VICTORIA, BC, July 30, 2026 /CNW/ — More than $152 million is being invested in 54 new infrastructure projects across British Columbia through the Strategic Priorities Fund. This federally funded program supports infrastructure projects that are beyond the financial capacity of a single local government, under the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) Community stream in B.C.

This was announced by Will Greaves, Member of Parliament for Victoria; Darlene Rotchford, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Esquimalt-Colwood; Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) First Vice President Jenna Stoner; and Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith, Board Chair of the Capital Regional District.

The Capital Regional District (CRD) has received $7 million towards an innovative project to transform biosolids leftover from wastewater treatment into biochar using new carbonization technology. This project is the first of its kind in Canada and will help lower greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the volume of material, destroying contaminants of concern, and permanently storing carbon, while also creating a valuable, carbon-rich product with potential applications across construction, industrial, agriculture and forestry sectors.

In addition, 53 other projects have been funded across British Columbia including a new fire hall in Metchosin, a new turf multi-sport field in Prince George and over a dozen water and wastewater projects. A portion of the funding is being used in capacity-building projects that will strengthen the ability of local governments to make long term infrastructure plans, integrated community sustainability planning and improve asset management practices.

The BCSF Community stream is a transfer-based program that provides $2.5 billion per year in funding to communities across Canada. The Province of British Columbia will receive over $326 million for the 2026-27 fiscal year, which is administered by the UBCM and distributed to local governments through the Community Works Fund, Strategic Priorities Fund, and Metro Vancouver Regional Fund.

Quotes

“For local governments across British Columbia, the right investment can support housing, foster connection and build strong communities. These projects will make a lasting impact and reinforce our commitment to building bold, building strong, and building together.”

The Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada

“Strong communities depend on strong infrastructure. As British Columbia grows, our government’s priority is helping municipalities plan for the future and meet changing needs. Thanks to partnerships with the Government of Canada, UBCM and local governments, these 55 projects will help communities build the infrastructure they need to deliver reliable services and create a more resilient future.”

The Honourable Christine Boyle, B.C. Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs 

“On behalf of the CRD, I would like to thank the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia and UBCM for their commitment to building stronger, more resilient communities through investments in innovative infrastructure. This biochar project will position the CRD as a national leader in biosolids management, carbon reduction and resource recovery. We are proud to advance an initiative that will provide lasting environmental and community benefits while further establishing our region as a leader in sustainable wastewater management.”

Cliff McNeil-Smith, Capital Regional District Chair

“The Build Communities Strong Fund is improving the quality of life across British Columbia by investing directly into communities. UBCM is pleased to administer this fund that empowers local governments to address critical infrastructure priorities and refine asset management. We are grateful for the long-term commitment that Canada and BC have provided for this program.”

Jenna Stoner, First Vice President, Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM)

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The full list of projects can be found on the Union of British Columbia Municipalities’ Strategic Priorities Fund website

Quick Facts

British Columbia’s 2026-27 allocation under the Build Communities Strong Fund Community stream is over $326 million.The total federal contribution towards the 54 projects is $152,313,226.The 29 capital projects are receiving a total of $145,945,502.The 25 capacity building projects are receiving a total of $6,367,764.The funding provided for these projects comes through the UBCM’s application-based Strategic Priorities Fund.The Build Communities Strong Fund Community stream provides predictable, long-term and stable funding to local governments for investment in infrastructure and capacity-building projects. This program is funded by the Government of Canada and administered in British Columbia by the UBCM.

Associated Links

Build Communities Strong FundCommunity Stream in British ColumbiaUnion of British Columbia Municipalities’ Strategic Priorities Fund

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SOURCE Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

SALT LAKE CITY, July 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Filevine has announced the launch of LOIS Explore, a new way for legal teams to access its Legal Operating Intelligence System. LOIS is now free to use with no credit card and no commitment, allowing firms to be up and running in just 10-15 minutes.

LOIS Explore handles the massive legal documents that generic AI tools cannot, processing files up to 5 GB and 15,000 pages while providing verified citations for every answer. Built on structured legal data from 40 million matters, LOIS functions as an active operator for the legal team, verifying citations against case law, analyzing case files, and flagging privilege issues.

This free access provides a secure environment for legal research, drafting, and semantic search across uploaded materials. Filevine maintains strict data protocols for LOIS Explore: it does not train AI models on uploaded documents, and accounts, uploaded documents, and chat history will be permanently deleted at the end of each free access period.

“We know many legal professionals are trying out multiple legal AI tools; often in parallel,” said Michael Anderson, Chief Product Officer of Filevine. “We want them to take the LOIS challenge and see what it is capable of when it comes to rich source verification and legal research that includes novel citator analysis. It’s a practical, secure way to experience AI purpose-built for the scale and complexity of legal work.”

To get started, users select a tailored practice track — litigation, transactional, or advisory — to align the experience with their specific needs. Free access requires full, verifiable contact information from a law firm or legal business.

