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Canada Strengthens Wildfire Response Through Training

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2 years ago

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OTTAWA, ON, March 21, 2025 /CNW/ – With wildfires becoming more frequent and severe across Canada — impacting people and public health, forests and landscapes, and economies — the Government of Canada is investing in wildfire training initiatives to increase fire management capacity across the country.

Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson announced a $16.3 million investment over the next three years, starting in 2024–25, to support 25 projects through the Government of Canada’s Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate Program (FMWCC) – Training Fund.

Through this investment, over 2,800 youth and community members in remote, rural and Indigenous communities across Canada will receive wildland firefighting training to enhance community capacity for responding to and managing wildfires. This investment will also help address employment barriers by equipping people with the necessary skills, and opportunities to pursue employment in wildland firefighting.

 Some of the projects funded through the FMWCC Training Fund include:

$329,109 to the Keewaytinook Okimakanak’s project in Thunder Bay, Ontario, to support the training of 25 youth in wildfire prevention and mitigation by providing opportunities for skills development and job coaching in the wildland fire industry, addressing the community’s need to build local fire management practices and enhance community resiliency to wildfires;$499,330 to the Metis Settlements General Council’s project in Edmonton, Alberta, to support the training of 320 participants in wildland firefighting, wildfire resiliency and reconciliation to address the need to involve and engage Metis Settlements people in wildfire management dialogues;$946,330 to Prince Albert Development Corporation Management Co. Ltd.’s project in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, to support the training of 20 youth in wildfire prevention and mitigation by providing opportunities for skills development and job coaching in the wildland fire industry. This project will aim to address the need identified by the communities to improve local and regional capacity in northern fire-prone regions;$1,579,655 to Whitefeather Community Resource Management Authority’s project in Pikangikum, Ontario, to support the training of 144 community members in Type II Wildland Firefighter Training, which aims to address the identified need to develop a firefighting workforce that can be quickly mobilized to increase community preparedness and to support Indigenous-led approaches; and$1,999,999 to the Independent First Nations Alliance’s (IFNA) project in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, to support the training of 50 participants while also leveraging partnerships, technology and youth engagement and aiming to address the identified need for additional trained staff and crews in IFNA’s remote communities to increase the capacity to manage wildfires locally.  

By working with provinces, territories, Indigenous communities and international allies, the federal government is supporting the fight against wildfires in communities across the country.

Quotes

“Today’s announcement is part of our commitment to work collaboratively to reduce the impacts of wildfires. We are providing fast-flowing funding to support organizations, community leaders and local governments and agencies to prepare for, prevent, mitigate and manage wildfires.”

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

“Wildfires continue to pose a growing threat to our communities. Northern Ontario has not been immune to these challenges, and we must ensure that our frontline responders have the necessary training to protect themselves, the lives of residents and our environment. The Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate Program – Training Fund will help strengthen wildfire preparedness, including right here in Nickel Belt. By equipping firefighters with advanced skills, we are taking proactive steps to mitigate future risks and enhance community safety. We can all rest easier at night thanks to the brave men and women that put their lives at risk to protect others.”

Marc G. Serré
Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt

“As wildfires become more frequent and severe due to climate change, it is essential that we equip our frontline responders with the training they need to protect themselves and our communities. Through this $16.3-million investment in wildfire training, we will strengthen Canada’s ability to prevent, manage and respond to these growing threats. This funding will ensure that firefighters and emergency personnel across the country have the skills and expertise necessary to keep Canadians safe.”

