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Government of Canada welcomes Rio Tinto project that will reduce GHG emissions and expand manufacturing of low-carbon aluminum

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Rio Tinto continues to position itself as a key player in the global low-carbon economy

JONQUIÈRE, QC, June 28, 2024 /CNW/ – Decarbonizing the production of critical minerals and metals is essential to achieving Canada’s climate goals. Canada is the fourth-largest producer of primary aluminum in the world. As a long-standing supplier of strategic metals to the United States and across the North American industrial supply base, Canada must ensure that it can continue to provide aluminum products to critical sectors such as automotive and transportation, energy, and infrastructure. By supporting clean technologies and advanced manufacturing, the government will continue creating good middle-class jobs, strengthening our economy and building a greener future for all Canadians.

Today, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, welcomed Rio Tinto’s plan to expand production capacity for low-carbon aluminum in Canada. This project is another key step in the implementation of the groundbreaking ELYSIS™ smelting technology across Rio Tinto operations in the province of Quebec.

Once fully developed and implemented, the ELYSIS™ technology would eliminate almost all emissions associated with the Canadian aluminum industry’s smelting carbon footprint. The world-leading net-zero aluminum smelting technology will reinvent the chemistry of aluminum production by removing carbon from the chemical process and producing only oxygen as an output.

Today’s announcement represents another significant step forward as the Government of Canada continues to position Canada for success with a cleaner, stronger and better-prepared economy—one that is competitive in a low-carbon world.

Quotes

Canada has all it takes to be the global green supplier of choice, which is why our government is collaborating with key industry actors like Rio Tinto to produce low- carbon aluminium. Groundbreaking projects such as the ELYSIS™ smelting technology will ensure Canada remains at the forefront of the economy of tomorrow while also staying focused on its carbon reduction goals. When economic benefits are paired with a commitment to developing green solutions, it’s a win for Canadian industry, our cleantech ecosystem and our workers.”
– The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“At the heart of our government’s economic plan is building an economy where Canadian workers benefit. That is why we’re seizing the opportunities to decarbonize Canada’s critical minerals and mining sector, create good-paying jobs—especially union jobs—and ensure Canadian workers and industry remain at the forefront of the global economy.”
– The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

“ELYSIS™ is truly a disruptive technology for the industry, and it’s thanks to Quebec’s expertise that we are the first in the world to produce aluminum that is free of greenhouse gases. It’s a technological innovation with unprecedented benefits for our aluminum industry, which remains an undisputed world leader.”
– Pierre Fitzgibbon, Quebec Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy, Minister Responsible for Regional Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and the Montréal Region

“This investment will further strengthen Rio Tinto’s industry-leading position in low-carbon, responsible aluminum production in North America with our hydro-powered smelters and our recycling capacity. Becoming the first to deploy the ELYSIS™ carbon-free smelting technology is the next step in our strategy to decarbonize and grow our Canadian aluminum operations. In addition to helping us deliver even lower–carbon primary aluminum for our customers, this investment will allow Rio Tinto to build its expertise in installing and operating this new technology, while the ELYSIS joint venture continues its research and development work to scale it up to its full potential.”
– Jérôme Pécresse, Chief Executive, Rio Tinto Aluminium

Quick facts

With more than 10,000 employees working at over 35 sites across Canada, Rio Tinto is one of the most important metals and minerals producers operating in Canada today.Rio Tinto Alcan (RTA) is the Canadian subsidiary of the multinational Australian mining company, the world’s second-largest aluminum producer outside of China. It has a significant presence in Canada, sources 42% of its inputs from Canadian suppliers, and exports products to approximately 16 countries. Quebec’s Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region is central to RTA’s aluminum business and is responsible for approximately half of its global aluminum production. RTA is also an important hydroelectricity producer.The United States was Canada’s largest export destination for aluminum products in 2022, accounting for 92% of the total value of aluminum exports, followed by Mexico (3%), and Hong Kong (1%).Through the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan and the Critical Minerals Strategy, Canada is on track to achieve its goal of cutting emissions by 40 to 45% below 2005 levels by 2030.To strengthen its alignment with the Paris Agreement, RTA announced self-imposed greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets of 15% in 2025, 50% in 2030 and net zero by 2050.The Government of Canada has provided funding to ELYSIS Limited Partnership, a joint-venture technology partnership between Rio Tinto and Alcoa, to produce the world’s first true net-zero aluminum smelting technology.In October 2022, the government announced up to $222 million in funding through the Strategic Innovation Fund to help Rio Tinto Fer et Titane, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, decarbonize and increase its production of critical minerals, including lithium, titanium and scandium.

