Black-led businesses in the Prairies are getting a boost to the tune of $3 million thanks to funding through the federal government’s Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP). Eleanor Olszewski, the minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) and Rechie Valdez, the secretary of state for small business and tourism, announced the funding as an effort…
Two Edmonton companies are receiving significant investment as part of the federal government’s efforts to shore up Canadian defence supply chains. “Security and our prosperity are now really inseparable, and national security really starts with industrial capacity.” Minister Eleanor Olszewski On Thursday, Eleanor Olszewski, member of parliament for Edmonton-Centre and the minister responsible for Prairies…
Alberta has been laying the groundwork to become a data centre hub for at least the last two years. The provincial government unveiled its Artificial Intelligence Data Centres Strategy in 2024, which was a roadmap for attracting development and investment. In the years since, the province has passed legislation improving data centre access to the…
Some businesses grow to be so successful that they could be described as running themselves. Toyo is building a tool to help founders say that about their own businesses from day one. “The most powerful AI capabilities today are only accessible to technical early adopters. Toyo is closing that gap.” The startup, which was founded…
Space hardware manufacturer MDA Space has come down to Earth to formally declare itself a player in Canada’s growing defence industry. The emergence of 49North follows the launch of Canada’s new, $6.6-billion Defence Industrial Strategy this week. The Brampton-based company has launched 49North, a wholly owned subsidiary based in Ottawa exclusively focused on bolstering Canada’s…
Canadian venture capital (VC) invested $8 billion across 571 deals in 2025 as capital continued to be funnelled toward fewer companies, according to the Canadian Venture Capital Association’s (CVCA) annual market overview report. “Concentration is not inherently negative, but it does raise questions about breadth.” David Kornacki, CVCA The CVCA said there was a 12-percent…
The Québec government has an ambitious new plan to take control of the province’s digital sovereignty. But Québec’s track record for modernizing its tech has sent mixed signals to the industry and left taxpayers with a hefty bill. Last Friday, Québec’s Minister of Cybersecurity and Digital Affairs, Gilles Bélanger, announced several projects worth more than…
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a bold move to protect public health and the environment, Malaysia enacted an immediate and total ban on the import of electronic waste, or e-waste, as the government steps up efforts to stop illegal dumping and corruption tied to waste management. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) announced last…
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Tears, from infancy to adulthood, serve as a universal emotional language. According to licensed marriage and family therapist Naomi Levine, “Crying for babies is both self-soothing and it’s also a communicator to the people around them that there’s a need that’s not being met.”This fundamental activity endures throughout life,…
Toronto-based quantum computing firm Xanadu is preparing to go public at the end of this quarter in a $3.6-billion USD special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) deal that could make it the first Canadian technology business to debut on the TSX in more than four years. Eventually, quantum computers will be able to break current encryption…
