Calgary Construction Association partners with CBE for 'Adopt a Shop' school pilot
A new pilot program intends to connect students from schools across Calgary with skilled trades organizations.
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Officials from the Calgary Construction Association (CCA) and the Calgary Board of Education launched the Adopt a Shop program Wednesday at Central Memorial High School's Career and Technology Centre.
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Participating construction firms will provide middle and high-school students in shop programs with hands-on learning and exposure to professional industries. The companies will 'adopt' the school's shop program by donating funding, building materials, mentorship or other supports.
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'This is the future of our industry and the future of our cities represented in this group of young people,' he said, gesturing to a group of Central Memorial shop students. 'Our industry is used to seeking a backlog of future work, and we cannot do that effectively if we do not have a backlog of future talent.'
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Last fall, the CCA partnered with local elementary schools through the Honour the Work program, which aims to help introduce younger students to the opportunity of working in skilled trades and construction careers.
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However, until recently, Black said previous collaboration between the association and schools was typically on a one-time or casual basis, such as an annual construction career expo for students.
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Programs like Adopt a Shop allow for broader investment in construction education and workforce development, added Black, who has long preached about the ongoing labour shortage in the construction sector.
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'What we like about this is that it's year-round,' he said. 'It's not just one (event), it's continuous. It's part of the curriculum and is woven into the day they spend coming to school.'
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Grade 12 student Vivian Lucas, who is taking Central Memorial's Construction 20 class this semester, said that while she won't benefit from Adopt the Shop personally due to her impending graduation, the program will give shop students next year an advantage, in terms of getting their foot in the door of a potentially high-earning career.
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Winnipeg Free Press
11 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Tulsa's new Black mayor proposes $100M trust to ‘repair' impact of 1921 Race Massacre
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Tulsa's new mayor on Sunday proposed a $100 million private trust as part of a reparations plan to give descendants of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre scholarships and housing help in a city-backed bid to make amends for one of the worst racial attacks in U.S. history. The plan by Mayor Monroe Nichols, the first Black mayor of Oklahoma's second-largest city, would not provide direct cash payments to descendants or the last two centenarian survivors of the attack that killed as many as 300 Black people. He made the announcement at the Greenwood Cultural Center, located in the once-thriving district that was destroyed by a white mob. Nichols said he does not use the term reparations, which he calls politically charged, characterizing his sweeping plan instead as a 'road to repair.' 'This is, I think, a very significant first step,' Nichols said. 'And it's something we can all unite around. I think we can unite around housing specifically for affected populations. I think we can unite around investing in the Greenwood district and making sure that we're able to revitalize it to be an economic power again.' Nichols said the proposal would not require city council approval, although the council would need to authorize the transfer of any city property to the trust. The private charitable trust would be created with a goal to secure $105 million in assets, with most of the funding either secured or committed by June 1, 2026. Although details of the trust programs would be developed over the next year by an executive director and a board of managers, the plan calls for the bulk of the funding, $60 million, to go toward improving buildings and revitalizing the city's north side. 'The Greenwood District at its height was a center of commerce,' Nichols said. 'So what was lost was not just something from North Tulsa or the Black community. It actually robbed Tulsa of an economic future that would have rivaled anywhere else in the world.' Nichols' proposal comes on the heels of an executive order he signed earlier this year recognizing June 1 as Tulsa Race Massacre Observance Day, an official holiday for the city. Nichols also realizes the current national political climate, particularly President Trump's sweeping assault on diversity, equity and inclusion programs, provides challenging political crosswinds. 'The fact that this lines up with a broader national conversation is a tough environment,' Nichols admitted, 'but it doesn't change the work we have to do.' Jacqueline Weary, is a granddaughter of massacre survivor John R. Emerson, Sr., who owned a hotel and cab company in Greenwood that were destroyed. She acknowledged the political difficulty of giving cash payments to descendants. But at the same time, she wondered how much of her family's wealth was lost as a result of the massacre. 'If Greenwood was still there, my grandfather would still have his hotel,' said Weary, 65. 