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Strengthening clean power and infrastructure for British Columbia’s critical minerals advantage

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BURNABY, BC, May 11, 2026 /CNW/ – The Government of Canada is making smart strategic investments so we can put our mineral wealth to work and ensure all Canadians benefit from the resources beneath our feet. With world-class mineral deposits, clean hydroelectric power and strong partnerships with Indigenous Nations leadership, British Columbia is ready to build the infrastructure and value-chain capacity needed to level-up its mining potential and help secure Canada’s place in the global clean energy economy as an energy and mining superpower.

Today, the Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State for International Development, on behalf of the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, visited Nano One Materials’ Innovation Hub facility to highlight over $100 million for five projects based in British Columbia that will accelerate critical mineral development in the province’s planning, development and processing capacity across the country.

Through the First and Last Mile Fund, Indigenous Natural Resource Partnerships Program and the Energy Innovation Program, Canada is supporting projects that will unlock economic opportunities and strengthen critical minerals development across British Columbia. These investments include:

Up to $50 million in approved funding to the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority to upgrade BC Hydro’s regional transmission system in support of Teck Resources’ Highland Valley Copper Mine Life Extension Project near Kamloops, British Columbia.Up to $44.2 million in conditionally approved funding to the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority to support expanded electricity transmission capacity for major mining developments in northwest British Columbia, including Newmont’s Red Chris copper mine expansion project and Seabridge’s KSM gold mining project.Up to $3 million to Nano One Materials for research, development and optimization of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) production, a critical input for electric vehicles, defence, aerospace and electronics.Up to $1.87 million in conditionally approved funding to Defense Metals Corp. to advance the development of a new 60-kilometre transmission line to the Wicheeda Rare Earth Elements Project mine site, along with upgrades to the service road connecting the mine to the highway.$900,000 to the Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association (SSIGA) to establish a critical minerals department within the Osoyoos Indian Band to support mineral expertise, Indigenous-led assessment and economic participation.$736,778 to Boney Creek Development Ltd. to advance pre-construction requirements for the Anyox Hydroelectric facility, enabling the generation of clean, renewable energy to support critical mineral development in northwest British Columbia.

These investments position British Columbia to lead the way in unlocking Canada’s full potential and in laying the groundwork for good jobs, clean power and long–term economic security for years to come.

Quotes

“British Columbia has world–class minerals, clean power and strong Indigenous leadership, and we are turning our critical mineral advantage into action. Today’s investments are strengthening transmission, supporting Indigenous communities and unlocking major projects across the province. This is about creating good jobs and opportunity for British Columbians while securing Canada’s place as a leader in the global clean-energy economy.”

The Honourable Randeep Sarai
Secretary of State for International Development

“Canada is moving faster, building smarter and thinking bigger about our critical minerals future. These projects represent exactly the kind of made-in-Canada leadership that will strengthen our supply chains, from the first mile of infrastructure to the last mile of getting minerals to market. By investing in clean power, transmission upgrades, Indigenous leadership and early-stage development, we are unlocking British Columbia’s full potential and creating the conditions for long-term economic security. This is how we build a resilient, sustainable and competitive critical minerals value chain right here in Canada.”

The Honourable Tim Hodgson
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

“BC Hydro has been a cornerstone of economic growth and sustainability in British Columbia — because one of our biggest competitive advantages is our clean, reliable and affordable electricity. This funding supports our ongoing work to expand our grid and deliver clean power to the critical minerals sector while keeping costs affordable for our customers.”

Charlotte Mitha
President and CEO, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

“This conditional funding approval represents an important milestone in advancing critical infrastructure planning for the Wicheeda REE Project. Securing access to clean, low-carbon hydroelectric power and optimizing transportation networks are key components in positioning Wicheeda as a strategically important domestic source of rare earth elements essential for clean energy technologies and modern transportation systems.”

Mark Tory
President and CEO, Defense Metals Corp.

“We are very grateful to NRCan and the Government of Canada for their ongoing support. This previously announced funding continues to support our efforts to advance sustainable, cost-competitive and scalable LFP processing technology alternatives, enhance our commercial offerings and strengthen resilient battery supply chain solutions for strategic partners and customers around the world.”

Dan Blondal
CEO and Founder, Nano One Materials Corp.

“When First Nations rights holders are supported with meaningful participation and informed decision making, we will have tangible changes that yield more collaborative and efficient processes for responsible project building. Instead of wasting resources to force processes through a mould, we are looking to build that mould together to develop critical minerals for the benefit of everyone.”

Marian Ngo
Executive Director, Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association (SSIGA) 

“On the anniversary of the Nisga’a Treaty, Boney Creek is pleased to advance sustainable electricity generation with our partner Anyox Hydroelectric, supporting responsible natural resource development of national importance. We are proud to lead projects that create shared value for all three signatories to the Treaty: the Nisga’a Nation, the Province of British Columbia and Canada. We look forward to continued collaboration with all parties to navigate the path to commercial operations and to help establish a resilient, sustainable foundation for the natural resource sector in northwest B.C.”

