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Supporting families and communities – the federal government invests in in the Maritime’s new Ronald McDonald House

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HALIFAX, NS, June 2, 2024 /CNW/ – The new Ronald McDonald House in Halifax will be greener and more inclusive after an investment of $2.95 million from the federal government.

This was announced by Minister Sean Fraser, MP Andy Fillmore, and Lori Barker, Chief Executive Officer at Ronald McDonald House Charities Atlantic.

The new Ronald McDonald House, which broke ground in 2022 and is still under construction, has added green and accessibility components to their building plan. With this funding, the building will add geothermal and solar systems with the goal of becoming the first net-zero carbon Ronald McDonald House. It will also seek accessibility certification through the Rick Hansen Foundation, a national rating system that measures and certifies the level of meaningful access of buildings and sites.

The new building will replace the current Ronald McDonald House at 1133 Tower Road, increasing the number of families with sick children that can be supported annually from 600 to 1,200. The expansion will also increase the number of support programs offered to families during their stay including meals and family programming, as well as provide more support for equity-deserving groups.

Ronald McDonald House welcomes all families with a sick child (18 years of age or younger) who must travel to Halifax to receive care. Currently, families traveling further than 40 kms from the IWK Health Centre are eligible to stay at the Ronald McDonald House. 

The federal government recognizes the importance of building safe, healthy communities that are vibrant, green and inclusive, and is committing an additional $500 million to support more projects through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program.  

As outlined in Budget 2024, the federal government is taking measures to build more affordable homes, grow our economy and provide fairness for every generation. This includes our commitment to building safer, healthier communities like that of the new Ronald McDonald House in Halifax.

Quotes

“The federal government is proud to support the Ronald McDonald House in their mission to help more families in the region with sick children. We are also proud to support their additional goals of making this new building greener and more accessible.”

The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

“The Ronald McDonald House has been an important part of the Halifax community since it  opened in 1982. This expanded and greener version will be wonderful addition to the city and an inclusive and welcoming home away from home for families when they need it most.”

Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax

“We are profoundly grateful to the Government of Canada for their generous support through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program. This funding empowers us to better serve Maritime families with sick children, fostering not only their well-being but also contributing to a more resilient and sustainable community. Together, we are building a brighter, healthier future for all.”

Lori Barker, Chief Executive Officer at Ronald McDonald House Charities Atlantic

Quick Facts

The federal government is investing $2.95 million in this project through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program.Funding for the construction of the new Ronald McDonald House was initially announced in 2020 and included contributions from the federal government and the governments of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.The GICB program was created in support of Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy. It is supporting the Plan’s first pillar by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency, and helping develop higher resilience to climate change.The program launched in 2021 with an initial investment of $1.5 billion over five years towards green and accessible retrofits, repairs or upgrades.At least 10% of funding is allocated to projects serving First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, including Indigenous populations in urban centres.The funding announced today builds on the federal government’s work through the Atlantic Growth Strategy to create well-paying jobs and strengthen local economies.Federal funding is conditional on the signing of the contribution agreement.

Associated Links

Green and Inclusive Community BuildingsStrengthened Climate PlanFederal infrastructure investments in Nova Scotia

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CCBank Launches Quill Bank to Deliver Banking Expertise to Fintechs

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Quill Bank delivers decades of banking expertise directly to fintechs seeking a credible, consistent, and experienced bank.

PLEASANT GROVE, Utah, June 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CCBank is excited to announce the launch of Quill Bank, a distinctive, modern brand designed to serve the fintech banking vertical and bring innovative financial products to market with efficiency and broad appeal. Quill Bank is created specifically to meet the needs of tech-forward financial companies seeking a trusted brand backed by the bank’s regulatory, operational, and relationship-banking expertise.

Quill Bank is designed around the proposition that technology with a human touch ensures the best products and services are delivered to consumers in a safe and compliant manner. The name Quill, a reference to an antique writing instrument, reflects our intention to emphasize thoughtful, relationship-driven banking within a high-tech digital fintech space. The brand’s positioning, “Your fintech, our banking backbone,” also shows our commitment to providing fintech companies with a seasoned, dependable partner standing with them.

“The fintech space is driven by innovation, but innovation without a solid banking backbone can be a liability. Quill Bank exists because the fintechs we work with deserve a brand that reflects the institution standing behind them, one with tested experience, real relationships, and know-how. We’re delivering Quill to be the type of bank that makes fintech programs not just possible but credible,” said Andrew Cusick, CCBank’s Chief Development Officer.

