GOVERNMENT FUNDING & NEWS

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The Government of Canada continues to support wildfire prevention and recovery. 2025 has been the second-worst wildfire season in Canadian history, with more than 6,000 wildfires in nearly every province and territory, impacting communities across the country and burning over 8.3 million hectares. While the situation continues to improve, wildfires are still impacting parts of the country due to hot and dry weather. Since April, the heightened risk and impacts have forced evacuations of more than 85,000 people, including over 45,000 people from 73 First Nations communities. These numbers represent the lived experiences of thousands of people, including families forced to leave their homes, communities rallying together, and responders working tirelessly to protect lives and property. Many other regions have moved from response to recovery. Communities across the country are rebuilding and healing, showing strength and resilience in the face of adversity. The government remains engaged in supporting these recovery efforts and in helping Canadians prepare for the heightened wildfire risks that lie ahead through the modernized Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements program. The government is also preparing for future wildfire seasons by investing over $800 million in wildfire initiatives to strengthen prevention and mitigation efforts across the country. Initiatives like the Wildfire Resilience Consortium of Canada and the Canadian Centre for Recovery and Resilience are advancing wildfire resilience by fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, proactive recovery and planning, and adaptive wildfire management. Public Safety Canada

The Government of Canada announced that Budget 2025 will introduce a temporary five-year Personal Support Workers Tax Credit to support personal support workers and recognize the vital role they play in communities. Eligible workers will be able to claim a refundable tax credit equal to five percent of their eligible income, providing support up to $1,100 per year. This new tax credit will be available in provinces and territories that are not covered by a bilateral agreement with the federal government to increase wages for personal support workers. Budget 2025 also plans to expand the Union Training and Innovation Program. This will boost union-based apprenticeship training in the Red Seal trades and ensure a sufficient Canadian workforce to build major infrastructure and millions more homes across the country. Indigenous Services Canada

The Government of Ontario announced it is accelerating Frontier Lithium’s world-class PAK Lithium Project near Red Lake, the first to move forward under Ontario’s ‘One Project, One Process’ framework. As part of its plan to protect Ontario workers and communities, the government is unlocking the full potential of the province’s metals and mining sector through the new framework, with this project marking a key step in building a fully integrated and self-reliant critical minerals supply chain. PAK Lithium is the first in Canada to be developed as a fully integrated lithium operation and is North America’s highest-grade lithium resource. It is the largest lithium project in Ontario, encompassing both a mine and mill, as well as a downstream conversion facility for manufacturing battery-quality lithium chemicals. Located 175 kilometres north of Red Lake, the site contains a rare technical and ceramic-grade spodumene with exceptionally low iron content, making it one of the few commercially viable deposits for producing battery-grade lithium. It is also closely aligned with the proposed lithium refinery in Thunder Bay, which would be the first lithium hydroxide conversion plant on the continent. This announcement puts Ontario on a global playing field with Australia, one of the world’s largest lithium producers. Government of Ontario

The G7 Energy and Environment Ministers’ Meeting took place on Oct. 30, 2025, with Canada announcing the following energy and environmental objectives:

• Building resilient critical minerals supply chains through the Critical Minerals Production Alliance and the Critical Minerals Action Plan. 
• Enhancing energy security as an economic necessity and strategic asset, including through modernizing and expanding electricity infrastructure, strengthening natural gas security as we transition toward clean energy, and collaborating on the responsible development of nuclear power.  
• Continuing unwavering support for Ukraine as it faces an energy crisis brought on by Russia’s targeted attacks on natural gas and nuclear infrastructure. 
• Defining the role of artificial intelligence in reshaping energy systems, including by ensuring that energy security and AI are mutually reinforced and harnessed responsibly to strengthen G7 members’ competitiveness as well as energy affordability and reliability.
• Promoting innovation to build sustainable and secure energy systems, including through the advancement of carbon management, battery and AI energy system technologies.
• Advancing a circular economy in priority sectors such as critical minerals, textiles and plastics. 
• Enhancing prediction, preparedness and responses to extreme weather events, building on the Kananaskis Wildfire Charter.
• Strengthening international coordination on fresh water and promoting ocean conservation and protection. Natural Resources Canada

The Government of Canada announced key support measures for women and 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Budget 2025 will propose $382.5 million over five years, with $76.5 million ongoing, to renew funding for the Women’s Program, in support of the women’s equality sector. 

