Latest news with #ChrisGentile
CTV News
12 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Alberta regional passenger rail planning continues
Alberta hosted a virtual information session Wednesday to discuss plans to have a rail network connecting Edmonton, Calgary, Banff, Lethbridge and more. A 'Master Rail Plan' that could chart out a regional passenger rail network across Alberta is months into its planning stage, but don't expect to be able to buy a ticket for more than a decade at minimum. The provincial government is currently hosting virtual information sessions about lofty ambitions that could see passenger trains running between Calgary to Edmonton, Banff, Lethbridge and more. 'The 15 year delivery plan will provide the framework for government to consider the different options towards the next steps in building passenger rail in Alberta,' Rob Lawson told a virtual session Tuesday night. Lawson is the acting assistant deputy minister involved in Alberta's passenger rail plan. Specific routes and potential costs are still unknown. Current sessions will consider actions governments can take decades down the road. 'It's not out of the realm of possibility that, even if government decided this fall that they wanted to invest in passenger rail and start implementing 30 year networks, and it might be 15 years before you're buying a ticket to ride on a train service,' said Chris Gentile, the director of passenger rail in Alberta. Former VIA Rail station, Calgary, June 25, 2025 The former VIA station in Calgary still exists near the Calgary Tower, though the platform is chained up and covered in graffiti. (Jordan Kanygin, CTV Calgary) Via Rail The last proper regional rail service for Calgary was VIA Rail, but the Calgary stop was cut in 1990 to save costs. VIA still operates routes in Alberta through Edmonton and Jasper. The former VIA station in Calgary still exists near the Calgary Tower, though the platform is chained up and covered in graffiti. 'VIA Rail terminated service in Calgary roughly around 1990. And a lot of the lessons learned still stand today. VIA Rail was very subsidized by the federal government, as it is today,' said David Cooper, a transit expert and mobility consultant. Any type of expanded regional rail in Alberta will need significant government involvement, Cooper adds, and current provincially-led exploration is a good first step. 'This is quite significant, actually,' Cooper said. 'When you look at how funding plays out with these big infrastructure projects across Canada, it's usually provincial governments and federal governments working together as the main funders of these overall projects. So having them involved in this makes it a lot more real.' In the virtual sessions about the outlook, provincial officials say high-speed trains are seriously being considered. 'I think a lot of people kind of get a bit pessimistic on high speed trains, but I think Alberta has reached the point where we have the population, we have the commuters, we have the amount of people who are ready and willing to pursue this a bit further,' said Justin Simaluk with the Rail for Alberta Society. Virtual sessions continue Wednesday and Thursday.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Families can visit WNC Nature Center for the first time since Helene
Families can visit the WNC Nature Center for the first time since Helene. The center reopened Monday in Asheville. Stein signs 5 Helene recovery executive orders in first action as governor The group's director, Chris Gentile, said crews from zoos across the country helped them rebuild. However, damage outside of the gates caused a delay in reopening, he said. 'Our bridge which normally feeds people into this area – not only this nature center – but the Gashes Creek community, was washed out with the floods from Tropical Storm Helene,' Gentile said. 'So, our city crews worked out a different way for people to access the site.' There are new areas for families to enjoy, including exhibits and habitats for farm animals.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PPG global leaders transform Boys & Girls Club in Florida, celebrate 10 years of COLORFUL COMMUNITIES program
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., February 11, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PPG (NYSE:PPG) today announced the completion of a COLORFUL COMMUNITIES® project in collaboration with Heart of America to revitalize the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County William E. Slaughter Club and S. Robert Levine Campus in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Kicking off the company's 10-year celebration of the Colorful Communities program, the project brought together more than 100 of PPG's top global leaders, who spent a portion of their annual global leadership meeting updating the club's computer room, recording studio, gymnasium and teen center outdoor areas with colors that aim to enhance learning and engagement. In addition to painting, the leaders built new furniture and assembled 500 STEM activity kits and 40 bicycles, all of which were donated to local Boys & Girls Club members. PPG's Traffic Solutions ENNIS-FLINT® DECOMARK® preformed thermoplastic product by PPG was also used to install a hopscotch court and logo design outside the building. "The club is a fantastic