THE BANFF WORLD MEDIA FESTIVAL AND PARAMOUNT+ IN CANADA ANNOUNCE 'SEASON TWO' RENEWAL OF BANFF SPARK: PRODUCERS EDITION
BANFF, AB and TORONTO, June 8, 2025 /CNW/ -- The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) is pleased to announce that Paramount+ in Canada has renewed the BANFF SPARK Accelerator for Women in the Business of Media: Producers Edition for a second year. The program renewal was announced today during the opening ceremonies of the 46th edition of the Banff World Media Festival, taking place at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel from June 8-11, 2025.
This national program is open to Canadian women, (including non-binary individuals), from across the country and is aimed at working toward gender parity in the media industry by supporting growth, investment, scaling, and sustainability of women-owned media companies. Twenty-five (25) women who own their own production outfits will participate in: a series of customized, virtual sessions covering high-level aspects of business strategy and planning, finance, and marketing best practices; one-on-one 'concierged' meetings with individuals, and curated sessions during the Banff World Media Festival. They will also benefit from a significant marketing and promotional campaign to help build their business profile in the industry. Participants receive a Banff World Media Festival pass, and a travel stipend to offset costs of attending the Festival.
"Paramount+ in Canada has been an incredible and committed partner to advancing gender parity in our industry. This first-of-its-kind program has already generated positive career growth for more than 225 women participants by helping them form strategic partnerships, and hone their business skills. Despite the achievements and progress made, our industry still has work to do in breaking down barriers for women, and especially racialized women, to help them gain a foothold in the global marketplace," says Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director, Banff World Media Festival.
"We are honoured to partner with Banff World Media Festival for a second consecutive year to continue the BANFF Spark Program: Producers Edition," said Vanessa Case, Vice President Content, Paramount+, Canada. "Investing in Canada's up and coming producers isn't just the right thing to do—it's a strategic imperative. Inclusive leadership drives innovation, improves decision-making, and ultimately reflects the audiences we serve."
BANFF Spark provides business guidance, and a gateway to the Canadian and global film and television industry through the renowned Banff World Media Festival's (BANFF) conference and marketplace. Programmed through an intersectional lens, the initiative has a core mission to empower women of color, Indigenous women, women with disabilities, 2SLGBTQI+ women, and non-binary individuals to advance both domestically, and across the global media industry.
This initiative is the eighth partnership Paramount+ in Canada has announced that reinforces its commitment to inclusivity. In addition to supporting the 2025 and now 2026, the streamer has announced partnerships with the 2024 Reelworld Summit, the, inkcanada to Connect Emerging Writers with Industry Allies; a collaboration with the; a collaboration with the Black Screen Office for the Black Creators Festival Initiative; a joint venture with BIPOC TV & Film and the National Screen Institute Partner for the new ELEVATE program; and partnerships with both The Shine Network Institute (TSNI) for the Indigenous Producers Budgeting Intensive and with the Pacific Screenwriting Program and the Indigenous Screen Office to Create the Indigenous Screenwriters Lab in 2024.
About the Banff World Media Festival
Now in its 46th year, the Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) and the Rockie Awards host one of the most important global conferences and content development marketplaces - gathering top creators, producers, showrunners, talent, networks, studios, streamers, press and media companies. BANFF's intimate, retreat-style event serves as a leading destination for development, co-production and co-venture partners and offers an unparalleled opportunity for international decision-makers to connect, map the future of the industry, and execute new business deals. Summit Series keynotes, Master Classes and renowned Showrunner Superpanels feature the industry's most inspiring creative and business leaders and give global profile to the most talked-about shows. The Rockie Awards recognize the best content and most influential entertainment industry executives, talent and creators in the world. BANFF continues to deliver important fellowships and initiatives including: the BANFF Spark Accelerator for Women in the Business of Media: Producers Edition, the Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices Initiative, and the Indigenous Screen Summit and Pitch Forum. Together these programs have provided more than 1000 opportunities for under-represented professionals in the Canadian media industry. For more information on the Banff World Media Festival, click here. @banffmedia #BANFFMediaFestival #ROCKIEAWARDS
About Paramount+
