Latest news with #Stratus
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Hall Of Famer Is Returning To The Ring: Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Trish Stratus has not competed since the Elimination Chamber event. A new report indicates her return is planned for the upcoming Evolution 2 Premium Live Event. According to WrestleVotes Radio, WWE had planned to announce the Hall of Famer's return on the June 13th episode of SmackDown. That segment, however, was pulled from the show. Trish Stratus Expected To Return At WWE Evolution 2 The report states that despite the scrapped announcement, Stratus is still expected to be part of the all-women's event. Her return is said to be "still on the books." "The announcement of Trish Stratus' return and accompanying graphics were set to air prior to John Cena's 2nd promo of the night on the 6/13 episode of SmackDown," the report said. "While that was scrapped, the return is still on the books with Stratus set to be part of WWE Evolution." The Evolution 2 event will take place on July 13, 2025. It will be held at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Star Power For A Big WWE Event Stratus recently appeared at the Fanatics Fest, signaling her continued involvement with WWE. Her presence at Evolution 2 would add significant star power to the show. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: A WWE logo is shown on a screen before a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was announced that WWE... LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: A WWE logo is shown on a screen before a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was announced that WWE wrestler Braun Strowman will face heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury and WWE champion Brock Lesnar will take on former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez at the WWE's Crown Jewel event at Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 31. More It is not yet known what her role at the event will be. Reports have suggested the show will feature a larger card than usual, with seven to eight matches and a battle royal. It remains to be seen how WWE will feature Stratus upon her return. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation Stratus is one of the most decorated and influential women in WWE history. Beginning her career in 2000 as a manager, she rapidly evolved into a premier in-ring competitor, becoming the cornerstone of the women's division during the Ruthless Aggression era. Stratus holds the record for the most WWE Women's Championship reigns with seven. Her legendary, years-long rivalry with Lita is considered one of the greatest ever, and included their historic main event match on Monday Night Raw. She initially retired in 2006, winning the championship in her final match against Lita in a storybook ending. A 2013 WWE Hall of Fame inductee, Stratus has since returned for high-profile matches, including a recent feud with Becky Lynch. Her journey from manager to main event star helped redefine women's wrestling and has inspired generations of performers. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Ottawa Citizen
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Ottawa Citizen
Hit hardest, fastest and longest: Why Windsor is ground zero in the Canada-U.S. trade war
Article content WINDSOR, Ont. — The Wu family of Windsor and their small auto parts company have been through booms, busts, a global pandemic — and survived it all. They didn't see the tariffs coming. The family's 36-employee business, Stratus Plastics International, is an injection moulding company that makes car parts in an east Windsor industrial area. Since U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs, business has fallen 20 per cent. 'We're seeing fluctuations of volumes like crazy,' said vice-president Colby Wu, who has reduced staff hours in the dwindling hope of avoiding layoffs. 'OK, Chrysler is running for two weeks. Now they're gone for two weeks. And now we don't even know when they're going to start up,' said Wu. 'This isn't just Chrysler. It's Ford, GM, everybody … The uncertainty makes it even worse.' Stratus is the second business started by his father, William Wu, a Chinese refugee who came to Canada in 1965. The elder Wu's previous calling was creating clay models for auto companies before AutoCAD made the craft redundant. In 2004, William Wu moved from the model shop and opened Stratus in a 30,000-square-foot plant. A few years later, the Great Recession hit, a worldwide crash that started in 2007 and killed businesses. Stratus was nearly one of them. 'I remember my father taking out all his life savings, dumping it into the business,' said Colby Wu. 