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Investing in a Sustainable Kitchener-Waterloo

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KITCHENER, ON, June 24, 2024 /CNW/ – Across the country, Canadians are looking to live in sustainable communities: places with clean air, affordable homes and good employment opportunities. Building sustainable communities means that as a federal government, we are continually investing in our environmental and economic health.

Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced four projects in the Kitchener-Waterloo region that will support community sustainability through investments in more efficient and affordable energy systems and greener transportation options.

Through its Codes Acceleration Fund program, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is investing $538,730 toward High-Performance Development Standards for Waterloo Region. This multi-partner initiative will help advance higher performance new constructions in the region, reducing costs and improving energy efficiency in the buildings where people live, work and play.

In addition, NRCan is investing $380,235 through its Energy Efficiency program to help the Waterloo Region District School Board implement an energy management system in accordance with the latest ISO 50001 standard to reduce costs, improve energy performance and, in turn, improve energy efficiency for school buildings across the region.

And finally, through the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program, NRCan is supporting the deployment of a coast-to-coast-to-coast network of charging stations, including new charging stations in the Kitchener-Waterloo region, specifically:

Chargers for tenants and visitors at residential buildings owned by Drewlo Holdings Inc. through a $103,622 investment that will help install four chargers in buildings across Kitchener and 30 more in other Ontario cities.Chargers for commercial fleets, which will be installed by Grand River Energy Solutions through a $910,000 investment, which will result in nine new chargers in Kitchener-Waterloo and five more in other Ontario cities.

These investments are injecting more money and green jobs into the Region of Waterloo. They demonstrate the federal government’s commitment to building green community infrastructure through EV chargers, greener buildings and the energy systems that support them.

Making the switch from fossil fuels to clean electricity is key in lowering climate changing greenhouse gas emissions, cleaning the air we breathe and putting the country on track for a new, sustainable jobs economy. 

Quotes

“We are investing in more than just energy-efficient projects — we are helping to build greener, more energy-efficient, economically prosperous communities for living, working, travelling and playing, across Ontario and across Canada. The investments we are making today in the Region of Waterloo speak to our government’s commitment to more sustainable, more affordable communities where you and your family can charge your car for less, enjoy reliably energy-efficient buildings and benefit from green community infrastructure at all stages of life.”

 The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

“We are grateful for this funding that will support a truly collaborative effort to create High-Performance Development Standards. All eight municipalities in Waterloo Region are working together with WR Community Energy and various community stakeholders to improve the energy performance and sustainability of new buildings. This will help us reach our goal of reducing GHG emissions by 80% percent by 2050.”

Karen Redman
Regional Chair, Regional Municipality of Waterloo

Quick Facts

The ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems Standard is an internationally recognized standard that gives organizations a structured framework to improve energy performance by making better use of energy-intensive assets.The Codes Acceleration Fund seeks to accelerate the adoption and implementation of the highest feasible energy performance tiers of the national model energy codes or other high-performance building codes, promote higher rates of compliance with adopted codes, and build capacity and support market preparedness for ambitious codes adoption.On-road transportation accounts for about 18 percent of Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions.Phasing in 100 percent new electric vehicle sales by 2035 is projected to reduce over 360 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, avoiding almost $100 billion (about $310 per person in the U.S.) in global damages.The Government of Canada’s incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles (iZEV) program has helped over 300,000 drivers make the switch through incentives of up to $5,000.Before hitting the roads, Canadians can easily map out their route by consulting Natural Resources Canada’s electric charger and alternative fuelling stations locator.

Related Information

Energy efficiency for buildingsCodes Acceleration FundZEV Resource HubZero-emission vehicle infrastructure fundingCharging and Hydrogen Refuelling Infrastructure initiative

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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LEAP Group Relaunches HumanView, a Growth Intelligence System Built to Explain Why Customers Behave the Way They Do

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Reimagined from the ground up, HumanView pairs statistical modeling with expert analysts to turn millions of real-world customer signals into business decisions

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LEAP Group today announced the relaunch of HumanView, its growth intelligence service. The new version has been rebuilt from the ground up and now has a dedicated home at leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

HumanView analyzes what customers say and do across social platforms, e-commerce sites, review platforms, search behavior and user-generated content, including signals from Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Amazon and Walmart+ that general AI tools cannot always access. Because the data reflects unprompted, real-world behavior, it avoids the response bias built into surveys and focus groups.

The service works in three layers. HumanView captures signals at scale, decodes millions of records through validated statistical models such as regression, correlation and clustering, and then relies on experienced analysts to interpret the patterns. Clients receive clear, human-validated insights instead of another dashboard.

