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Government of Canada Announces Support for Indigenous-led Climate Solutions in Remote Indigenous Communities

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THUNDER BAY, ON, Oct. 6, 2024 /CNW/ -  First Nations, Inuit, and Métis in Canada are at the forefront of efforts to address climate change and adapt to the environmental and economic impacts of our changing climate. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting self-determined action in addressing Indigenous Peoples’ climate priorities to create a healthy and resilient future for all.

Today, the Government of Canada is pleased to announce Phase 2 of the Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative (IODI) Cohort 2. During this phase, the following 10 Energy Champion teams from remote Indigenous communities and Nations will receive up to $500,000 to conduct community engagement, complete training and develop their Community Energy Plan.

Xeni Gwet’in First Nations Government, British ColumbiaTahltan Band Council, British ColumbiaUchucklesaht Tribe Government, British ColumbiaḴwiḵwa̱sut’inux̱w Ha̱xwa’mis First Nation, British ColumbiaHamlet of Paulatuk, Northwest TerritoriesFort Chipewyan, AlbertaMountain Cree Camp, AlbertaPangnirtung, NunavutKiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek – Gull Bay First Nation, OntarioKangirsuk, Nunavik, Quebec

Comprising clean energy leaders, the 10 Energy Champion teams completed the 20/20 Catalysts program delivered by the Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise, the federal government’s delivery partner on the Initiative. An Energy Champion from each team has also been paired with mentors to receive tailored support in areas including technical knowledge, community engagement and project management.

Following the successful completion of Phase 2, these 10 Energy Champion teams may be eligible to receive additional funding to advance project design and development, guided by their Community Energy Plan, as part of Phase 3 in 2025.

Quotes  

“Indigenous Peoples face significant and unique climate challenges that threaten livelihoods, cultures, knowledge systems and lives. In the face of these threats, Indigenous communities from coast to coast to coast are taking remarkable action to fight climate change and adapt to its impacts. Indigenous-led climate solutions offer better resiliency, better outcomes and more space for expert voices as we move together along the path to a clean and prosperous future. I am pleased to see these 10 projects enter a new phase and look forward to seeing the innovations to come.”

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources   

“Indigenous Peoples are on the front lines of climate change in Canada, and as the original stewards of our lands and waters, they are uniquely positioned to lead solutions to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come. I am consistently inspired by the clean energy projects carried out in Indigenous communities, and I applaud the Energy Champions for entering this exciting new phase of community engagement, training and planning for a more resilient future where all can benefit from a sustainable and strong economy.”

The Honourable Patty Hajdu
Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister Responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency of Northern Ontario  

“As the way of life of Indigenous communities continues to be impacted due to our changing climate, especially in the North and Arctic, it is more important than ever that they be a driving force in how we adapt to these changes. Starting Phase 2 of this clean-energy initiative is a testament to our shared commitment to reconciliation and the power of meaningful relationships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities in tackling how we can actively adjust our actions to support a cleaner future for the next seven generations.”  

The Honourable Dan Vandal
Minister of Northern Affairs

“The transition to clean energy continues to be important to Indigenous communities and the Government of Canada as we work together toward reconciliation. The Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative projects announced today are a great example of the way we can encourage self-determined priorities by supporting communities in increasing their control over their energy future and well-being.” 

Michael V. McLeod  
Member of Parliament for Northwest Territories

Quick Facts  

Cohort 2 of the Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative (IODI) is part of the $300 million announced in Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan to support clean energy projects in Indigenous, rural and remote communities.IODI is a clean energy training and funding program that supports Indigenous-led climate solutions in remote Indigenous communities that currently use diesel or fossil fuels for heat and power.IODI was first launched in 2019 and was designed based on 18 months of engagement with Indigenous communities, rights holders and organizations. It is delivered in collaboration with the Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise (ICE SE) and the Government of Canada.Applicants who were not selected to participate in Cohort 2 of IODI were invited to meet directly with a member of the Wah-ila-toos federal team and the team at the Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise to discuss their priorities and other possible funding options. They were also invited to join the ICE Network, an online collaborative space for everyone working on Indigenous Clean Energy projects, and to attend future ICE Network events.The IODI is delivered through Wah-ila-toos, a single-window access point for Indigenous, rural and remote communities to obtain Government of Canada funding and resources for clean energy initiatives. The Government of Canada will continue to develop meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities to advance reconciliation and self-determination, advance clean energy projects and help ensure new economic opportunities through strong Indigenous climate leadership.Wah-ila-toos is administered by Natural Resources Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Indigenous Services Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Infrastructure Canada. The name Wah-ila-toos was gifted by three Grandmothers and Elders. It represents kinship with all and our duty to be in good relations with all.