'Maxing out all his credit cards to pay payroll.' The work started trickling back, and they brought automation to the factory. The business was flourishing — so much so, they expanded, opening another factory in Kentucky. Then COVID-19 hit. Contracts were cancelled, and Wu was forced to sell the Kentucky facility, taking a huge loss, just to keep the doors open in Windsor. 'Magically, somehow, I ended up keeping this business in Windsor alive,' said Colby Wu. Now tariffs are eating away at what they've built. Job losses, dying companies, a tense showdown — Windsor is in the trenches of America's trade war. This southwestern Ontario city, standing in the shadow of the Detroit skyline, has been the nexus of Canada's auto and manufacturing sectors for 120 years. Trump wants what Windsor has. And he's not asking. It's an existential threat, but Windsor has been here before. In economic hard times, often brought on by American turmoil, this border city knows they'll be hit first, hardest and longest. Cavalier Tool and Manufacturing, a 250-employee company that has been riding the auto industry highs and lows since 1975, has already lost about $15 million in sales to Trump's tariffs. Smaller suppliers of companies like Cavalier are facing the end of the line. 'They're dead,' said Cavalier owner Brian Bendig. 'There are like six shops right now that are going out of business. They depend on guys like us. It's been catastrophic.' Trump's divergent reasons for swinging the tariff hammer against Canada have ranged from stopping the 'cheaters' and 'pillagers' taking advantage of the United States to ending the flow of illegal fentanyl. But he's mostly irritated about a U.S. trade deficit. He wants to protect American manufacturing — especially auto manufacturing — and that means upending international supply chains. Trump's long tariff list includes 25 per cent levies on all imports that don't comply with the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). There is a 25 per cent tariff on all passenger vehicles and parts imported into the U.S., with partial carve-outs based on the amount of American content. On June 3, Trump doubled the tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50 per cent. It was another major blow to the auto industry, which is heavily dependent on those essential automaking materials. Windsor is the canary in the mine shaft ... it is effectively like a poster child for how the economy goes through these cycles and waves Dimitry Anastakis, University of Toronto business historian And it's the start of a vicious cycle. Increased costs for carmakers ultimately mean more expensive cars for consumers. That could lead to shrinking car sales, causing a decline in production — and lost jobs. Trump and Prime Minister Mark Carney met June 16 on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Kananaskis, Alta., and agreed to a 30-day deadline to strike a trade deal. But that's no sure thing with Trump. And even if a deal does emerge, Windsor is already feeling the punches, which doesn't bode well for the rest of Canada. 'Windsor is the canary in the mine shaft,' said Dimitry Anastakis, a University of Toronto business historian. It's a barometer for Canada's manufacturing economy, he said. 'Because there's such a concentration of auto manufacturing in Windsor, it is effectively like a poster child for how the economy goes through these cycles and waves.' More to lose Next to real estate, a vehicle is the average person's biggest purchase. But most people shy away from car lots and finance applications when they're worried about the economy imploding. 'The auto industry is a leading indicator of when things are not going well, because people don't have the money to purchase vehicles and there's a lack of confidence in the consumer market,' said Anastakis, who has published books about Canadian auto history and covers Windsor in his university lectures. A late April report from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario stated the tariffs would likely push Ontario into a recession in 2025. 'Windsor is expected to be impacted the most,' the report stated. It's already happening. From March to April, Canada's exports of passenger cars and light trucks plunged by 22.9 per cent, according to recent figures from Statistics Canada. Exports dropped after tariffs prompted manufacturers to ease off the production pedal. Windsor's unemployment rate spiked nearly two points from January to May, to 10.8 per cent, compared to the provincial unemployment rate of 7.9 per cent in May. Considering that every auto job creates about eight spinoff jobs, there's more to lose. 'Tariffs are a big impact to the entire economy,' said Justin Falconer, CEO of Workforce WindsorEssex. 'It's very fair to say that it's had a big impact on everything. It's pulling it all down.' Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens declined requests to talk about the threat facing his city. One early sign of Windsor's worker troubles came punctuated with a union blockade. 'It wasn't a pretty picture,' said Emile Nabbout, president of Unifor Local 195, who represents 3,000 manufacturing workers in Windsor. On March 31, before its employees showed up to work, automotive supplier Titan Tool & Die sent a truckload of dies from its Windsor operation to a Michigan facility. Dies are customized manufacturing tools used to cut and shape various materials such as metal and plastic. They are used to make everything from paper clips to medical equipment. In this case, it's car parts. The company's American customers wanted the equipment stateside so they wouldn't have to pay tariffs on what the tools produced. That didn't go over well with Titan's unionized employees. 'Some workers showed up at the facility,' said Nabbout, who was among them. 'Unifor was left with no option but to take some type of action.' When the company tried to haul out a second load of equipment, it was met with a blockade by a few dozen Titan employees, previously laid-off workers, and local Unifor leadership. They parked an SUV in front of the tractor trailer and marched in front of it, waving Unifor flags. Things got tense and the police were called in. The standoff lasted about seven hours, until the company backed down and unloaded the tools. The union ultimately lost that battle. Titan Tool & Die, an international company that began in a Windsor basement in 1956, went to court seeking an injunction to stop another blockade. The company argued that the equipment belonged to its clients. The judge sided with Titan Tool & Die. Ontario Superior Court Justice Jasminka Kalajdzic banned the union, and anyone else, from staging another blockade at Titan. Titan did not respond to Postmedia requests for comment. 'They were able to move the tools,' said Nabbout. 'That will be remembered by our workers, by the union, and by the community. So, yeah, that was a little bit intense. Emotions were high.' Over at the Windsor branch of KB Components, a Swedish car parts maker where Nabbout also represents unionized workers, 100 people have been laid off. The company previously had about 500 employees in Windsor, the home of its first North American operation. The company supplies plastic parts for gas-powered and electric vehicles. Demand for electric vehicles was already slumping, with their higher costs compared to gas-powered cars a big reason for that. Trump's tariffs, which will only make them more expensive, haven't helped. The general manager for KB Components in Windsor did not respond to interview requests from Postmedia. The Windsor Census Metropolitan Area has 236,000 working-age people. Falconer said 48,800 of them are in manufacturing. Canada exports about $82-billion worth of motor vehicles and auto parts each year, most of which are produced in southern Ontario. Nearly 90 per cent of those exports go to the U.S., according to the Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing. And at least 96 per cent of all Windsor-Essex exports go across the Windsor-Detroit border. North America's busiest border crossing There's a massive infrastructure system in Windsor built around making trade move. All that trade needs a way over, or under, the Detroit River. The Windsor-Detroit border, the busiest crossing in North America, handles one-third of all Canada-U.S. commerce, according to economic development organization Invest WindsorEssex. More than 40,000 commuters, tourists and truck drivers cross it every day, carrying $1 billion worth of trade. Windsor has four border crossings, with a fifth soon to open. Freight trains have been running the Detroit River Rail Tunnel since 1910. The Ambassador Bridge, currently the main trade artery between Canada and the U.S., opened in 1929. The Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, linking the Windsor and Detroit downtown areas opened the following year. The Port of Windsor, a major cargo and shipping hub created in 1999, receives more than 600 ships every year. The $6.4-billion Gordie Howe International Bridge, which has been under construction since 2018, is slated to open this fall. The Canadian government is paying for the new bridge, planning to recoup costs from tolls. The new bridge is long overdue. There's always traffic congestion at Windsor's border crossings. The line of tractor-trailers on Huron Church Road, the six-lane approach to the Ambassador Bridge, can stretch for kilometres at any time of day. At least, it used to. At its peak, in 1999, Windsor attracted 9.1 million yearly visitors, most from the United States. Numbers plummeted to 3.2 million after the 9/11 terrorist attack in 2001 and fell again during the COVID pandemic. But visitor numbers had been on an upswing, reaching 5.7 million in 2024 — amounting to $878 million in spending — according to the local tourism bureau. Then the tariffs struck. 