Massive tourism event kicks off in Winnipeg
Travel operators from across the globe convene in Canada annually for Rendez-vous Canada. This year, Winnipeg is the host site.
The event began Tuesday and ends Friday. An estimated 1,500 people are expected to attend from countries as far flung as China and Australia.
The conference is projected to support 24 jobs and elicit $290,000 in provincial tax revenue, a government news release reads. Last year, Edmonton logged an estimated $65 million in sales by hosting.
Manitoba companies and destinations will be on display.
Indigenous protocols should be followed, and Indigenous expertise will be interwoven in the event — Rendez-vous Canada worked with Indigenous Tourism Manitoba and Manito Ahbee beforehand.
Rendez-vous Canada is nearly 50 years old. It's meant to showcase Canada to the global travel industry.
— staff
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Global News
11 minutes ago
- Global News
Keheewin residents say surplus school site housing project concerns going unheard
Half a decade after it was approved, a plan to build affordable housing in a south Edmonton neighbourhood continues to be met with pushback from some people living in the area. Residents are concerned about why a large-scale project was green-lit beside the K-6 Keheewin Elementary School, despite arguments that another space nearby would be better suited. The land in Keheewin, along 19 Avenue near 105 Street, was originally slated for a junior high but became a surplus site in 2009, meaning it had been set aside decades ago for a school but the need for such a building no longer existed. It's one of several surplus school sites the city has been redeveloping into affordable housing or proposed for such a purpose. In 2020, city council approved the land sale to Civida Housing (formerly the Capital Region Housing Corporation), which was selected by city administration to lead the project. Story continues below advertisement The company calls itself the largest provider of community and affordable housing in northern Alberta. 'Funded by the Government of Canada, Government of Alberta, and the City of Edmonton, Kaskitêw Asiskî will provide 132 high-quality homes to southwest Edmonton,' Civida said in a statement to Global News. According to Civida, the development will be a mix of one- to four-bedroom affordable housing and other units rented out at the current market rate. It will have two four-storey buildings containing 92 apartments, with an underground parkade, and 40 three- and four-bedroom townhomes with attached garages. The breakdown is 80 affordable housing suites, 20 community housing suites and 32 market rental suites. It will also have an on-site daycare and shared activity space with community kitchen. 'This mixed-income community, to be operated in partnership with the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations, includes both affordable and market rental units, and reflects a shared commitment to housing equity and Indigenous partnership.' Gane Olsen was one of many residents who voiced concerns when the project was first approved in 2020, saying the scale was excessive and the site inappropriate. Story continues below advertisement He's part of a group called Keheewin Residents for Responsible Development, which he said canvassed the area to get feedback from the neighbourhood. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Five years ago at a city hall public hearing, residents expressed concerns over safety, congestion and the project being set about 30 metres away from the elementary school. 'When the project was rezoned in January of 2020, we had over a hundred people speak to council about the concerns: safety for our children, traffic and the parking, the drop-off zone and just the scope of the project of adding 400 to 500 people on a fairly small site.' The same concerns from five years ago continue to exist today, Olsen said. He still believes the project is too large and too close to the school. He also worries there will not be enough parking on the site, resulting in more street congestion surrounding the development. The Keheewin site is also two kilometres from the nearest transit centre. 2:24 South Edmonton residents share concerns about affordable housing project Olsen said residents proposed another site a few blocks to the west in Kaskitayo Park, which they say would be more appropriate for such a development. Story continues below advertisement 'We feel (it) will be far more attractive and certainly, I think, better for the residents there — a lot closer to the LRT, all the services that are there, and it just seems more practical.' The site residents proposed is an Edmonton Catholic Schools high school site he suspects will also become rezoned, because that school board already has Louis St. Laurent Catholic Junior/Senior High School about five kilometres to the north near Southgate mall, and is building a new high school 10 kilometres to the south in the Heritage Valley area. 'We're confident they're not building a high school there and it will become a surplus site.' Olsen said their suggestions were ignored. 'Concerns and disappointment that elected officials really didn't collaborate. Barely gave us any reasons why — it had to be on this site,' Olsen said. 'I just am blown away that city representatives wouldn't explore it. Our city councillor at the time wasn't interested in exploring it at all.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I just am blown away that city representatives wouldn't explore it. Our city councillor at the time wasn't interested in exploring it at all." Olsen said the project went silent for years, and public consultations didn't take place until this year. 'Civida, the housing development company, showed us what was going to happen. So again, we were a bit blindsided,' Olsen said. Story continues below advertisement 'The frustration — is nothing over six years — and now it's here.' 1:51 Controversial affordable housing in Keheewin approved by Edmonton city council Five years ago, the council of the day said there hadn't been a lot of evidence to show proximity was a problem. Coun. Aaron Paquette, who served on that council, said school surplus sites have generally gone to affordable housing — which is greatly needed in the city. 'This is families going into those homes. This is families who may not make as much money or maybe they got hit by hard times, or maybe they are on their way up,' Paquette said. At that time, the ward was represented by Michael Walters, who is now running to be mayor. The current councillor for Ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi, Jennifer Rice, said she has been engaged with the Keheewin community to address its concerns. Story continues below advertisement Rice said she attended the developer's public open house on May 21 to review Civida's project materials and to hear directly from residents. 'Many attendees voiced concerns about the lack of early consultation and the scale and density of the proposed development within an active school environment,' Rice said in a statement on Wednesday. Edmonton Public Schools says it attended the city's public consultations and is in contact with both the city and the developer to address any potential safety or traffic issues that may arise. The school board also says there were traffic assessments, and they indicated the development's traffic impacts would be minimal. Olsen says he's not convinced the assessments took place during peak rush hour. 'We had community people watching while they did that assessment,' Olsen said. 'We're not confident it was a representative sample of time of day or extended over periods of time.' He claims there wouldn't be much pushback to the existing site if the developer had a smaller housing project. 'If you're looking at half the size, OK great, not a problem,' he said. 'Previous council laid the groundwork for affordable housing and it's going ahead and I understand that's a priority in the city. We understand that. Just the size in this small space, you potentially have another space. We don't even know if they've explored it and its viability.' Story continues below advertisement Rice said she is committed to ensuring community concerns are taken seriously but with shovels basically already in the ground, residents like Olsen feel it's too little, too late. 'We want the public to know that the city has not engaged appropriately, we feel, over an extended period of time. And here we are today.' Construction is set to begin this month, and Kaskitêw Asiskî is expected to be ready for residents to move into in 2027.
