Latest news with #DanDavis
CBC
15-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
Ad campaign aims to bring Americans back to Canada; a Gen Z unemployment spike: CBC's Marketplace cheat sheet
Canadian tourism groups use friendly ads to woo back Americans 4 days ago Duration 2:07 With cross-border travel plummeting since the start of the U.S.-Canada trade war, Canadian tourism groups are trying to lure back American tourists with friendly ad campaigns that assure them they're still welcome despite tensions between the two countries. Miss something this week? Don't panic. CBC's Marketplace rounds up the consumer and health news you need. Want this in your inbox? Get the Marketplace newsletter every Friday. Fewer Americans are visiting Canada. Ad campaigns assure them they're welcome here Late last year, Dan Davis of Cleveland began planning a motorcycle trip with friends this summer that includes several days in Ontario. But those plans became a little uncertain after U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January and imposed tariffs on Canada, sparking a trade war. That, coupled with Trump's frequent threats to make Canada the 51st state, has sparked anger among many Canadians. Davis noted that, in February, Canadians booed the U.S. national anthem at several NHL games, and in March, the Canadian government ran a billboard campaign in a dozen U.S. states, including Ohio, declaring that Trump's "tariffs are a tax." "Those things just made us wonder, 'Wow, are we going to be welcome in Canada?'" said Davis, adding that the licence plates on the group's motorcycles reveal they're from Ohio — a state Trump won in the 2024 election. "On a motorcycle, you're a little more vulnerable," he said. "All it takes is one person to say, 'You know what, I'm going to show these guys a lesson,' whether it's vandalizing a bike or … throwing a beer can at you." Since Trump took office and Canada-U.S. relations have become strained, fewer Canadians are visiting the U.S., and fewer Americans are coming to Canada. The number of trips Americans took to Canada by car declined 10.7 per cent in April and 8.4 per cent in May compared with the same time last year. Air travel declined 5.5 per cent in April and 0.3 per cent in May. Some tourism associations worry a number of Americans may be staying away because they fear a chilly reception, so they've launched ad campaigns that assure their neighbours they'll be warmly welcomed. from CBC's Sophia Harris. Gen Z is facing the worst youth unemployment rate in decades. Here is how it's different Graduation cap in hand, Sarah Chung is posing for photos in school regalia ahead of her convocation ceremony. The campus atmosphere is joyful, but what comes next is sobering: This honours student is graduating into one of the worst youth labour markets seen in decades. "It's bleak," said the 23-year-old graduate of the University of Calgary's media and communications program. She hasn't been able to find a job in her field and said she intends to pursue a master's degree. "I believe that it's tough just because of everything that's happening with the economy, with our society and with politics," she said. "There's a whole [lot] of talk about 'there's a recession coming.' I'm not an economist, but I can also see it as well." Chung is part of a generation facing Canada's highest youth unemployment rate in about a quarter-century. Apart from the pandemic, Canadian graduates between the ages of 15 and 24 are facing the highest unemployment rate this country has seen since the mid-1990s, according to first-quarter data from Statistics Canada. At that time, Jean Chrétien was Canada's prime minister, Gen Z was but a twinkle in their parents' eyes and the global workforce had yet to be transformed by social media, gig work and artificial intelligence. Fast forward to 2025, and Canada's youngest workers are grappling with a perfect storm of economic conditions: an inflation crisis that came on the heels of a pandemic; a surge in population growth that has outpaced the number of available jobs; and now, a country teetering closer to recession as the U.S. trade war wreaks uncertainty on the economy. One expert says youth unemployment can be a "canary in the coal mine" that foreshadows broader troubles in the labour market. "It's kind of an early warning indicator," said Tricia Williams, director of research at Future Skills Centre, a Toronto Metropolitan University lab dedicated to studying the future of work. "It's not just about getting jobs and skills experience. It's about the larger structural supports and the environment that young people are coming into." Read more of the story by CBC's Jenna Benchetrit. Federal government to put latest Canada Post offer up for union vote Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu said Thursday she's putting Canada Post's latest offers to unionized postal workers up for a vote in the hope of breaking a long-standing impasse between the parties. She said in a social media post it's in the "public interest" to give members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) an opportunity to vote on the offers, which Canada Post said are its "final" proposals. Hajdu said the Canada Industrial Relations Board will be directed to conduct the vote "as soon as possible." CUPW, which represents about 55,000 mail workers, has pushed back on the idea of a membership vote on the latest offer. The union accused the employer of being "not serious about meaningful arbitration" in a bulletin sent to members on Tuesday. Hajdu asked the parties on June 4 to work out terms for binding arbitration — a process that would see a third party attempt to hash out a collective agreement. Read more. What else is going on? Family, dental clinic confirm identity of Canadian on plane. Handheld console arrives with high price, few games and fresh competition. Marketplace needs your help! Have you visited an emergency department recently and been frustrated by the wait? Or has your local emergency department had temporary closures? We want to hear your stories! marketplace@
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla's Robotaxis Are About to Hit the Streets. No One Can Say They're Fully Safe.