Associated links

Rio Tinto CanadaBudget 2022 backgrounder: Clean Air and a Strong Economy2030 Emissions Reduction Plan

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MISS DIG 811 Builds Next-Generation Leadership Through Competitive OCEAN 811 Program

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Roni Ahmed, Director of Information Technology, Joins 21 Graduates of the Only Executive Leadership Program in the One Call Industry

LANSING, Mich., June 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MISS DIG 811 announces that Roni Ahmed, Director of Information Technology, has successfully completed the OCEAN (One Call Executive Apprentice Network) 811 Executive Apprentice Program in June 2026. This achievement underscores MISS DIG 811’s proactive commitment to leadership development and long-term organizational stability within the vital damage prevention sector. 

For more information on MISS DIG 811’s commitment to industry leadership and safety, please visit missdig811.org.

Strengthening the 811 Industry’s Future

With more than half of current One Call executive leaders projected to retire within the next five to ten years, the 811 industry faces a significant leadership transition. MISS DIG 811’s investment in the OCEAN program reflects a strategic approach to succession planning, ensuring continuity of service and a resilient organization for Michigan residents, businesses, and excavators who rely on its services. Ahmed’s completion of this program strengthens MISS DIG 811’s leadership bench and supports long-term organizational continuity, safeguarding Michigan’s underground utility safety infrastructure.

“As someone relatively new to the One Call industry, I appreciated the opportunity to learn from experienced industry leaders through the OCEAN Executive Apprentice Program,” said Roni Ahmed, Director of Information Technology, MISS DIG 811. “The experience provided valuable insights and strengthened my understanding of the industry.”

The Rigor of the OCEAN Program

The OCEAN program is a competitive, six-month leadership development initiative designed to prepare the next generation of executive leaders in the One Call/811 industry. Ahmed is among only 21 professionals nationwide to have graduated from the program since its founding, highlighting the program’s selectivity and the caliber of its participants. The curriculum features more than 240 hours of direct instruction, real-world case study exercises, board relations training, and ongoing mentorship. Classes are limited to no more than 10 participants per cohort, fostering an intensive learning environment.

The program is led by Bill Turner, President and CEO of Tennessee 811, and Chris Stovall, President and CEO of Texas811. These two recognized leaders in the damage prevention industry volunteer their time, bringing a combined 59 years of experience to cultivate future leaders across the One Call industry. MISS DIG 811’s decision to invest in this program demonstrates its commitment to developing talent from within and preparing the next generation of industry leadership.

Broader Impact on Damage Prevention

MISS DIG 811’s participation in OCEAN signals a proactive approach to succession planning that benefits not just the organization, but the national damage prevention system as a whole. A stronger leadership pipeline ensures the continued effectiveness of the 811 system, which is crucial for public safety and infrastructure protection.

