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Active and public transportation infrastructure upgrades underway for communities throughout Alberta

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RED DEER, AB, June 26, 2024 /CNW/ – Local infrastructure upgrades are coming to over 50 communities across Alberta through 48 active and rural public transportation projects after a combined investment of more than $60 million from the federal government and recipients.

This was announced by Minister Randy Boissonnault and the Mayor of Red Deer, Ken Johnston.

The City of Red Deer will rehabilitate the Canadian Pacific Railway Bridge, a significant historical landmark which is used as a main active transportation corridor. It is the only dedicated river crossing near the greater downtown and Riverside Meadows. This crossing also benefits more vulnerable communities by providing direct access to social supports located on either side of the bridge.

The Bow Valley region of Banff, Canmore, and Lake Louise will benefit from three new accessible electric transit buses and a charging station, which will improve traffic flow for commuters and visitors to this busy area in the National park. Similarly, in areas such as Cochrane, Rocky View County, and Medicine Hat, the upgrades or enhancements of transit vehicles will benefit the surrounding communities.

Other rural and Indigenous communities receiving funding will benefit from improvements to existing pathway systems and crosswalk infrastructure. Funding will also support better public transit services with new energy-efficient and accessible vehicles, upgraded equipment and improvements to bus stops, and rural transit planning studies and routes.

The details of each project can be found in the accompanying backgrounder.

Quotes

“As communities in Alberta continue to grow, it is vital to have active and rural public transportation infrastructure that meets their evolving needs. Our government’s investment will encourage Albertans to be active and healthy and contribute to a cleaner environment, creating more resilient and stronger communities for everyone.”

The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

“This investment from the federal government means more than just upgrading infrastructure; it signifies a commitment to the well-being and safety of our community. Rehabilitating the Canadian Pacific Railway bridge not only preserves a significant historical landmark but also enhances connectivity, revitalizes our downtown, and ensures access to essential services for all residents, including those most vulnerable. Together, we are building a stronger, more inclusive Red Deer.”

His Worship Ken Johnston, Mayor of the City of Red Deer

“Thanks to the support of the Rural Transit Solutions fund, we are thrilled to be able to further expand our zero-emission fleet through the purchase of additional electric buses. Operating Roam Transit services within and around Banff National Park, environmental stewardship is paramount to us and our partner communities. Embracing advanced technologies to reduce emissions underscores our commitment to sustainable transit. Adding additional electric buses marks a pivotal moment in our transition, enhancing our journey to lowering emissions, and moving us towards a greener future”.

Martin Bean, CEO, Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission

Quick Facts

The federal government is investing a total of $36,301,698 through the Active Transportation Fund (ATF), the Rural Transit Solutions Fund (RTSF) and the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (PTIS) of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP). The ATF is providing $18,438,784 of this investment for 31 projects, $15,193,328 of this investment is through RTSF in support of 15 projects, and $2,669,586 is through PTIS for two projects. Municipalities and associated funding partners are contributing a total of $24,892,275 to their respective projects.Since 2015, the federal government has committed over $30 billion for public transit and active transportation projects. These historic investments have resulted in close to 2000 projects across the country.Federal funding is conditional on fulfilling all requirements related to consultation with Indigenous groups and environmental assessment obligations.

Active Transportation Fund:

Active transportation refers to the movement of people or goods powered by human activity. It includes walking, cycling and the use of human-powered or hybrid mobility aids such as wheelchairs, scooters, e-bikes, rollerblades, snowshoes, cross-country skis, and more.In support of Canada’s National Active Transportation Strategy, the Active Transportation Fund is providing $400 million over five years, starting in 2021, to make travel by active transportation easier, safer, more convenient, and more enjoyable.The National Active Transportation Strategy is the country’s first coast-to-coast-to-coast strategic approach for promoting active transportation and its benefits. The strategy’s aim is to make data-driven and evidence-based investments to build new and expanded active transportation networks, while supporting equitable, healthy, active, and sustainable travel options.

