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New hub for artists living with disabilities in Calgary receives federal support

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CALGARY, AB, March 11, 2025 /CNW/ – Calgary’s art scene will be more vibrant and inclusive with a new space for the National accessArts Centre (NaAC). The Multidisciplinary Disability and Community Arts Hub (MDCAH) will provide a sustainable space for artists living with disabilities to shine.

Announced by MP George Chahal, this project is benefitting from a federal investment of over $8.2 million from the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program.

The National accessArts Centre is in need of a new building since their current location is slated for demolition due to the collapse of the Fairview Arena in 2018. The MDCAH will fulfill a need in Calgary for an accessible arts space. The net-zero carbon facility – the first of its kind in North America – will feature a multi-purpose presentation and training venue, a visual arts gallery, a social enterprise café, and outdoor gathering spaces. Furthermore, MDCAH will include spaces that can be used by the broader community.

The National accessArts Centre provides training, creation, and exhibition opportunities for artists, creators, producers, performers with developmental, physical, and acquired disabilities. The Centre was founded in 1975 and provides support to more than 350 artists in Calgary, and southern Alberta, and recently opened the NaAC Won Lee Community Arts Hub in Toronto.

Quotes

“The new net-zero Multidisciplinary Disability and Community Arts Hub will create a barrier-free facility that will enable Calgarians and visitors to witness the creativity of artists living with disabilities. This space will enhance the arts and culture scene in Calgary while providing new creative opportunities unlike anywhere else in Canada. The federal government will continue to invest in projects that support a greener, more inclusive, and accessible future for Calgarians and all Canadians.”

George Chahal, Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview, on behalf of the Honourable Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

“This investment from the Government of Canada is not only a game-changer for the National accessArts Centre (NaAC), but for the disability arts and the broader arts ecosystem across Canada. Through the support of NaAC’s multidisciplinary programs, Canadian artists with disabilities have demonstrated on the national and international stage that they have extraordinary creativity and deserve their rightful place in our arts and culture sector. With this federal funding, we can now build a home that meets our artists’ needs – and their ambitions.”

Dr. Stephanie Chipeur, Chair, NaAC Board of Directors

“Today’s announcement marks the single largest investment being made towards the advancement of the disability arts sector in Canadian history. Once completed, our multidisciplinary disability arts hub will become the first dedicated, purpose-built arts facility for the disability community in North America, and will cement the National accessArts Centre – and Canada – as a global leader in arts training and presentation for artists living with disabilities. The ripple effect of this funding will be truly global in scale.”

Jung-Suk (JS) Ryu, President and CEO, NaAC

Quick Facts

The federal government is investing $8,266,163 in this project through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program.The GICB program was created in support of Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy. It is supporting the Plan’s first pillar by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency, and helping develop higher resilience to climate change.The program launched in 2021 with an initial investment of $1.5 billion over five years towards green and accessible retrofits, repairs or upgrades.Budget 2024 announced an additional $500 million to support more projects through GICB until 2029.At least 10% of funding is allocated to projects serving First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, including Indigenous populations in urban centres.For more information, please visit the Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada website at: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada – Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program.As the world moves towards a net-zero economy, people living and working on the Prairies are taking action and are leading to take advantage of growing economic development opportunities.On December 18, 2023, the federal government launched the Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy, which highlights the need for a collaborative, region-specific approach to sustainability, focusing on strengthening the coordination of federal programs, and initiatives with significant investments. This Framework is a first step in a journey that will bring together multiple stakeholders. PrairiesCan, the federal department that diversifies the economy across the Canadian prairies, has dedicated $100 million over three years to support projects aligned with priority areas identified by Prairie stakeholders to build a stronger, more sustainable, and inclusive economy for the Prairie provinces and Canada.Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada is supporting the Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy to encourage greater collaboration on investment opportunities, leverage additional funding, and attract new investments across the Prairies that better meet their needs. Federal funding is conditional on the signing of the contribution agreement.

Associated Links

Green and Inclusive Community Buildings
https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/gicb-bcvi/index-eng.html

Strengthened Climate Plan
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/climate-plan/climate-plan-overview.html

Housing and Infrastructure Project Map
https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/gmap-gcarte/index-eng.html 

Building a Green Prairie Economy Act
https://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/B-9.88/page-1.html

Building a Green Prairie Economy
https://www.canada.ca/en/prairies-economic-development/programs/green-prairie-economy.html 

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Web: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

SOURCE Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

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Envision Marks First International Application of SAFc at Global Citizen NOW, Providing Environmental Attributes Corresponding to 10 Tonnes of CO₂ Emissions Reductions

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SYDNEY, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Envision, a global leader in green technology, expanded its Sustainable Aviation Fuel certificate (SAFc) solution internationally as the Sustainability Partner of Global Citizen NOW: Perth. This marks the company’s first international application of SAFc, demonstrating a practical pathway to integrate aviation decarbonization into the sustainability practices of major global events.

For this event, Envision delivered environmental attributes corresponding to 10 tonnes of CO₂ emissions reductions. These reductions are linked to the actual production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with the associated attributes recorded and retired through a leading global Registry to ensure transparency and traceability.

