Media Centre - Headlines

Here's where you will find WD's latest media announcements. A complete listing of past news releases can be found in the News Releases section. Search our media centre database or subscribe to our news notification service. For more information about WD programs and investments, visit our Fact Sheets section. If you are a journalist and can't find what you're looking for, WD Media Contacts will be happy to assist.

New Bio-Processing Facility to be Established at the University of Manitoba
November 24, 2005

Winnipeg, Manitoba - Manitoba's nutraceutical and functional food industry will benefit from an investment of $4 million from Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) towards the establishment of a new applied research and product development center at the Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals.

Winnipeg Partnership Agreement invests in Winnipeg's revitalization and partnership development
November 15, 2005

Winnipeg, Manitoba - The Winnipeg Partnership Agreement continues to build on Winnipeg's diversity, unique neighbourhoods and will facilitate the development of partnerships between community-based organizations and volunteer professionals with $487,790 in funding for four projects.

Federal Government Partners with Communities to Support Education and Learning in Northern Manitoba
November 14, 2005

Thompson, Manitoba - Residents and students from northern Manitoba will benefit from the official opening of a 3900 square foot hangar facility at R.D. Parker Collegiate in Thompson, Manitoba.

Winnipeg Partnership Agreement continues investment in Winnipeg's Aboriginal Community
November 10, 2005

Winnipeg, Manitoba - Winnipeg's Aboriginal community will benefit from $1,789,424 in funding under the Winnipeg Partnership Agreement (WPA). This investment will support 19 projects that focus on Aboriginal renewal, education and skills development.

Minister Stephen Owen is joined by representatives from the Campbell River Indian Band to celebrate the new Campbell River Cruise Terminal.

Campbell River, British Columbia - North America's only cruise ship terminal with a First Nations theme is one step closer to becoming a reality with an investment of $9 million from the Government of Canada. The Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport) made the announcement in Campbell River today. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada will provide $6 million and Western Economic Diversification will provide $3 million for the construction of the terminal.

High-Tech Entrepreneurs in Edmonton Benefit from $2 Million Federal Investment
November 8, 2005

Edmonton, Alberta - The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of the Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport), today officially announced a Government of Canada commitment of $2 million to TEC Edmonton, which is located on the 4th floor of the Research Transition Facility on the University of Alberta campus.

TEC Edmonton is a not-for-profit organization that provides services to early stage technology companies, researchers and entrepreneurs striving to generate and commercialize new ideas and technologies. It brings capital, ideas, people and businesses together to build capacity in high growth, technology-based business sectors in the Alberta Capital Region.

$5 million to fund expansion of a Winnipeg centre of research excellence
November 8, 2005

Winnipeg, Manitoba - Canadians will benefit from greater health research as a result of a $5 million funding contribution from the Winnipeg Partnership Agreement and the federal-provincial Agricultural Policy Framework for the expansion of the Winnipeg-based National Centre for Agrifood Research in Medicine (NCARM).

Governments announce collective assistance to Greater Vancouver urban Aboriginal youth initiative
November 7, 2005

Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell, The Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport), The Honourable Stan Hagen, Minister of Children and Family Development, and Melanie Mark, President of the Board of Directors of the Urban Native Youth Association.

Vancouver, British Colombia - The governments of Canada, British Columbia and Vancouver today announced their collective assistance for an Aboriginal youth project that will have long term benefits for Vancouver's urban Aboriginal community.

Minister Stephen Owen speaks at the launch of the Centre for Native Policy and Research.

Vancouver, British Colombia - A new Aboriginal Indicators Study, released today during the official launch of the Centre for Native Policy and Research, provides some unique findings about the social, economic and environmental conditions of Vancouver's urban Aboriginal people.

Canada Celebrates Saskatchewan Invests in 45 Centennial Projects
November 7, 2005

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Lloydminister's heritage centre upgrade is one of the 45 new projects that the Government of Canada will invest $1.6 million in through the nearly complete Canada Celebrates Saskatchewan centennial initiative.

New International Film Centre a Hit with Leading-Edge Technology
November 3, 2005

Vancouver, British Colombia - Vancouver's growing and internationally renowned film and television industry, today received an investment of $200,000 for the new Vancouver International Film Centre from the Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport).

Vancouver's Millennium Sports Centre welcomes the community and the World
October 28, 2005

Minister Stephen Owen joins Minister David Emerson, BC Minister Colin Hansen, Vancouver Councillor Tim Stevenson along with Heather Deal and Kevan Tisshaw to open the new Vancouver Millennium Sports Centre.

Vancouver, British Colombia - World class athletes will now have another venue to train at in Vancouver, with the official opening of the brand new $7.4 million Millennium Sports Centre. Located beside Nat Bailey stadium, this facility houses a top-notch gymnastics training centre, an international standard 6-rink indoors bowls green, and several multipurpose community rooms.

