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Chevrolet Unveils SoCal-Inspired "California Corvette" Concept
Chevrolet Unveils SoCal-Inspired "California Corvette" Concept

Hypebeast

time5 days ago

  • Automotive
  • Hypebeast

Chevrolet Unveils SoCal-Inspired "California Corvette" Concept

Summary Chevrolethas revealed the CaliforniaCorvette, a striking new concept car developed byGM's Advanced Design studio in Pasadena. This futuristic design study blends classic Corvette DNA with bold, Southern California-inspired styling, serving as the second in a trio of Corvette concept cars debuting in 2025. Crafted as a one-off hypercar, the California Corvette features a narrow, tapered cabin and a dramatic, single-piece front-hinged canopy that transforms it from a sleek coupe into a lightweight, open-air track car. Designers drew inspiration from racing simulators, SoCal car culture and Corvette's legacy of innovation. 'This concept was developed through a Southern California lens, but with a global and futuristic outlook,' said Brian Smith, design director at GM Advanced Design Pasadena. 'It celebrates duality—agility and openness, heritage and experimentation.' While there's no production intent, the concept showcases GM's vision for the future. Highlights include a carbon-fiber tub, active aero features, staggered 21' and 22' wheels and a low-slung prismatic battery pack layout. Inside, a minimalist driver-focused cockpit features structural integration and an augmented-reality HUD. The California Corvette follows GM'sUK-designed conceptreleased earlier this year and sets the stage for a third design study still to come. Together, the trio reflects Corvette's evolving identity across continents and eras.

Boann Social Impact Contributes $617K to Catalytic Capital Lab's Loan Guarantee Pool
Boann Social Impact Contributes $617K to Catalytic Capital Lab's Loan Guarantee Pool

National Post

time23-07-2025

  • Business
  • National Post

Boann Social Impact Contributes $617K to Catalytic Capital Lab's Loan Guarantee Pool

Article content TORONTO — Boann Social Impact is proud to contribute $617,000 to support developing a pan-Canadian loan guarantee pool, designed to diversify risk, attract investment, and strengthen the resilience of Canada's social finance market. Article content Funded through the Government of Canada's Social Finance Fund, Boann's contribution reflects a strategic focus on blended finance tools that lower risk, unlock private capital, and build a stronger social finance ecosystem. 'This is more than a financial commitment – it's an investment in building a diverse, inclusive economy where everyone in Canada can participate and prosper,' says Brian Smith, Managing Director of Engagement and Market Development at Boann. 'Loan guarantees remain an underused but powerful tool to help capital reach people and places often overlooked by traditional finance. We see strong potential for growth and impact.' Article content The Catalytic Capital Lab helps social finance intermediaries (SFIs) in launching and scaling their operations, unlocking more capital, and driving deeper community impact. Over the next two years, Boann's investment is supporting the project team to design, develop, and implement a durable $50 million loan guarantee pool that will back 30-40 community loan providers across Canada. This contribution also funds robust financial modelling, rigorous oversight, risk mitigation strategies, legal structuring, and investor engagement – all key to ensuring long-term sustainability and impact. Article content 'This kind of catalytic support helps de-risk new models and ultimately allows more capital to flow to the communities that need it most,' says Kristi Rivait, Board Chair at Thrive Impact Fund. 'It's exciting to see Boann leaning in to grow the tools and infrastructure that are essential for a more inclusive and resilient social finance market.' Article content Boann joins partners including 10C Shared Space's Harvest Impact Fund, Definity Insurance Foundation, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Scale Institute and Thrive Impact Fund, in advancing access to capital for community organizations across Canada. 'Collaborative approaches like the loan guarantee pool are critical to unlocking capital that meets the needs of local communities,' adds Julia Grady, Principal of Harvest Impact Fund. 'With partners like Boann at the table, we can help community loan providers build their local economy across the country.' Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Media Contacts Article content Article content Boann Social Impact Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content

Popular trainer Brian ‘BJ' Smith has been all over the world but he still reckons Brisbane's stables are the best
Popular trainer Brian ‘BJ' Smith has been all over the world but he still reckons Brisbane's stables are the best

News.com.au

time13-07-2025

  • Sport
  • News.com.au

Popular trainer Brian ‘BJ' Smith has been all over the world but he still reckons Brisbane's stables are the best

