Community Builders: Gold Plate Dinner
The sold-out dinner hosted 650 guests who gathered for one of Ottawa's most anticipated fundraising events, raising money for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and the Hellenic Community of Ottawa's cultural and language programs. Since its inception, the dinner has raised more than $3 million for local causes.
The evening was filled with food, laughter and connections as business leaders from across the city mingled over cocktails, shared stories and took part in the evening's signature $30,000 elimination draw. Natasha Laidlaw from BDO Canada was the lucky winner, walking away with a choice between cash or a brand-new Mercedes-Benz from Star Motors of Ottawa.
Guests didn't stop at dessert — the night was capped off with a high-energy after-party that kept the celebration going.
With a mix of networking, philanthropy and a little luxury, the Gold Plate Dinner continued to prove it's more than just a night out, it's a cornerstone of Ottawa's charitable spirit.
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CTV News
14-07-2025
- CTV News
How car thieves are making a profit without actually stealing a vehicle
Thieves are able to steal and resell cars without needing to taker the physical vehicle. (CTV News Toronto) Car thieves carried out a successful heist at an Ontario car dealership in September of 2020, making off with what they needed despite leaving a luxury vehicle sitting in the showroom. That's because the target was never the black Mercedes G Squared SUV, but its unique vehicle identification number (VIN), according to the Oakville-based dealer, Doug, who was wary of using his last name in an interview with CTV News. He said he found out when trying to transfer the vehicle into a customer's name at a Service Ontario, only to find out that the thieves had already assumed ownership of the car—at least on paper. 'We go there to put in a transfer,' Doug said. 'They say, 'Sorry, this car doesn't belong to you.' Meanwhile, it's been sitting in our showroom for quite a while.' Documents showed the car had been transferred to another company in 2020—documents that were obviously forged, Doug said. 'There's 35,000 kilometres on it, which for sure is not our car, because our car had no kilometres on it,' he said. Doug believes at some point thieves entered the showroom just to write down the car's VIN, so they could use it to register a similar car that had been stolen. 'They took our car's serial number, and put it on a stolen car,' he said. VIN theft Oakville-based car dealer, Doug, was initially unable to sell a black Mercedes G Squared SUV because its VIN had been stolen and used. (CTV News Toronto) Each car has its own 17 digit VIN, which can usually be found behind the windshield on the driver's side of the vehicle. It's used as a way to track the history of that specific car. But, fraudsters can apply a legitimate car's VIN to a stolen car in an attempt to disguise it and sell it in a process called re-vinning. While that means a sale can go through, it usually causes headaches for the buyer and the owner of the vehicle. New tools aim to help victims of VIN fraud Complaints of re-vinning are on the rise, according to Carfax, a company that sells vehicle history reports. 'It's definitely a scenario where one VIN is living two lives,' Carfax president Shawn Vording told CTV News. He said in some cases, innocent consumers have had their VIN used as a donor to register a stolen vehicle, which is often exported, though sometimes continues to be driven around the country. The company has estimated that there are more than 140,000 potentially cloned VINs driving Canadian streets, many of them likely stolen cars that have been sold, with the profits often going to organized criminals. Carfax has launched new monitoring tools that can alert a customer if there is any activity on their VIN, and if the customer doesn't recognize it, they can investigate. Vording says he hopes that the tool can detect any potential VIN fraud early, before any sales or transfers are disrupted. Carfax is also putting export data from the Canada Border Services Agency into its reports to watch for cars that have been disguised and then exported, while the donor VIN remains in the country. 'VIN fraud costs consumers a lot of money. We're hoping we can make a difference by mitigating the amount of fraud that happens. And if we can do something as a business to help defund organized crime, that's good for society overall,' Vording said. The provincial government has tightened up the system to register a car in the wake of a wave of an increase in car theft that has swept the nation. Around 69,000 cars were stolen across Canada in 2024, leading to more than a billion dollars in insurance losses. Police also laid several charges against Service Ontario workers earlier this year. One worker, Tonisha Baird, was convicted for trafficking in stolen vehicles, including one she was arrested while driving. But critics worry that despite recent changes, there aren't enough barriers to prevent thieves from using the province's car registration system to their advantage. 'It shouldn't be so easy for people to be able to steal a car, get it registered, and supposedly legitimized and then get it sold on our streets,' said NDP MPP Jennifer French. Documents involved in the transfer of the Mercedes G Squared from Doug's dealership led to a company whose director was initially charged in a shooting in Yorkville in 2016. Those charges were dropped, and in response to a subsequent lawsuit, Toronto Police Service admitted in legal filings there were problems in the investigation. CTV News tried the man at several different addresses, but couldn't reach him. His lawyer wasn't available for comment. The forgeries were obvious enough that Doug doubts that the Service Ontario employee made a mistake. 'You'll never stop this if they have someone crooked working in the license bureau, and that's what they've been combatting,' he said. With the help of Toronto police, an inspection of the G Squared SUV showed that it was the true vehicle that was tied to the VIN in question, and the transfer to the customer eventually went through.