The Women’s Program supports time-limited projects that address systemic barriers to women’s equality in Canadian society. Its objective is to achieve the full participation of women in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada. Funding is provided to eligible organizations in support of projects at the local, regional and national levels that address three priority areas:

• Improving women’s and girls’ economic security and prosperity.
• Encouraging women and girls in leadership and decision-making roles.
• Ending violence against women and girls.

Budget 2025 will also propose $54.6 million over five years, with $10.9 million ongoing, to renew funding for the 2SLGBTQI+ programming.

This will support the 2SLGBTQI+ Community Capacity Fund, which aims to build the capacity of 2SLGBTQI+ community organizations and networks to protect rights and advance equality across Canada. The fund supports organizations’ activities that increase their capacity to reach their goals. This includes helping organizations to:

• Establish formal networks.
• Become legally constituted.
• Develop strategic and financial plans.
• Improve knowledge about the needs of 2SLGBTQI+ communities.
• Improve technical skills so they can effectively run their organizations.

Budget 2025 funding to support the 2SLGBTQI+ Community Capacity Fund will include $7.5 million over five years, with $1.5 million ongoing, for Pride security. This will help respond to community requests for assistance to cover the rising costs of security and insurance for Pride festivals, which are a result of rising anti-2SLGBTQI+ hate. Department of Finance Canada

Natural Resources Canada announced four projects that will receive $11 million in funding to develop cutting-edge, made-in-Canada carbon utilization and storage technologies.

Recipients include:

Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Nfld., is receiving $4,999,693 for Evaluation of Carbon Storage Potential in Atlantic Canada, to assess the potential for carbon storage and de-risk carbon storage targets in Atlantic Canada.

Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Que., is receiving $4,999,869 for Toward a Pilot Project in the Lower Saint Lawrence Lowlands in Quebec, to assess a site in the Lower Saint Lawrence Lowlands in Quebec to prepare for a pilot project on geological storage of CO2.

Canadian Discovery Ltd., Alta., is receiving $960,000 for the Geological Carbon Storage Atlas of Eastern Canada (Quebec and Atlantic Canada), to conduct a study on opportunities for carbon storage in Eastern Canada. It will focus on saline aquifers and depleted hydrocarbon pools, as they are the most accessible and viable sedimentary reservoirs for CO2 storage in Eastern Canada.

Université Laval, Que., is receiving $483,227 for Utilization of Carbon Mineralization for Critical Metal Recovery and Permanent Carbon Storage From Various Feedstocks, to advance carbon mineralization, a reaction between CO2 and certain minerals that removes and stores CO2 from the atmosphere, to simultaneously achieve CO2 sequestration and critical metal recovery. Natural Resources Canada

RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

Toronto-based autonomous vehicle startup Waabi is powering the new Volvo VNL autonomous truck. The integration follows Waabi teaming up with the Swedish automaker (also one of its investors) earlier this year to build and commercialize self-driving trucks. Waabi founder and CEO Raquel Urtasun told BetaKit when the partnership was announced that the deal was “a massive step forward” and the last piece the startup needed to build a solution that can scale. Now, her company’s core offering, Waabi Driver, has been successfully integrated into a Volvo truck that is designed with redundant systems for safe autonomous operations. Waabi has focused on United States pilots because Canada does not yet have the regulatory framework to support on-road testing for its tech, according to Urtasun. At Toronto Tech Week, the CEO called for the Canadian government to quickly bring forward a regulatory framework to ensure the responsible deployment of AI-powered physical technologies such as self-driving vehicles. BetaKit