To move beyond the trial’s sandboxed environment — including connecting LOIS to live case data, enabling team collaboration, and accessing firm-saved prompts — firms are directed to contact a Filevine sales representative. Get started today at filevine.com/lois.

About Filevine

Filevine is the system of record for the modern law firm. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Filevine connects contracts, matters, documents, and workflows into a unified platform. Thousands of organizations rely on Filevine to manage complex legal work with precision and control. Recognized as a leader in Legal AI, Filevine has been honored by the LegalTech Breakthrough Awards, the SaaS Awards, Deloitte Technology Fast 500, and the Business Intelligence AI Excellence Award.

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SOURCE Filevine

ANAHEIM, Calif., July 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM) welcomed thousands of the greatest minds in clinical laboratory medicine to ADLM 2026 from July 26-30. The meeting highlighted the vast impact of diagnostic research and technology on modernizing healthcare and improving people’s lives around the globe.

As of Thursday, July 30, nearly 17,000 laboratory medicine professionals had registered for ADLM 2026. More attendees are expected today, the last day of the meeting.

In the opening plenary, Dr. David M. Nathan, the 2026 Wallace H. Coulter Lectureship awardee, shared valuable lessons he learned over five decades leading U.S. diabetes research, emphasizing the necessity of robust partnerships and federal funding.    

On Monday, Dr. Kathleen McMonigal, director of the NASA Johnson Space Center Clinical Laboratory, discussed the complex effects of gravity changes on human physiology — and how she and her team will monitor and manage astronauts’ health on their missions to the moon and beyond.

Tuesday’s plenary speaker, Dr. Elizabeth Head, vice chair for research in the department of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of California, Irvine, described research into targets for interventions that could slow or prevent Alzheimer’s in people with Down syndrome, a population at high risk for the disease.

On Wednesday, Dr. Leeya Pinder, a distinguished gynecologic oncologist and associate professor at the University of Cincinnati, talked about transformative developments in cervical-cancer screening and their role in promoting healthcare equity.

And in today’s closing plenary, Dr. Arun Wiita, a physician-scientist in the department of laboratory medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, described research that harnesses the power of mass spectrometry to find better testing and treatment options for blood cancers. 

As part of ADLM’s Disruptive Technology Award competition, biotech innovators presented novel technologies that could help more patients get accurate diagnoses. Kompass Diagnostics won the competition with its rapid multimodal electrical transduction platform, IDA.

The ADLM 2026 Clinical Lab Expo boasted 700 exhibitors and covered an expanse of 308,611 net square feet. This vibrant exhibit featured emerging tests and tools from across laboratory medicine, incorporating artificial intelligence, clinical microbiology, molecular diagnostics, automation, point-of-care testing, mass spectrometry, and much more.

“This year’s meeting brought together clinical laboratory medicine experts from all over the world, highlighting our field’s vital — and expanding — role in driving healthcare forward,” said ADLM CEO Melanie J. Wells.

“From designing sophisticated diagnostics for space travelers to mobile testing solutions that widen access to healthcare here on Earth — and conducting a diverse array of research addressing major global health challenges like diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and cancer — clinical labs are the incubators for some of the greatest minds in medicine today. I hope that every attendee of ADLM 2026 feels the same sense of pride I do from witnessing firsthand our mighty collective impact,” Wells said. “I am already excited for next year’s meeting.”

ADLM 2027 will be held in Chicago from July 25-29, 2027.

About ADLM 2026

ADLM 2026 offers 5 days packed with opportunities to learn about exciting science from July 26-30 in Anaheim, California. Plenary sessions will explore landmark diabetes studies, the role of laboratory medicine in keeping astronauts healthy, the connection between Alzheimer’s and Down syndrome, advances in cervical cancer screening, and the search for new cancer biomarkers using mass spectrometry.

At the ADLM 2026 Clinical Lab Expo, more than 700 exhibitors will fill the show floor of the Anaheim Convention Center, with displays of the latest diagnostic technology, including but not limited to artificial intelligence, point-of-care, and automation.

About the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM)

Dedicated to achieving better health for all through laboratory medicine, ADLM unites more than 70,000 clinical laboratory professionals, physicians, research scientists, and business leaders from 110 countries around the world. Our community is at the forefront of laboratory medicine’s diverse subdisciplines, including clinical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, mass spectrometry, clinical microbiology, and data science, and is comprised of individuals holding the spectrum of lab-related professional degrees, certifications, and credentials. Since 1948, ADLM has championed the advancement of laboratory medicine by fostering scientific collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the development of innovative solutions that enhance health outcomes. For more information, visit www.myadlm.org.

Christine DeLong
ADLM
Director, Editorial and Media Relations
(p) 202.835.8722
cdelong@myadlm.org

Bill Malone
ADLM
Senior Director, Strategic Communications
(p) 202.835.8756
bmalone@myadlm.org

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SOURCE Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM)