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Canada Strengthens Wildfire Response Through Training

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OTTAWA, ON, March 21, 2025 /CNW/ – With wildfires becoming more frequent and severe across Canada — impacting people and public health, forests and landscapes, and economies — the Government of Canada is investing in wildfire training initiatives to increase fire management capacity across the country.

Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson announced a $16.3 million investment over the next three years, starting in 2024–25, to support 25 projects through the Government of Canada’s Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate Program (FMWCC) – Training Fund.

Through this investment, over 2,800 youth and community members in remote, rural and Indigenous communities across Canada will receive wildland firefighting training to enhance community capacity for responding to and managing wildfires. This investment will also help address employment barriers by equipping people with the necessary skills, and opportunities to pursue employment in wildland firefighting.

 Some of the projects funded through the FMWCC Training Fund include:

$329,109 to the Keewaytinook Okimakanak’s project in Thunder Bay, Ontario, to support the training of 25 youth in wildfire prevention and mitigation by providing opportunities for skills development and job coaching in the wildland fire industry, addressing the community’s need to build local fire management practices and enhance community resiliency to wildfires;$499,330 to the Metis Settlements General Council’s project in Edmonton, Alberta, to support the training of 320 participants in wildland firefighting, wildfire resiliency and reconciliation to address the need to involve and engage Metis Settlements people in wildfire management dialogues;$946,330 to Prince Albert Development Corporation Management Co. Ltd.’s project in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, to support the training of 20 youth in wildfire prevention and mitigation by providing opportunities for skills development and job coaching in the wildland fire industry. This project will aim to address the need identified by the communities to improve local and regional capacity in northern fire-prone regions;$1,579,655 to Whitefeather Community Resource Management Authority’s project in Pikangikum, Ontario, to support the training of 144 community members in Type II Wildland Firefighter Training, which aims to address the identified need to develop a firefighting workforce that can be quickly mobilized to increase community preparedness and to support Indigenous-led approaches; and$1,999,999 to the Independent First Nations Alliance’s (IFNA) project in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, to support the training of 50 participants while also leveraging partnerships, technology and youth engagement and aiming to address the identified need for additional trained staff and crews in IFNA’s remote communities to increase the capacity to manage wildfires locally.  

By working with provinces, territories, Indigenous communities and international allies, the federal government is supporting the fight against wildfires in communities across the country.

Quotes

“Today’s announcement is part of our commitment to work collaboratively to reduce the impacts of wildfires. We are providing fast-flowing funding to support organizations, community leaders and local governments and agencies to prepare for, prevent, mitigate and manage wildfires.”

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

“Wildfires continue to pose a growing threat to our communities. Northern Ontario has not been immune to these challenges, and we must ensure that our frontline responders have the necessary training to protect themselves, the lives of residents and our environment. The Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate Program – Training Fund will help strengthen wildfire preparedness, including right here in Nickel Belt. By equipping firefighters with advanced skills, we are taking proactive steps to mitigate future risks and enhance community safety. We can all rest easier at night thanks to the brave men and women that put their lives at risk to protect others.”

Marc G. Serré
Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt

“As wildfires become more frequent and severe due to climate change, it is essential that we equip our frontline responders with the training they need to protect themselves and our communities. Through this $16.3-million investment in wildfire training, we will strengthen Canada’s ability to prevent, manage and respond to these growing threats. This funding will ensure that firefighters and emergency personnel across the country have the skills and expertise necessary to keep Canadians safe.”

Viviane Lapointe
Member of Parliament for Sudbury 

Quick Facts

The FMWCC Training Fund was launched in 2022 to train 1,000 new community-based firefighters, focusing on Indigenous communities, to increase local fire management capacities and capabilities across Canada.The FMWCC Training Fund included a two-year pilot phase that supported 10 training projects valued at $8.2 million and helped inform the design and launch of the full Training Fund in 2024, which offered over $16 million to new applicants. The pilot supported the training of 294 firefighters and 116 fire guardians.The International Association of Fire Fighters Responding to the Interface program also upskilled 323 existing municipal structural firefighters.The FMWCC Equipment Fund was also launched in 2022 to support provinces and territories to purchase specialized wildfire firefighting equipment including, but not limited to, personal protective equipment, vehicles, mobile units, hoses, pumps and enhanced communications equipment, many of which were used to combat wildfires last season.Through the FMWCC Equipment Fund, 12 agreements were signed with eligible jurisdictions representing a total funding commitment of $254.3 million over five years.Visit Canada.ca/wildfires for a complete list of links to various federal supports for individuals impacted by wildfires.

Associated Links

Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate ProgramCanadian Wildland Fire Information System: Monthly and Seasonal ForecastsCanadian Wildland Fire StrategyWildfires – Canada.ca

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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EPSIUM ENTERPRISE LIMITED Announces Pricing of US$5.0 Million Initial Public Offering

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MACAU, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — EPSIUM ENTERPRISE LIMITED (the “Company” or “EPSIUM”), a company engaged in importing and wholesaling primarily alcoholic beverages in Macau, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering (the “Offering”) of 1,250,000 ordinary shares at a public offering price of US$4.00 per ordinary share. The ordinary shares have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market and are expected to commence trading on March 26, 2025 under the ticker symbol “EPSM.”

The Company expects to receive aggregate gross proceeds of US$5.0 million from the Offering, before deducting underwriting discounts and other related expenses. In addition, the Company has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 187,500 ordinary shares at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts. The Offering is expected to close on or about March 27, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Net proceeds from the Offering will be used for (i) approximately 10% of the net proceeds for sales and product innovation and brand building, (ii) approximately 60% of the net proceeds for the acquisition of, or investment in, assets, technologies, solutions, or businesses that complement our business, (iii) approximately 20% of the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, and (iv) approximately 10% of the net proceeds for reserve and subject to the discretion of the board of directors.

