediatricians were knowledgeable, who the best dentists in the area were, where to get a good evaluation, how to find a babysitter, resources, literature and more," said Ricardi Castillo.
"Parents of older children mentored parents of younger children and shared their insight and knowledge," added Ricardi Castillo.
One of the founding parents, Susan Gilroy, became the program director and remained in that role until her recent retirement.
"The sense of community and understanding that they had garnered led us to where we are today," said Ricardi Castillo.
As for the essay contest, a team at the Autism Support Center will choose the winners who will receive cash prizes: $250 for first place, $150 for second place, and $100 for third place. The winning essays will be published in the Salem News.
Essays must be submitted by email to asc@ne-arc.org. Entries must include the author's name, address, and contact phone number. The deadline to submit is Friday, April 30. Call Gloria Ricardi Castillo at 978-624-2301 with questions.
Northeast Arc and Lynn Public Schools Launch Pathways to Opportunities Program
How PLAN Helps People With Disabilities Live Their Best Life
Northeast Arc Scores High Marks in State Accreditations
Northeast Arc President and CEO Jo Ann Simons Honored by Boston Business Journal
Northeast Arc was founded in 1954 by parents of children with developmental disabilities who wanted to raise their sons and daughters as full members of the community. By having the courage to challenge professionals who told them their children could not be educated and would not live to become adults, these parents created the systems that enabled them to attend public schools, develop friendships, reside in the neighborhoods of their choice and to earn a paycheck. Over the years, our programs have expanded to support children and adults with a broader range of disabilities, including autism and physical disabilities. Today we serve thousands of people in nearly 200 cities and towns across Massachusetts. The goal of the Northeast Arc is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities are able to live, work, engage in civic life and play in the community.