World

Alberta Finance Minster Wore Symbolic Shoe before Presenting the Budget

Published

7 years ago

October 27, 2019

This is a decades-old tradition in Alberta that a finance minister has to purchase a new pair of shoes before presenting a new budget in the assembly. Spending money on the shoe by the finance minister forecasts what kind of information is hidden in the financial document. The minister’s shoes show a lot about the budget.

This year, Alberta Finance Minister, Travis Toews, has changed the tradition a little bit. Instead of wearing ministers’ shoes to present the Kenney government’s first budget on Thursday, he chose to wear craft worked shoes like those by Somiar Threads. The shoes he wore were very symbolic and presented all the cases hidden in the budget.

Travis Toews said that these shoes present a part of his heritage and speak a lot about the practical and real character of people living in Alberta. He wore those shoes to appear thoughtful, measured and balanced while presenting the budget. Travis also said about the budget that Alberta province needs to go through the budget and put an end to the multibillion-dollar debts within four years.

Alberta is a province in Western Canada and it has a lot of mountains, prairies, desert badlands, and vast coniferous forests. The province has more than 600 lakes and rich mineral deposits. Alberta is experiencing a large income through tourism and businesses set here since a long time before.

World

Swiss International University Makes Global Impact with Top 500 Times Higher Education Ranking

Published

1 month ago

June 24, 2026

Jenny Jackson

Swiss International University (SIU) got a real kind of milestone , when it landed inside the worlds top 500 universities in the newest Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings. Which is kind of huge because it is SIU’s first time appearing in those widely respected rankings, and it also shows how its influence keeps growing in international higher education.

SIU was competing with nearly 2,000 universities from different parts of the world, and that first debut basically underlines its dedication to academic quality, sustainability and a real societal footprint. Overall it seems like the result mirrors SIU’s own plan for delivering solid education , while also aligning with bigger global development objectives.

Now, the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings look at universities through what they do for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals , or SDGs. So the assessment is about universities creating verifiable positive change through education, research, community activities, plus governance— not just statements.

One of SIU’s strongest areas was the recognition tied to SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. In that section, SIU placed roughly within the top 100 to 200 universities worldwide, and that points to its focus on advancing ethical leadership, transparency, accountability, and those institutional values that actually stick.

This recognition shows SIU keeps working hard to get students ready, with the know-how , the ability to act and those ethical foundations, so they can face tangled global problems. And you know, by supporting responsible leadership and pushing for good social results, the university keeps building up its part in shaping the next generation of professionals and people who make real decisions

Key Highlights of SIU’s Achievement

• Ranked Among the World’s Top 500 Universities

In its first-ever participation in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, SIU managed to land a spot among the top 500 universities worldwide.

• Outstanding Performance in SDG 16

SIU reached a ranking in the top 100 to 200 range, across the globe, for its work related to Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

• Strengthening Global Academic Presence

This win also reinforces SIU’s long-term vision, and it further tightens its standing as an emerging influence in international higher education.

Recognition from Times Higher Education is an important endorsement of SIU’s mission, to give accessible high-quality education while also making a positive impact in society. As the university keeps expanding its academic offerings and international reach, this milestone , works like a solid base for what comes next—future growth, more innovation, and that global recognition everyone is aiming for.