The Offering is being conducted on a firm commitment basis. D. Boral Capital LLC is acting as the sole underwriter for the Offering. iTKG Law LLC is acting as U.S. securities counsel to the Company, and Schlueter & Associates, P.C. is acting as U.S. counsel to the underwriter in connection with the Offering.

A registration statement on Form F-1 relating to the Offering was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) (File Number: 333-276313) and was declared effective by the SEC on March 25, 2025. The Offering is being made only by means of a prospectus, forming a part of the registration statement. Copies of the prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained from D. Boral Capital LLC, Attn: 590 Madison Avenue 39th Floor, New York, NY 10022, or by email at info@dboralcapital.com, or by telephone at +1(212)-970-5150. In addition, copies of the prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained via the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Before you invest, you should read the prospectus and other documents the Company has filed or will file with the SEC for more information about the Company and the Offering. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Company’s securities, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of any of the Company’s securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction.

About EPSIUM ENTERPRISE LIMITED

Through its Macau operating entity, Companhia de Comercio Luz Limitada (“Luz”), a limited liability company organized under Macau laws in 2010, EPSIUM is engaged in importing and wholesaling primarily alcoholic beverages in Macau. Through Luz, the Company imports and sells a broad range of premium beverages, primarily alcoholic beverages and, in 2022, a small quantity of tea and fruit juice. The alcoholic beverages the Company sells include Chinese liquor, French cognac, Scottish whiskey, fine wine, Champagne, and other miscellaneous beverage alcohol. Sales of Chinese liquor is by far the Company’s most significant operations, and the Company is a top wholesaler of high-end Chinese liquor in Macau. For more information, please visit the Company’s website: www.epsium-group.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the Company’s proposed Offering. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs, including the expectation that the Offering will be successfully completed. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions in this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks, including, but not limited to, the uncertainties related to market conditions, and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Registration Statement filed with the SEC. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov.

For more information, please contact:

EPSIUM ENTERPRISE LIMITED
Investor Relations Department
Email: investor.relations@epsium-group.com 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/epsium-enterprise-limited-announces-pricing-of-us5-0-million-initial-public-offering-302411309.html

SOURCE Epsium Enterprise Limited

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Purelight Power Expands to Minneapolis, Making Solar Energy More Affordable for Homeowners

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MINNEAPOLIS, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Purelight Power, a top provider of residential solar solutions, is excited to announce its expansion into Minneapolis. With a commitment to innovation and a customer-first approach, the company brings cutting-edge solar technology to homeowners across the Twin Cities. The goal? To make clean, renewable energy more accessible and help Minnesotans save on electricity costs.

“We’re thrilled to introduce Purelight Power to Minneapolis,” said JD Beck, CEO of Purelight Power. “Utility costs keep rising, and homeowners are feeling the pressure. Our goal is to eliminate the stress of rising utility costs and help homeowners achieve energy independence.”

Purelight Power’s hassle-free approach sets it apart—eliminating upfront costs to make solar more affordable. Combining advanced technology with industry expertise, the company ensures smooth installations, outstanding customer service, and long-term energy savings for homeowners. As a result, the company has massed thousands of 5-star reviews across its branches.

Expanding into Minneapolis marks another milestone in Purelight Power’s rapid national growth. The company has already helped thousands of homeowners reduce their reliance on traditional utility companies while also increasing the value of their homes. With the new branch, Purelight Power cements itself as one of the nation’s leading solar installers.

Homeowners interested in exploring solar options can schedule a free consultation with Purelight Power’s Minneapolis team by visiting purelightpower.com or calling (612) 688-2998.

Media Contact

Cameron Corliss
ccorliss@purelightpower.com
(541) 500-6329

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/purelight-power-expands-to-minneapolis-making-solar-energy-more-affordable-for-homeowners-302411307.html

SOURCE Purelight Power

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NASA Invites Media to Learn About Artemis Moon Mission Recovery

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WASHINGTON, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — NASA and the Department of Defense will host a media event on the recovery operations that will bring the Artemis II astronauts and the agency’s Orion spacecraft home at the conclusion of next year’s mission around the Moon. The in-person event will take place at 3 p.m. PDT on Monday, March 31, at Naval Base San Diego in California.

A team of NASA and Department of Defense personnel are at sea in the Pacific Ocean where splashdown will take place. The team currently is practicing the procedures it will use to recover the astronauts after their more than 600,000 mile journey from Earth and back on the first crewed mission under the Artemis campaign. A test version of Orion and other hardware also will be on-hand for media representatives to view.

Interested media must RSVP no later than 4 p.m. PDT Friday, March 28, to Naval Base San Diego Public Affairs at nbsd.pao@us.navy.mil or 619-556-7359. The start time of the event may change based on the conclusion of testing activities.

Participants include:

Liliana Villarreal, NASA’s Artemis II landing and recovery director, Exploration Ground Systems Program, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in FloridaCapt. Andrew “Andy” Koy, commanding officer of USS Somerset (LPD 25), U.S. NavyLt. Col. David Mahan, commander, U.S. Air Force’s 1st Air Force, Detachment 3, Patrick Space Force Base, Florida

Several astronauts participating in the testing will be available for interviews.

Artemis II will be the first test flight of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, Orion spacecraft, and supporting ground system with crew aboard. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen will venture around the Moon and back. The mission is another step toward missions on the lunar surface and helping the agency prepare for future astronaut missions to Mars.

Learn more about Artemis II at:

https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-invites-media-to-learn-about-artemis-moon-mission-recovery-302411320.html

SOURCE NASA

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