“We’ve always believed that banking done right is built on relationships and reputation. Quill Bank is our way of bringing that philosophy to the fintech sector,” added Mike Watson, CCBank’s Chief Executive Officer. “As we grow and evolve, Quill gives our fintech programs a dedicated identity that speaks their language while drawing on everything we’ve built over the last few decades. We’re thrilled about the future the Quill brand makes possible for us.”

Quill Bank’s launch is effective on June 30, 2026, when the Quill.Bank website will go live. Fintechs interested in learning more about Quill Bank can contact Andrew Cusick at (801) 705-4383 or andrew.cusick@ccbank.com

About CCBank –

Founded in 1993, CCBank is a community-focused financial institution with branch offices located in Salem, Provo, Orem, Pleasant Grove, Sandy, Spanish Fork, and St. George to serve the banking needs of Utah residents and businesses. The bank prides itself on being a longstanding community bank headquartered in Pleasant Grove and focused on Utah communities’ financial and social health through its industry-leading rates, personalized service, financial technology, and quick decisions made at the local level. CCBank is an Equal Housing Lender | Member FDIC. Online: https://ccbank.com.

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SOURCE Capital Community Bank

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Spenn, Norwegian Reward and Strawberry Successfully Go Live on GRAVTY® to Power the Nordics’ Next-Generation Loyalty Ecosystem

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The launch establishes a new benchmark for loyalty ecosystems in the Nordics, connecting millions of members across leading travel, hospitality, and retail brands.

LONDON, June 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Loyalty Juggernaut, creator of GRAVTY®, the world’s leading cloud-native, enterprise growth platform, today announced at the Loyalty Summit EMEA the successful go-live of Spenn, Norwegian Reward, and Strawberry on GRAVTY®, enabling one of the most ambitious loyalty ecosystem initiatives in the Nordics. The milestone underscores GRAVTY®’s position as a leading loyalty platform in Europe’s hospitality, travel, and retail sectors.

Spenn was launched with the ambition of creating a shared loyalty points system designed to make earning and using rewards simpler, more flexible, and more relevant across brands, beginning with Norwegian and Strawberry, and expanding to additional ecosystem partners over time. Together, the programs serve millions of members across the Nordic region and reflect a broader industry shift toward interconnected loyalty ecosystems that create value for both consumers and participating brands.

Built on GRAVTY®, the platform enables real-time loyalty transactions, ecosystem-wide engagement, partner-led innovation, personalized experiences, and scalable growth across multiple brands and industries. The implementation provides the technological foundation required to support the continued expansion of the Spenn ecosystem and its growing network of partners.

“Spenn was created to challenge traditional loyalty models and give customers greater flexibility, simplicity, and value across the brands they engage with every day,” said Christoffer Sundby, CEO of Spenn. “Launching on GRAVTY® gives us a highly scalable technology foundation that enables us to accelerate innovation, expand our ecosystem, and create richer experiences for participating brands’ customers.”

“Our vision has always been to make our loyalty programme as relevant and valuable as possible for our Norwegian Reward members. By modernising our technology platform, we are taking an important step towards providing an even better and more flexible offering. This strengthens the connection between travel and everyday rewards, and gives us the flexibility needed to continue developing the experience with new benefits for the years to come,” said Cecilie Nybø Carlsen, Vice President Products & Customer Experience, Norwegian. 

“Strawberry has consistently focused on creating exceptional guest experiences and building deeper relationships with our members,” said Håvard Hovdahl, VP Spenn & Partnerships, Strawberry. “With GRAVTY® powering our loyalty operations, we are well positioned to expand the possibilities of Spenn and deliver greater value, flexibility, and personalization to our guests across the Nordic region.”

“The launch of Spenn required a platform capable of supporting complex ecosystem dynamics, high transaction volumes, real-time interoperability, and rapid partner onboarding,” said Kristian Kolstad, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Spenn. “GRAVTY® provided the architectural flexibility, scalability, and modern capabilities necessary to bring our vision to life and support our future growth ambitions.”

“We are honored to partner with Spenn, Norwegian Reward, and Strawberry on one of the most innovative loyalty transformations in the industry today,” said Shyam Shah, CEO of Loyalty Juggernaut. “The future of loyalty lies in ecosystems, interoperability, intelligent engagement, and customer-centric value creation. The successful launch of these programs on GRAVTY® demonstrates the power of modern loyalty technology to enable entirely new business models and customer experiences.”

About Loyalty Juggernaut

Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with subsidiaries in India, the UAE, China, and Canada, Loyalty Juggernaut serves leading brands across 110 countries. Its flagship platform, GRAVTY®, is an award-winning, AI-enabled, patented enterprise growth platform that powers over 80 loyalty programs across airlines, hospitality, retail, financial services, telecommunications, multi-brand business conglomerates, and other industries. Rated a Strong Performer in the Forrester Wave™ for Loyalty Technology Solutions, Q4 2025, GRAVTY® enables organizations to build, manage, scale, and monetize modern loyalty ecosystems while delivering highly personalized customer experiences.