Toronto-based Xanadu Quantum Technologies will go public on the Nasdaq through a merger with blank-check firm Crane Harbor Acquisition Corp. The Canadian quantum computing firm expects the SPAC deal to fetch nearly $500 million, including a $275 million private investment in public equity. Quantum computers are widely regarded to have the potential to solve problems beyond the capability of classical computers. Qubits - the building blocks of quantum computing - can compute in minutes the reactions of trillions of atoms or cells over time, making them invaluable for medicinal and materials science breakthroughs. Classical supercomputers, however, are estimated to take thousands of years for similar tasks. However, qubits are prone to errors that can quickly overwhelm the useful computing work of a quantum chip, prompting debates in the upper echelons of the tech industry on their feasibility. Reuters

Toronto Metropolitan University's DMZ held its fifth annual Black Innovation Summit, where 10 Black-led tech startups from across Canada pitched their businesses for the chance to secure over Cdn$300,000  in funding to accelerate their growth — a total that ultimately surpassed expectations, reaching $400,000 awarded by the end of the event. DMZ's largest Black Innovation Summit to date, the event gathered over 400 guests from the Black entrepreneurial community. Designed to bring together the Black tech ecosystem and celebrate Black excellence, this year's theme, “Black Means Business, “underscored a powerful message: investing in Black founders is not only the right thing to do, it is a strategic imperative that fuels economic growth and the startup economy. According to a recent report by the BDC, Black entrepreneurs remain underrepresented in Canada’s business landscape yet demonstrate strong export potential and optimism for growth, clear indicators of untapped economic opportunity. The summit put capital behind this conviction, awarding the most in its history. DMZ Ventures, Tribe Network, and Capital M Ventures led this year’s investments and grants were made possible by DMZ and the Black Founders Network. The investment funds are now proceeding to finalize investment terms.

Grant recipients include:

• ‍OutreachGenius, a solution that provides AI-powered agents to answer sales calls and revive cold prospects for home-service businesses, received 200,000 in investment commitments. 
• Happly.AI, a platform that helps startups find and secure funding, received 75,000 in investment commitments and a $50,000 grant. 
• Kiwi Charge, a solution that provides autonomous charging units for electric vehicles in buildings that lack a charging infrastructure through a charging-as-a-service model, received a $30,000 grant. ‍
• Cellect Laboratories, nanotech-powered products for women to screen for HPV and cervical cancer, received a $20,000 grant.

The Black Innovation Summit also recognized exceptional Black-identifying young entrepreneurs through its Youth Entrepreneurship Award. Five outstanding young entrepreneurs shared a $25,000 pool in youth grants:

• Daniel Martinovic, Nodalli. 
• Samira Mohamed, Stardoe Studio.
• Merveille Mukoko, Yekola.
• Chevon Riley, NORM.
• Alexis Stackhouse, Global Elevation Network. DMZ

Vancouver-based Arca Climate Technologies announced at the IEA Energy Innovation Forum an offtake agreement with Microsoft to deliver nearly 300,000 tonnes of durable carbon dioxide removal over 10 years. The value of the deal was not disclosed. Arca is one of the first companies commercializing mineralization for the capture and storage of atmospheric CO2, which is supported by scientific research and technology development. The Canadian company was named in 2022 as one of the country’s most investable cleantech ventures. This year, Arca co-authored a whitepaper, Beyond Extraction: Transforming Mine Waste Into A Net-Zero, Multi-Billion Dollar Opportunity, that theoretically connects the surging demand for carbon removal credits with the unique advantages of mine waste mineralization, compared to other carbon removal methods. The agreement with Microsoft, Arca said, is a significant development for its solution in industrial mineralization – a carbon removal pathway that leverages existing industrial infrastructure and repurposes alkaline waste streams to capture and permanently store atmospheric CO2 as stable carbonate minerals. Mining.com

Chris Neumann, former Panache Ventures partner, has launched Game On, a new accelerator program aimed at Canadian technology startup founders to bridge the velocity gap between them and their Silicon Valley counterparts. The program is designed to expose early-stage Canadian founders to Silicon Valley’s fast-paced environment and facilitate connections with potential customers, partners, and investors. Applications are open until November 15, with the program running from January 5 to January 23, 2025, in San Francisco. Participants will engage in professional development activities, network with experienced entrepreneurs, and collaborate with mentors at Werqwise. Despite no cost for the program itself, participants must cover their transportation, lodging, and meals. BetaKit