'Tariffs on auto, steel, aluminum, etc., are bad for Windsor because they raise the cost of everything,' said Anastakis. 'But they really raise the cost of manufacturing to the point of making production at the city's assembly, parts, tool, mould and die plants much more expensive.' Disrupting the whole system A single piston, the humble workhorse of an internal combustion engine, can tell the tale of the auto industry's evolution into one conjoined entity. Aluminum must be smelted, melted, forged, machined, coated, finished and assembled into an engine, which then goes into an automobile. Those processes all happen in different places, where the respective materials and expertise are concentrated. 'If the different locations happen to be in different countries, which often they are, that piston has effectively crossed the border four, five, six, seven times,' said Peter Frise, former head of the University of Windsor's Centre for Automotive Research and Education. That's one piece. The average car contains roughly 30,000 parts. Canada makes more cars — about 1.3 million in 2024 — than it can sell domestically. 'If we can't export, the Canadian market can't absorb everything that we make,' said Frise. 'The whole system is designed to work together back and forth across the border. If that is disrupted, it simply must hurt the jobs here.' Trump's desire to rip that system apart and rebuild it all on U.S. soil would take years — if it were even possible. Consider Windsor's new NextStar Energy Plant, a joint venture between Stellantis and LG Energy Solution to build electric vehicle batteries on the eastern edge of the city. After spending three years and more than $6 billion to build the sprawling factory, the companies are likely not eager to pull up stakes and rebuild in the United States. 'I agree with every other expert who says the same thing, that taking this apart and putting it back together in a different way in a short time is just not feasible,' Frise said. 'Common sense has to return to all of this before the economy is really wrecked.' In Windsor, the disruption started before the tariffs did. Trump levelled his first tariffs against Canada on March 4. In early February, Cavalier had already lost $5 million in sales. Hoping to avoid layoffs, the company asked employees to take extended weekends and other voluntary time off. When work is scarce, feeder and supply companies bid low to secure the projects that are available. 'All the prices are dropping because everyone's looking for work,' Bendig said. 'It's kind of a two-sided problem now,' he said, meaning they are making less profit from the reduced work they are getting. Profit margins in the parts sector are already squeezed. 'They will not be profitable,' said Anastakis. 'Loss of sales, customers, layoffs — in Windsor, tariffs have a ripple effect that ultimately results in layoffs.' Even the big guys feel the punches. 'In the face of uncertainty, companies do what families do,' said Frise, who is also a professor of mechanical and automotive engineering at the University of Windsor. 'If you're not sure you're going to have a job next year, you're not going to go out and buy a new car today. So, you tend to freeze investments and freeze big spending projects.' Windsor Assembly Plant, which produces the Chrysler Pacifica, Grand Caravan, and Dodge Charger, shut down for two weeks in April. Stellantis, Chrysler's parent company headquartered in the Netherlands (the company owns multiple vehicle brands including Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge), said tariffs were a 'deciding factor.' Stellantis planned to launch a third shift at Windsor Assembly Plant and even conducted interviews to staff the line. But the company revealed in May those plans are on hold. On May 22, Stellantis also announced it would halt its made-in-Windsor Dodge Daytona EV, at least for the 2026 model year. Sales of the car have been slow, but the company said it is postponing production to 'assess the effects of U.S. tariff policies.' The Stellantis factory, normally a two-shift operation, dropped to one shift through most of June. That means about 2,000 people not going to work. LouAnn Gosselin, spokesperson for Stellantis in Canada, said the downtime was also related to a move from the 2025 production model year to 2026. 'We will continue to monitor the situation,' she said. Unifor's Nabbout said even temporary shutdowns at the auto plant cause instant fallout. 