Rural Transit Solutions Fund:

The RTSF helps Canadians living in rural and remote areas get around their communities more easily. It supports the development of rural transit solutions, including new transit service models that could be replicated or scaled up.A minimum of 10% of RTSF’s funding envelope is allocated to projects that benefit Indigenous populations and communities.RTSF’s Planning and Design Projects continuous intake remains open. Through this stream, eligible applicants can receive a grant up to $50,000 in support of a communities’ projects to plan and design a new or expanded transit solution for their communities. Some examples of eligible planning and design projects are assessment of routes and modes of travel, feasibility studies, public and stakeholder engagement and surveys.The RTSF complements Canada’s strengthened climate plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy. Through the plan the federal government has committed to providing federal funding for public transit in support of making clean and affordable transportation available in every community.

Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program)

This stream supports the building, expansion, and upgrading of urban and rural transit networks.Including today’s announcement, eighteen infrastructure projects under the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream have been announced in Alberta, with a total federal contribution of more than $1.97 billion and a total provincial contribution of more than $2.03 billion.In 2021, the government announced significant public transit funding that includes billions in support for zero emission buses, rural transit solution, active transportation, and support for major projects to accelerate the expansion of large urban transit systems that many Canadians depend on every day.Averaging $3 billion a year, this predictable and flexible public transit funding will respond to local needs by enhancing integrated planning, improving access to public transit and active transportation, and by supporting the development of more affordable, sustainable, and inclusive communities.On December 18, 2023, the federal government launched the Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy, which highlights the need for a collaborative, region-specific approach to sustainability, focusing on strengthening the coordination of federal programs, and initiatives with significant investments. This Framework is a first step in a journey that will bring together multiple stakeholders. PrairiesCan, the federal department that diversifies the economy across the Canadian prairies, has dedicated $100 million over three years to support projects aligned with priority areas identified by Prairie stakeholders to build a stronger, more sustainable, and inclusive economy for the Prairie provinces and Canada.Infrastructure Canada is supporting the Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy to encourage greater collaboration on investment opportunities, leverage additional funding, and attract new investments across the Prairies that better meet their needs. 

Related Products

Backgrounder: Active and public transportation infrastructure upgrades are underway for communities throughout Alberta

Associated Links

Active Transportation Fund
https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/trans/index-eng.html 

National Active Transportation Strategy
https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/trans/active-strat-actif-eng.html

Rural Transit Solutions Fund
https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/rural-trans-rural/index-eng.html 

Investing in Canada: Canada’s Long-Term Infrastructure Plan
https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html

Public Transit Infrastructure Stream
https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/pti-itc-eng.html

Strengthened Climate Plan
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/climate-plan/climate-plan-overview.html 

Federal infrastructure investments in Alberta
https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/prog-proj-ab-eng.html

Building a Green Prairie Economy Act
https://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/B-9.88/page-1.html

Building a Green Prairie Economy
https://www.canada.ca/en/prairies-economic-development/programs/green-prairie-economy.html 

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SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

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Ravelin Defense Launches Unified Brand Identity, Marking the Completion of ArmorWorks and Fox Valley Metal Tech Integration

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CHANDLER, Ariz., June 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ArmorWorks Enterprises and its wholly-owned subsidiary Fox Valley Metal Tech (“FVMT”) announced today the completion of their brand integration under a unified identity: Ravelin Defense. The launch marks the culmination of the strategic integration effort following the 2024 acquisition of Fox Valley Metal Tech and its combination with ArmorWorks Enterprises, bringing together more than six decades of combined defense manufacturing expertise under one name, one brand, and one go-to-market platform. Ravelin Defense is a portfolio company of Littlejohn Capital.

About the Name
The name Ravelin Defense draws from a defense architectural reference. A ravelin is a forward-positioned, triangular fortification — a structure engineered to provide layered protection and absorb a threat before it reaches the core. The name reflects both the nature of what the company builds and how it thinks about its role in the defense industrial base.