About Spenn Group

Spenn Group is a technology company building and operating a loyalty platform with flexible points, jointly owned by Norwegian Air Shuttle, Strawberry Hotel Group and Reitan Retail. Spenn Group provides shared, flexible points that flow freely across a range of leading consumer brands, including Norwegian, Strawberry Hotels, Uno-X, 7-Eleven, Narvesen, and REMA 1000, enabling cross-brand earn and redemption while preserving each brand’s individual loyalty program. Spenn Group’s founding partners collectively represent over $20 billion in Nordic turnover.

About Norwegian Reward

Norwegian Reward is the loyalty program of Norwegian, a leading Nordic aviation company. The group includes two prominent airlines in the Nordics: Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian) and Widerøe’s Flyveselskap (Widerøe). Members of Norwegian Reward earn benefits when flying with either Norwegian or Widerøe, and also from a growing ecosystem of lifestyle and travel partners. The Norwegian Group operates an extensive network of domestic routes across the Nordic countries, in addition to connecting the region with key destinations all over Europe.

About Strawberry

Strawberry is one of the largest hotel groups in the Nordic countries, operating more than 250 hotels across the Nordics under brands including Clarion, Quality, Comfort, Stopover and Home Hotels, in addition to a portfolio of independent brands. Strawberry’s loyalty program rewards members for stays, dining, and experiences across its portfolio, with a vision to build lasting relationships that extend far beyond the hotel stay.

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www.lji.io

#FFP #TravelLoyalty #LoyaltyEcosystems #CustomerLoyalty #Spenn #LoyaltyJuggernaut #GRAVTY

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BlockBooster Digital Venture Fund I Invests $10 Million as Anchor Investor in SignalPlus’ $50 Million Series B1 Round

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ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands, June 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BlockBooster, a full-stack alternative asset management firm, announced today that its Digital Venture Fund I invested $10 million in SignalPlus, an institutional-grade crypto derivatives infrastructure platform, anchoring the company’s $50 million Series B1 financing round, with Goldman Sachs serving as sole financial advisor.

SignalPlus operates the industry’s leading trading terminal for institutional digital asset options and derivatives, trusted by the largest market makers, exchanges, and trading institutions worldwide. The company is now extending its institutional-grade infrastructure into traditional finance and preparing to launch SignalPlus 2.0, a platform upgrade that brings agentic AI into the trading workflow.

“This investment reflects our conviction that institutional capital will flow into digital assets through credible, institutional-grade infrastructure,” said Samuel Gu, Founder and CEO of BlockBooster. “SignalPlus is one of the most established teams in digital asset derivatives, and we are excited to support their next stage of growth.”

The investment in SignalPlus is aligned with BlockBooster’s strategy of backing category-defining infrastructure at the intersection of AI and digital asset markets, with a focus on trading, asset management, and tokenization primitives that can scale across both crypto-native and traditional financial institutions.

“SignalPlus has built the leading institutional infrastructure for digital asset derivatives, and we are now expanding globally and into traditional finance. We’re pleased to welcome BlockBooster, a full-stack alternative asset manager with deep institutional reach and expertise across tokenization and on-chain finance, and we look forward to working closely as we enter our next phase,” said Chris Yu, Co-Founder and CEO of SignalPlus.

BlockBooster is investing from its first fund, a $50 million Digital Venture Fund I focused on four core verticals: AI infrastructure, on-chain trading ecosystems, on-chain asset management, and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization.

About BlockBooster

BlockBooster is a next-era alternative asset management firm for the digital age. The firm leverages blockchain technology to invest in, incubate, and manage the core assets of this new era, from Web3-native projects to real-world assets (RWA). As value co-creators, BlockBooster is dedicated to unlocking the long-term potential of these assets, capturing exceptional value for its partners and investors in the digital economy.

About SignalPlus

Headquartered in Hong Kong, SignalPlus builds institutional-grade derivatives trading infrastructure for the converging capital markets. Its platform provides professional options analytics, real-time risk management, and execution tools to hedge funds, market makers, proprietary trading desks, and asset managers across digital and traditional financial markets. The company partners with the industry’s leading exchanges and trading institutions, and is backed by HashKey Capital, AppWorks, Tencent, and other prominent technology and financial investors.

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/blockbooster-digital-venture-fund-i-invests-10-million-as-anchor-investor-in-signalplus-50-million-series-b1-round-302788716.html

SOURCE BlockBooster

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