'When Windsor Assembly goes down, all the feeder plants are impacted immediately,' he said. Windsor Assembly Plant has five main local feeder plants, which employ about 1,300 people. Another five plants in the U.S., with about 900 workers, are also impacted when assembly shuts down. There have been temporary layoffs, Nabbout said. His union local has 18 collective agreements expiring this year. Tariffs will complicate negotiations. 'Every employer, when you go to the bargaining table, they bring tariffs as being the main source of the stress point in the financials,' he said. Many companies in Windsor are on the brink, with empty shop floors and idle machines. Most don't want to talk about it. Perhaps they don't want their customers to know. Or their employees. Or maybe they fear publicly criticizing the U.S. government, then running into a MAGA officer at U.S. Customs. Being barred from entering Michigan would be life-altering for thousands of people in Essex County, the collection of municipalities that surrounds Windsor. Anti-American boycotts? That's not possible or desirable for many Windsorites. Centuries on the frontline with America Separated from Michigan by the mile-wide Detroit River, Windsor is closer to downtown Detroit than any American suburb. The best view of Detroit's skyline is from Windsor's waterfront. Trump's antagonism tears at a cherished social and cultural fabric. Windsor and Detroit are bound in a finger lace so unique that former governor general Michaëlle Jean is making a documentary about it. Windsor has sat on the front lines of tension with the United States since before the War of 1812, the only war ever fought on Canadian soil. The settlement of Sandwich, now part of Windsor, was the site of the first American incursion into Upper Canada. In the days of abolitionism, Windsor was a key terminal on the Underground Railroad. For many of the roughly 40,000 Black slaves who fled America in search of freedom, the first stop in Canada was the Sandwich First Baptist Church. During Prohibition, when rum-running was the region's second largest industry behind auto manufacturing, bootleggers dodged federal agents while speeding across cracking ice in trucks overloaded with Canadian booze. Based on a line from Journey's rock anthem Don't Stop Believin' and a geographic peculiarity — Windsor is the only Canadian city south of the U.S. border — some Windsorites lovingly call their home South Detroit. When the Detroit Grand Prix speeds through the streets of the Motor City every June, the roar of the engines rumbles through Windsor neighbourhoods. The annual Detroit Free Press Marathon runs partly through Windsor. Windsorites' kids play Little League baseball and take dance lessons in Detroit. Birthdays are celebrated in bars along Detroit's bustling Woodward Avenue or its historic Corktown neighbourhood. And it is Windsorites who ride the euphoric highs and painful lows of Detroit's sports teams. They join the thousands of fans who call in sick or book a vacation day every April for the Detroit Tigers' home opener. The Tigers host an annual Canadian appreciation day at Comerica Park. Such connections, born from geography, are unbreakable. Windsor's economy was similarly forged through its location on a map. But repeated attacks have shown its vulnerability. Lessons from history Despite various efforts over the years to diversify, Windsor has always been predominantly an auto and manufacturing town. 'Most of the Windsor area really relies on the automotive sector,' said Wu. 'There's no other business as prominent here in Windsor, unfortunately.' It's been that way since 1904. Windsor helped pioneer the auto industry — in another time of tariffs. Henry Ford, who founded the Ford Motor Company in Detroit on June 16, 1903, was looking for a way around levies against countries outside the British Empire. Canadian Gordon McGregor, who ran a failing wagon-making outfit called Walkerville Wagon Works, handed it to him. McGregor raised $125,000 in capital and promised Ford Motor Company 51 per cent of the shares. Henry Ford signed an agreement for McGregor to produce the Model C, handing over the plans and patents. On Aug. 17, 1904, the Ford Motor Company of Canada was founded in Walkerville, now a destination for foodies and fashionistas in central Windsor. The Model C started rolling out of the former wagon factory in September 1904. They made 117 Canadian Fords that year. The first overseas shipments went to Calcutta, India. A few years later, the booming business moved to a larger facility in a section of current-day Windsor still known as Ford City. The plant is now shuttered, but Ford still employs about 1,800 people in Windsor at the Essex Engine Plant. A rare bright spot in the current tariff war, the plant remains at full production. McGregor's early deal with Ford was the start of an integrated cross-border system that both countries still depend on. In 1904, there was a 35 per cent tariff on U.S. cars entering countries within the British Empire. But individual parts carried lower duties. So, McGregor imported U.S. parts and assembled them in Canada. Other companies quickly saw the advantages. Multiple now-defunct car and truck companies opened early in Windsor's automotive history, including Studebaker and Packard Motor Company. As the car companies rolled in, so did the secondary and tertiary industries, making Windsor a tool, die and mould-making mecca. 