A Platform Built on Two Proven Legacies
ArmorWorks Enterprises spent more than 30 years building its reputation as a trusted provider of survivability solutions — delivering armor systems, blast attenuating seating, crew protection, nuclear protection, and mission-critical products to the U.S. military and global defense partners. Fox Valley Metal Tech built a complementary organization as a precision metal fabricator with advanced manufacturing capabilities serving defense and industrial customers with large, complex, tight-tolerance precision enclosures. Acquired by ArmorWorks in 2024 and operating as a wholly owned subsidiary since, FVMT’s integration added manufacturing depth and precision fabrication capacity and a significant maritime customer base that materially broadened what the combined platforms support.

Since the acquisition, the two businesses have operated as one company under a unified leadership team and common strategy. All customer relationships, contracts, certifications, and points of contact remain unchanged.

Strategic Rationale
The Ravelin Defense brand reflects the completion of a deliberate platform-building strategy. The integrated company offers a unified capability spanning survivability structures, armor, precision enclosures, blast attenuating seating, nuclear security systems, signature management, and situational awareness solutions — delivered through two established locations and one cohesive leadership team. That combination positions Ravelin Defense to pursue larger, multi-domain defense programs at a scale the businesses could not have accessed independently.

Kevin Dahlin, Chief Executive Officer of Ravelin Defense says, “ArmorWorks and Fox Valley Metal Tech each built substantial credibility over the past three decades — proven capability, hard-won customer trust, and a standard of quality that defines who we are. We have been one company since 2024, and Ravelin Defense is the name that reflects that reality in the market. Operating under a unified identity gives our customers a clearer picture of the full scope of what we can deliver across Land, Sea, and Air — and opens doors to program opportunities that match the scale of what we have built.

The name has changed, but the mission remains constant: to protect and enable warfighters and global partners by delivering mission-critical and survivability solutions through innovative products and advanced manufacturing.”

About Ravelin Defense
Ravelin Defense is an integrated survivability and precision manufacturing platform serving the U.S. defense market and global partners across Land, Sea, Air, and Infrastructure domains. The company delivers mission-critical and survivability solutions — including armor systems, blast attenuating seating, precision enclosures, nuclear security, signature management, survivability structures, and situational awareness capabilities — through innovative products and advanced manufacturing.

Ravelin Defense is headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, with manufacturing operations in Green Bay, WI.

ArmorWorks Enterprises and Fox Valley Metal Tech are operating units of Ravelin Defense. All existing contracts, certifications, registrations, and customer and supplier relationships remain in full effect under the new brand.

For more information, visit www.ravelindefense.com.

About Littlejohn Capital, LLC
Littlejohn Capital is the family office of Angus C. Littlejohn Jr., founder of Littlejohn & Co., where he currently serves as Chairman Emeritus. Founded in 2013, Littlejohn Capital seeks to make control investments in small to mid-sized private companies that are undergoing strategic, operational or generational transition. For more information, visit www.littlejohncapital.com

Media Contact
Chris Tofalli
Chris Tofalli Public Relations, LLC
914-834-4334
chris@tofallipr.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ravelin-defense-launches-unified-brand-identity-marking-the-completion-of-armorworks-and-fox-valley-metal-tech-integration-302800596.html

SOURCE Ravelin Defense

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F-Secure and IdentifAI Take Aim at AI-Generated Scams with Deepfake Protection Launch

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Real-time deepfake detection capabilities added to F-Secure’s Scam Protection Suite, helping service providers combat increasingly convincing AI-driven scams

HELSINKI and MILAN, June 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Global consumer cyber security leader F-Secure and deepfake-detection experts IdentifAI have joined forces to help digital service providers combat the rapidly rising threat of AI-generated scams. Available now through the F-Secure Embedded portfolio, Deepfake Protection adds real-time detection of AI-generated images, video, and voice to F-Secure’s Scam Protection Suite, helping consumers determine what’s real and what’s not, while closing one of the fastest-growing gaps in global scam protection. 