Viviane Lapointe
Member of Parliament for Sudbury 

Quick Facts

The FMWCC Training Fund was launched in 2022 to train 1,000 new community-based firefighters, focusing on Indigenous communities, to increase local fire management capacities and capabilities across Canada.The FMWCC Training Fund included a two-year pilot phase that supported 10 training projects valued at $8.2 million and helped inform the design and launch of the full Training Fund in 2024, which offered over $16 million to new applicants. The pilot supported the training of 294 firefighters and 116 fire guardians.The International Association of Fire Fighters Responding to the Interface program also upskilled 323 existing municipal structural firefighters.The FMWCC Equipment Fund was also launched in 2022 to support provinces and territories to purchase specialized wildfire firefighting equipment including, but not limited to, personal protective equipment, vehicles, mobile units, hoses, pumps and enhanced communications equipment, many of which were used to combat wildfires last season.Through the FMWCC Equipment Fund, 12 agreements were signed with eligible jurisdictions representing a total funding commitment of $254.3 million over five years.Visit Canada.ca/wildfires for a complete list of links to various federal supports for individuals impacted by wildfires.

Associated Links

Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate ProgramCanadian Wildland Fire Information System: Monthly and Seasonal ForecastsCanadian Wildland Fire StrategyWildfires – Canada.ca

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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Notari launches Founder Edition N1 Pro AI Notetaker, an AI notetaking system that makes the transcript a starting point for deeper thinking

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56 minutes ago

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October 27, 2026

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Founded by Keychron Co-Founder Paul Tan, Notari pairs a sleek recording device with an AI workspace that helps users question, develop and act on what they capture

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Today, Notari launched direct-to-consumer sales for N1 Pro AI Notetaker, an AI notetaking system designed to function as a thinking partner for conversations, meetings and personal ideas. The system consists of two components: a credit-card-sized recorder and an AI-powered app. The Founder Edition is available through an early-access program at notarilabs.com for a limited-time introductory price of $129.99 USD (MSRP $189 USD) in the United States and U.S. territories, with additional countries planned.

Our goal at Notari is to bring transcription capabilities to more people and organizations, giving them an easier, more customizable way to connect real-world information with their own AI.

At just 0.17″ (4.4 mm) thick, the N1 Pro AI Notetaker recorder is a device that attaches magnetically to the back of a smartphone and captures conversations, meetings, lectures and thoughts at the press of a button. Recordings are stored locally, and a built-in contact microphone can capture the other side of phone calls without requiring speaker mode. The Notari AI Notetaker software turns recordings into searchable transcripts and structured summaries, then provides an AI workspace where users can question the material, develop ideas and decide what comes next.

How N1 Pro AI Notetaker extends beyond the transcript

While many AI notetakers can reduce the work involved in recording, transcribing and summarizing conversations, N1 Pro AI Notetaker is designed to help users continue working with that information.

Key capabilities of the system include:

Record locally before deciding what to process: The recorder includes 32GB of local storage and does not require an internet connection while recording. Users always choose which files to transfer for transcription and AI processing in the app.Capture virtual meetings without a bot: Desktop recording captures system audio and in-person sound without requiring a bot to join the call.Move from recording to structured information: The app distinguishes between different speakers and turns recordings into searchable transcripts and structured summaries that users can correct and edit.Ask questions and develop ideas: Users can query captured material to retrieve details, identify unresolved issues and examine alternative perspectives, then use AI to develop what they learn further.Choose between multiple AI models: Users can select ChatGPT, Gemini or Grok through integrations managed by Notari.Option to use the software without the hardware: Notari AI Notetaker can be used independently of the recording device, with recording handled in-app.

“Our goal at Notari is to bring transcription capabilities to more people and organizations, giving them an easier, more customizable way to connect real-world information with their own AI,” said Paul Tan, Founder and CEO of Notari, Co-Founder and former COO of Keychron. “That connection gives AI the context it needs to better support us.”

A personal knowledge system built around user-controlled information

The recording device measures 3.58″ × 2.32″ × 0.17″ and weighs just 54.8g. Four MEMS microphones capture ambient audio, with best recording performance within five metres and recording at distances of up to nine metres under suitable indoor conditions. A 660 mAh battery supports up to 40 hours of continuous recording and up to 60 days of standby time, with approximately two hours required for USB-C charging. Available in Space Black and Silver, the device includes a magnetic adapter ring, USB-C charging cable and one-year limited warranty. A built-in screen indicates when recording is active.