Cision Canada
26-06-2025
- Cision Canada
Geotab and Mercedes-Benz USA Announce Integrated Telematics Solution for Fleets
Unifying Vehicle Data for Enhanced Fleet Management, Efficiency, and Real-Time Insights ATLANTA, June 26, 2025 /CNW/ - Geotab Inc. ("Geotab"), a global leader in connected vehicle solutions, and Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Mercedes-Benz USA), a leading provider of innovative connectivity solutions, today announced a joint initiative to integrate Mercedes-Benz connectivity services with Geotab's world-class fleet management platform for customers across the country. This collaboration delivers a seamless, factory-installed telematics solution that unifies data from both electric vehicles (EVs) and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles within MyGeotab, providing fleet managers with enhanced visibility and actionable insights. This new integrated solution allows for direct data transfer from Mercedes-Benz vehicles' factory-installed telematics hardware into MyGeotab, eliminating the need for additional aftermarket hardware installation. This not only saves time and money by avoiding vehicle downtime for installations but also streamlines operations for diverse fleets that include Mercedes-Benz vehicles. "This year, we found that the average fleet includes vehicles from 13 different manufacturers. This can make fleet data management extremely complex. Geotab solves this issue for fleets by providing integrated solutions that enable comprehensive visibility across all vehicle types and manufacturers," said Rob Minton, Associate Vice President of Connected Car Business Development at Geotab. "Our partnership with Mercedes-Benz USA underscores Geotab's commitment to delivering a unified platform that simplifies mixed fleet management, enhances productivity, and provides high-quality data insights." "We are excited to launch our new partnership with Geotab and supplement our fleet telematics offerings with Geotab's cutting-edge products," said Sabrina Stengel, Director of Digital Experience at Mercedes-Benz USA. "At Mercedes-Benz USA, we prioritize innovation and safety over all else, and we look forward to enhancing our fleet customer experience with Geotab's robust data analytics, flexible integrations and scalable platforms." Fleet managers utilizing this integrated solution will gain access to an array of powerful tools and near real-time data at an enhanced frequency, including detailed GPS tracking, trip and activity reports, vehicle health diagnostics (such as battery, tire, and engine signals), EV charging status, and fuel consumption. The platform also enables automated warnings for vehicle health and other critical alerts, empowering proactive decision-making. Geotab's long-standing OEM telematics expertise, developed over 10 years of collaboration with leading manufacturers, helps ensure that this integrated solution provides a robust, secure, and ready-to-go connected vehicle experience. This partnership further solidifies Geotab's position as a trusted partner for OEMs and fleet management globally, simplifying mixed fleet challenges and unlocking fleets' full potential. This solution is compatible with most Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and vans in the U.S. from the 2019 model year onward, including popular fleet vehicles such as the Mercedes Sprinter and eSprinter vans. Learn more about the Geotab Integrated Solution for Mercedes-Benz. About Mercedes-Benz USA Mercedes-Benz USA , headquartered in Atlanta, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. Mercedes-Benz USA offers drivers the most diverse lineup in the luxury segment with 18 model lines ranging from the sporty GLA SUV to the flagship S-Class and the dynamic all-electric vehicles from Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes-Benz USA is also responsible for Mercedes-Benz Vans in the U.S. More information on Mercedes-Benz USA and its products can be found at and To learn more about all Mercedes-Benz entities in North America, visit Accredited journalists can visit our media site at About Geotab Geotab is a global leader in connected vehicle and asset solutions, empowering fleet efficiency and management. We leverage advanced data analytics and AI to transform fleet performance, safety, and sustainability, reducing cost and driving efficiency. Backed by top data scientists and engineers, we serve over 55,000 global customers, processing 80 billion data points daily from more than 4.7 million vehicle subscriptions. Geotab is trusted by Fortune 500 organizations, mid-sized fleets, and the largest public sector fleets in the world, including the US Federal Government. Committed to data security and privacy, we hold FIPS 140-3 and FedRAMP authorizations. Our open platform, ecosystem of outstanding partners, and Marketplace deliver hundreds of fleet-ready third-party solutions. This year, we're celebrating 25 years of innovation. Learn more at and follow us on LinkedIn or visit Geotab News and Views. SOURCE Geotab Inc.
Calgary Herald
19-06-2025
- Calgary Herald
New Calgary community Nostalgia Townlet to resemble a 'European village'
Men and women wearing fancy suits boarded a limousine bearing the Mercedes-Benz's three-pointed star on Wednesday and rode through a dirt road on the southeastern tip of Calgary, bordered by plains stretching into the horizon. Article content After getting out of the vehicle, they walked along the porch of a white, two-storey structure overlooking the meandering Bow River and into a tent that had been set up to mark the birth of a new community in Calgary called the Nostalgia Townlet. Article content Article content The project, the brainchild of homebuilding company Jayman Built, is south of Seton and Rangeview and, over time, will feature more than 5,600 homes built in the image of a 'European village.' Article content Article content The area, billed as a luxury community in a statement by the company, will house a variety of boutique shops, cafes, restaurants and a specialty grocery store, anchored by a 155-foot clock tower and a 1.5-mile ridge line facing the Bow River. Article content The place will also be complete with a lower river bench boutique hotel and a conference centre, both of which would be steps away from each other. Article content The main highlight, however, would be a 400,000-square-foot private social and athletic club, boasting close to a dozen tennis courts, a 25,000-square-foot gym, swimming pools with a tube and a channel, an NHL-size hockey rink, golf simulators and a host of other amenities. Article content Article content Article content 'We were able to tour all the greatest clubs around North America,' said Jay Westman, Chairman and CEO of Jayman BUILT, which was also behind the development of Westman Village in the southeastern community of Mahogany. 'So we picked up all those ideas along the way of what we wanted to specialize in, and we developed a list.' Article content Although the community is branded as a luxury project, Westman said the area will have houses in varying price ranges, starting with rentals and moving up to condominiums, semi-detached and detached homes. Article content 'We'll start somewhere in the mid three hundreds, and I'm not sure what we'll top out at here,' Westman added.
