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Business Wire
11-08-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
VIQ Solutions Announces Executive Leadership and Board Changes
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--VIQ Solutions Inc. ('VIQ', 'VIQ Solutions' or the 'Company') (TSX: VQS), a global provider of secure, AI-driven, digital voice and video capture technology and transcription services, today announced that Sebastien Pare has resigned from his role as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and from its Board of Directors (the 'Board') effectively immediately. In connection with Mr. Pare's departure, Larry Taylor has been appointed as Interim Chief Executive Officer effective immediately. Mr. Taylor will work closely with the executive team and the Board to accelerate VIQ's delivery of profitability, growth and free cash flow. Elizabeth Pennell has also been appointed Global Head of Operations. Ms. Pennell has over 30 years of industry experience having joined VIQ in January 2020 with the acquisition of ASC Media. Recently, Elizabeth has led the successful integration of our USA and UK operations which are our highest performing business units. In addition, Elizabeth leads VIQ's Media business unit serving global clients such as Bloomberg, Fox News, CNN and many others with real time digital solutions. Elizabeth's new role will include leadership of VIQ's Australian business unit to accelerate customer technology adoption and drive profitability to levels achieved in USA and UK. Elizabeth will spend a significant amount of her time in Australia and is expected to work closely with VIQ's Australian customers and teams to drive immediate results. Larry Taylor stated, 'We thank Sebastien and wish him well in his new endeavors. The Board and I look forward to working with Elizabeth and our management team as we accelerate VIQ's progress on growth and profitability.' Board Director Changes Brad Wells has been appointed Board Chair and Lead Independent Director effective August 11, 2025. Mr. Wells is the largest shareholder of VIQ. Mr. Wells has been President and CEO of Momentum Group Ltd. since he founded it in 2004. Mr. Wells runs operating companies in the USA, Canada, Europe and Central America. Previously, Mr. Wells was Founder and CEO of Sym-Tech Dealer Services until the company was successfully sold to private equity in 2019 after a successful digital transformation that led to higher productivity and automation. Howard Wetston, C.M, KC. LL.B., ICD.D, has been appointed to the Board effective August 11, 2025. Mr. Wetston is a distinguished Canadian public servant, lawyer and former Senator whose career spans all three branches of parliamentary democracy – executive, judicial and legislative. Mr. Wetston is a former Chair of the Ontario Securities Commission, former Chair of the Ontario Energy Board, former Commissioner of Competition and former Federal Court Judge. Mr. Wetston was named to the Order of Canada and received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal as well as honorary doctorates from Dalhousie and Cape Breton University. Joe Quarin and Larry Taylor will remain active members of the Board. Brad Wells stated, 'I am energized to take on the role of Chair at this pivotal time. VIQ must operate with greater urgency, speed, and discipline. Our focus is clear: achieve profitability, strengthen liquidity, and deliver best-in-class AI-powered solutions to our global customer base. Just as critical is empowering our people and strengthening a culture of aligned execution, accountability and agility. We will pursue growth through focused innovation and targeted acquisitions where they make strategic sense. I look forward to continuing to work with the Board and management, as we lead VIQ into its next phase. I am delighted to welcome Howard who bring s tremendous insight, leadership, and energy to the Board and the business.' About VIQ Solutions VIQ Solutions is a global provider of secure, AI-driven, digital voice and video capture technology and transcription services. VIQ offers a seamless, comprehensive solution suite that delivers intelligent automation, enhanced with human review, to drive transformation in the way content is captured, secured, and repurposed into actionable information. The cyber-secure, AI technology and services platform are implemented in the most rigid security environments including criminal justice, legal, insurance, government, corporate finance, media, and transcription service provider markets, enabling them to improve the quality and accessibility of evidence, to easily identify predictive insights and to achieve digital transformation faster and at a lower cost. Forward-looking Statements Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information (collectively, 'forward-looking statements') under applicable securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements or information are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements (typically contain statements with words such as 'anticipate', 'believe', 'expect', 'plan', 'intend', 'estimate', 'propose', 'project' or similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions 'may' or 'will' occur). These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include but are not limited to statements with respect to the Company's strategy related to growth and profitability and the potential outcome thereof, and the Company's current and future growth prospects. Forward-looking statements are based on several factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such statements, but which may prove to be incorrect. Although VIQ believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because VIQ can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of opinions, assumptions and estimates that while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of this press release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the factors described in greater detail in the 'Risk Factors' section of the Company's annual information form dated March 31, 2025 and in the Company's other materials filed on SEDAR+ at These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect the Company; however, these factors should be considered carefully. Such estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect or overstated. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and the Company expressly disclaims any obligations to update or alter such statements, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