Related Information

Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative – Cohort 2 Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan  Wah-ila-toos  20/20 Catalysts program  Indigenous Clean Energy  

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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Southern Oregon Software Company Earns National Recognition for Leadership in Real Estate Technology

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May 1, 2026

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Grants Pass-based Rentec Direct and Founder Nathan Miller awarded for self-funded
growth, innovation and industry leadership

GRANTS PASS, Ore., May 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A Grants Pass software company built without outside investment is earning national recognition for placing Southern Oregon on the map as an unexpected technology hub. Rentec Direct and Founder and CEO Nathan Miller won three Stevie Awards® in the 2026 American Business Awards®, including Gold for Company of the Year and Gold for Best Entrepreneur, along with Bronze for Customer Service Department of the Year. This recognition marks Rentec Direct’s ninth consecutive year in the premier business awards program, highlighting a two-decade track record of sustained growth, customer-centric innovation and industry leadership.

Founded in 2007 and headquartered in downtown Grants Pass, Rentec Direct has grown from a self-funded startup into one of the country’s leading property management software platforms, serving more than 400,000 users in all 50 states and internationally. The company’s growth has remained fully organic and independent, guided by customer-driven product innovation and a service-first philosophy that has helped it compete nationally while remaining rooted in Southern Oregon. 

“These awards are especially meaningful because it reflects what we’ve built from right here in Southern Oregon,” said Miller. “Our success comes from solving real problems for our customers—listening closely, building thoughtfully and earning trust through service. That approach has guided us from day one and continues to shape how we build and support our platform today. I’m incredibly proud of our team and the work they do every day to support our clients and continuously improve the platform they rely on.”

More than 3,700 nominations from individuals and organizations of all sizes across virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories. More than 230 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year’s Stevie Award® winners.

“Organizations across the United States continue to set a high standard for innovation and performance,” said Stevie Awards president Maggie Miller. “The breadth and quality of nominations submitted to the 2026 American Business Awards reflect a dynamic and competitive business environment, where organizations are finding new ways to drive growth, deliver value and make an impact.”

Winners will be honored at a June gala ceremony in New York City. Details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2026 Stevie winners are available at ABA.StevieAwards.com.

About Rentec Direct
Rentec Direct provides industry-leading property management software and tenant screening solutions for real estate professionals across the small, mid and large property management segments. Key features include online rent payments, a mobile app and tenant portal, vacancy listing syndication, and robust accounting tools. Founded in 2007, Rentec Direct is the largest software platform serving both landlords and property managers, with more five-star reviews than any other property management software. A nine-time honoree on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies, Rentec Direct was also named Real Estate Company of the Year in the 2026 American Business Awards® and recognized among the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Top 100 Small Businesses. www.rentecdirect.com

About the Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in nine programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service and the new Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes, as well as the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding workplace performance worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at www.StevieAwards.com.

Supporting sponsors of the 2026 American Business Awards include Golden Hour Veterinary Telemedicine, Melissa Sones Consulting, Persistent and SoftPro.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southern-oregon-software-company-earns-national-recognition-for-leadership-in-real-estate-technology-302760407.html

SOURCE Rentec Direct

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aiEDU Launches 2026 Community Catalyst Program to Broaden Access to AI Readiness in Rural and Indigenous Communities

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May 1, 2026

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The new grant opportunity will award up to $50,000 to eligible school districts, educational service agencies, charter organizations, and nonprofits.

SAN FRANCISCO, May 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The AI Education Project (aiEDU) is pleased to announce the third cycle of its 2026 Community Catalyst Program, a national grant opportunity designed to help build meaningful AI literacy through educator capacity, with a particular focus on supporting organizations serving rural communities and Indigenous communities.

The program will provide $25,000 grants and $50,000 grants to school districts, educational service agencies, charter organizations, and nonprofit organizations working to prepare educators and students for the realities of AI in teaching and learning. Applications opened May 1, 2026 and Letters of Intent are due May 21. Final awards will be announced on July 3, 2026.

“AI-readiness is strongest when communities of every size and geography help shape it from the start,” said Emma Doggett Neergaard, Chief Programs Officer at aiEDU. “Our Community Catalyst Program is intentionally designed to help rural and Indigenous communities lead this work in ways that reflect their students, their educators, and their future.”

In 2025, the Community Catalyst Program extended this work across the U.S., supporting 21 organizations, reaching more than 4,100 Indigenous and rural educators — a 71 percent increase over 2024 — and impacting more than 213,000 Indigenous and rural students, nearly ten times the number reached the previous year, through locally led AI-readiness initiatives. The program also delivered 64 in-person events in Indigenous and rural communities — more than five times the number held in 2024 — while expanding trainings, strategic advising, and professional learning across 17 states.

Last year, the program’s grantees themselves represented 10 states, with grantee-funded work ranging from Tribal-led AI sovereignty efforts to multi-district rural educator training models that equipped educators and families to engage with AI in ways that were locally relevant and culturally grounded. The 2026 program will build on this momentum by expanding opportunities for even more communities.

“As schools across the country navigate how to prepare students for an AI-driven future, meaningful progress depends on ensuring every community has a seat at the table,” said aiEDU’s CEO, Alex Kotran.

Funded projects may include:

Multi-session professional developmentProfessional learning communitiesTrain-the-trainer modelsInstructional coaching networksDistrictwide AI implementation planning

The 12-month grants will begin in summer 2026, with participating organizations selecting one or more support pathways from aiEDU, including:

Teacher Professional DevelopmentDistrict Leadership Capacity BuildingClassroom IntegrationCurricular Integration

For application details and submission information, visit aiedu.org/2026-catalyst.