'The second Industrial Revolution, which the auto industry is so famous for — the moving assembly line, mass manufacturing, mass consumption — all that stuff associated with Henry Ford and Fordism really took root in Windsor,' said Anastakis. The Chrysler Corporation of Canada was incorporated in Windsor on June 17, 1925, only 11 days after the Chrysler Corporation was founded in Detroit. It rose from the ruins of the Chalmers Motor Company and Maxwell Motor Corporation, which had both set up Windsor shops in 1916. In 1925, Chrysler Canada produced 4,500 cars. Its 280,000-square-foot factory on what was then the outskirts of Windsor became the core of Windsor Assembly Plant. Built in 1928, it is the company's oldest plant still in operation. The plant is a legacy for many Windsor families, whose members have built cars, lives and livelihoods working at the plant for every generation since it opened. About 4,500 people currently work there. Frank Sinatra drove his new Chrysler Imperial off the Windsor assembly line in 1980. It was the Special Edition, in shimmering 'glacier blue crystal,' to match his oceanic eyes. Legend has it that the car and $1 were all Ol' Blue Eyes wanted from Chrysler boss Lee Iacocca, a close friend, to endorse the company. Production on the first modern minivan began there in 1983. The minivan revolutionized the auto industry and became another symbol of Windsor's significance in the manufacturing world. General Motors crossed the border in 1919 to set up a branch of its Fisher Body Company. But GM's last Windsor factory, the Kildare Road transmission plant, closed in 2010, a casualty of the Great Recession. Ground zero In Windsor, the tough times always seem tougher. When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down factories, and a semiconductor shortage simultaneously halted production on millions of vehicles, Windsor's unemployment rate was 16.6 per cent — the highest in Canada. 'During the recessions, we always have the highest unemployment,' said Wu. 'Windsor has always been that place.' During the Great Depression, Canada's unemployment rate surged past 30 per cent. In Windsor, unemployment climbed as high as 50 per cent. It's worth noting that American tariffs helped accelerate the Great Depression. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act was signed into law in 1930, drastically raising tariffs to protect American farmers and manufacturers. It triggered a trade war. Fifty years later, the lessons from that time were recalled by former U.S. president Ronald Reagan. 'Millions of American jobs are tied to imports,' he said during a 1986 radio address on free trade. During the recessions, we always have the highest unemployment. Windsor has always been that place Colby Wu 'The way to a better life is to open markets now closed, improve trading conditions, and to expand our exports. We learned that lesson half a century ago when we tried to balance the trade deficit by erecting a tariff wall around the United States. The Smoot-Hawley tariffs ignited an international trade war and helped sink our country into the Great Depression.' The GOP take on tariffs has significantly shifted since the Reagan era. ''Tariff' is the most beautiful word in the dictionary,' Trump has repeated. When the Great Recession came along in 2007, triggered primarily by the collapse of the U.S. housing market, Windsor was bludgeoned again. Car sales plummeted. The Big Three, Detroit's iconic car brands, were crumbling. Windsor was the epicentre of the fallout in Canada. 'The job losses were high,' said Eddie Francis, Windsor's mayor at the time. 'The mood was as dark as it could be. There was so much uncertainty and anxiety.' Manufacturing plants in Windsor closed. GM pulled up stakes, ending a 90-year legacy and killing 1,400 jobs. Even for Windsor, the job losses were shocking. The Canadian unemployment rate around that period peaked at 8.7 per cent. In Windsor, it was 15.4 per cent. 'We're talking about automotive companies that were on the brink,' Francis recently told Postmedia. 