AI-generated scams have quickly reached crisis levels: The FBI reports that Americans lost nearly $900 million to AI-generated scams in 2025. And according to F-Secure’s latest research, more than 56% of all consumers are targeted by scammers every month, with financial scam losses doubling in the last year alone.

Generative AI is pouring fuel on the fire: cloned voices, synthetic video, and hyper-realistic fake images are turning yesterday’s clumsy phishing attempts into convincing, personalized deception. The red flags aren’t obvious anymore, and consumers are increasingly left guessing whether what they’re seeing or hearing is real. This makes deepfake detection a critical new capability for service providers looking to help customers identify manipulated content before it can be used to scam them.

“A video, a voice message, a photo — things people once trusted instinctively can now be fabricated in minutes,” said Dimi Vellikok, SVP of Product Engagement at F-Secure. “The reality is that scam protection can’t stop at suspicious links and messages anymore. Consumers are increasingly being targeted with manipulated content, and service providers need tools that address those threats too. That’s exactly why we’ve partnered with IdentifAI: to give our partners real-time deepfake detection for the consumers they serve, as part of the protection they already trust.”

Protection built for the AI era

Deepfake Protection draws on IdentifAI’s multi-modal detection technology, which analyzes images, video, and voice in real time to flag AI-generated and manipulated content. IdentifAI takes a deliberately independent approach to the problem: the company exclusively detects AI-generated content and does not build generative models itself, avoiding the conflict of interest that affects vendors who do both. That focus lets its detection keep pace as new generative models reach the market.

“Our mission is to safeguard the fundamental human right to distinguish between the artificial and the human, ensuring we all engage with the world authentically,” said Marco Ramilli, IdentifAI Founder and CEO. “In partnering with F-Secure, we have turned this vision into reality—co-creating powerful, proven solutions to counter the threat of deepfakes.”

The partnership brings together F-Secure’s network of more than 200 service-provider partners and IdentifAI’s specialist deepfake detection technology. Together, the companies aim to make trustworthy, real-time content verification a standard part of everyday consumer protection, rather than a specialist tool solely reserved for enterprises. 

The future of scam protection, available now

Deepfake Protection is available to digital service providers as part of the F-Secure Embedded portfolio, the suite of consumer-security capabilities F-Secure delivers to its service-provider partners. Through the Embedded portfolio, providers can integrate deepfake detection into the security experiences they already offer without having to build new infrastructure of their own.

About F-Secure

F-Secure is a human-first, AI-powered consumer cyber security experience company with 38 years of expertise in tackling digital threats. We help digital service providers turn trust into a high-value growth engine — protecting their customers while enabling them to live their best digital lives in a world of relentless, AI-driven scams. With billions of digital interactions secured each year, tens of millions of consumers protected globally, and over $10bn in partner value created, we deliver proven impact at scale.

About IdentifAI

IdentifAI is an Italian startup that has developed an innovative AI platform capable of detecting whether images or videos were created by humans or generative AI. Its proactive solutions promote digital integrity, protect against misinformation, and empower users to distinguish between human and AI-generated content. In July 2025, identifAI raised €5 million in a funding round led by United Ventures, reflecting a continued commitment to developing anti-deepfake technologies and promoting a secure information ecosystem. For more information: www.identifai.net | sales@identifai.net

PRESS CONTACTS:
Meghan Sawyer
Senior Public Relations Manager, US
Meghan.Sawyer@f-secure.com

Joel Latto
Public Relations Manager, EMEA
Joel.Latto@f-secure.com

IdentifAI
pr.it@identifai.net | pr.uk@identifai.net

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com.

https://news.cision.com/f-secure/r/f-secure-and-identifai-take-aim-at-ai-generated-scams-with-deepfake-protection-launch,c4364126

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/f-secure-and-identifai-take-aim-at-ai-generated-scams-with-deepfake-protection-launch-302801586.html

SOURCE F-Secure

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Aviso Advances Technology Modernization with Broadridge’s Wealth Platform

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TORONTO, June 16, 2026 /CNW/ — Leading Canadian wealth services provider Aviso is collaborating with global Fintech leader Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR) to support the next phase of technology modernization for its Aviso Correspondent Partners business by deploying Broadridge’s Wealth Platform.