Tristan Walker
President, Massif Energy (Boney Creek Development Ltd.)

Quick Facts

Canada produces over 60 minerals and metals and already produces or has the potential to produce all 34 critical minerals identified on our Critical Minerals List.British Columbia produces copper, molybdenum, zinc and magnesium, with 13 additional critical minerals in development. In 2024, the sector generated $5.7 billion in production, supported over 1,100 companies, $4.2 billion in exploration spending and more than 20,000 jobs.The Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy aims to advance the development of these resources and related value chains. Between the launch of the Strategy in 2022 and 2024, domestic production of critical minerals in Canada has increased by more than ten percent for nine critical minerals: aluminum, graphite, lithium, magnesium (magnesite), molybdenum, niobium, platinum group metals, scandium and uranium.

Related Products

News release (March 3, 2026): Government of Canada invests to unlock Canada’s critical minerals advantage Backgrounder (March 3, 2026): Government of Canada invests to unlock Canada’s critical minerals advantage

Associated Links

Canadian Critical Minerals StrategyFirst and Last Mile Fund (FLMF)Indigenous Natural Resource Partnerships Program (INRP)Energy Innovation Program

Follow Natural Resources Canada on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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Barrel Energy Inc. Announces Full SEC Reporting Status, Strengthening Marketability and Positioning Company for Expansion in Renewable and Nutritional Energy Markets

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Barrel Energy Inc. (OTC: BRLL) A fully reporting company. Accelerates Growth Across Energy, Hospitality, and Sustainable Ventures, Driving Scalable Opportunities Worldwide.

LAS VEGAS, May 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Barrel Energy Inc. (OTC: BRLL), an emerging diversified energy company focused on renewable energy and nutritional energy initiatives, today announced that the Company is now a fully reporting company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), marking a major turning point in the Company’s long term growth strategy and public market development.

Barrel Energy Inc. Announces Full SEC Reporting Status, Strengthening Marketability and positioning for Expansion.

“Our transition to becoming a fully reporting SEC company represents a significant milestone for Barrel Energy and an important step toward increasing the overall marketability and visibility of our stock,” said Jarmin Kaltsas. “We believe today’s market increasingly rewards transparency and compliance, and becoming fully reporting positions us to engage a wider audience of investors, strategic partners, and acquisition opportunities as we continue executing our long term growth strategy under the BRLL trading symbol.”

Management further stated that the Company plans to aggressively pursue growth initiatives intended to expand revenues, strengthen market presence, and enhance shareholder value through strategic business combinations, operational expansion, and scalable energy focused ventures.

About Barrel Energy Inc.

Barrel Energy Inc. (OTC: BRLL) is a diversified energy company focused on opportunities in renewable energy, and nutritional energy initiatives. The Company seeks to leverage strategic acquisitions, public market growth, and innovative energy solutions to create long term shareholder value.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements relating to financial results and plans for future development activities and are thus prospective. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s ability to control. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements are risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s business and finances in general, including the ability to continue and manage its growth, competition, global economic conditions and other factors discussed in detail in the Company’s periodic filings with the Security and Exchange Commission.

Barrel Energy – 3859 S. Valley View Blvd, STE 2 #107, Las Vegas, NV, 89103 Tel- 888- 397-9114 Email- info@BRLLenergy.com Social Media-@BRLLenergy all platforms.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/barrel-energy-inc-announces-full-sec-reporting-status-strengthening-marketability-and-positioning-company-for-expansion-in-renewable-and-nutritional-energy-markets-302768505.html

SOURCE Barrel Energy, Inc.

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Legacy Launches $1M Study Advancing At-Home Semen Collection for Assisted Reproduction Technology

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NEW YORK, May 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Legacy, the leading male fertility clinic and at-home sperm testing and cryopreservation platform, today announced the Sperm Study, a clinical research initiative backed by an R&D investment of over $1 million and designed to evaluate and optimize the use of at-home semen collection for assisted reproductive technologies (ART), including IVF and IUI.

Prospectively enrolling up to 250 participants across two phases, this study represents one of the most comprehensive investigations to date into how specimen shipment, handling, and cryopreservation impact sperm quality and is expected to set a new benchmark for scientific rigor in the rapidly growing field of at-home fertility testing. This study is being conducted in collaboration with IVF Academy USA.

Raising the bar for clinical evidence in at-home fertility care

To date, validation work in at-home semen collection has been limited in important ways. Studies have largely enrolled normozoospermic men only, relied on courier-transported rather than real-world-shipped specimens, and focused on short-term motility and concentration as primary endpoints.

Critical questions remain unanswered, particularly around how samples with varying quality perform under genuine end-to-end shipping conditions, and how those samples hold up in the contexts that matter most clinically: IVF and IUI. The Sperm Study is designed to close those gaps.