Contact: Colleen Goddard, Senior Education Manager, MISS DIG 811 | cgoddard@missdig811.org | 906-789-3083

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/miss-dig-811-builds-next-generation-leadership-through-competitive-ocean-811-program-302802206.html

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MyComputerCareer Updates IT-Training Program to Serve and Support Today’s Learners

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Refreshed Curriculum Will Emphasize Building the Skills Needed (Yes, AI Included) to Enter the Industry Confidently and Find Success

APEX, N.C., June 16, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Some of these stats may seem familiar because they’re cited often, but let’s set the scene appropriately:

514,359 cybersecurity job openings were posted in the United States last year. Roughly 1/4 of those roles has no qualified candidate to fill the positionIn 2026, 90% of organizations will be negatively impacted by the IT skills shortage. (IDC)93% of tech leaders say their teams lack the staff and skill sets to deliver on their priority initiatives in 2026Only 35% of Americans now say a college education is “very important,” down from 53% in 2019 and 75% in 2010 (Gallup)

“We believe when you support the person as much as the professional, you create students who don’t just survive the future of technology, but actively shape it,” said Amy Onuska, CEO of MyComputerCareer.

In short, skills for learners of every age from every background are more critical than ever in the IT industry, and MyComputerCareer (MyCC) is once again innovating to meet today’s learners and the organizations looking to hire them.

Following a lengthy review, the MyCC leadership team determined it was time for a refresh to hyper-focus on developing a skilled student who is able to think critically and autonomously as they work to enter a competitive industry requiring lifelong learning. The specifics? The school’s Information Technology Security & Administration (ITSA) program will feature:

Four core certifications: CompTIA Sec+, CompTIA Net+, Microsoft AI 901 (AI fundamentals) and Microsoft AZ 104 (Cloud Administration)AI concepts and practice woven throughout every courseThe addition of a MyCC intro course providing “tech essentials”Continued emphasis on student support systems like mentors and tutoring to ensure successContinued focus on soft skills through the school’s Pathways programA digital portfolio for every student to highlight skills in, and out of, the classroom

The refreshed ITSA curriculum will also positively impact the school’s advanced learning platforms, providing the core concepts needed to navigate MyCC’s Cybersecurity Specialist (CSS), Cybersecurity Engineer (CSE), and Associate programs.

“We’ve designed these updates with one major goal in mind, to prepare students to enter the IT industry of 2026 and beyond with the skills and confidence needed for success,” said Darlene Cernoch, VP of Education at MyComputerCareer. “This is a very deliberate and strategic shift from not only providing the tools and support for learners to gain knowledge of technology and how it works, but to becoming an independent thinker who is curious and ready for the next challenge as a successful contributor in the IT industry.”

Today’s world of work is creating two groups: those who utilize AI and create the future, and those who get left behind. Responding to this growing demand, MyComputerCareer is incorporating AI throughout every course. “We have one certification course for AI in Microsoft’s AI-901, and students will leverage AI skills learned in every class. That might include resume development, building a bot that may act as a tutor, developing a study guide, and more,” Cernoch said. She also noted MyCC isn’t teaching to a specific AI or LLM to purposely broaden knowledge of the tech.

Additional updates to the learning platform worth highlighting. Let’s talk about labs. In IT training, pre-built, simulated labs are fairly common. MyComputerCareer’s refreshed program features a shift to real-time, custom-learning labs and virtual machines to enable students to effectively learn concepts in practical, hands-on scenarios. The digital portfolio learners will build is designed to positively impact their transition to an IT career with a resource highlighting their work and accomplishments. This level of future-focused student support is one of the reasons MyCC learners thrive in the school’s programs and in IT.

“Our updated curriculum moves beyond simple credentialing; it’s about fostering a mindset of lifelong learning,” said Amy Onuska, CEO of MyComputerCareer. “By pairing critical human support with the practical power of AI, we’re not just preparing students for a specific IT role today—we’re equipping them with the confidence and adaptability to navigate an evolving industry for years to come. We believe when you support the person as much as the professional, you create students who don’t just survive the future of technology, but actively shape it.”

MyComputerCareer’s refreshed curriculum will go live in late July and will be immediately available to new students then. You can find additional details on the ITSA program and how to enroll on the school’s website.

Since opening its doors in 2007, MyComputerCareer has equipped more than 32,000 graduates with the skills and resources needed for success, resulting in alumni working for some of the top tech companies across the country. The school welcomes students with no former experience or training in IT, and graduates come from a broad range of backgrounds – from hospitality to retail to stay-at-home parents.