VC, PRIVATE INVESTMENT & ACQUISITIONS

Toronto-based financial services firm Wealthsimple announced it has signed an equity round of up to Cdn$750 million at a post-money valuation of Cdn$10 billion. The round, which includes both a $550 million primary offering and a secondary offering of up to $200 million, is co-led by Dragoneer Investment Group and GIC, and signals deep conviction from world-renowned investors in Wealthsimple’s role as the future of financial services in Canada. Other investors include new investor Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), and existing investors Power Corporation of Canada, IGM Financial Inc., ICONIQ, Greylock and Meritech. Wealthsimple

New York-based private investment firm Motive Partners announced a $100-million strategic investment in Toronto-based Electric Mind, a high-growth, AI-led services firm grounded in engineering excellence. The partnership will support continued investment to deepen Electric Mind’s AI and data engineering expertise, accelerate its U.S. expansion, and advance the delivery of next-gen solutions for financial institutions – particularly in wealth and alternative investments. Electric Mind brings together precision engineering, sector-specific knowledge, and a client-focused approach to help leading institutions modernize legacy systems, automate critical workflows, and build AI-enabled platforms that drive measurable business impact. BusinessWire

Montréal-based startup Maket, an AI-powered architecture platform, has secured Cdn$3.4 million in seed funding. This funding will support the launch of Maket’s 2.0 version, aimed at simplifying the early planning stages of architectural design. The platform, which has over 1 million registered users, offers both consumer and enterprise subscriptions. Its AI-generated residential plans and virtual designer tools allow for quick iterations and client approvals. The seed round was led by Amiral Ventures, with participation from Blitzscaling Ventures and others. Founded in 2021 by Patrick Murphy, Stéphane Turbide, and Simon Vallee, Maket is building towards an end-to-end platform for architecture professionals. Tech Funding News

St. John's-based cardiac AI platform developer Sparrow BioAcoustic closed a $10-million financing round. The round was led by Killick Capital and Klister Credit, with participation from Pelorus VC, 98827 Newfoundland & Labrador Inc., and Brinex Capital. The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its development efforts. Led by Mark Opauszky, CEO, and Dr. Yaroslav Shpak, chief medical officer, Sparrow BioAcoustics is a medical technology company advancing AI Phonoscopy, the digital examination of heart sounds using artificial intelligence. Its flagship product, Stethophone, transforms ordinary smartphones into medical-grade cardiac assessment tools capable of detecting murmurs and other signs of heart disease without external hardware. Stethophone is currently being evaluated at several major clinical sites in the United States and Canada. FinSMEs

Ontario-based MDA Space Ltd. and Halifax-based Maritime Launch Services Inc. announced a $10- million equity investment by MDA Space in Maritime Launch Services Inc. at a price of $0.223 per share. The MDA Space investment in Maritime Launch Services marks a key milestone in advancing Canada’s sovereign launch capability, strengthening the country’s domestic space value chain, with complete capability from ground to orbit. The equity investment will accelerate Spaceport Nova Scotia’s readiness for orbital launch operations, providing reliable domestic launch capability for commercial, civil, government, and defence clients in Canada. MDA Space expects to become an operational partner at Spaceport Nova Scotia, supporting the development and future operations of the spaceport. MDA Space

Investissement Québec has officially relaunched a popular early-stage investment program as a $200-million venture capital fund for the province’s tech startups. There are two clear objectives: to build the next generation of flagship technologies, and to fill the gaps in development stages that are a little underserved. The fund, known as Fonds Impulsion, was created with $150 million already dedicated to Impulsion PME, an early-stage investment matching program that briefly shut down last fall. An additional $50 million was allocated from the province’s research and innovation strategy. The fund is targeting pre-seed and seed tech startups across sectors, according to Claire Lelièvre, IQ director of early-stage VC and Alex Laverdière, vice-president of VC. Laverdière said the fund plans to invest in roughly 70 unique companies over its lifetime. It’s expected to span roughly 10 years, with the opportunity for a re-up from the provincial government. BetaKit

REPORTS & POLICIES

Supporting Indigenous-led clean energy requires collaboration with remote communities: Pembina Institute report.