Cision Canada
3 hours ago
- Cision Canada
CIB commits $24M to renewable energy project in remote First Nation community in Northern Quebec Français
Biomass cogeneration facility to replace diesel energy source and create jobs Disponible en français 4.8-megawatt biomass plant will ensure long-term energy security and foster economic development for the Atikamekw of Opitciwan community Facility will cut use of 4.6 million litres of diesel annually and prevent frequent power outages Will support 40 jobs during construction and 15 direct and indirect full-time jobs during operations OPITCIWAN, QC, July 24, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) has closed a $24-million loan to support the Atikamekw of Opitciwan, a remote First Nation community in Northern Quebec, in its energy transition aimed at significantly reducing diesel as its primary energy source. Onimiskiw Opitciwan Limited Partnership will construct and operate the 4.8-megawatt Centrale de cogénération d'Opitciwan. The facility will generate electricity by burning bark, sawdust and woodchips produced by an adjacent sawmill. Additionally, steam from the new energy plant will power a new wood kiln at the sawmill. The project will bring significant health and environmental benefits for the community of 2,500 members by reducing nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide emissions from the current diesel-based energy generation. The sustainable energy initiative will cut more than 11,000 tonnes of emissions and reduce the use of diesel by 4.6 million litres annually. The project, along with the CIB's investment, could serve as a model to support other Indigenous communities in Quebec and across Canada by reducing their reliance on diesel as their primary energy source, through the integration of renewable sources. The new power plant will support 40 jobs during construction and 15 direct and indirect full-time jobs during operations. The facility is designed to accommodate community growth, including the capacity to support future housing development. The Centrale de cogénération d'Opitciwan, along with a new substation and battery energy storage system built by Hydro-Quebec, will significantly improve the stability of community's independent electrical network, which currently experiences frequent power outages. Endorsements The CIB is pleased to support the Atikamekw of Opitciwan First Nation in the development of this cogeneration plant which will supply the community with a reliable, secure energy source, along with additional economic opportunities. Financing from the CIB's Indigenous Community Infrastructure Initiative will eliminate diesel as the community's primary energy source. Cleaner energy options are needed in many remote Indigenous communities and the CIB is proud of the work we are doing to support these projects across Canada. Ehre n Cory, CEO, Canada Infrastructure Bank Investments like these—that support our communities, build energy independence, and create good-paying jobs—are driving Indigenous-led infrastructure projects across the country. The Canada Infrastructure Bank's $24 million investment in the Atikamekw of Opitciwan's biomass cogeneration facility is good news for our riding and a testament to the country we're building together with all our partners. Hon. François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue, on behalf of the Hon. Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada Remote Indigenous communities face unique barriers that require tailored solutions. The Atikamekw of Opitciwan project is a vital step forward, providing support not only to the Opitciwan community but also serving as a model to empower Indigenous communities across the country. I want to congratulate Chief Jean-Claude Mequish for this project and thank him for his leadership. Hon. Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services The biomass cogeneration plant is an innovative project for Opitciwan. By using local and renewable resources, we can not only produce clean energy, but also stimulate our local economy and ensure energy security for our members. This project is an example of what we can achieve when we work together for a greener, more prosperous future. Mikwetc to the CIB for their support. Chief Jean-Claude Mequish, Council of the Atikamekw First Nation The biomass cogeneration project represents a major step forward for our community. Not only will it enable us to reduce our dependence on diesel, it will also create jobs and improve our quality of life. We are grateful to the CIB for its support and commitment to the development of our energy infrastructure. , President, Onimiskiw Opitciwan Limited Partnership
Winnipeg Free Press
14 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Fishers' tale of concern, opportunity