place where young people can come to learn, grow and build a foundation for their futures," said Malesia Dunn, executive director, PPG Foundation and corporate global social responsibility. "It's the perfect location to start the 10-year celebration of the Colorful Communities program and the meaningful ways it blends the best of who we are – our passionate, talented employees and our innovative products." The club facility offers after-school and summer programs to more than 200 club members daily and provides programs in areas such as character and leadership development, education and career development, health and life skills, and academic success. "Through this vibrant program, PPG and Heart of America not only help shape futures with us –they are empowering the next generation of leaders, providing them with the support and opportunities they need to thrive and make a lasting impact," said Chris Gentile, Co-CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County. For this project, PPG teamed up with The Pittsburgh Paints Company to provide the architectural paint products and Heart of America, an education equity nonprofit organization that transforms learning spaces, bridges the resource gap and strengthens communities to give all students room to learn, discover and thrive. "Color plays a big role in how we design spaces because of its impact on learning – it influences students' mood, attention span and memory retention. PPG understands the power of color, which makes it an incredible collaborator. We are thrilled to celebrate 10 years of Colorful Communities projects with William E. Slaughter Boys & Girls Club," said Jill Hardy Heath, CEO, Heart of America. In 2015, PPG launched the Colorful Communities program, uniting the power of PPG paint products with employee volunteers to brighten neighborhoods and make a positive impact on the people who call those neighborhoods home. The William E. Slaughter Club and S. Robert Levine Campus project is one of 10 flagship projects around the world that will serve as pillars in the 10-year celebration. In addition to the flagship projects, PPG announced that it will extend the Colorful Communities program for another 10 years and commit $15 million to celebrate the next decade of beautifying and revitalizing communities. To build on the positive impacts of the program, PPG and the PPG Foundation will also distribute a total of $1 million in celebration grants to 100 previous and current Colorful Communities partners worldwide this year. PPG's global community engagement efforts and the PPG Foundation aim to bring color and brightness to PPG communities around the world. We invested more than $17.5 million in 2023, supporting hundreds of organizations across nearly 40 countries. By investing in educational opportunities, we help grow tomorrow's STEM innovators and skilled workforce in fields related to coatings and manufacturing. Plus, we empower PPG employees to multiply their impact for causes that are important to them by supporting their volunteer efforts and charitable giving. Learn more here. About Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County (BGCBC) Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025, is a dynamic, youth development organization dedicated to providing a safe, supportive, and empowering environment for young people in Broward County, Florida. Since 1965, we have been at the forefront of youth development, working to inspire and enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. Our 15 Broward County Club facilities serve over 2,000 youth ages 6-18, daily, via our after-school programs, personal growth roadmaps and career development initiatives. BGCBC offers a wide range of programs and services designed to meet the academic, social, emotional, and physical needs of our local youth. About Heart of America Heart of America transforms learning spaces, bridges the resource gap, and strengthens communities to give all students room to learn, discover, and thrive. We believe every student deserves inspiring spaces equipped with the right resources to increase access and equity in education. And behind that belief is a deep commitment to collaboration. We listen thoughtfully and partner closely as we co-create vibrant spaces and innovative solutions that reflect the communities we serve. Since 1997, we have transformed more than 1,100 spaces and impacted the lives of more than 2.5 million students in historically marginalized communities by providing over 4.4 million books and more than $9.5 million in technology. PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD® At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and specialty materials that our customers have trusted for more than 140 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers' biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $15.8 billion in 2024. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit Colorful Communities, the PPG Logo and We protect and beautify the world are registered trademarks of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc. Ennis-Flint and DecoMark are registered trademarks of the PPG Group of Companies. CATEGORY Community Affairs View source version on Contacts PPG Media Contact: Mark SilveyCorporate Communications+1 412 434 3046silvey@ Sign in to access your portfolio