Strengthened collaboration with Indigenous clean energy leaders and respect for Indigenous rights are key for tailoring policy to support energy challenges in vulnerable communities, says a report by the Pembina Institute titled Restoring the flow: Policies to support Indigenous-led clean energy in remote communities, authored by Arthur Bledsoe, Emily He, and Rosa Brown. 

The report catalogues and evaluates policy action taken by federal, provincial, and territorial governments to support diesel fuel reduction and Indigenous clean energy leadership. The report evaluates five categories of policies and programs to aid energy security in Indigenous communities:

1. Collaboration between Canadian governments and Indigenous rights-holders.
2. Plans and strategies for diesel fuel reduction and community renewable energy.
3. Funding for community clean energy projects.
4. Programs for efficient buildings in remote communities.
5. The market for independent power producers to generate clean electricity and establish a revenue stream for the community.

Strategies that take into account strong coordination across government to deliver required funding and policy reforms, and understand the unique challenges of energy development across remote communities, are most effective at developing community-owned renewable energy projects that offer long-term economic growth for targeted communities, according to the report. 

Renewable energy development in the Territories is uniquely challenging. High costs, small tax bases, outdated technology, and other constraints make developing and funding renewable energy extremely challenging, highlighting the importance of federal investment.

B.C., Quebec, and the Yukon are the three jurisdictions making the most progress on supporting Indigenous-led clean energy development, guided by frequent collaboration and ambitious plans to tackle diesel reduction.

Ontario, Manitoba, Nunavut, and the Yukon are pursuing grid connection to provide energy to remote communities where feasible. Like community clean energy projects, ownership of transmission infrastructure provides a pathway for economic opportunity, energy security, and diesel reduction in rural and remote communities.

Most community projects rely on both federal and provincial/territorial funding to advance local energy priorities. Federal programs focused on remote communities have supported nearly 500 major clean energy projects and initiatives. Provincial/territorial programs generally support the smaller community initiatives and early stages of large energy projects.

Most jurisdictions have strong programs to support energy efficiency in remote community houses and buildings, but progress is limited in part due to a lack of federal investment in this area.

Collaboration and policy reform have demonstrated significant progress in prioritizing clean energy projects and building upgrades, including Indigenous community-owned projects moving away from diesel fuel, and creating opportunities for revenue generation.

The report urges that these efforts be expanded, but especially on the federal level: “federal funding to support remote community energy has been very successful in the period from 2018-2025, though many of the most impactful programs are not accepting additional applications, and the federal government has not announced any reinvestment into the programs.”

“As Canadian jurisdictions advance their goals of growing the clean economy and pursuing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, supporting remote community energy must remain a central priority: restoring the flow of clean electricity and economic benefits to remote Indigenous communities.” The Pembina Institute

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OPINION

Charting a path for Canada’s digital sovereignty: Josh Tabish

Canada must resist turning nationalism into digital protectionism or risk stifling innovation, economic growth and competitiveness for Canada, says Josh Tabish, senior director for Canada for Chamber of Progress.

In his op-ed published on the Chamber of Progress website and titled “A Path for Canada’s Digital Sovereignty,” Tabish argues that smarter, balanced tech policy can protect Canadian consumers and help Canadian entrepreneurs to compete globally — but only if said policy targets “real harms and not be driven by theoretical risks or special interests.” 

Tabish points to the federal government’s Online News Act as an example of policy overcorrection, which led to a decrease in the accessibility of Canadian news across major social media platforms as Meta removed Canadian news content from Facebook and Instagram. 

Tabish also notes that Canada’s tech economy is stuck in past anchor firms, referring to a tweet by Harley Finkelstein containing a graph of the top five companies by market capitalization in Canada and when they were founded, as compared to the top five U.S. companies by market capitalization. Four of the five companies (Royal Bank of Canada, Brookfield, Enbridge and Toronto Dominion were founded between 1864 and 1955, with the exception of Shopify’s founding in 2006. Finklestein notes: “This is a list of the top five companies in Canada and the US. It’s also a timestamp of innovation. Apart from Shopify, Canada’s top companies mostly date back to the 1800s. If we want Canada to be a global leader, this needs to change.”