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story. Tesla's Robotaxi service will reportedly begin a heavily-monitored trial period by the end of the month on the streets of Austin, Texas. The service will utilize a fleet of Tesla Model Ys equipped with newly updated software that allows for autonomous driving without supervision. All Model Y Taxis will be geofenced to a limited area within downtown Austin. Tesla's Robotaxi service (reportedly set to launch in Austin, Texas, by the end of June) seems to be generating more questions than answers for members of the public. This has become especially true as the company seeks to block the city of Austin from releasing public records surrounding the trial run for the program. According to Reuters, the city of Austin's Public Information Officer, Dan Davis, noted that a third party (Tesla) had requested to withhold the records to protect its privacy and property interests. Forbes recently reported serious safety concerns with the service. A few years ago, we spoke with Missy Cummings, a former National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) adviser, about the potential dangers of many of these autonomous systems. As they continue to roll out in 2025, it turns out we still have plenty of questions. Elon Musk's track record with full self-driving is questionable at best. Tesla's technology has yet to master Level 2 autonomous driving, let alone the much more advanced Level 4 capabilities required for an automated taxi. To be fair, Level 4 systems—which can intervene in the event of a system failure, eliminating the need for human supervision—is rare. Waymo is one of the only companies to successfully roll out a package that can reliably fulfill Level 4 autonomous driving capabilities so far, and the technology is still legally required to operate only within limited areas for the foreseeable future. As a result, ridesharing in major cities is currently the most attractive use case for these vehicles. At present, the United States only allows up to Level 2 autonomous driving on the open road, citing security concerns. Tesla's current Full Self-Driving (FSD) program only being a Level 2 system means that it is capable of driving the car only with human supervision behind the wheel. We've laid out all five self-driving 'levels' below to explain the gaps between the capabilities of every autonomous system you could come across. The lowest level of driver assistance, Level 1 programs automate one driving system, such as steering, braking, or accelerating. Cruise control is an excellent example of a Level 1 system, as it automates acceleration while still requiring some level of human interaction. The secondary level of driver assistance, which are often referred to as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), can control steering alongside accelerating and braking. ADAS still needs a human being in the driver seat to intervene should something go wrong. Tesla's Full Self-Driving and General Motors' Super Cruise are both current examples of Level 2 ADAS. Known as conditional driving automation, Level 3 presents largely the same capabilities as Level 2, but with the added ability to detect environmental factors and make informed decisions. The experience is fairly similar to a Level 2 system, but behind the scenes, Level 3 is a technological quantum leap. Audi's A8L is currently one of the only vehicles capable of Level 3 automation, but the United States only allows up to Level 2 on the open road. The real meat and potatoes of Level 4 is that it can intervene on its own if things go wrong. Thankfully, many of the Level 4 vehicles retain a panic button of sorts as a last resort. Until legislation evolves with the technology, these vehicles are currently only allowed to operate within a limited area. Many of these programs opt to be used within the city limits, as speeds are low and an accident often yields little consequence. As you might expect, the top level of driving automation will make no mistakes and offer maximum efficiency. It doesn't exist yet, but if it did, the vehicles theoretically wouldn't need a steering wheel or pedals. They would also be free to operate wherever you would want to drive. The trial will gradually and safely release Robotaxis onto the city streets of Austin, Texas. Musk noted that the program will start with 10 vehicles driving pre-determined routes around the Capitol building, and steadily expand to (potentially) thousands of vehicles, as long as things go smoothly. It's unclear who defines exactly what 'smoothly' means in this case, but we do know that the city of Austin has zero ability to regulate these types of vehicles—Texas law prevents local governments from imposing regulations on autonomous vehicles. The trial period won't involve the two-seater concept vehicles that Musk showed off back in October of last year. Instead, the fleet will utilize Tesla Model Ys equipped with the brand's latest Full Self-Driving (FSD) 'Unsupervised' software. As you could guess from the name, the new software claims to be able to drive without any human supervision. For context, Forbes was able to trial Full Self-Driving in Sacramento, California, and experienced seven 'failures' within its 80-minute test drive that required them to retake control. We should note that Tesla is far from the first to implement its autonomous taxi service on Austin's city streets. Waymo is one of the most rock-solid programs in service today, with customers able to hail a ride through the Uber app. Volkswagen's ADMT service and Amazon's Zoox fleet have already hit the streets in their respective trial programs, and Hyundai's Motional program is currently in its mapping phase. We should note that Tesla vehicles still rely solely on cameras to navigate the roads autonomously—a decision that Elon Musk appears to have no interest in altering. Other genuine Level 4 vehicles like Waymos use a combination of cameras, radar, and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) to scan their environments and make appropriate decisions. There are still a number of considerations that could make a case for either solution, and only time will tell which method comes out on top. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