“Machines find the patterns. Humans find the point,” said Alan Gilleo, CEO at LEAP Group. “The first version of HumanView showed us how much customers reveal when nobody is asking them questions. This version is built to explain why they act the way they do, and to put those answers in front of everyone making decisions, from product to service to marketing.”

HumanView focuses on three areas:

Growth Intelligence: customer motivations and how people perceive a brand and its competitors

Market and Category Intelligence: product pain points, service friction, unmet needs and competitive gaps

Audience Intelligence: new segments, positioning opportunities and gaps in the market

Every model is designed and validated by data scientists and benchmarked before it informs a recommendation.

To learn more about HumanView, visit leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

About LEAP Group
LEAP Group is a boutique marketing agency holding company with offices in Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago. Guided by the belief that brands should “Market Less. Matter More.,” LEAP gives clients access to specialized experts across its entire network. Learn more at leapgroupnetwork.com.

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SOURCE LEAP Group

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STEPHEN A. SMITH ADDRESSES WHITE HOUSE DINNER ATTENDANCE, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HBCUs AND PROTECTING CORPORATE INVESTMENT IN BLACK EDUCATION

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NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stephen A. Smith, media mogul, New York Times bestselling author, and proud 1991 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, is addressing the public discussion surrounding his decision to attend a White House dinner with President Donald Trump, emphasizing his commitment to the long-term financial stability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

For Smith, the decision was rooted in a commitment to institutions that have educated generations of Black leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

“I will always advocate for HBCUs and the students whose futures depend on them,” Smith said. “My reason for attending the White House dinner was to discuss the challenges these institutions face in securing long-term funding and to make the case that corporate America must continue to invest in them.”

Smith acknowledged federal support through the FUTURE Act while expressing concern that political tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) could discourage private companies from supporting HBCUs. He maintains that these institutions deserve sustained corporate partnerships, philanthropic contributions, and public investment.

“If we truly believe in free-market capitalism, businesses should be able to support educational institutions and charitable causes without fear of criticism or repercussions,” Smith said. “HBCUs have made extraordinary contributions to this country. They deserve sustained public and private investment.”

Ashley Christopher, Esq., Founder and CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation, recognized Smith’s advocacy and decision to engage with the administration.

“Stephen A. Smith has been a powerful advocate for HBCUs, using his platform and influence to shine a national spotlight on our institutions,” expressed Christopher, “His continued support of HBCU Week helps advance our mission of connecting students with life-changing educational opportunities, and we are proud to have him as our ambassador.”

Since Smith became an HBCU Week Ambassador in 2019, the initiative has facilitated more than 15,000 on-the-spot college acceptances and raised and awarded more than $150 million in scholarships, according to the HBCU Week Foundation.

As public discussion continues, Smith is emphasizing the importance of ensuring HBCUs have the resources and partnerships needed to educate future generations and expand opportunities for students.

CLICK HERE to watch Smith’s full response to his White House visit.

MEDIA CONTACT:

media@mrsasinc.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stephen-a-smith-addresses-white-house-dinner-attendance-reaffirms-commitment-to-hbcus-and-protecting-corporate-investment-in-black-education-302918547.html

SOURCE Straight Shooter Media

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Advantex Announces Completion of Financing and Extension of Maturity Date of Previously Issued Debentures

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TORONTO, Oct. 23, 2026 /CNW/ — Advantex Marketing International Inc. (CSE: ADX) (“Advantex”), a leader in the merchant cash advance and loyalty marketing products for merchants, today announced the completion of a $250,000 secured debt financing. Advantex issued a $250,000 non-convertible debenture which bears an interest rate at 12% per annum and matures December 15, 2027. The proceeds raised from this issuance of the Debenture will be used for working capital purposes.

Advantex has also extended the maturity of its existing $700,000 in 12% secured debentures from October 10, 2026 to December 15, 2027.

About Advantex Marketing International Inc.

Advantex provides working capital to merchants. Advantex also provides specialized marketing programs that enable members of Aeroplan to earn Aeroplan points at participating merchants.

Advantex shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol ADX. For more information go to Advantex’s profile on www.sedar.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the future business and operations of Advantex. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The business and operations of Advantex described herein is dependent on a number of factors and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ material include, but are not limited to, changes in Advantex’s economic and competitive conditions including but not limited to the industry sectors in which Advantex operates.

The statements in this news release are made of the date of this release. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and Advantex undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Advantex Marketing International Inc.

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