As part of its long-term strategic vision, and expanded multi-year relationship with Broadridge, Aviso is evolving the systems that support partners to enable modern, flexible technology that drives innovation, advisor productivity, and long-term growth while enhancing the overall client experience. This includes deepening its collaboration with Broadridge as part of a broader partner ecosystem.

Aviso will leverage Broadridge’s Wealth Platform, which provides a next-generation open API architecture and innovative Advisor Workstation components. The solution combines Broadridge’s technology and books and records engine with Aviso’s own capabilities and select third-party partner applications to offer a seamless, scalable experience for partners, advisors and clients.

“Our strategy is focused on delivering smarter, more agile digital experiences for our clients and advisors, while creating a strong foundation for future innovation,” said Bill Packham, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aviso. “Broadridge’s platform approach complements our vision by enabling us to integrate the best available capabilities across our own technology, Broadridge’s solutions, and other valued partners. This collaboration builds on our long-lasting relationship with Broadridge and positions us to deliver a future-ready platform that enhances advisor productivity and client experiences.”

“This expanded engagement with Aviso reflects our shared commitment to transforming and modernizing the wealth management ecosystem for advisors and their clients,” said Karin Kirkwood, President, Broadridge Canada. “We’re proud to deepen our collaboration with Aviso and play a key role in enabling their transformation. As a trusted provider of industry expertise and transformative technology, Broadridge supports large-scale modernization efforts across the financial services sector, helping forward-looking firms like Aviso lead with agility, confidence, and impact.”

The enhanced Advisor Workstation will increase advisor productivity, enable accelerated onboarding of new tools, reduce internal integration work and costs, and provide real-time access to data and insights while digitizing operations. Aviso will be better positioned to capitalize on growth opportunities while more easily responding to industry evolution and regulatory developments.

With an agile and scalable platform, Broadridge empowers wealth management firms to streamline operations, accelerate digital transformation, and unlock growth. As the Canadian wealth industry prioritizes modernization of their front- and middle-office operations, Broadridge’s integrated, future-ready platform serves as a strategic differentiator, enabling leading firms to shape the future of wealth management in Canada.  

About Broadridge

Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE: BR) is a global technology leader with trusted expertise and transformative technology, helping clients and the financial services industry operate, innovate, and grow. We power investing, governance, and communications for our clients – driving operational resiliency, elevating business performance, and transforming investor experiences.

Our technology and operations platforms process and generate over 7 billion communications annually and underpin the daily average trading of over $15 trillion in tokenized and traditional securities globally. A certified Great Place to Work®, Broadridge is part of the S&P 500® Index, employing over 15,000 associates in 21 countries.

For more information, visit www.broadridge.com.

About Aviso

Aviso is a leading wealth and investment services provider for the Canadian financial industry, with more than $220 billion in assets under administration and management as of May 31, 2026. Guided by our values — we care, we dare, we share, we deliver — we’re building a technology-enabled, client-centric wealth management ecosystem for partners, advisors and investors. Aviso supports over 4,600 advisors and nearly 900,000 investors.

Aviso works with over 450 partner organizations, including nearly all credit unions across Canada, as well as portfolio managers, investment dealers, insurance and trust companies, and introducing brokers. Our services include an investment and mutual fund dealer, insurance and estate planning, managed assets, online brokerage and automated investing, asset management, and custodial and carrying broker solutions. For more information, visit aviso.ca.

Media Contact:

Olivia Whalen
pro-BRWAM@prosek.com

 

SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

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