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Minister Anandasangaree announces investment to strengthen Canada’s maritime security in the Great Lakes

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NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ON, June 25, 2026 /CNW/ – Today, Minister Anandasangaree highlighted an $816M investment over seven years to strengthen maritime security and expand the Canadian Coast Guard’s role in monitoring Canada’s waters.

Through new authorities under the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration Systems and Borders Act, the Canadian Coast Guard is enhancing its role in protecting Canada’s waters, including using its vessels, helicopters, sensors, operational centres, and shore-based assets to collect, receive, share, and analyze information for improved security and sovereignty.

Key initiatives to enhance the Canadian Coast Guard’s maritime domain awareness and visibility throughout the Great Lakes include:

A 24/7 Marine Security Operations Centre in Niagara. This will deliver continuous monitoring and real-time data integration, enhancing situational awareness and enabling faster, coordinated enforcement across the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence region. enforcement actions across the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence region.Up to 11 radar sites at strategic locations along the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence to address existing gaps in maritime domain awareness and improve monitoring in key areas.

Autonomous systems, including drones, are enhancing the Canadian Coast Guard’s ability to monitor and respond across Canada’s waters by extending operational reach from both land and vessels. Equipped with advanced sensors and cameras, these uncrewed aerial and subsurface platforms improve situational awareness, reduce operational costs and risks to personnel, and support real-time information sharing with federal partners–particularly in remote and Arctic regions.

In parallel, the Canadian Coast Guard is investing in new capabilities to enhance how it collects and shares information on marine activity. This includes the installation of advanced camera systems on Coast Guard ships and helicopters, improving the quality of data collected and enabling the rapid dissemination of actionable maritime domain awareness to defence, law enforcement, and security partners.

Canada must be able to detect and respond to all activities within its waters. With its fleet and operational expertise, the Canadian Coast Guard is well positioned to advance national maritime security priorities across the country, in collaboration with the Department of National Defence, the Canadian Armed Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canada Border Services Agency, and other key partners.

Quotes

“Maritime security depends on strong situational awareness and timely information sharing. Through close collaboration with partners, the Canadian Coast Guard helps maintain a coordinated picture of activity across our waters–supporting informed decisions and a unified approach to protecting Canada’s security, sovereignty, and marine interests.”

The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence

“Protecting Canada’s waters, especially the Great Lakes, is essential to our security and prosperity. Through our Border Plan and the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration Systems and Borders Act, we are investing in modern surveillance, stronger intelligence, and an expanded role for the Canadian Coast Guard to better detect and respond to threats, while keeping Canadians safe.”

The Honorable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety

Quick Facts

The Canadian Coast Guard was transferred from the Fisheries and Oceans Canada to the National Defence on September 2, 2025. It remains a civilian Special Operating Agency.The new Strengthening Canada’s Immigration Systems and Borders Act received Royal Assent on March 26, 2026, and gives the Canadian Coast Guard additional security responsibilities to collect and share intelligence related to Canada’s waters.New security-related activities will be integrated into the primary functions of the Canadian Coast Guard: search and rescue, icebreaking, environmental response and protection, supporting ocean science, and maintaining safe and navigable waterways.On April 1, 2026, the Government of Canada’s civilian aircraft services and assets were transferred to the Canadian Coast Guard, giving the agency operational control of the civilian aerial fleet, meaning greater capacity to support its growing role in maritime security.

Associated Links

Backgrounder: Delivering on the Canadian Coast Guard’s Expanded Security ResponsibilitiesStrengthening border security – Canada.ca

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PestPac by WorkWave® Extends Field Capabilities with Door-to-Door Sales Integration

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Identify, quote, sign, and schedule services in as little as 3.5 minutes with a single native workflow

HOLMDEL, N.J., June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — WorkWave®, a leading provider of software and solutions that help mobile service companies thrive, today announced the launch of PestPac’s fully integrated Door-to-Door (D2D) sales engine, designed to improve the field sales experience by moving beyond manual data entry and fragmented workflows. The solution helps business owners support sales activity, better manage their field sales teams, and provide a more modern sales experience, while offering homeowners a professional customer experience.

In high-intensity sales environments, seconds can be the difference between a closed deal and a missed opportunity. Many pest control companies experience a “toggle tax” from switching between disconnected sales apps, paper contracts, and back-office systems. PestPac’s native D2D workflow is designed to reduce this friction, enabling representatives to identify, quote, sign, and schedule services in as little as 3.5 minutes. By staying focused on the customer rather than the technology, reps can better maintain the momentum needed to close deals efficiently.