CBC
10-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
'Come hug it out': Canadian tourism groups reassure U.S. visitors they're welcome amid political tension
Late last year, Dan Davis of Cleveland, Ohio, began planning a motorcycle trip with friends this summer that includes several days in Ontario. But those plans became a little uncertain after U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January and imposed tariffs on Canada, sparking a trade war. That, coupled with Trump's frequent threats to make Canada the 51st state, has sparked anger among many Canadians. Davis noted that, in February, Canadians booed the U.S. national anthem at several NHL hockey games, and in March, the Canadian government ran a billboard campaign in a dozen U.S. states, including Ohio, declaring that Trump's "tariffs are a tax." "Those things just made us wonder, 'Wow, are we going to be welcome in Canada?' " said Davis, adding that the licence plates on the group's motorcycles reveal they're from Ohio — a state Trump won in the 2024 election. "On a motorcycle, you're a little more vulnerable," he said. "All it takes is one person to say, 'You know what, I'm going to show these guys a lesson,' whether it's vandalizing a bike or … throwing a beer can at you." Fewer U.S. tourists visiting Canada Since Trump took office and Canada-U.S. relations have become strained, fewer Canadians are visiting the U.S., and fewer Americans are coming to Canada. In May, the number of trips Americans took to Canada declined 10.7 per cent by car, and 5.5 per cent by air compared to the same time last year. Some tourism associations worry a number of Americans may be staying away because they fear a chilly reception, so they've launched ad campaigns which assure their neighbours they'll be warmly welcomed. It's a worthy cause considering what's at stake: The majority of Canada's tourists come from the U.S., and they spent $15.3 million in the country last year. "It was really important for us to send the message to these visitors … that they are truly welcome, not to be scared to visit us," said Isabelle Charlebois, general director of Tourism Eastern Townships, a region in southeastern Quebec near the U.S. border. The group launched a TV ad in late May, running in New England and New York state. Set in the Eastern Townships, it shows a U.S. tourist whispering sheepishly to a hotel clerk that he's American. The clerk smiles knowingly, and gives the American a big, warm hug. "Come hug it out in the Eastern Townships," says the tagline. WATCH | Quebec tourism group offers to 'hug it out': Charlebois says the ad campaign was partly inspired by the fact that local tourism operators were fielding numerous calls from concerned Americans. "They were calling … asking if they should postpone their trip, or if they will be welcome in Quebec," she said. "This relationship we have with our neighbour is really important for us. That's why we sent this message, and I hope it works." 'Perception is reality' In May, out of the 200 businesses surveyed by the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, 32 per cent reported lower summer bookings by Americans compared to the same time last year. John Kinney, owner of Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours, says, so far this season, his location just outside Niagara Falls has seen 15 per cent fewer American customers compared to this time last year. "Unfortunately, perception is reality," said Kinney. "If it's perceived that there's political woes, people say, 'I hear Myrtle Beach is nice.' They just go to a completely different area." To encourage Americans to heard north, Niagara Falls Tourism has launched a page on its website just for them. Along with listing attractions, it declares, "To our friends in the U.S.A. — we can't wait to welcome you!" Back in Cleveland, Davis spotted a billboard last week on the highway and says he took it as a sign he's welcome in Canada. This time, instead of denouncing Trump's tariffs, the billboard invited Americans to visit Ontario and take advantage of the low Canadian dollar. Destination Ontario, the province's tourism organization, launched the campaign in several U.S. states last month. "It's good to see that they are encouraging visitors," said Davis, who is now looking forward to his Ontario trip. "We all just need to come together as human beings on both sides of the border and embrace each other." B.C. bear tour operators beckon Americans Over on the West Coast, British Columbia businesses that specialize in bear viewing are also rolling out the welcome mat. More than a dozen took part in a video, posted on YouTube on May 30, which promises Americans "open arms" and "warm hospitality." B.C.'s Commercial Bear Viewing Association, which put together the ad, says it will soon be launched as part of a social media campaign in select U.S. markets. WATCH | B.C. businesses welcome U.S. tourists: Marg Leehane, general manager of Great Bear Lodge in Campbell River, B.C., shouted out, "You're always welcome," in the video. It's a message she hopes will resonate, as American bookings at her lodge are down by 28 per cent so far compared to this time last year. "Americans always make up a good percentage of our visitors, and we're disappointed to not have them coming," she said. "I think they're worried the political message will get reflected on them. But of course, that's not how most Canadians feel." Leehane says she's getting more Canadian bookings this year than usual, which helps offset the decline in American customers. Still, she worries that decline could have lasting repercussions. "We don't want to lose that pipeline of American visitors," she said. "They would have come back as repeat guests. So it's not just this year that we would lose out on those visitors, it's the future years."