Shipment of essential goods and the future of fishers' livelihoods are among the concerns some Indigenous groups are raising as Ottawa looks to rid itself of its fish marketing branch. 'You're setting us up for failure,' said Dave MacKay, business manager of Negginan Fishing Station. Fishing is one of Poplar River First Nation's biggest trades, MacKay relayed. Negginan Fishing Station — and related operations — employ roughly 100 people on the First Nation on the east side of Lake Winnipeg. SUPPLIED The MV Poplar River is operated by the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation. It's like clockwork: a boat, the MV Poplar River, arrives in the spring and the fall for catches of pickerel and whitefish. The barge also brings critical items like fuel and building supplies, MacKay said. Poplar River lacks an all-weather road, making it inaccessible by truck when there's no ice. The First Nation declared a state of emergency in 2022, after the MV Poplar River was damaged by an explosion. Now, the boat is back in business — but MacKay wonders for how long. The Freshwater Fish Marketing Corp. (FFMC), a federal Crown corporation, owns the MV Poplar River. At one point, the FFMC had a monopoly on fish marketing and sales in Canada. It began in 1969, and has a mandate to maximize long-term returns to fish harvesters. In recent years, however, provinces have opted out of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Act. Ontario withdrew in 2011; Saskatchewan and Manitoba followed in 2012 and 2017, respectively. It allowed the provinces' fishers to strike deals with buyers outside the FFMC. Alberta closed its commercial inland fishery in 2014. Now, the Northwest Territories is the act's only participating jurisdiction. The federal government has since looked to divest itself of the FFMC. A government-appointed advisory council recommended regional fishing groups and processors or an Indigenous economic development corporation take the reins. (Much of the FFMC's suppliers are Indigenous fishers in the Prairies. The FFMC counted more than 1,400 fisher sources in 2023.) 'It sounds wonderful on paper,' MacKay said. 'Not only do Indigenous communities get to participate, they're going to have equity.' However, he's skeptical of the rollout. In December, Ottawa launched a request for proposal to take over the FFMC. Final letters of intent are due by Sept. 17, per a federal spokesperson. The Crown corporation's operating plan exceeded $76 million in 2024; it had more than 300 staff and several Manitoba facilities. Processing fish, marketing and transportation are among its roles. It's not the skill set of a traditional fisher, MacKay said. 'It's a huge undertaking,' he said. 'Economic reconciliation … is important. You will not achieve it if you just throw the keys at us.' Poplar River has joined a collection of Manitoba and Saskatchewan First Nations bidding for FFMC. MacKay worries the operational money, line of credit and expertise needed will lead the group — or any bidding group — to fail as they take over the corporation. 'If we really want to do this right, we need to gradually transfer the ownership,' he asserted, adding a transfer without support would cause 'catastrophic collapse.' Fisheries and Oceans Canada, which is overseeing the transformation, didn't answer questions about hand-off details. It's unclear whether it's looking to sell the Crown corporation or how long it plans to be involved post-acquisition. The federal department received 11 expressions of interest, spokesperson Axel Rioux said, declining to publicly disclose names. 'Bidding criteria for the request for proposals were designed to promote continued market access for rural, remote and isolated harvesters and ensure economic reconciliation efforts,' Rioux wrote in a statement. The Manitoba Métis Federation has also bid on the FFMC, though president David Chartrand said he's opposed to the current divestiture set-up. 'The way this thing is rolling out, we're very concerned about where we stand as Métis business people,' Chartrand said. 'This is probably the last traditional economy that has the potential of being taken from us.' In 2022, roughly 85 per cent of Manitoba's 2,000 licensed commercial fishers were Indigenous. A significant portion — maybe half — are Métis, Chartrand estimated. 'The financial state of Freshwater is not in a good position,' Chartrand said. 'We have to look at, 'How do we take over something that's clearly in massive deficit (with) infrastructure that's falling apart?'' The FFMC highlighted an overall loss of $7.2 million in its 2024 annual report, shooting past the performance target of a $600,000 loss. It listed $34 million in loans payable. Meantime, Fisher River Cree Nation Chief David Crate calls the transformation an 'opportunity.' Approximately 150 on-reserve members commercially fish from Lake Winnipeg and sell their catches through the FFMC. Fisher River joins Poplar River and other communities off Lake Winnipeg, Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipegosis in a coalition bidding on the FFMC. Métis and Indigenous fishers from Saskatchewan are in the group, Crate said. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. 'We've got a very good proposal,' he added. 'The expertise that we bring to table, also, is something government will have to consider.' Saskatchewan and Manitoba representatives would form the FFMC's board; membership would consist of commercial fishers, Crate said. The coalition would keep the FFMC's current staff in place, he added. 'I couldn't get into details,' he said of how its debt would be managed. The FFMC also serves non-Indigenous communities. It sells fish around North America and Europe; it delivered 11.7 million kilograms in its 2024 calendar year, an annual report shows. Gabrielle PichéReporter Gabrielle Piché reports on business for the Free Press. She interned at the Free Press and worked for its sister outlet, Canstar Community News, before entering the business beat in 2021. Read more about Gabrielle. Every piece of reporting Gabrielle produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