As external pressures like rising labor and material costs threaten the bottom line, software efficiency has become the primary lever for protecting profit margins. The PestPac D2D workflow is designed to deliver immediate ROI by focusing on:

Sales Enablement and Experience: Support sales activity and enable sales reps with the best-in-class technology and insights they need to make every knock count, and succeed in the field. The native workflow improves the time-to-quote experience, allowing representatives to quickly identify, quote, sign, and schedule services, all from one single screen.System Consolidation: Support tech consolidation and reduced overhead. Because Sales Center is integrated directly into PestPac, rather than using a third-party app, it supports real-time data syncs that help reduce manual entry errors, save time, and lower overhead software costs.Actionable Intelligence: Evaluate ROI and make proactive business decisions with access to dashboards. These insights help turn field data into strategic moves that can support margins and long-term business value.

“Our mission is to provide our customers with sophisticated tools to compete effectively in their local markets,” said Kevin Kemmerer, CEO of WorkWave. “With our integrated D2D engine, we are providing actionable intelligence designed to help turn field data into decisive moves that support margins and long-term business value.”

Whether a company runs high-volume summer programs or a specialized outside sales track, PestPac helps representatives arrive at the door prepared, turning every doorstep into a potential business opportunity.

For more information on PestPac and Door-to-Door, click here.

About WorkWave:

WorkWave is on a mission to deliver innovative software and fintech solutions to the dedicated service professionals who ensure the world remains safe, clean, and beautiful. Powering millions of services every year, leading companies in lawn care, pest control, commercial cleaning, and security guarding rely on WorkWave’s comprehensive SaaS solutions, including its core offerings PestPac®, RealGreen® & TEAM Software®, to manage and grow their businesses. Backed by decades of experience, passionate teams, and an unwavering commitment to its customers, WorkWave’s vision is to empower the world’s mobile service workers to build a brighter future.

For more information, visit workwave.com.

Media Contact:
Brittany Boyle
bboyle@workwave.com

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SOURCE WorkWave

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Convoy of Hope Responds to Deadly Venezuelan Earthquakes

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo., June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Global disaster relief organization, Convoy of Hope, is already on the ground responding to last night’s catastrophic earthquakes which shook Venezuela and left more than 180 individuals dead and more than 1,500 injured. Officials expect these numbers to rise.

Convoy of Hope’s teams are currently providing life-sustaining immediate relief, including food, water, and hot meals from mobile kitchens.

“Images of the devastation in Venezuela are heartbreaking,” said Ethan Forhetz, Convoy of Hope’s national spokesperson. “The loss of life is staggering. Convoy of Hope is currently working to deliver much needed essential relief supplies to survivors. As we distribute those life sustaining items, we give hope to people who are walking through unthinkable tragedy.”

Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a national state of emergency as her country’s infrastructure is compromised and the capital city of Caracas in crisis, the need for immediate humanitarian aid is critical. Seismologists classified the disaster as a “seismic doublet,” an extremely rare phenomenon where two major earthquakes occur almost simultaneously, resulting in increased damage to housing and structures. These catastrophic tremors with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, rank among the strongest earthquakes to hit Venezuela in more than a century.

Survivors are still being pulled from the debris, families with missing loved ones are clinging to hope as rescue teams work around the clock, and Convoy of Hope is committed to help for the long haul.

Convoy of Hope is a global, faith-based organization that serves vulnerable communities. By partnering with local churches, businesses, civic organizations, and government agencies, Convoy has strategically offered help and hope in more than 130 countries around the world. Since its founding in 1994, Convoy of Hope has served 350 million people and counting.

Media Contact:
Fabiana Boyce, Public Engagement Specialist
(417) 831-7955
fboyce@convoyofhope.org

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/convoy-of-hope-responds-to-deadly-venezuelan-earthquakes-302811193.html

SOURCE Convoy of Hope

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University of Maryland Expands Landmark Research Program to Address Society’s Most Pressing Challenges

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The Grand Challenges Grants Program channels the university’s research power across 40+ disciplines to advance solutions for the public good

COLLEGE PARK, Md., June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The University of Maryland today announced the launch of 11 high-impact research projects funded by nearly $15 million over three years through its Grand Challenges Grants Program, the university’s signature initiative to mobilize research across disciplines in service of society’s most pressing needs.

The newly funded projects draw on the expertise of more than 40 disciplines from across campus, reflecting the university’s commitment to tackling complex challenges — from expanding access to mental health services and heading off future pandemics to reducing educational disparities.

It’s the next step in an ongoing commitment to channel the university’s research power into advancing solutions for the public good. In 2023, the first round of Grand Challenges Grants committed $30 million to 50 projects spanning every college and school — the largest investment of its kind in UMD’s history, resulting in an additional $55 million in external funding.

