Understanding Perspectives Social Studies 4/5

Grande Cache, the Alberta coal town north of

Jasper National Park, is asking the province to

consider whether it should continue to exist as a
municipality.

 Grand Cache Coal, the town's major employer, shut

down operations late last year.

 In December 2015, Grande Cache Coal laid off 220

workers and shut down operations. Earlier that year,

the company cut 175 people when it suspended
surface-mine operations.
An estimated 750 jobs have been lost.

 Alberta will soon announce the phase-out of coal-

fired electricity in the province.

This is a big deal. Coal power is the second biggest
emitter of greenhouse gases in the province,
behind the energy industry.

 Though Moulun has lived in Grande Cache his

whole life he is thinking about leaving.

"I've always loved Grande Cache but because of the
outlook right now... yeah I would like to get
out because my kids are turning college age too,"
he said. "But there's no way to get out.

Question: What is perspective?

 The government is responsible to protect resources.

The resource workers want to keep their jobs and

way of life.

 The consumers or people who want to continue to

enjoy resources/products.

 I have put up 2 signs on either side of the

classroom. One sign says disagree and the other

sign says agree.
I will ask a question and you will have to decide
whether or not the group agrees or disagrees. I will
count down from 5 and you have to be there before
the I reach 0.

 Should the Alberta coal town Grande Cache stay a

municipality/town?

 Would the government agree or disagree to have

the town of Grande Cache become part of another

town?

 Would the resource workers agree or disagree to

have the town of Grande Cache become part of

another town?

 Would consumers agree or disagree to have the

town of Grande Cache become part of another

town?

Would you agree or disagree to have the town of

Grande Cache become part of another town?

 New report: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-coal-town-grande-

cache-may-no-longer-be-a-town-1.3641310

More information: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/coal-compensation-power-

alberta-1.3321467

Grande Cache: http://www.grandecachechamber.com/

Perspective: http://www.smallbox.com/blog/perspective
Legislature: http://www.editingluke.net/2014/08/alberta-legislature-building-part-

2.html

Coal Miner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTtaqTgTmYA

Coal: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/27/business/27coal.html
You decide: http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/you-decide-for-real-choose-the-next-

three-tuesday-show-topics