Associated Press
06-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
New Jersey Custodian Sweeps the 2025 Cintas Custodian of the Year Contest
CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 6, 2025-- Congratulations to the 12 th annual Cintas Custodian of the Year contest winner, Dan Davis from Deerfield Elementary School in Short Hills, New Jersey. After thousands of votes were submitted, Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) has crowned Dan Davis as the 2025 grand prize winner. Dan was honored today with a surprise ceremony by students, teachers, staff and his family and was presented with a $10,000 check from Cintas. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Dan Davis from Deerfield Elementary School in Short Hills, New Jersey, celebrates winning the Custodian of the Year award. 'Too often, the hard work of custodians goes unnoticed, yet they're the unsung heroes of our facilities, keeping them clean and safe,' said Emily Ramos, Director of Marketing at Cintas. 'Dan is a valued member of his community and a role model for students. It was an honor to help celebrate his well-deserved recognition.' Dan exemplifies what it means to go above and beyond as a school custodian. He arrives each day with a smile and positive attitude, creating a welcoming atmosphere throughout the school. His commitment is evident in how he keeps the school clean and organized, and how quickly and willingly he responds to unexpected challenges. The entire community values his reliability, attention to detail, and uplifting presence. When a staff member broke their foot, Dan didn't hesitate to lend a hand, going out of his way to help them in and out of their car. He's also a familiar and friendly face during drop-off and pick-up, always offering students a bright smile, an enthusiastic hello or a fist bump that starts their day on the right note. 'Custodians play a vital role in maintaining a safe, healthy school environment where children can learn and thrive,' said John Barrett, Executive Director of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association. 'For over 100 years, ISSA has been committed to advancing the cleaning industry. The training opportunities we're providing to this year's finalists will help them build on their skills and open the door to future leadership roles.' In addition to the $10,000 cash prize, Dan will receive $5,000 in Cintas and Rubbermaid Commercial Products and services for his school. His school also receives a comprehensive facility assessment, valued at $20,000, in partnership with the ISSA Global Consulting Network. Cintas will also award the winning school a pizza party for all staff and students. Dan, along with the two other top three finalists, will receive an all-expense-paid trip for two to the ISSA Show North America in Las Vegas in November, where they'll be celebrated for their accomplishments. 'Dan Davis is extremely deserving of this title, and we are honored to be a part of recognizing his hard work,' added Robert Posthauer, SVP & GM, Rubbermaid Commercial Products. For more information about the Cintas Custodian of the Year contest, visit About Cintas Corporation: Cintas Corporation helps more than one million businesses of all types and sizes get Ready™ to open their doors with confidence every day by providing products and services that help keep their customers' facilities and employees clean, safe, and looking their best. With offerings including uniforms, mats, mops, towels, restroom supplies, workplace water services, first aid and safety products, eye-wash stations, safety training, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems and alarm service, Cintas helps customers get Ready for the Workday ®. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas is a publicly held Fortune 500 company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of both the Standard & Poor's 500 Index and Nasdaq-100 Index. About ISSA: With more than 10,500 members – including distributors, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, wholesalers, building service contractors, in-house service providers, residential cleaners, and associated service members – ISSA is the world's leading trade association for the cleaning industry. The association is committed to changing the way the world views cleaning by providing its members with the business tools they need to promote cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment, and an improved bottom line. Headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., USA, the association has regional offices in Milan, Italy; Toronto, Canada; Sydney, Australia; Seoul, South Korea; and Shanghai, China. For more information about ISSA, visit or call 800-225-4772 (North America) or 847-982-0800. About Rubbermaid Commercial Products: Headquartered in Huntersville, North Carolina, Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP) is a manufacturer of innovative, solution-based products for commercial and institutional markets worldwide. Since 1968, RCP has pioneered technologies and system solutions in the categories of waste handling, material transport, cleaning, safety, washroom, and foodservice. RCP is one of the many industry-leading brands within the Newell Brands global portfolio. More information can be found at or on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , X , and YouTube . View source version on CONTACT: Cintas Media Contact: Michelle Goret, Cintas Vice President of Corporate Affairs |[email protected], 513-972-4155 KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CANADA NEW JERSEY NEVADA OHIO NORTH CAROLINA ILLINOIS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HOME GOODS BUILDING SYSTEMS CHEMICALS/PLASTICS RETAIL CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY MANUFACTURING OTHER EDUCATION OTHER HEALTH PRIMARY/SECONDARY TRAINING EDUCATION OTHER CONSUMER TIRES & RUBBER CONSUMER HEALTH OTHER CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY SOURCE: Cintas Corporation Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 05/06/2025 11:11 AM/DISC: 05/06/2025 11:11 AM