“The inaugural program demonstrated extraordinary impact due to the breadth of expertise and collaborative spirit across our research enterprise,” Senior Vice President and Provost Jennifer King Rice and Vice President for Research Patrick O’Shea said in an email to the campus community. “Through Grand Challenges 1.0, faculty developed innovative approaches to issues from climate resilience to food insecurity to educational equity and more, strengthening partnerships across disciplines, engaging students in new opportunities, and positioning the university for greater external funding, scholarly impact and public engagement.”

The projects funded this year by Grand Challenges Grants 2.0 were selected from nearly 80 proposals from every college and school involving 400 researchers. The projects will also receive a 50% matching in-kind and/or cash investment from their college or unit.

“These projects exemplify the power of interdisciplinary collaboration to generate new ideas, accelerate discovery and address the grand challenges facing communities in Maryland, across the nation and around the world,” Rice and O’Shea said. “We are inspired by the vision and innovation reflected in these projects, and grateful to everyone who submitted proposals.”

Institutional Awards

IN-PLACE: Interdisciplinary Network for Place-Based Learning, Action and Community-Engaged EnvironMental Health connects time spent in nature with evidence-based mental health care through community partnerships, research and campus programming to simultaneously address the interconnected challenges of mental health, environmental health and health disparities.

Women’s Health Interdisciplinary Research Collaborative advances translational research, workforce development and evidence-based policy to close critical knowledge gaps in women’s health across the lifespan, leveraging AI and community-engaged approaches to drive real-world improvements for a historically underrepresented population in medical research.

Impact Awards

Predictive Biology Hub for Human and Environmental Health develops new predictive tools to mitigate pandemics, improve human health outcomes, and sustain vital ecosystems in the face of emerging global threats across biological scales, from pathogens and ecosystems to brain networks and bioinspired design.

Sustainable and Ethical AI Infrastructure integrates engineering, economics and policy analysis to help Maryland and the nation balance the surging power and water demands of AI data centers with sustainability, affordability and national security goals, while identifying near- and long-term technological solutions for sustainable infrastructure.

Team Awards

Maryland Initiative Against Superbugs focuses on the discovery and engineering of bacteriophage: viruses that infect and kill bacteria. It will combine AI, computational modeling and experimental validation to identify and optimize bacteriophage, or phage, therapies capable of precisely targeting and killing drug-resistant superbugs.

Gut-Healing Smart Pill develops a smart, swallowable capsule that precisely targets and activates the gut’s natural repair mechanisms to heal damaged intestinal tissue, aiming to reduce surgical interventions, improve patient outcomes and lower the enormous costs of inflammatory bowel disease care.

Belonging for Immigrants and Refugees with Disabilities partners with grassroots organizations to provide culturally tailored support services, workforce training and policy advocacy for immigrants and refugees with disabilities to reduce systemic barriers and improve access to education, healthcare and community resources.

AI for Precision Cancer Treatment integrates quantum computing and machine learning to design single-atom catalysts. The emerging approach for improving early cancer detection and treatment efficacy offers a faster, more cost-effective path to safer therapies that minimize damage to healthy tissue.

The Air We Share: A Public Health Revolution for the 21st Century aims to radically improve indoor air safety by advancing the science of airborne infection transmission, demonstrating interventions in homes and healthcare settings, and building the research infrastructure and next-generation leadership needed to make safe indoor air a universal public health standard.

Land-Sea Exchange Network for Salinity: An Early Warning System for Detecting and Managing Salinity Risks tracks salt levels from land to coastal waters and will develop an early warning system to help policymakers and communities identify, manage and reduce the environmental and economic impacts of saltwater intrusion and road salt pollution.

Sustainable Precision Aquaculture Network for Shellfish aims to transform oyster farming into a precision, data-driven industry that addresses global food security, restores water quality and revitalizes coastal economies. It will leverage robotics, AI, big data and Internet of Things technologies to modernize shellfish aquaculture in the Chesapeake Bay.

About the University of Maryland

The University of Maryland (UMD) is the state’s flagship university driven by a community of more than 50,000 fearless Terrapins. As a leading research university and top 20 public institution, UMD is proud to be part of the Association of American Universities. Dedicated to excellence and impact for the public good, the university is propelled by a $1.4 billion joint research enterprise. UMD is the nation’s first Do Good campus, and is consistently ranked for its innovation, research and top-tier academic programs. Located in the National Capital Region, the university offers an unparalleled student experience with federal internship opportunities, hundreds of academic programs and study abroad options, and top-ranked living-learning programs. Spurred by a culture of innovation and creativity, UMD’s faculty are global leaders in their fields and include Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and members of the national academies. For more information about the University of Maryland, College Park, visit umd.edu.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/university-of-maryland-expands-landmark-research-program-to-address-societys-most-pressing-challenges-302811205.html

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