Charismatic trainer Brian 'BJ' Smith has been all over the world but he still reckons Brisbane's stables are the best. The Brisbane racing community will farewell Smith when he officially retires at the end of this month, just a few days shy of his 84th birthday. He will still take care of two or three horses for his wife Emma but when his trainer's licence expires on July 31, you'll more than likely find Smith swinging a club at Nudgee golf course in Brisbane's northern suburbs rather than working at the stables. 'I'm nearly 84 and I've been everywhere around the world a couple of times but I just don't want to do it anymore,' Smith told Racenet at a Brisbane Racing Club luncheon held in his honour at Doomben on Saturday. 'I want to enjoy a bit of life where I don't have to wake up and worry about what work I need to do.' The BRC function also paid tribute to Jim Roberts, a Brisbane track manager who will soon retire after 38 years of service. Top trainers such as Kelly Schweida, Chris and Corey Munce, Barry Lockwood and Tony Gollan all took time out from their busy Saturday schedule to drop in at the lunch for Smith, a quick-witted character who started his training career in his native New Zealand more than 50 years ago before eventually moving to the Sunshine State. He has been all over the globe but still rates Brisbane's stables as being like a five-star hotel for horses, with Sydney co-trainers Richard and Will Freedman trusting Smith to look after their prized gallopers during countless Queensland winter carnivals. 'I haven't seen better,' Smith said about Brisbane's equine facilities. 'I've stabled a lot of horses for the Freedmans over the years and they all come up and win. 'They just settle in overnight, they think it's a farmyard.' • Suspension twist as Lang closes gap in premiership race Smith had some classy gallopers at the peak of his powers, including Balmerino, Circles Of Gold and Bikkie Tin Blues. Balmerino came to Australia in 1976 as New Zealand's champion three-year-old and the following year he ran second to Alleged in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris. 'It wasn't a fair dinkum race, my horse should've won,' Smith said about Balmerino, who competed in New Zealand, Australia, England, the US, France and Italy. 'He won 12 months of the year, nowadays trainers set their horses for a race. 'But he won every month of the calendar year as a three-year-old in New Zealand, Sydney and up here (in Brisbane). Fourteen wins in 12 months.' In total, Balmerino delivered 22 victories and 13 placings from 47 starts before he had a successful breeding career in New Zealand. The champion galloper died in 1996. 'I was lucky enough to get his son Kessem,' Smith said. 'He didn't get his chance to show how good he was because he got hit in the eye by a plate after he won the Hong Kong Cup (in 1990).' Smith, who once had an audience with the Pope at the Vatican in the early 1960s, vividly remembers visiting the famous Champs-Elysees in Paris with a mate years before he became a trainer. 'It felt like I got a bolt of lightning down my spine, I couldn't move,' he recalled. 'I said to my mate 'I must have had a vision, I must be coming back to win that race' (the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe). 'That was in my head when I got Balmerino to the race as a trainer years later. I'm not religious but I believe in fate.'

Chicago suburb ends red-light camera program after 16 years
Chicago suburb ends red-light camera program after 16 years

Yahoo

time11-07-2025

  • Automotive
  • Yahoo

Chicago suburb ends red-light camera program after 16 years

The Brief Gurnee ended its red-light photo enforcement program on July 5 after 16 years. The program reduced crashes by 32% in its first five years. Officials cited operational challenges as a key reason to end it. LAKE COUNTY, Ill. - Gurnee has officially ended its red-light camera program after more than a decade of using it to improve traffic safety. What we know The Village of Gurnee shut down its Red-Light Photo Enforcement Program on July 5 when its contract with Redflex Traffic Systems—now Verra Mobility—expired. Officials said the decision came after reviewing both its safety benefits and recent operational problems. The backstory The program began in 2009 to reduce red-light violations at dangerous intersections, and data shows it worked. In the five years before cameras were installed, Gurnee averaged 1,424 crashes annually. In the five years after, that dropped to 967 per year — a 32% reduction. "This program was never about catching people, it was about protecting them," Gurnee Police Chief Brian Smith said in a statement. "Our roads became safer, and driver behavior improved not just at the camera locations, but throughout the Village." That community-wide caution is known as the "halo effect," officials said, noting crash rates remain below pre-2009 levels even as traffic has increased. However, the program faced challenges in recent years. The village cited inconsistent vendor support, maintenance delays, and the need to turn off cameras during construction, limiting their effectiveness. Good to know No new violations have been issued since July 5. Tickets issued for violations before and on that date still must be paid. All camera equipment will be removed by early fall. What's next Police Chief Smith said ending the program does not mean the village is stepping back from traffic safety efforts. "It's the beginning of a new chapter," he said. "We remain committed to doing what's best for Gurnee and we'll keep evolving to meet that promise." The Source The information in this article was provided by the Village of Gurnee and Gurnee Police Department.