'It rightfully was our inheritance, and it was literally taken away.' Tulsa is not the first U.S. city to explore the idea of reparations. The Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois, was the first U.S. city to make reparations available to its Black residents for past discrimination, offering qualifying households $25,000 for home repairs, down payments on property, and interest or late penalties on property in the city. The funding for the program came from taxes on the sale of recreational marijuana. Other communities and organizations that have considered providing reparations range from the state of California to cities like Amherst, Massachusetts; Providence, Rhode Island; Asheville, North Carolina; and Iowa City, Iowa; religious denominations like the Episcopal Church; and prominent colleges like Georgetown University in Washington. In Tulsa, there are only two living survivors of the Race Massacre, both of whom are 110 years old: Leslie Benningfield Randle and Viola Fletcher. Both received direct financial compensation from both a Tulsa-based nonprofit and a New York-based philanthropic organization, but have not received any recompense from the city or state. Damario Solomon-Simmons, an attorney for the survivors and the founder of the Justice for Greenwood Foundation, could not be reached for comment on the mayor's plan, but said earlier this year that any reparations plan should include direct payments to Randle and Fletcher and a victims' compensation fund for outstanding claims. A lawsuit filed by Solomon-Simmons on behalf of the survivors was rejected by the Oklahoma Supreme Court last year, dampening racial justice advocates' hopes that the city would ever make financial amends.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
The Black hair industry imports products from China. Here's what tariffs mean for braids and wigs
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Much of the synthetic braiding hair, human hair for extensions, wigs and weaves, styling tools, braiding gel and other products is imported from or has packaging from China, which was subject to a combined 145% tariff in April. Many Black women have hair types and workplace-favored styles that require careful attention, and they can spend hundreds of dollars at salons each month on extensions, weaves, wigs and braids. The Associated Press spoke with several Black hair industry experts, beauty supply store owners, and wholesale companies, as well as nearly two dozen Black stylists and braiders, some of whom may have to raise prices even as business has slowed. On Thursday, a federal appeals court reinstated most of Trump's tariffs on imported goods after they were blocked the day before by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade. Earlier this month, the United States agreed to drop the 145% tax on goods imported from China to 30% while the two economic superpowers negotiate new trade agreements. Imports from most other countries face baseline tariff rates at 10%. Regardless, the next few months 'are already shot' for many items, said Marty Parker, a University of Georgia business professor and supply chain expert who worked in the hair care industry. The costs companies have been facing at ports are making their way down to consumers, supply shortages are getting worse, and it's unclear what will happen if negotiations break down. 'Prices go up very fast and come down very slow,' Parker said. Costs go up for Atlanta stylists Some stylists said they're seeing fewer clients because prices are going up for virtually everything. Atlanta stylists are paying more for hair from China. 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Janice Lowe, who runs 5 Starr Salon in a lower-income neighborhood southeast of Atlanta, has started asking clients to bring hair and is unable to purchase certain products. 'I'm falling behind on my obligations,' she said. The industry braces for uncertainty Consultants vary on how much prices will rise, when they'll go up and for how long — and the full harm to stylists and consumers could be months away. The global Black hair care industry was worth about $3.2 billion in 2023, according to and Black women spend six times more on hair care than other ethnicities. Stylists often purchase some harder-to-get professional products from door-to-door distributors that buy from wholesale companies or larger distributors that purchase directly from other countries. Lowe has seen some of her distributors vanish altogether, making it harder to get professional lines such as Black-owned leading professional hair care brand Design Essentials, manufactured in Atlanta at McBride Research Laboratories. Design Essentials is trying to delay big price increases until 2026 or 2027, and may turn to layoffs or pause promotions to save money, said president Cornell McBride Jr. Most packaging plastics come from China, but ingredients can come from many places. 'Nobody wants to put it to the consumer but the person who pays is the consumer in the end,' McBride Jr. said. Hawa Keita and her mother usually charge customers between $160 and $250 for braiding at their shop, Eve's African Hair Braiding in College Park southwest of Atlanta. Keita is determined to take losses because their customers 'can't afford the Atlanta prices,' Keita said. 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It's an inequality issue that professional hairstylists are aware of nationwide. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. Stylist Mitzi Mitchell, owner of PIC ONE Beauty Services in Pennsylvania, said she has stocked up on certain products and tools for another year in anticipation of price increases. She wants to avoid 'bootleg' products, which are made illegally and often aren't as safe, but became much more prevalent in the marketplace during economic downturns. 'I'm really conscientious about my Black minority clients because we make a heck of a lot less than other nationalities,' said Mitchell, who is Black. 'I try to keep prices low so we can continue to have the same services, but I know I will have to raise it.' ___ Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon.