National Post
06-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
New Jersey Custodian Sweeps the 2025 Cintas Custodian of the Year Contest
Article content Article content CINCINNATI — Congratulations to the 12 th annual Cintas Custodian of the Year contest winner, Dan Davis from Deerfield Elementary School in Short Hills, New Jersey. After thousands of votes were submitted, Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) has crowned Dan Davis as the 2025 grand prize winner. Dan was honored today with a surprise ceremony by students, teachers, staff and his family and was presented with a $10,000 check from Cintas. Article content 'Too often, the hard work of custodians goes unnoticed, yet they're the unsung heroes of our facilities, keeping them clean and safe,' said Emily Ramos, Director of Marketing at Cintas. 'Dan is a valued member of his community and a role model for students. It was an honor to help celebrate his well-deserved recognition.' Article content Dan exemplifies what it means to go above and beyond as a school custodian. He arrives each day with a smile and positive attitude, creating a welcoming atmosphere throughout the school. His commitment is evident in how he keeps the school clean and organized, and how quickly and willingly he responds to unexpected challenges. The entire community values his reliability, attention to detail, and uplifting presence. When a staff member broke their foot, Dan didn't hesitate to lend a hand, going out of his way to help them in and out of their car. He's also a familiar and friendly face during drop-off and pick-up, always offering students a bright smile, an enthusiastic hello or a fist bump that starts their day on the right note. Article content 'Custodians play a vital role in maintaining a safe, healthy school environment where children can learn and thrive,' said John Barrett, Executive Director of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association. 'For over 100 years, ISSA has been committed to advancing the cleaning industry. The training opportunities we're providing to this year's finalists will help them build on their skills and open the door to future leadership roles.' Article content In addition to the $10,000 cash prize, Dan will receive $5,000 in Cintas and Rubbermaid Commercial Products and services for his school. His school also receives a comprehensive facility assessment, valued at $20,000, in partnership with the ISSA Global Consulting Network. Cintas will also award the winning school a pizza party for all staff and students. Dan, along with the two other top three finalists, will receive an all-expense-paid trip for two to the ISSA Show North America in Las Vegas in November, where they'll be celebrated for their accomplishments. Article content 'Dan Davis is extremely deserving of this title, and we are honored to be a part of recognizing his hard work,' added Robert Posthauer, SVP & GM, Rubbermaid Commercial Products. Article content Cintas Corporation helps more than one million businesses of all types and sizes get Ready™ to open their doors with confidence every day by providing products and services that help keep their customers' facilities and employees clean, safe, and looking their best. With offerings including uniforms, mats, mops, towels, restroom supplies, workplace water services, first aid and safety products, eye-wash stations, safety training, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems and alarm service, Cintas helps customers get Ready for the Workday ®. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas is a publicly held Fortune 500 company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of both the Standard & Poor's 500 Index and Nasdaq-100 Index. Article content About ISSA: Article content With more than 10,500 members – including distributors, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, wholesalers, building service contractors, in-house service providers, residential cleaners, and associated service members – ISSA is the world's leading trade association for the cleaning industry. The association is committed to changing the way the world views cleaning by providing its members with the business tools they need to promote cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment, and an improved bottom line. Headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., USA, the association has regional offices in Milan, Italy; Toronto, Canada; Sydney, Australia; Seoul, South Korea; and Shanghai, China. For more information about ISSA, visit or call 800-225-4772 (North America) or 847-982-0800. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