About aiEDU 

The AI Education Project (aiEDU) is a nonprofit working to define, deliver, and catalyze AI readiness in K–12 education so every student is prepared to live, work, and lead in a world shaped by AI. Through high-quality curriculum, educator training, and systems partnerships, aiEDU has reached 48,000 educators and impacted 2.8 million students nationwide. The result: teachers who feel confident and capable, school systems that are better prepared for the future, and students who graduate with the AI competencies needed to thrive in an AI-driven world. Learn more at aiedu.org. 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aiedu-launches-2026-community-catalyst-program-to-broaden-access-to-ai-readiness-in-rural-and-indigenous-communities-302760411.html

SOURCE aiEDU

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Royal Visit to Front Royal: Randolph-Macon Academy Shines at Block Party for King Charles III and Queen Camilla

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May 1, 2026

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A one-of-a-kind celebration of music, leadership, tradition, and transatlantic friendship spotlights the next generation of American leaders

FRONT ROYAL, Va., May 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Randolph-Macon Academy (R-MA), Virginia’s premier college-preparatory boarding and day school for students in grades 8–12, delivered a superb parade performance at Thursday’s “Royal Block Party” in honor of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla during the Virginia leg of their State Visit to the United States this week.

Hosted by the Town of Front Royal, set against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this celebration welcomed the Royal couple to an unprecedented event filled with local citizens, community leaders, and distinguished guests, for an unforgettable scene of pageantry, patriotism, and performance in the heart of Front Royal.

The Royal Block Party featured a combined ceremonial and musical presentation led by the renowned Randolph-Macon Academy Marching Band, joined by the Academy’s Color Guard and Regimental Staff. In a stirring display of community spirit, student musicians from Skyline High School and Warren County High School also performed, creating a powerful showcase of talent, discipline, and community pride.

“Randolph-Macon Academy stands at the intersection of history, leadership, and opportunity. To welcome Their Majesties in a setting that celebrates service, scholarship, and young people rising to meet the future is both a privilege and a moment of enormous significance for our Academy, our town, and our region.  This event showed the world what Yellow Jackets mean by ‘the Power of Rise’!”, said R-MA Board Chair Lucy Hooper.

R-MA cadets performing for the Royal couple spoke powerfully of the unique experience.  The Academy’s Regimental Commander, Cadet Colonel Rania Husted ’26, said, “I feel incredibly honored that R-MA was included in such a historic event. More than anything, I feel proud of my fellow cadets. Their hard work and dedication were evident in our performance, and I hope we made our Front Royal community proud as well.”

The Regimental Sergeant Major, Bijou Kebbay ’27, observed, “Everyone was nervous, I mean it was the king and queen of the United Kingdom, of course they were. But it was so beautiful to see how everyone came together to support each other and make sure everyone shined.”

Founded in 1892, Randolph-Macon Academy has developed young people of character, purpose, and ambition for more than 130 years. Located on a 135-acre campus in the Shenandoah Valley, R-MA offers a distinctive educational experience where structure meets opportunity, and tradition fuels transformation.

For families seeking more than a conventional high school experience, Randolph-Macon Academy offers something increasingly rare: a clear path to a life of meaning and purpose.

R-MA combines the personal attention of a small independent school with the ambition of a world-class preparatory institution. Students benefit from small classes, highly engaged faculty, competitive athletics, an extensive rotary and fixed wing aviation curriculum, STEM and robotics programs, leadership development, and one of the nation’s most respected college and service academy preparatory environments.

The Academy’s outcomes speak for themselves:

100% college acceptance for each of the past 19 yearsMore than $15 million in scholarships earned by the Class of 202515 – 20 U.S. Service Academy appointments in each of the past five yearsA nationally recognized Falcon Scholar Program with exceptional U.S. Air Force Academy placement, with the highest USAFA Falcon Scholar graduation rate in the nationBoarding and day options for students in grades 8–12 and post-graduates

In an era when families are searching for schools that do more than educate—that build resilience, cultivate leadership, and prepare students for consequential lives—Randolph-Macon Academy offers a compelling answer. As Front Royal welcomed royalty, Randolph-Macon Academy continued to do what it has done for thirteen decades: stand tall, lead proudly, and inspire the Rise within.

For additional details, visit Randolph-Macon Academy at www.rma.edu.

About Randolph-Macon Academy

Randolph-Macon Academy is a coeducational college-preparatory boarding and day school serving students in grades 8–12 and PG, in Front Royal, Virginia. Founded in 1892, the Academy is known for its distinctive combination of academic rigor, leadership development, character formation, and exceptional college and service academy outcomes.

Media Contact:
Director of Enrollment Management
Randolph-Macon Academy
200 Academy Drive
Front Royal, Virginia 22630
(540) 636-5484
media@rma.edu
www.rma.edu

 

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/royal-visit-to-front-royal-randolph-macon-academy-shines-at-block-party-for-king-charles-iii-and-queen-camilla-302760419.html

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