Vancouver Joins The United Nations Network of Urban Observatories
October 24, 2005

Vancouver, British Colombia - Simon Fraser University's Urban Studies Program celebrated the establishment of Vancouver's first urban observatory today with the Focusing ouR View workshop. The Regional Vancouver Urban Observatory (RVu) is the first local observatory in a global network of United Nations observatories to be established in the developed world. The Regional Vancouver Urban Observatory was established through a $162,000 investment from Western Economic Diversification Canada.

La Ronge, Saskatchewan - Funding was announced today for training to harvest fiddlehead ferns in northern Saskatchewan and a study to examine distillation of essential oils from northern plants. A third project, simulator training for road construction workers and road upgrades, also received funding. Ralph Goodale, Minister of Finance, and Saskatchewan Northern Affairs Minister Buckley Belanger announced more than $1.3 million in federal and provincial funds for the three northern projects.

Sustainable building technology vital to offset rising energy costs
October 20, 2005

Vancouver, British Columbia - In anticipation of the sustainable development practices that will be showcased at the 2006 World Urban Forum, Western Economic Diversification Canada is announcing nearly half a million dollars in funding for two leading-edge sustainable building initiatives.

Rivers West receives $750,000 to promote tourism along Red River Corridor
October 20, 2005

Winnipeg, Manitoba - A renewed multi-year funding agreement will continue Rivers West's efforts to promote tourism, economic development and environmental stewardship in communities along the Red River Corridor with an investment of $750,000 under the Canada-Manitoba Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). The funding will be $250,000 a year over the next three years.

Government of Canada Strengthens Investment for Business Services in the West
October 17, 2005

Western Economic Diversification Canada today confirmed a $165.6 million funding renewal, including $21.6 million in new funding, with partners in its Western Canada Business Service Network (WCBSN). These five-year agreements will ensure the Network continues to provide entrepreneurs with the services and information they need to succeed.

Manitoba Launches Small Business Week at the Home Based Business Trade Show
October 14, 2005

Winnipeg, Manitoba - The home-based business trade show kicked off this year's Small Business Week, October 16 to 22, in Manitoba, with the three levels of government celebrating the achievements of small and medium-sized businesses.

Vancouver, British Columbia - Women entrepreneurs in British Columbia now have increased access to the resources they need to grow their businesses with the launch of a new guide entitled: Growing Your Business - A Guide to Resources for B.C. Women.

The guide provides an overview of five priorities that women in business need to consider when looking to sustain or grow into the future. These include defining growth, preparing for growth, creating growth, managing growth and setting boundaries for growth.

Steinbach, Manitoba - A new Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre (C/MBSC) network site will provide valuable information and resources for entrepreneurs looking to start or expand a business. The new C/MBSC regional access site will be located in the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce office at 225 Reimer Avenue.

New Community Organization to Stimulate Downtown Eastside Economic Revitalization
October 12, 2005

The Building Opportunities With Business Inner City Society (BOB) is a model of partnership between business, government and community to stimulate economic revitalization in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside ( l to r: Lee Davis, Vancity Capital Corporation and BOB Board of Directors; Ellen Woodsworth, City of Vancouver; John Furlong, VANOC; The Hon. Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport); The Hon. Ida Chong, Minister of Community Services; Pamela McDonald, Bell Canada)

Vancouver, British Columbia - As part of a long-term plan to bring economic development and jobs to Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, the governments of Canada, British Columbia, and Vancouver today announced the opening of a new non-profit organization, the Building Opportunities With Business Inner City Society (BOB).

Supported through the Vancouver Agreement, BOB will be a 'one-stop-shop' organization to promote business development, mentoring, employment training and small business loans programs, gradually expanding to include a wider range of services and initiatives. The organization is guided by the Vancouver Agreement principle of revitalization without displacement and is led by a founding board of established business leaders.

Western Economic Diversification Canada Invests in Nanotechnology Commercialization
October 12, 2005

Edmonton, Alberta - The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of the Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport), today officially announced a Government of Canada commitment of $3.8 million to the University of Alberta for the National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT)'s Innovation Centre located on the fourth floor of the NINT Building.

The investment in the NINT Innovation Centre is aimed at building Canada's national system of innovation and fostering development of community-based technology cluster, which will draw in more national and international investment and attract highly skilled professionals to Alberta.

Funding secured for new biotech 'wet lab' at Edmonton Research Park
October 7, 2005

Edmonton, Alberta - Young, growing biotechnology companies in Greater Edmonton will soon have a new 72,000-square-foot "wet lab" facility at Edmonton Research Park to help them unleash their innovative and commercial potential.

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) and Alberta Innovation and Science will each provide $2.5 million in grants to help construct the $14.2-million project, spearheaded by Edmonton Economic Development Corp. (EEDC). The City of Edmonton will provide $1.2 million in land and in-kind services (through EEDC) and secure an $8-million loan.


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