CBC
09-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Former Wabana mayor Gary Gosine dies at 67
Bell Island has lost a longtime municipal politician who many now hail as a legend. Gary Gosine served on the Wabana town council for 35 years — 29 of them as the mayor — before retiring in 2024. He died Saturday at the age of 67. Philip Tobin, the current Wabana mayor and Gosine's nephew, says Gosine was a role model. "I grew up looking up to him, he was a mentor to me," he said Sunday. Tobin said the former mayor achieved many things for his community, but made a large impact by fighting for improved ferry services connecting Bell Island to Portugal Cove- St. Philip's. Gosine also advocated for better roads and water infrastructure. "He pushed in many ways and held the officials accountable for their actions," said Tobin. … Gosine was awarded Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. Tobin said he's learned many things from his predecessor on a political level, like keeping the community's best interests in mind when making big decisions. He said he also has many personal memories. "He was always here to support the youth … he loved hockey," said Tobin. "We've gotten to share some great times and then some great victories over the years." WATCH | Politicians remember a longtimer leader and lover of Bell Island: 'He was a fighter': Municipal, provincial leaders remember former Wabana mayor Gary Gosine, dead at 67 4 hours ago Duration 3:54 The long-time council member passed away Saturday after a long illness. Those who crossed paths with him say he was someone who spoke his mind but always stayed respectful — and who passionately worked for his home of Bell Island. The dedication Gosine held for the people of his town led to some headbutting with a number of Newfoundland and Labrador's politicians, including former Conception Bay East-Bell Island MHA David Brazil. "We've clashed … a number of times, but as good friends we always moved on," Brazil said in an interview with CBC. Brazil says his connection with Gosine goes back 50 years. The former mayor's 2013 re-election campaign was run in the hospital after undergoing open heart surgery and experiencing a stroke. Brazil sat by Gosine's side at the Miller Centre as he was sworn in. People can learn a thing or two from the Bell Island legend, according to Brazil. He said he admires how he always spoke his mind while respecting others when it came to standing up for his community. "He was multifaceted, he understood the needs of everybody," said Brazil. Fred Hutton, recently elected as the MHA for the area, has similar things to say. The minister for tourism, culture, arts and recreation and former journalist says Gosine always kept a calm demeanour. Hutton said in recent years when Gosine wasn't getting around as often, he'd visit him at home in Wabana. "Oftentimes family members would be there dropping and dropping out," said Hutton. "You could always tell the immense measure of pride that they had for their dad or their grandfather or in Debbie's case, her husband, but also the love that he had for them." He said Bell Island is synonymous with Gosine, a man who led by example. "If you look at the things that people enjoy on Bell Island today, his fingerprints are all over them," Hutton said.
CBC
02-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
STARS air ambulance founder Greg Powell dies at 77
Current STARS president says countless people alive today due to Powell's vision STARS air ambulance announced on Thursday night that its founder and former CEO, Greg Powell, died earlier this week. Powell, 77, died on Wednesday at Foothills Hospice in Okotoks, with his family by his side. Current Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service (STARS) president and CEO John Froh said in a release that Powell recognized too many patients were dying because they couldn't receive the care they needed quickly enough, and was motivated to improve the delivery model. "Countless people are alive today because of his ground-breaking vision and enduring tenacity and for that we are honoured to carry on his mission," Froh said. Powell grew up in Edmonton and studied medicine at the University of British Columbia, according to a profile of his career published for his induction into the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2021. During his second year of studies, he used a medical elective to join the Flying Doctor Service in Darwin, Australia. While on the way to Australia, he visited a mobile army surgical hospital (MASH) unit in Saigon during the Vietnam War, where he watched helicopter rescues in action. Watching war casualties survive traumatic injuries thanks to the rapid intervention inspired him to create a helicopter emergency medical service closer to home, the profile says. After graduating from UBC, Powell attended Canada's then-only emergency medicine training program at McGill University and worked as the director of emergency medicine at Calgary's Foothill hospital. Powell co-founded STARS in 1985. The charity survived early financial struggles and expanded beyond Calgary in 1991, opening an Edmonton base. The emergency medical service is celebrating its 40th year of operation this year. It has flown more than 60,000 missions across Western Canada, from bases across the prairies in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. For his work launching STARS, Powell was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2006. Powell also received the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005, and the Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. Powell also served as chair of emergency medical services for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics and as medical director for internationally protected persons at the 2002 G8 Summit in Kananaskis. He was later inducted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame in 2018, and the Foothills Medical Centre helipad was named after him in 2015.