Beach. Eat. Play. Repeat!
Beach. Eat. Play. Repeat!

Cision Canada

time08-07-2025

  • Business
  • Cision Canada

Beach. Eat. Play. Repeat!

Wasaga Beach Summer Marketing Campaign Kicks into High Gear WASAGA BEACH, ON, July 8, 2025 /CNW/ - This week, the Town of Wasaga Beach is kicking its Summer 2025 marketing campaign into high gear. From sponsoring billboards along Toronto's Gardiner Expressway to running digital ads and hosting social media influencers, the Town is busy promoting local businesses and experiences, and serving up fresh ideas to help visitors plan their day trip and create the perfect vacation in Wasaga Beach this summer. The Town's summer campaign is focused on promoting local businesses and town-organized summer events – and letting people in Ontario and key tourism markets in Canada and the U.S. know that while construction along Beach Drive is underway, Wasaga Beach remains open for business and ready to welcome visitors for some fun in the sun. " We're reimagining our main commercial area, so things are going to look different along Beach Drive this summer, but don't worry — Wasaga Beach is open for business and ready to help you celebrate summer," said Mayor Brian Smith. "Come experience 14 kilometres of sandy beach, spectacular sunsets, delicious food trucks, beachside patios, live music, outdoor adventures and family fun you will never forget." What to expect this summer along Beach Drive and at Beach Area 1 The Town has created a Summer 2025 Beach Area 1 Fun Map to illustrate what residents and visitors can expect at Beach Area 1 during this phase of construction along Beach Drive, including where to park, where to eat, and things to do near Beach Area 1 this summer. Four (4) things you need to know: The show must go on! Special events, including annual favourites like 5K Foam Fest, Multi-Sport Triathlon, Not-So-Pro Beach Volleyball Tournament, The Midway, Memories of Summer concert, gourmet food trucks and local businesses, including beachfront patios The Sand Bar and That Spot Bar & Grill will operate as usual. Check out the Summer 2025 Beach Area 1 Fun Map for full details. Roadway construction on Beach Drive will not impact the beach itself or any of Wasaga's seven (7) other Beach Areas, and pedestrian access to the beachfront in front of Beach Drive will be maintained all summer long. To help make it easier to plan your visit to Wasaga Beach, the town has created a new parking map that includes municipal and provincial lots: Visit to plan your visit to Wasaga Beach today! Background: What's happening along Beach Drive near Beach Area 1? Wasaga Beach continues to move forward quickly to reinvent the town's famous commercial area along Beach Drive at Beach Area 1. This summer, a 300-meter section of Beach Drive between Spruce Street and 2nd Street will be closed, and construction will begin. This project will improve roads and infrastructure along Beach Drive to resolve flooding issues that have continued to negatively impact tourism and businesses along this vital economic corridor. It will also unlock millions of dollars of investment, including a premium Marriott hotel that is set to be built on a parcel of land near Beach Drive in 2026 by the award-winning Sunray Group. Quick Facts In January 2025, the town welcomed the largest infrastructure investment in the history of Wasaga Beach when the Ontario government announced that it would invest over $10.9 million to help redesign and rebuild Beach Drive, which is the heart and lungs of the town's local tourism economy. In May 2025, Wasaga Beach welcomed Premier Doug Ford and Ontario Minister of Tourism Stan Cho to town, along with news that the province will invest $38 million to help build Destination Wasaga. About Wasaga Beach For one hundred years, the Town of Wasaga Beach has been Ontario's iconic summer playground — a place people come to have fun and create memories that will last a lifetime. Today, we're on a mission to become a four-season recreation and live-music destination. Rebuilding Beach Drive and re-imagining our main commercial area at Beach Area 1 supports this vision and Council's priorities: to create opportunities to diversify the economy, grow tourism, create jobs and build a complete community. It's part of the Town's plan to become a leader in sustainability, creativity, innovation and fun! A place with thriving businesses and safe, inclusive, complete neighbourhoods. A place where we celebrate our rich history, diversity of cultures and natural beauty, including the Nottawasaga River, Georgian Bay and the longest freshwater beach in the world.

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