About MyComputerCareer

MyComputerCareer is an accredited* technical school, with classes online and on-campus, that provides hands-on Information Technology training, certifications and job placement in as little as seven months. Founded in 2007, the school boasts nine campuses in Texas, North Carolina, Indiana, Ohio, and Nellis Air Force Base, with its headquarters in Holly Springs, North Carolina. For more information, call (866) 606-6922 or visit www.mycomputercareer.edu

* Accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training (ACCET)

Media Contact

Aaron Martin, MyComputerCareer, 1 773.505.4325, aaron.martin@mycomputercareer.edu, www.mycomputercareer.edu

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/mycomputercareer-updates-it-training-program-to-serve-and-support-todays-learners-302802208.html

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ClearCo Unveils Agent Platform for the Talent Lifecycle

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ClearCo expands Talent AI with the Agent Platform, enabling autonomous HR workflow automation through AI agents managed centrally in Agent Studio.

ORLANDO, Fla., June 16, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — ClearCo today announced the launch of its Agent Platform, a connected suite of purpose-built talent agents embedded directly into the workflows where hiring, performance management, and learning take place. Built on ClearCo’s Unified Talent Platform and extending its Talent AI foundation, the Agent Platform enables organizations to automate actions and orchestrate work across the talent lifecycle, turning administrative burden into strategic capacity at every stage from requisition to review.

ClearCo’s Agent Platform represents a shift from systems that store information to systems that help people act — coordinating work, automating recurring tasks, and improving decision-making throughout the talent lifecycle.

Unlike conversational AI tools that respond only when prompted by a user, ClearCo’s agents can also be triggered by the system itself, enabling true workflow automation. An agent can initiate an interaction when a review cycle opens, when a candidate reaches a specific stage, or when a deadline passes — with no human intervention required. This shifts agents from reactive assistants to proactive workflow operators, capable of executing the if-this-then-that logic that HR teams have historically managed manually or through rigid, code-heavy automation tools.

“The HR technology industry has spent a decade promising AI transformation and delivering point solutions that don’t talk to each other,” said Jason Beem, Chief Executive Officer at ClearCo. “ClearCo’s Agent Platform is different because it is built on the talent data foundation our customers already trust. These are agents that know your people, your workflows, and your history, working across the entire lifecycle from the moment a req opens to the moment a review is submitted. That is not a feature. That is a fundamentally different way to run HR.”

A Two-Tier Platform Built for Every Organization

ClearCo’s Agent Platform delivers two types of agents, both accessed and managed through Agent Studio, a centralized workspace where HR and L&D teams enable, configure, and deploy agents across the organization without requiring engineering resources.

Talent Agents are purpose-built and maintained by ClearCo, connected directly to ClearCo talent data, and embedded into the workflows organizations already use across hiring, performance management, and learning. They operate where work happens; inside an active review form, an open requisition, or a candidate profile; and can be initiated by the user or triggered automatically by the system when a stage changes, a deadline passes, or a cycle opens.

Custom Agents are built by the organization itself using company-owned content including policies, training materials, and process documentation. Custom Agents give HR and L&D teams the ability to create agents tailored to their specific workflows, knowledge, and culture with no engineering required.

What makes both agent types especially powerful is how users interact with them. A conversational panel appears directly alongside any screen in the platform, allowing users to type or speak instructions in the flow of their work — filling fields, drafting responses, and updating records in real time — without switching tools, copying and pasting, or navigating away from the task at hand.

Introducing a Connected Suite of Talent Agents

At launch, ClearCo’s Talent Agents span key stages of the talent lifecycle, each embedded directly into the workflows. Whether typing or speaking, users can prompt and instruct agents directly in the flow of their work — no need to navigate away from what they’re doing or learn a new tool to get things done.