Paramount+ is a global digital subscription video streaming service from Paramount that features a mountain of premium entertainment for audiences of all ages. Internationally, the streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows, and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including SHOWTIME®, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, and the Smithsonian Channel™, in addition to a robust offering of premier local content. The service currently lives in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, Latin America, the Caribbean, Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland and Japan.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Toronto Star
23 minutes ago
- Toronto Star
SHEIN Unveils Summer of Sport: Up to 50% Off Activewear and a Spotlight on Its Expanding Activewear Category
TORONTO, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SHEIN is kicking off the season with its first Summer of Sport campaign, helping Canadians stay active and stylish with performance-driven pieces at up to 50 per cent off. Running from July 21 to Aug. 31, the nationwide promotion highlights SHEIN's growing sportstyle category and reinforces its position as a one-stop destination for versatile, performance-ready fashion that doesn't compromise on style. From high-performance leggings and tennis skirts to gym sets, running layers and recovery wear, the collection spans SHEIN's sport offering across women's, men's, curve and kids' ranges. 'We're seeing customers blur the lines between function and fashion - and the sport category is one of our fastest-growing in Canada,' said Shirley Yuan, head of marketing at SHEIN Canada. 'Whether you're rallying on the court or just love the crisp, athletic look, our goal is to offer versatile pieces that work for both performance and lifestyle.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Experience It In Real Life: Tennis Giant x SHEIN Activation in Montreal To bring the collection to life, SHEIN will host a limited-time activation inside the Tennis Giant retail space at the National Bank Open in Montreal. From July 26 to Aug. 7, shoppers can explore SHEIN's sport and tennis-inspired styles - perfectly timed with the tournament's energy and excitement. While not officially affiliated with the event, the in-person experience offers visitors a chance to feel fabrics, browse curated edits, and receive a free SHEIN gift with purchase, while supplies last. A rising star: Carson Branstine's appearance over Family Day weekend Canadian tennis talent Carson Branstine, fresh off a standout performance at Wimbledon qualifiers, will make a special in-store appearance on Sunday, July 27, during Family Day weekend. As a rising star in the sport, she embodies the momentum behind SHEIN's sportstyle movement, blending athletic performance with effortless style. Explore SHEIN's growing sport sub-brands From functional gear to everyday athleisure, SHEIN offers a dynamic mix of performance-driven and trend-led pieces through its dedicated sport sub-brands: GLOWMODE: High-performance activewear designed with buttery-soft fabrics and four-way stretch for movement without limits. SHEIN SPORT STUDIO: Accessible, fashion-forward gear made for everything from running to weight training. MANFINITY SPORT: Sleek designs tailored for modern workouts, including compression wear, sweat-wicking tees, and joggers. Seamluxe SHEIN Sport: Seamless, sculpting designs that combine next-level comfort with support, ideal for yoga, pilates, and low-impact training. Powerista: Bold, trend-led sportstyle pieces designed for the gym and the street - made to empower movement and make a statement. Whether you're stopping by Tennis Giant during tournament week or shopping online from anywhere in Canada, SHEIN invites you to explore its most dynamic sportstyle collection yet. With standout deals, expanded sub-brand offerings, and a touch of tennis flair, this summer is the perfect time to serve looks - on and off the court. To learn more or shop the collection, visit For more information, images, or interview requests, please contact: Lori Harito, Publicist Lori@ 416.523.9602 About SHEIN SHEIN is a global online fashion and lifestyle retailer, offering SHEIN branded apparel and products from a global network of vendors, all at affordable prices. Headquartered in Singapore, SHEIN remains committed to making the beauty of fashion accessible to all, promoting its industry-leading, on-demand production methodology for a smarter, future-ready industry. To learn more about SHEIN Canada, visit or follow on Instagram @shein_ca. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
Cision Canada
23 minutes ago
- Cision Canada
Energy Fuels Announces Call Details for Q2-2025 Earnings
Conference Call and Webcast at 9:00 AM MT on Thursday, August 7, 2025 DENVER, July 24, 2025 /CNW/ - Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR), a leading U.S. producer of uranium, rare earth elements, and critical minerals, will hold a conference call on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 9:00 AM Mountain Time to discuss its financial results for Q2-2025. Financial results and other highlights will be issued in a press release prior to the call. Energy Fuels' management will host the conference call, followed by a question-and-answer session. Conference call access with the ability to ask questions: To instantly join the conference call by phone, please use the following link to easily register your name and phone number. After registering, you will receive a call immediately and be placed into the conference call. Rapid Connect URL: Alternatively, you may dial in to the conference call where you will be connected to the call by an Operator. North American Toll Free: 