'They were looking for a lifeline. And there was actual debate as to whether or not governments would step in.' Francis sent letters to then-prime minister Stephen Harper and Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty, pointing out the dire need for financial aid for the Canadian auto industry. 'It basically said stop with this political stuff because if you guys don't act, Windsor is dead,' recalled Francis. 'It was that clear. I said, our city will die.' The mere mention of those years makes Wu squirm. His family's Stratus Plastics company has scratched and clawed its way back too many times. Trump's tariffs mean another redo. 'Essentially, all that work for the past 20 years to today, I'm starting back at zero,' Wu said. 'It's definitely a very scary time. We're just all caught in a bad place at the wrong time.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Stratus Building Solutions Nears 100-Territory Milestone as Expansion Accelerates Across North America
Fastest-Growing Franchise Brand Adds 10 New Territories and Garners Top Industry Honors LOS ANGELES, June 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Stratus Building Solutions, an award-winning green commercial cleaning and janitorial services franchise, continues its impressive growth trajectory in 2025, introducing 10 new Master Franchise territories during the first half of the year. The brand's recent expansion includes strategic entries into key markets such as The Bronx and Westchester, NY; Birmingham, AL; Barrie, ON; New Haven, CT; Lexington, KY; and Charleston, SC – bringing Stratus closer to the milestone of 100 Master Franchise territories across the U.S. and Canada by the end of 2025. This significant development underscores Stratus' ongoing momentum and strong appeal to entrepreneurs seeking a proven and resilient business opportunity. As Stratus continues to attract top-tier franchise partners, its unique combination of a scalable business model, strong unit economics, and robust support systems has remained a driving force behind its growth. The brand boasts nine distinct revenue streams – 90% of which are recurring – and an average unit volume exceeding $3 million, offering new franchisees a lucrative path into an essential services industry. "Our growth reflects the strength of the Stratus model, the dedication of our franchise partners, and the increasing demand for essential, recession-resistant services like commercial cleaning," said Rob Lancit, Vice President of Franchise Development for Stratus Building Solutions. "We're proud to provide our franchisees with the tools, training, and support they need to thrive while they're helping others achieve their entrepreneurial goals." Master Franchisees within the Stratus system are entrepreneurial leaders empowered to operate as regional business owners, partnering with Unit Franchisees and fueling local economic growth through meaningful, community-driven impact. Each Master Franchisee receives an exclusive territory, comprehensive operational training, and ongoing support to build a thriving, in-demand business. "Joining Stratus has been an incredible opportunity," said Ty Redmond, a Master Franchisee in Milwaukee. "After extensive research, I was confident in the strength of the business model, and it has absolutely proven to be the right decision for me. The corporate team has provided exceptional support, equipping me with the tools and guidance needed to grow. With its strong earning potential and built-in work-life balance, this has been an ideal long-term investment." In addition to its steady expansion, Stratus has been recognized with numerous accolades throughout 2025, further cementing its leadership position within the franchise and commercial cleaning industries. Stratus earned spots on several of Franchise Business Review's prestigious lists, including Top Franchise, Top Franchise for Women and Top Recession-Proof Franchise. The brand also climbed to the #23 position on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500®, where it was named the fastest-growing brand for the third consecutive year. Founded in 2006, Stratus has emerged as an industry leader by combining eco-friendly commercial cleaning services with an unmatched level of franchisee training and operational support. The Master Franchise opportunity is ideal for candidates with leadership experience, a strong business development mindset, and a desire to make an impact in local markets. Stratus Master Franchisees are responsible for growing their regional operations, mentoring Unit Franchisees, and delivering exceptional customer service within their exclusive territories. If you are interested in franchising with Stratus Building Solutions, visit About Stratus Building SolutionsStratus Building Solutions is an international franchise company in the commercial cleaning industry, founded in 2006 