Tabish notes that AI Minister Evan Solomon is betting on artificial intelligence to be the solution, as evidenced by the AI Strategy Task Force and the increase in domestic data centre capacity. “How all this plays out for consumers and businesses is still unclear. If new AI rules overreach, they could risk entrenching incumbents, driving up costs, and shutting out new innovators.”

Generative AI could be a boon to Canada’s long-term GDP, as well as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s focus on advancing major national projects. Tabish cautions that “success depends on pairing those investments with tailored technology regulation . . . recent reporting shows Canada’s Armed Forces rely on U.S. hyperscalers for mission-critical systems. Ottawa wants sensitive data stored in Canadian-controlled centres, but can those match the capabilities Canada depends on?”

The answer lies in balancing data protection with world-renowned but nationally housed technologies, Tabish says 

The federal legislative agenda will cover a range of issues in the coming months aimed at moving Canada’s tech innovation and regulation forward. Topics include:

• Age-verification requirements for platforms that facilitate access to adult content. 
• Cybersecurity for telecommunications providers and other critical infrastructure operators.
• A new framework for artificial intelligence.
• An overhaul of Canada’s private-sector privacy law. 
• A renewed approach to regulating online harms and protecting youth.

Provinces continue to adopt tech regulation standards, such as Ontario’s Bill 194: Strengthening Cyber Security and Building Trust in the Public Sector Act amendments and Quebec’s proposed Bill 109: An Act to affirm the cultural sovereignty of Québec and to enact the Act respecting the discoverability of French-language content.

“As Prime Minister Carney recently said, ‘Canada’s history is filled with adventurers, risk-takers, and builders.’ Canada’s digital future should reflect that spirit, protecting our sovereignty and empowering builders while embracing openness, competition, and innovation, Tabish says.

“The path we choose today will determine whether Canada builds the next generation of global tech champions–or watches from the sidelines.” Chamber of Progress

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THE GRAPEVINE – News about people, institutions and communities

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada announced the recipients of five national prizes:

Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering

• Dr. David Wishart, from the University of Alberta, is a pioneer in metabolomics, advancing disease detection and personalized medicine.

NSERC John C. Polanyi Award

• Prof. Jeremy Quastel, from the University of Toronto, finds patterns in complex systems via probability theory.

NSERC Donna Strickland Prize for Societal Impact of Natural Sciences and Engineering Research

• Dr. Beth Parker, from the University of Guelph, innovates groundwater protection with sustainable methods.
• Dr. Xiaoyi Bao, from the University of Ottawa, develops sensors for safer infrastructure.

Synergy Awards for Innovation

• Dr. Mike Dixon, Youbin Zheng and Thomas Graham from the University of Guelph create vertical farming tech for sustainable agriculture.
• Dr. Richard Ernst, from Carleton University, advances mineral discovery and sustainable resource training.
• Prof. Georges Kaddoum, from École de technologie supérieure, builds AI-powered networks for emergency communications.
• Edith Laflamme, Patricia Gomez, Romain Philippe and Rachida Hamidou, from Cégep de Saint-Laurent, lead stormwater and urban sustainability research.

Arthur B. McDonald Fellowships

• Dr. Tohid Didar, from McMaster University, develops nano-biomaterials for health and food safety.
• Dr. Julie Hlavacek-Larrondo, from Université de Montréal, studies black holes and galaxy evolution.
• Dr. Renée Hložek, from the University of Toronto, studies dark matter, energy and the universe.
• Dr. Zachary Hudson, from the University of British Columbia, innovates materials for diagnostics and green tech.
• Dr. Amanda Melin, from the University of Calgary, investigates primate sensory systems.
• Dr. Andrew Tanentzap, from Trent University, studies land-use effects on carbon and ecosystems.