Within hiring, Req Agent, Sourcing Agent, and Interview Agent support the recruiting workflow from opening a role to evaluating candidates. Req Agent helps hiring teams structure intake, align on success criteria before sourcing begins, and manage requisition volume at scale. Sourcing Agent automates candidate prescreening and ranks applicants by score, providing recruiters with transcripts and call summaries so they can review outcomes instead of conducting every initial screen manually. Interview Agent prepares interviewers with candidate context and targeted questions before the conversation, then helps complete scorecards afterward using resume details and hiring team notes.

Within performance management, Performance Admin Agent and Review Agent help reduce the administrative burden placed on HR teams, managers, and employees during review cycles. Performance Admin Agent supports review-cycle setup and execution with pre-launch validation, completion tracking, and mid-cycle workflow adjustments. Review Agent helps employees and managers create evidence-backed reviews by surfacing goals, notes, and recognition, then drafting responses directly within the review form.

Additional Talent Agents focused on growth and development are planned for later in 2026, bringing support for continuous development, manager coaching, skill gap analysis, and internal talent mobility.

Agent Studio: AI Built Around Your Organization

Agent Studio is the centralized control panel through which every agent in ClearCo’s Agent Platform is configured, managed, and deployed. Whether enabling a ClearCo-built Talent Agent or building a Custom Agent from scratch, HR and L&D teams have a single place to control who has access, define agent behavior and guardrails, and bring agents to their people — without requiring engineering resources.

Agent Studio is built on an open Model Context Protocol (MCP) architecture, connecting to third-party tools including Lightcast, ThoughtSpot, NinjaHire, and hundreds more through ClearCo’s partnership with StackOne. This allows organizations to invoke HRIS, CRM, LMS, and communications platforms directly from within their agents. It also supports the ingestion of SCORM files from leading authoring tools, enabling L&D teams to turn existing course content into agent knowledge without rebuilding or reformatting it.

Agent interactions are not limited to text. Agents can dynamically surface low-code visual components — including charts, callouts, and step-by-step guides — directly within the conversational experience when the content calls for it, delivering responses that are not just accurate but immediately actionable.

“Most organizations do not have an AI problem. They have a coordination problem,” said Arnaud Grunwald, Chief Product Officer at ClearCo. “Organizations have invested heavily in AI, but much of that intelligence remains trapped within individual workflows. The Agent Platform extends our Talent AI foundation with Talent Agents to change that, delivering an experience that feels as intuitive as a consumer-grade product while connecting intelligence across hiring, development, performance, learning, and workforce operations with the configurability and governance enterprise HR teams require.”

Moving Beyond Systems of Record

ClearCo’s Agent Platform represents a shift from systems that store information to systems that help people act — coordinating work, automating recurring tasks, and improving decision-making throughout the talent lifecycle. By combining a Unified Talent Platform, Talent AI, connected Talent Agents, and configurable automation, ClearCo is helping organizations create more agile, responsive, and employee-centric workforce experiences.

Availability

ClearCo is showcasing its launch portfolio of Talent Agents — including Req Agent, Sourcing Agent, Interview Agent, Performance Admin Agent, and Review Agent — available through the Agent Studio at the SHRM Annual Conference and Expo, Booth #2621, June 15–18 in Orlando, Florida.

The Agent Platform is available for purchase beginning June 16, 2026. General availability, when Talent Agents go live in customer environments, begins July 16, 2026.

To learn more or request a demonstration, visit ClearCompany.com.

About ClearCo

ClearCo delivers a unified talent platform that connects hiring, onboarding, learning, performance, compensation, engagement, and workforce insights on a shared AI and agentic foundation. More than 3,000 organizations and nearly two million employees rely on ClearCo to help attract, develop, and retain talent while improving workforce outcomes. ClearCo has been recognized by Nucleus Research and Brandon Hall and has earned Great Place to Work certification and ten consecutive years on the Inc. 5000.

Media Contact

Melanie Baravik, ClearCo, 1 6179383801, mbaravik@clearcompany.com, https://www.clearcompany.com/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/clearco-unveils-agent-platform-for-the-talent-lifecycle-302802101.html

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