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Stratus was developed to provide environmentally friendly commercial cleaning services driven by dedicated, entrepreneurial, small-business owners and regional support offices. Stratus has over 4,400 unit-franchisees in 80 major cities across the United States and Canada. Stratus is setting new standards in the building services and maintenance franchise industry by being the first to offer green janitorial products with their proprietary Green Seal Certified line of cleaning chemicals. To learn more about franchising opportunities, visit Contact:Margo Williamsmwilliams@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Stratus Building Solutions Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Trish Stratus' greatest hits: 4 WWE moments that made her a legend
Image via WWE Trish Stratus' WWE career had some defining moments that became highly memorable for years. Trish Stratus is one of the most renowned female WWE superstars of all time. She came into the business at a time when women did not get significant opportunities. Yet, Stratus defied the odds and, with her in-ring skills, presentation, and ability to shatter glass ceilings, became a prominent figure in the industry. In doing so, she paved the way for future generations of women, who achieved major feats, including main-eventing WWE's premier event, WrestleMania. With a Hall of Fame career that had a long-lasting legacy, here are the three moments that became iconic with her in WWE: 4. Betraying Chris Jericho at WrestleMania — WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) Chris Jericho and Christian had a bet to impress top WWE superstars, Trish Stratus and Lita, respectively. Stratus heard about it in a backstage segment and made a plan to get back at Y2J. In a match between him and Christian at WrestleMania XX, Stratus betrayed him and aligned with Christian by sealing it with a kiss on the stage, which became a memorable moment in WWE. 3. Standing up to the evil boss Vince McMahon Trish Stratus started gaining major attention during her pairing with then-WWE owner Vince McMahon. However, cracks began to emerge in their affair, and McMahon embarrassed her on multiple occasions, including making her bark like a dog and asking her to remove her clothes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo However, at WrestleMania 17, Stratus finally stood up to him and slapped him outside the ring to end their alliance. 2. Main eventing Monday Night RAW Trish Stratus and Lita were among the top two female WWE superstars during the mid-2000s. They were captivating the audience with their rivalry and respective in-ring acumen and became prominent fixtures. This led to a historic feat in 2004 when Stratus and Lita became the first women to main event RAW in a Women's title match. While she dropped her title to Lita, it was a game-changing night for her career and women in WWE. 1. Winning her seventh WWE Women's title Trish Stratus decided to end her full-time WWE career at the 2006 Unforgiven event, which took place in her hometown of Toronto, Canada. She challenged her iconic rival, Lita, for the WWE Women's Championship. Following a highly memorable showdown, Stratus made her tap out of the Sharpshooter and won her seventh title to put an end to a historic career. Also read: WWE SmackDown returns to its classic two-hour format this July Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Ottawa Citizen
18-06-2025
- Ottawa Citizen
Sexual assault suspect sought by Ottawa police
Article content Ottawa police say a male wanted in connection with a sexual assault in Orléans on June 8 is now also a suspect in a pair of similar attacks six days later. Article content In a news release on Wednesday, the Ottawa Police Service said the two additional sexual assaults occurred at about 9:30 a.m. on June 14 in the area of Innes Road/Belcourt Boulevard and St. Georges/Schouten Drive in Orléans. Article content Article content Article content In both cases, the release said, the suspect approached female victims from behind while they were riding bicycles. Article content Article content The suspect was described as a White male with a thin build. He was wearing a blue hoodie and blue jeans and was riding a blue or purple Stratus bicycle. A photo of him was released by police on June 18. Article content The previous incident, at about 8:45 a.m. on June 8, occurred in the area of Innes Road and Viseneau Drive, where the suspect approached a jogger from behind and sexually assaulted her. Article content Anyone with information or dash cam or surveillance video of the area during the time of the incidents was asked to contact the Ottawa Police Service East Division Criminal Investigation Section at 613-236-1222, extension 3566. Article content