More information on prize recipients is available here. NSERC

Protein Industries Canada has named Tyler Groeneveld as its new CEO, effective October 27. Groeneveld previously served as chair of Protein Industries Canada’s board of directors, bringing deep sector experience and organizational insight to the role. Groeneveld, who has resigned from the board of directors, has a long career in Canada’s agrifood sector, serving with Corteva and its legacy companies in various roles for over 31 years. Most recently, he served as commercial lead for North America for Corteva. He has held board positions with CropLife Canada, the Canola Council of Canada, and Cereals Canada. As part of the transition, Annette Revet will serve as acting chair of the board, while continuing in her role as chair of the governance and nominating committee. Food in Canada

Katherine Homuth, founder and former CEO of SRTX Inc., has “submitted a proposal” to return to the company amid Sophie Boulanger’s recent departure. Boulanger stepped down from her role as CEO for “personal reasons,” according to SRTX spokeswoman Eva Hartling. SRTX has struggled with fundraising challenges, as well as multiple executive departures as the company navigated U.S. tariffs, and has laid off 40 percent of staff in a once-temporary measure that became permanent in September. In a recent LinkedIn post, Homuth, who has launched a few ventures since her departure in April, said this was “not the sequel I planned, but maybe the one this story needed.” In a video with the post, she stated she hopes her unspecified plan “can provide a path to some amount of recovery” for the business. “It should be an interesting next couple of months. I’m hopeful maybe this could result in me seeing through what had been a really, really long time in the making, but without a lot of the baggage of the past.” The Globe and Mail

Vancouver-based venture capital firm Pender Ventures has hired BDC Capital’s Cheri Corbett a month after partner Isaac Souweine departed. Corbett joins Pender after more than a decade at BDC Capital, the VC arm of the Business Development Bank of Canada. Most recently, Corbett spent three years as a partner and team lead at its Climate Tech Fund, which invests late-stage seed and growth-stage capital into companies developing technologies for the green energy transition. Before that, she led investments at its previous, $600-million cleantech fund, which is now fully deployed, and was a director of growth and transition capital. During Corbett’s tenure, BDC Capital’s climate-focused fund invested in companies including Cyclic Materials and Deep Sky. She was recognized by the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association awards in 2024 for her investment in liquid cooling tech company CoolIT Systems. Pender Ventures via LinkedIn 

Medical students at McGill University, Université de Montréal, Université de Sherbrooke, and Université Laval have voted for an unlimited general strike mandate in response to the Government of Québec’s recently passed Bill 2. Le Devoir reported that voter turnout ranged between 65 percent and 75 percent, while the votes in favour of the mandate ranged from 53 percent at ULaval to 70.4 percent at UMontréal. The Fédération médicale étudiante du Québec, which represents approximately 5,000 medical students across 11 campuses in the province, publicly denounced Bill 2 and filed for an application for judicial review and stay of several sections. The application will be heard by the Québec Superior Court this week. CBC reported that the bill has faced strong opposition from provincial doctors’ federations and includes fines of up to $20,000 per day if doctors take part in “concerted actions,” such as deciding as a group of three or more to refuse to teach students. Le Devoir, CBC News.

Statistics Canada (StatsCan) has released a summary of the results of its Elementary-Secondary Education Survey. Survey results show that from 2022/2023 to 2023/2024, enrolment in Canadian public schools increased by 2.3 percent amid a Canadian population increase of 3.2 percent. As for interprovincial migration, Alberta (3.6 percent) recorded larger enrolments stemming from this phenomenon, while Ontario saw much of the enrolment growth from immigration offset by out-migration. French immersion and minority language enrolments continued their decline in most provinces and territories from peaks in 2020/2021. Compared to 2018/2019, the number of educators rose by 5.2 percent across the country, and the proportion of educators working at 55 years of age or older rose from 12.9 percent to 13.8 percent. StatsCan

Western University professor Derek McLachlin has gone viral on social media following his performance of a biochemistry-infused parody of Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You. Posted to TikTok by Western student Hoon Dao, the video shows McLachlin singing about ketone bodies as students clap along. The video has received more than 4 million views. McLachlin told CTV News that the parody served as more than an exercise in musical ability: “I use humour and tell personal stories to build a connection with students. When they feel that connection, they’re more ready to learn.” CTV News 

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