1-800-715-9871 To view the webcast online: Audience URL: Conference Replay Conference Replay Toronto: 1-647-362-9199 Conference Replay North American Toll Free: 1-800-715-9871 Conference Replay Entry Code: 6329279# Conference Replay Expiration Date: 08/14/2025 About Energy Fuels Energy Fuels is a leading US-based critical minerals company, focused on uranium, rare earth elements, heavy mineral sands, vanadium and medical isotopes. Energy Fuels, which owns and operates several conventional and in-situ recovery uranium projects in the western United States, has been the leading U.S. producer of natural uranium concentrate for the past several years, which is sold to nuclear utilities that process it further for the production of carbon-free nuclear energy. Energy Fuels also owns the White Mesa Mill in Utah, which is the only fully licensed and operating conventional uranium processing facility in the United States. At the Mill, Energy Fuels also produces advanced rare earth element products, vanadium oxide (when market conditions warrant), and is evaluating the potential recovery of certain medical isotopes from existing uranium process streams needed for emerging Targeted Alpha Therapy cancer treatments. Energy Fuels is also developing three additional heavy mineral sands projects: the Toliara Project in Madagascar; the Bahia Project in Brazil; and the Donald Project in Australia in which Energy Fuels has the right to earn up to a 49% interest in a joint venture with Astron Corporation Limited. Energy Fuels is based in Lakewood, Colorado, near Denver. The primary trading market for Energy Fuels' common shares is the NYSE American under the trading symbol "UUUU," and its common shares are also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "EFR." For more information on all Energy Fuels does, please visit
23 minutes ago
CBC investigation finds some big grocers promoting imported food with Canadian branding
Like many shoppers these days, Stacey Dineen, who lives just outside Kitchener, Ont., is all-in on the buy Canadian movement. Trump's comments about annexing Canada, wanting to make us part of the United States, boy, that really kind of lit something, she said. Dineen buys Canadian food whenever she can, but when she can't, she looks for imported products from outside the United States. And Canada's major grocery chains have jumped on the trend, running patriotic ads and pledging to help shoppers buy Canadian. But Dineen says she gets frustrated when grocers provide conflicting information about where a product comes from. Last week, for example, she saw organic broccoli at her local Sobeys grocery store. A sign stated it was a product of Canada, but the fine print on the tag said produce of USA. Enlarge image (new window) Shopper Stacey Dineen, who lives near Kitchener, Ont., found organic broccoli at her local Sobeys advertised as 'Product of Canada,' but the item's label said it was 'Produce of USA.' Photo: Submitted by Stacey Dineen It makes me feel misled, said Dineen. At this point, I have run out of patience for it. It feels — at the very least, it's careless. New data from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and a CBC News investigation suggests country-of-origin mislabeling by grocers is an ongoing problem. It's also against the rules; in-store food signage must be accurate and not misleading (new window). The CFIA, Canada's food regulator, told CBC News that between November 2024 and mid-July, it received 97 complaints related to country-of-origin claims. WATCH | Buying Canadian? You may want to double check the signage: Début du widget . Passer le widget? Fin du widget . Retour au début du widget? Of the 91 complaints investigated so far, the CFIA found companies violated the rules in 29 (32 per cent) of the cases. Most involved bulk produce sold in stores, and in each case the problem was fixed, according to the agency. CBC News visited grocery stores operated by Sobeys, Loblaws and Metro in downtown Toronto this month and found similar issues among both bulk and prepackaged produce. At each store, one or more country-of-origin shelf signs in the produce section stated the accompanying product was a product of Canada or Mexico, but the product's sticker or packaging said it was a product of USA. And it's not just produce. CBC News also found questionable Canadian signage for more than a dozen other types of products at the Sobeys store, including imported raw almonds promoted with a red maple leaf symbol and a Made in Canada, declaration. Enlarge image (new window) CBC News found these raw almonds displayed at a Toronto Sobeys store with a red maple leaf symbol and a 'Made in Canada' declaration. But the almonds' packaging said the product was imported. Photo: CBC / Sophia Harris We don't grow almonds in this country. Those should not meet the Made in Canada threshold, said Mike von Massow, a professor in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Guelph. He added that a high turnover of grocery products can sometimes lead to mistakes. However, food labelling expert Mary L'Abbé says that, six months into the Buy Canadian movement, shoppers' patience for grocer errors is wearing thin. It's important to Canadians, and I think they have a responsibility to their consumers who expect them to interpret the regulations correctly, said L'Abbé, a nutritional sciences professor emeritus at the University of Toronto. I think the retailers have to step up to the plate and actually