Alongside this initiative, Envision’s Australian team participated in the event’s broader programme, including discussions on clean energy investment and industrial decarbonisation, bilateral meetings, and the Capital Mobilization Roundtable and Masterclass. Through these engagements, the team exchanged perspectives with leaders from business, investment and the climate community on Western Australia’s potential role in the next-generation green industries, while exploring opportunities to strengthen collaboration, mobilize investment and accelerate the clean energy transition.

Co-hosted by Global Citizen and the Government of Western Australia, the summit took place ahead of COP31, convening representatives from governments, businesses, philanthropic foundations, and First Nations communities to advance clean energy access, climate resilience, and inclusive economic development.

The Perth SAFc initiative builds on Envision’s SAFc application at the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) in Xiamen in September, where the company demonstrated how SAFc could address the air-travel emissions of a major conference. Global Citizen NOW: Perth represents the next step—applying this model internationally and demonstrating its potential as a scalable solution for companies and major events seeking to tackle aviation-related emissions across global value chains.

The initiative also reflects Envision’s broader approach to corporate decarbonisation. Across wind and solar power, energy storage, green molecules, net-zero industrial parks, and green computing, Envision is developing integrated solutions to help companies tackle emissions across their operations and value chains.

“Envision will continue to explore the application of green fuels across aviation and international events, foster collaboration throughout the green fuel value chain, and support aviation’s low-carbon transition through transparent, traceable environmental attribute management,” said Bella Zhang, Head of Global SAF at Envision.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/envision-marks-first-international-application-of-safc-at-global-citizen-now-providing-environmental-attributes-corresponding-to-10-tonnes-of-co-emissions-reductions-302923213.html

SOURCE Envision

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More Than Business: ChinaMarket’s “Little Bees” Go the Extra Mile for International Buyers

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LINYI, China, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — When a Malaysian buyer experienced a sudden toothache during the Linyi Mall International Buyers Conference in China, he found help in an unexpected place.

A member of ChinaMarket‘s “Little Bees” service team, Chen Fuqing, promptly accompanied him to a local hospital and assisted him throughout the visit.

It was a small act of kindness, but it reflected something important about doing business in Linyi: international buyers have people they can turn to when they need help.

During the international buyers conference, ChinaMarket established its “Little Bees” service team to assist overseas visitors throughout their stay in Linyi.

From welcoming international buyers and arranging market visits to connecting them with suppliers, helping bridge language barriers, and responding to unexpected situations, the team works to make the sourcing experience easier and more comfortable.

Linyi is home to one of China’s major wholesale market clusters, attracting buyers from around the world with its diverse products, manufacturing resources, and extensive supply chains.

As the official digital platform of Linyi Wholesale Market, ChinaMarket connects global buyers with Chinese suppliers and provides integrated sourcing and trade services.

For international buyers, successful sourcing involves more than finding the right products. Clear communication, reliable coordination, and access to support are equally important.

The “Little Bees” team brings this commitment to life through personal, on-the-ground assistance.

A recent song released by ChinaMarket captures the spirit of the city:

“Come to Linyi, a city that welcomes you with open arms.”

In Linyi, global buyers can discover business opportunities, build partnerships, and experience the warmth of genuine hospitality.

Come to Linyi. Source with ChinaMarket.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/more-than-business-chinamarkets-little-bees-go-the-extra-mile-for-international-buyers-302923217.html

SOURCE ChinaMarket

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UnionPay and Cuscal Paymark Discuss Payment Acceptance and Digital Innovation

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AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mr. Dong Junfeng, Chairman of China UnionPay and UnionPay International, met with Cuscal Paymark, in Auckland on 19 October 2026 to discuss expanding UnionPay acceptance in New Zealand and opportunities for cooperation in digital payments. Mr. Mike Blomfield, Chief Executive Officer and Julia Nicol, Chief of Staff expressed support UnionPay’s plans and the advancement of key projects.

Cuscal Paymark is New Zealand’s largest payment switching and network services provider. The two parties have maintained a partnership since 2012.  To date, several major banks on its network support UnionPay payments at physical merchants. The company has also incorporated a number of UnionPay product standards into mandatory terminal upgrade requirements, providing a foundation for broader acceptance. Looking ahead, UnionPay will leverage Cuscal Paymark’s local network and transaction processing capabilities to upgrade online and in-store payment platforms and further improve UnionPay acceptance services.

Discussions also covered upgrades to support chip transactions on dual-branded cards, online payment gateway integration, and the joint promotion of SoftPOS solutions to acquirers. The companies agreed to strengthen technical coordination to maintain reliable payment processing during and after system upgrades.

Other topics included agentic payments, digital identity, biometric applications, and payment network connectivity.

Ms. Nicol reaffirmed Cuscal Paymark’s support for UnionPay’s ongoing development in New Zealand and the advancement of key projects. Both parties agreed to explore further cooperation in wallet connectivity and digital payments.

UnionPay entered the New Zealand market in 2008. Its acceptance coverage now exceeds 90%, and UnionPay cards are now widely issued by local financial institutions. UnionPay will continue working with partners to improve payment services, strengthen financial integration between China and other APEC economies, and advance cross-border payment cooperation between China and New Zealand and across the broader Asia-Pacific region.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/unionpay-and-cuscal-paymark-discuss-payment-acceptance-and-digital-innovation-302923215.html

SOURCE UnionPay International

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