The Market Online
3 days ago
- The Market Online
Defense boom, tungsten shock, Nasdaq listing: Is Almonty the most exciting stock of 2025?
Many investors dream of getting in on a stock at the right time – just before it takes off. Shares in tungsten producer Almonty Industries have already staged a unique rally this year. The revaluation is, therefore, in full swing. But how much further can the stock go? While analysts at Sphene Capital see further upside potential of 100%, events are unfolding rapidly – at Almonty (TSX:AII), an u and around the world. We explain what makes Almonty Industries such an interesting investment story. Almonty supplies tungsten from secure regions – The US is snapping it up Almonty Industries (TSX:AII) is a global tungsten producer that mines high-grade tungsten concentrate from politically stable, conflict-free regions. Almonty currently operates the Panasqueira tungsten mine in Portugal and has other projects in Spain. The flagship Sangdong project in South Korea is scheduled to go into production this summer. This geographical diversification in legally secure regions makes Almonty's offering unique – around 90% of the world's tungsten supply currently comes from China, North Korea or Russia. China has made exports more difficult several times in recent months, and the US National Defense Authorization Act even prohibits the US Department of Defense from purchasing tungsten mined or processed in China or Russia from 2027 onwards. Almonty is, therefore, one of the few remaining suppliers. In this context, the Sangdong project is unique: it is one of the few new large-scale tungsten projects outside China and is being developed in a country considered a close ally of the US. This fits perfectly with the strategy of the United States and other Western countries to build resilient supply chains for critical raw materials. Almonty's collaboration with Washington-based consulting firm ADI, whose team consists of former government and military experts, highlights the political dimension of the project. The fact that Almonty has relocated its headquarters to the US also fits into this picture. Unique conditions – Tungsten already sold with no price cap Almonty currently produces around 900 tons of tungsten per year at its Panasqueira mine in Portugal. Although the mine has been in operation for 136 years, Almonty CEO Lewis Black expects it to remain active for another 20 to 30 years. According to Black, the mine remains solidly profitable thanks to the high quality of the material. The Sangdong project in South Korea will contribute an additional 4,000 tons of tungsten per year starting this summer. However, Almonty has the option to double this production in the short term. Compared to the mine in Portugal, Sangdong offers grades of 0.47% tungsten trioxide. This is still around six times more than the Panasqueira mine, which has been profitable for over a hundred years. The US relies on 10,000 tons of tungsten yearly to meet demand in the defense and high-tech industries. Almonty has already sold more than half of the tungsten production from the Sangdong mine. The buyers are a subsidiary of the Austrian Plansee Group and the US defense supplier Tungsten Parts Wyoming. Almonty considers the terms of these purchase agreements to be very good – they include minimum prices but no price caps. For Almonty and its shareholders, this means planning security and stable cash flows without having to forego positive surprises. Additional potential: Molybdenum lies beneath the tungsten When Lewis Black talks about Sangdong, he primarily highlights the convincing figures despite conservative calculations. The project investment costs amount to around USD 105 million, 70% of which was financed by a loan from the German KfW-IPEX Bank. According to the feasibility study, the project has a net present value (NPV) of around USD 156 million and a pre-tax profitability of approximately 26%. In addition, Sangdong offers long-term upside potential through an underlying molybdenum deposit, which could also be exploited in the future. Own refinery turns Almonty into a high-tech supplier In order to achieve an even greater share of the value chain, Almonty will also enter the tungsten processing business. According to Black, this element is not only challenging to mine but also difficult to process further. Thanks to the many years of experience of the Almonty Industries team, which was already working with tungsten when Western industry had not even noticed its dependence on China, the Company has the necessary expertise. Almonty signed a letter of intent in 2024 to