get their act together. Enlarge image (new window) CBC News found these fresh blueberries displayed at a Toronto Sobeys store with a 'product of Canada' declaration. But the packaging says the berries are a 'product of USA.' Photo: CBC / Sophia Harris Grocers respond Back in the produce section at Sobeys, CBC News found a large sign promoting blueberries as a product of Canada. But the fine print on the packaging said the berries were a product of USA. That's false advertising, said von Massow, suggesting human error as a possible cause. At the Loblaws store, CBC discovered several produce items, such as berries, squash and eggplant where shelf labels indicated they were a product of Mexico, while product stickers or packaging revealed they were a product of U.S.A. Packaged raspberries and blackberries at Metro had similar inconsistent labelling. Enlarge image (new window) CBC News found organic raspberries displayed at a Toronto Metro store with a 'Product of Mexico' declaration, but the packages above the sign said they were a 'Product of USA.' Metro says the flyer advertising the sale correctly stated that the berries were from Mexico or the U.S. Photo: Sophia Harris/CBC At a Loblaw-owned No Frills in Toronto, CBC found different inconsistent labelling. The store displayed strawberries with signage that included a red maple leaf and the phrase, Prepared in Canada. But the berries' packaging stated that they were a product of USA. It's possible that the strawberries were packaged in Canada, but the CFIA told CBC News it would be inappropriate to use a Made in Canada or Prepared in Canada claim if a product was only packaged here. L'Abbé says the No Frills ad is misleading. She points out that big grocers have launched big marketing campaigns centred around the Buy Canadian movement. Both Loblaw and Sobeys have produced slick, patriotic ads prominently featuring the Canadian flag. Obviously they're spending money on those marketing campaigns, said L'Abbé. They can also do the work behind the scenes to make sure that they're advertising things correctly. CBC News sent photos of its findings to Loblaw Companies Limited, Sobeys Inc., and Metro Inc. Loblaw did not directly answer questions about the strawberries, but shortly after CBC's inquiry, the maple leaf and Prepared in Canada signage on the strawberries was gone. Enlarge image (new window) CBC News found these fresh strawberries displayed at a Toronto No Frills store with a 'Prepared in Canada' declaration. But the packaging says the fruit is a 'Product of USA.' Photo: CBC / Sophia Harris Loblaw, Sobeys and Metro each told CBC News in separate emails that they strive for accurate country-of-origin signage, but noted that the task is challenging when dealing with mass inventory. Fresh produce can change week-to-week and unfortunately mistakes can happen from time to time, said Sobey's spokesperson, Emily Truesdale. Loblaw and Metro offered an apology to customers for any mishaps and encouraged them to alert the store if they discover inconsistencies. Both grocers also said they're working with store staff to reinforce signage policies and minimize errors. As a result of [CBC's] inquiry, stores received reminders about checking produce labels, said Metro spokesperson Stephanie Bonk. Enlarge image (new window) CBC News found several types of ice cream cones displayed at a Toronto Sobeys store with a red maple leaf, but the product's packaging notes that it was imported. Photo: CBC / Sophia Harris Imported but made in Canada? In response to the Buy Canadian movement, big grocers began marking many domestic products in stores with a maple leaf symbol. But sometimes it winds up on products with no apparent Canadian connection. There are lots of opportunities for things to get confusing, said von Massow. It's important for these stores to be transparent. At the Sobeys store, CBC News found more than a dozen imported house-brand Compliments products, including ice cream cones, salad dressing, raw nuts and graham crackers, displayed with a red maple leaf symbol. Sobeys' website (new window) says the maple leaf symbol refers to items that are Made in Canada or are a Product of Canada. According to the CFIA (new window), Product of Canada refers to food that is entirely or almost entirely created in the country. To qualify as Made in Canada, the last significant transformation of a food product must occur in the country. But the packaging for each of the imported house-brand items states that it was imported for Sobeys with no qualifying statement about a Canadian connection. Enlarge image (new window) Dineen, who lives just outside Kitchener, Ont., says she gets frustrated when grocers provide conflicting information about where a product comes from. Photo: CBC / Sophia Harris Why would you put a Maple Leaf on a product that very clearly is imported? asked Dineen, who discovered imported raw almonds and California natural walnut pieces marked with a maple leaf at her local Sobeys. It just erodes the trust. It just makes you think, 'OK, so that's meaningless.' Sobeys did not directly answer questions about imported Compliments products marked with a maple leaf. Von Massow says if you're unsure about any store or product labels, ask store staff for an explanation, or call the product's customer service line, often printed on the packaging. WATCH | Grocery stores overcharge for packaged meat: Début du widget . Passer le widget? Fin du widget . Retour au début du widget?