This multi-phase study will evaluate key sperm quality parameters including motility, DNA fragmentation, and post-thaw viability, while also validating the use of computer-aided semen analysis (CASA) as an alternative to basic manual semen analysis in the setting of mail-in semen analysis.

“With the increased utilization of at-home semen testing and cryopreservation, there is a critical need to ensure these specimens will perform adequately when used for assisted reproduction,” said Legacy’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Scott Lundy. “This study is designed to rigorously evaluate how at-home collection and transport impact sperm quality across a broad patient population and to translate those findings into improved protocols and optimized outcomes for both patients and providers.”

Sperm study design and scientific approach

The Sperm Study is a prospectively accruing cross-sectional study in which paired semen samples are analyzed across multiple timepoints and during the shipment process. Importantly, this study enrolls participants across a range of semen quality profiles — not solely normozoospermic men — and evaluates samples under genuine shipping conditions experienced by real specimens.

Key study components include direct comparison of CASA vs. manual analysis at baseline, evaluation of motility decline over time and in relation to shipment conditions, measurement of DNA fragmentation pre- and post-shipment and cryopreservation, assessment of post-thaw sperm viability and yield, and the development of predictive algorithms for IVF/IUI sample sufficiency.

The study will also examine how factors such as transit time, concentration, and storage conditions impact outcomes, with the goal of generating generalizable insights for clinical practice.

Multi-phase rollout

Phase 1 includes 100 participants and approximately 1,500 total assays, with expected completion in 2026. Phase 2, planned for later in 2026 and into 2027, will expand the study with additional participants, bringing the total to up to 250 to enable broader validation across a more diverse patient population.

Impact on clinical practice

Findings from the Sperm Study are expected to directly inform and improve specimen collection protocols for at-home use, shipping and handling standards for semen samples, cryopreservation practices, and clinical decision-making for IVF and IUI readiness.

By generating high-quality, controlled data across a clinically representative patient population, Legacy aims to provide fertility clinics, researchers, and patients with greater confidence in the use of mail-in semen testing and cryopreservation as part of standard reproductive care.

About Legacy

Legacy is the leading male fertility clinic in the United States, offering at-home semen analysis, sperm cryopreservation, and post-vasectomy testing. With a CLIA-certified, high-complexity andrology lab and one of the largest proprietary datasets in male reproductive health, Legacy is advancing access, data, and innovation in fertility care.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/legacy-launches-1m-study-advancing-at-home-semen-collection-for-assisted-reproduction-technology-302768508.html

SOURCE Give Legacy, Inc.

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Elks Award Nearly $5 Million in College Scholarships

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CHICAGO, May 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Elks National Foundation welcomed 900 students to the Elks family, awarding more than $4.9 million in scholarships to high school seniors. An Elks scholarship is more than financial aid; it’s an invitation to a network of service-minded peers and a promise that an Elks Lodge is always there with open arms.

Out of more than 23,000 applicants for the Most Valuable Student scholarship, the Top 20 scholars received $30,000 scholarships and an invitation to Chicago for the Leadership Weekend.

From April 30-May 3, the Leadership Weekend allowed scholars to get acquainted with their new Elks family through programming facilitated by current and former Elks scholars, team-building activities, and a service opportunity.

“Leadership Weekend is one of my greatest memories,” says Emily Cai, sponsored by Toccoa, Ga., Lodge No. 1820. “I had the privilege of meeting inspirational and disciplined individuals who motivated me to become the best version of myself. I am excited to see my future with the Elks family!”

A total of 480 runners-up received $4,000 Most Valuable Student scholarships.

Service is a tenet of the Elks, which is why it’s a requirement for recipients of the $6,000 Legacy Awards scholarship, which is exclusively for the children or grandchildren of Elks members. The new class of 400 scholars will serve with an Elks Lodge three times during the four years they receive the scholarship.

“This award means a great deal to me and my family,” says Kelly Butler, sponsored by Haverstraw, N.Y., Lodge No. 877. “Knowing that the Elks have invested in my future motivates me to continue working hard and striving toward my goals.”

To see a full list of the scholarship winners and to learn more about the Elks National Foundation’s scholarships, visit elks.org/scholars, follow the ENF on Instagram @ElksScholars, and like the ENF on Facebook @ElksNationalFoundation.

Contact: Elks National Foundation
Abbey Knupp | Manager, Communications
2750 N. Lakeview Ave. | Chicago, IL 60614-2256
773/755-4864 | AbbeyK@elks.org 

Helping Elks Build Stronger Communities

The Elks National Foundation, the charitable arm of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, helps nearly 800,000 Elks and nearly 1,800 Lodges nationwide build stronger communities through programs that support youth, serve veterans, and meet needs in areas where Elks live and work. To learn more, visit elks.org/enf.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elks-award-nearly-5-million-in-college-scholarships-302768507.html

SOURCE ELKS NATIONAL FOUNDATION, INC.

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