Notari AI Notetaker is available via iOS mobile app (Android coming in November) and web browser, with dedicated desktop apps planned.

The Founder Edition N1 Pro AI Notetaker recorder includes unlimited free standard-model transcription for life on recordings made directly with the device, one complimentary month of the Pro Plan, and access to the Founder Community, where early customers can suggest ideas, provide feedback and vote on future features. With its core features in place at launch, N1 Pro AI Notetaker will continue to evolve through additional features and improvements planned for upcoming releases.

Free and paid subscription plans are also available, including the Plus Plan ($14.99 USD per month) with 2,000 credits for advanced transcription models, and the Pro Plan ($29.99 USD per month), which includes unlimited standard-model transcription and 4,000 advanced-model credits. Files selected for transcription and AI processing are uploaded to Notari’s AWS cloud infrastructure, where data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Users can delete individual recordings and other content from Notari’s servers, and user data is not used to train AI models.

“Too many products are built around restrictions,” continued Tan. “We created Notari to give users the most freedom in how they record, transcribe and work with AI so they can spend less time navigating limitations and more time making better decisions and doing better work.”

Media wishing to interview Notari personnel should contact PR agent Borjana Slipicevic at Proper Propaganda.

About Notari

Notari builds connected hardware and software tools that help people capture information, think clearly and develop ideas over time. Founded by Paul Tan, Co-Founder and former COO of Keychron, where he led product design and innovation, Notari brings together a multidisciplinary team of engineers, designers, writers, developers and thinkers. With backgrounds spanning product design, filmmaking and software development, the team draws on its own experience creating and building products to develop the next generation of notetaking and document tools for capturing information, developing ideas and supporting creative work.

Media Contact

Borjana Slipicevic, Proper Propaganda, 1 7788582595, borjana@properpropaganda.net, properpropaganda.net

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/notari-launches-founder-edition-n1-pro-ai-notetaker-an-ai-notetaking-system-that-makes-the-transcript-a-starting-point-for-deeper-thinking-302920770.html

SOURCE Proper Propaganda

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Regional Center of Orange County Honors Business Champions for Employees with Developmental Disabilities

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56 minutes ago

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October 27, 2026

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SANTA ANA, Calif., Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Regional Center of Orange County (RCOC) has honored the following seven Orange County businesses as champions for employees with developmental disabilities.

Discovery Cube (Santa Ana)
Grocery Outlet (Anaheim and Long Beach)
Lamppost Pizza (Orange)
Oakley (Irvine)
Heroes Hall – OC Fairgrounds & Event Center (Costa Mesa)
Provider Contract Food Services (Fullerton)
Walgreens (Anaheim)

Decades ago, few people with developmental disabilities were able to get paying work. Many who had jobs were employed in what were sometimes called “sheltered workshops.” These types of workplace settings (which are no longer eligible for Regional Center funding) included only adults with disabilities and were isolated from the broader community.

“Now we take for granted that people with disabilities can and should be able to work alongside coworkers without disabilities,” said RCOC Executive Director Larry Landauer. “But individuals we serve continue to face challenges, so it’s important for us to recognize role-model employers like our honorees who know the benefits of including people with developmental disabilities in their workforces.”

Several years ago, the RCOC Board of Directors adopted an Employment First policy that makes competitive integrated employment the first option for the working-age adults RCOC serves. This aligns with the state policy that also favors inclusive employment. Toward that end, RCOC and its network of service providers partner with businesses of all sizes, community organizations and government agencies throughout Orange County to identify job opportunities and then match individuals’ skills, talents, abilities and interests with the right job and the right employer.

The businesses honored at this event received certificates from the offices of Assemblymember Diane Dixon, Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris and Assemblymember Avelino Valencia.

For more information on the advantages of hiring adults with disabilities, visit RCOC’s Employment First and RCOC’s Employment for People with Developmental Disabilities web pages.

