Calgary dinner brings out literati

Some of Calgary’s leading thinkers along with community leaders gathered for the latest instalment of the Teatro Speakers Series.

It is a modern-day salon — a smaller gathering where thought leaders in business, government, academia and the media can meet to discuss world events.

Teatro restaurant played host the intimate group who gathered to hear Tyler Cowen, the man Bloomberg Busi

nessweek dubbed “America’s Hottest Economist,” share his thoughts on the problems facing the U.S. economy and how America can, and will, recover.

Mr. Cowen is a best-selling author and columnist for the Sunday New York

Times, a prolific writer and blogger, and chairman of the economics department at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. His latest bestseller, The Great Stagna

tion, describes how the U.S. got into its current economic mess. He argues that U.S. innovation and technology has plateaued. And without growth, the politics in America has turned ugly.

“Six years and 21 speakers later, the Teatro Series remains one the key public forums for Calgary’s business and community leaders,“said Patrick Luciani, codirector of the Teatro Series. Those attending the event included Robert Thompson, partner, Bennett Jones LLP; Tony Kay, British Consul General; Ted Morton, former cabinet minister in the Alberta government;

William Sembo, vice-chair, RBC Capital Markets; Terry Shaunessy, principal, Shaunessy Investment Counsel Inc.;

Piero Cicalese, president and CEO Saipem Canada; and Carlo Bellusci, Vendemmia International Wines Inc.

The Tyler Cowen dinner was hosted by William Sembo of RBC Capital Markets and Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP. The 2012-2013 presenting sponsor for the Teatro Series is Bennett Jones. Bennett Jones was represented at the event by Robert Thompson.