Gulf News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Gulf News
Meet the six Pakistani-Canadians elected in Canada's 2025 Federal election
Dubai: In a significant moment for representation and diversity in Canadian politics, six Pakistani-Canadian candidates including two-women have won seats in the 2025 federal election, all running under the banner of the Liberal Party of Canada. Among the winners are five returning Members of Parliament and one new MP, reflecting that Pakistani-Canadians' growing political influence and the Liberal Party's inclusive platform. Some 50 candidates of Pakistani origin contested this year's federal election, highlighting an increasing level of civic engagement from the community across Canada. The successful candidates include: Salma Zahid (Don Valley East, Scarborough), Iqra Khalid (Erin Mills, Mississauga), Shafqat Ali (Brampton—Chinguacousy Park), Yasir Naqvi (Ottawa Centre), Sameer Zuberi (Pierrefonds — Dollard — Quebic), and Aslam Rana (Hamilton Centre). All, except newcomer Aslam Rana, have previously served as MPs and have built strong reputations in their respective ridings. Notably, Rana's win in Hamilton Centre marks a political shift, unseating the NDP after two decades of dominance in the area. Iqra Khalid Elected first in 2015, Iqra Khalid has held her seat in Mississauga—Erin Mills through multiple terms. Born in Pakistan in 1985, she immigrated to Canada via the UK in 1998. A graduate of York University in criminology and professional writing, Khalid later earned a law degree and worked in immigration services. As a Parliamentarian, she has championed human rights and diversity initiatives. Salma Zahid Representing Don Valley East since 2015, Zahid is a seasoned politician with a background in public service and community organising. Born in Coventry, UK, and raised in Pakistan, she holds an MBA from Quaid-i-Azam University and a master's degree from the University of London. Zahid has been recognised for her advocacy on behalf of racialised women and received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Shafqat Ali A real estate professional turned politician, Shafqat Ali won his first seat in 2021 and now represents the newly formed riding of Brampton—Chinguacousy Park. Ali also played a role in the 2025 Liberal leadership race, supporting Mark Carney's bid. Yasir Naqvi Previously active in Ontario provincial politics, Yasir Naqvi now serves as MP for Ottawa Centre. Born in Karachi, Naqvi has built a solid political resume, focusing on justice reform, community safety, and public engagement. Sameer Zuberi Representing Pierrefonds — Dollard since 2019, Zuberi is of mixed Pakistani, Scottish, and Italian heritage. He serves as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities and sits on the Foreign Affairs committee. Zuberi's background in law and human rights advocacy has shaped his parliamentary work. Aslam Rana The newest face among the group, Rana claimed victory in Hamilton Centre, ending a 20-year NDP stronghold. An engineer by profession and community leader by passion, Rana has been active in the Liberal Party since 2010. He migrated from Multan to Hamilton in 2003 and has focused on uplifting underrepresented communities. 2025 Canadian Federal Election The 45th Canadian general election, held in April 2025, resulted in a hung Parliament with no party securing a clear majority. The Liberal Party, led by a new leader Mark Carney following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's departure from politics, managed to hold onto power by forming government with the support of smaller progressive parties. The Conservative Party saw gains in Western Canada, while the New Democratic Party struggled to maintain its traditional urban strongholds. Voter turnout was reported at just over 66%, slightly higher than in the 2021 election, with youth and immigrant communities showing increased participation. The election highlighted key issues such as affordability, climate policy, housing, and public healthcare — all areas where many of the elected Pakistani-Canadian MPs have pledged to push for progress.