About Regional Center of Orange County: Regional Center of Orange County is the private, nonprofit organization contracted by the State of California to coordinate lifelong services and supports for more than 29,000 Orange County residents with developmental disabilities and their families. The Regional Center is the first stop for those seeking to obtain local services and supports to help them live safely and with dignity in the community. Developmental disabilities include intellectual disabilities, autism, epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Learn more at www.rcocdd.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/regional-center-of-orange-county-honors-business-champions-for-employees-with-developmental-disabilities-302921098.html

SOURCE Regional Center of Orange County

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Dotwork Acquires Arcario Group to Accelerate Adoption of Its AI-Native Enterprise Operating Platform

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56 minutes ago

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October 27, 2026

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Acquisition adds forward-deployed expertise to connect strategy, capital, AI execution and measurable business outcomes.

GEORGETOWN, Texas, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Dotwork, an AI-native enterprise operating platform, today announced its acquisition of Arcario Group, a consultancy specializing in enterprise operating models and transformation. The transaction closed October 23. Financial terms were not disclosed.

AI is accelerating execution, but most enterprises still manage strategy, funding and work across disconnected systems. Leaders struggle to see what investments actually cost, whether they produce results and where resources should move next.

Dotwork is building the enterprise steering layer for the AI era. Its graph-based Enterprise Operating Model connects existing systems rather than replacing them, linking strategy, capital, business capabilities, work, decisions and outcomes. Unlike tools centered on projects or workflows, Dotwork focuses on the decisions that drive performance, connecting plans to actual spending, preserving decision context and giving leaders and AI agents a shared understanding of the enterprise.

Arcario brings the expertise to activate that model. Its Connected Enterprise approach aligns people, processes, data and technology, while forward-deployed enterprise value architects work alongside customers to solve targeted problems and measure results.

Together, the companies help enterprises:

Design: Identify gaps between strategic priorities, investments, business capabilities and execution.Activate: Connect existing financial and operational systems, then deploy targeted workflows and AI capabilities without replacing core technology.Steer: Track decisions, actual costs and outcomes, then adapt investments and execution as priorities change.

“The enterprise software industry has spent decades helping companies manage work, automate processes and analyze data. But who’s helping the CEO, COO, CFO and CIO actually steer the business?” said Steve Elliott, founder and CEO of Dotwork. “AI makes deciding where to invest and how to measure results more important than ever. We’re building Dotwork around those decisions—not another workflow or dashboard. Arcario brings the expertise to make that operating model real.”

Rather than requiring lengthy transformation programs or bespoke platforms, the combined teams can start with a high-value business problem, establish a reusable operating model and expand as results are demonstrated. Lessons from deployments will also inform repeatable Dotwork platform capabilities.

“Connecting enterprise strategy to what teams actually do has always been the hard part,” said Konstantin Popov, founder and CEO of Arcario Group. “With Dotwork, we can move beyond recommendations to connect decisions, investments and execution—and show customers the value they’re creating.”

Arcario’s leadership previously built an enterprise operating-model practice acquired by Cprime, where it scaled to support major enterprise transformations. Arcario becomes the foundation of Dotwork’s services and forward-deployed engineering organization. Existing client engagements continue with their current teams. Konstantin joins Dotwork as Head of Transformation Services.

Learn more at dotwork.com/post/welcome-arcario.

About Dotwork

Dotwork is an AI-native enterprise operating platform connecting strategy, capital, work and outcomes through a living, graph-based Enterprise Operating Model. Founded by Steve Elliott, former founder and CEO of AgileCraft (acquired by Atlassian), Dotwork is headquartered in Georgetown, Texas. Learn more at dotwork.com.

About Arcario Group

Arcario Group helps enterprises build the Connected Enterprise, aligning people, processes, data and technology to improve execution and business outcomes. Learn more at arcariogroup.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dotwork-acquires-arcario-group-to-accelerate-adoption-of-its-ai-native-enterprise-operating-platform-302921095.html

SOURCE Dotwork

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