build its own refinery in South Korea by 2027. The Sangdong Downstream Extension Project is expected to have an annual capacity of 4,000 tons of tungsten and produce ammonium paratungstate (APT) and nano-crystalline tungsten oxide. This would mark Almonty's first step from a pure mining operator to a fully integrated tungsten producer. Through this vertical integration, Almonty will achieve significantly greater added value and could also supply highly refined tungsten products – such as powders and alloys – to the South Korean battery and semiconductor industry. Tungsten: Analysts see a 16% supply gap in 2025 Demand for tungsten has been rising steadily for years – analysts at predict an annual increase of 4.6% through 2030. However, since the war in Ukraine, sanctions against Russia, and the consequences of the US National Defense Authorization Act, supply has been very limited. New tungsten projects have been rare for many years – Sangdong is considered an exception. Analysts at The Oregon Group expect a significant supply gap of up to 16% for tungsten in 2025. The commissioning of the Sangdong mine later this year is very timely. Key figures + Nasdaq listing = New momentum? With peace efforts surrounding the war in Ukraine having temporarily collapsed and the signs continuing to point to arms deliveries and rearmament, tungsten will continue to be needed for the defense industry in the near future. However, the unique element with the high melting point is also indispensable in aerospace, modern batteries, and heavy equipment in mining. The stock of Almonty Industries has consolidated at a high level in recent months and has recently been poised to reach new highs. Almonty's key operating figures are looking good. The planned listing on the US Nasdaq stock exchange, set to coincide with the start of operations at the Sangdong mine, should give this unique investment story additional momentum. There are many reasons to believe that Almonty shareholders are in the right place at the right time. Conflict of interest Pursuant to §85 of the German Securities Trading Act (WpHG), we point out that Apaton Finance GmbH as well as partners, authors or employees of Apaton Finance GmbH (hereinafter referred to as 'Relevant Persons') currently hold or hold shares or other financial instruments of the aforementioned companies and speculate on their price developments. In this respect, they intend to sell or acquire shares or other financial instruments of the companies (hereinafter each referred to as a 'Transaction'). Transactions may thereby influence the respective price of the shares or other financial instruments of the Company. In this respect, there is a concrete conflict of interest in the reporting on the companies. In addition, Apaton Finance GmbH is active in the context of the preparation and publication of the reporting in paid contractual this reason, there is also a concrete conflict of interest. The above information on existing conflicts of interest applies to all types and forms of publication used by Apaton Finance GmbH for publications on companies. Risk notice Apaton Finance GmbH offers editors, agencies and companies the opportunity to publish commentaries, interviews, summaries, news and the like on These contents are exclusively for the information of the readers and do not represent any call to action or recommendations, neither explicitly nor implicitly they are to be understood as an assurance of possible price developments. The contents do not replace individual expert investment advice and do not constitute an offer to sell the discussed share(s) or other financial instruments, nor an invitation to buy or sell such. The content is expressly not a financial analysis, but a journalistic or advertising text. Readers or users who make investment decisions or carry out transactions on the basis of the information provided here do so entirely at their own risk. No contractual relationship is established between Apaton Finance GmbH and its readers or the users of its offers, as our information only refers to the company and not to the investment decision of the reader or user. The acquisition of financial instruments involves high risks, which can lead to the total loss of the invested capital. The information published by Apaton Finance GmbH and its authors is based on careful research. Nevertheless, no liability is assumed for financial losses or a content-related guarantee for the topicality, correctness, appropriateness and completeness of the content provided here. Please also note our Terms of use. 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