Latest news with #GlobalMedic
Cision Canada
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Cision Canada
Just Vertical and GlobalMedic Launch Moldova Indoor Farm to Support Ukrainian Refugees and Local Communities
Vertical indoor farm in Eastern Europe will provide year-round fresh produce in a region plagued by security concerns and inadequate growing conditions. TORONTO, June 12, 2025 /CNW/ - A Canadian-built indoor farm is now feeding refugees and local families in Rîșcova, Moldova—offering a sustainable food solution amid war and food insecurity. The initiative, led by Just Vertical and GlobalMedic, marks the first time hydroponic technology has been deployed for humanitarian aid in the region. The farm, which is able to grow more than 1,000 plants at once, is now fully operational, providing year-round access to fresh, culturally significant crops in an area where farming is restricted by extreme climate conditions. Conflict, climate, and economic instability have made it increasingly difficult for communities to access fresh food. Post this Located in Eastern Europe, Moldova borders Ukraine and Romania. While historically an agricultural nation, the country faces harsh winters, economic constraints, security concerns, and logistical disruptions that make the supply of fresh produce almost impossible throughout the year. Since the onset of the war in Ukraine, over 1.9 million Ukrainian citizens have passed through Moldova, with around 127,000 currently residing in the country. This influx has significantly increased the demand for food and resources in stressed and vulnerable communities. This project provides an immediate food security solution while demonstrating how indoor farming technology can be applied in long-term humanitarian efforts. Award-Winning Documentary Captures the Impact A short documentary chronicling the project—"Moldova Feeds," directed by Just Vertical's Conner Tidd and Christopher Di Grazia —was recently awarded Best Short Documentary – Advertising at the 2025 Niagara Canada International Film Festival. The film features powerful visuals and first-person accounts of the farm's development, community impact, and refugee support. It was edited by Andrew King, a Toronto-based video editor with more than 15 years of experience in reality and non-scripted television in both Australia and North America. King's past work earned him a Canadian Screen Award nomination. Quotes "Conflict, climate, and economic instability have made it increasingly difficult for communities to access fresh food," said Conner Tidd, co-founder and CEO of Just Vertical. "By implementing hydroponic technology in Moldova, we're giving people the tools to grow their own food—helping to create long-term stability in an unpredictable world." "Food insecurity isn't just about access—it's about control," said Rahul Singh, executive director of GlobalMedic. "In Moldova, families who fled the war in Ukraine are trying to rebuild their lives while local communities face the strain of supporting them. This project ensures that refugees and their hosts have a sustainable, local food source, reducing dependence on unstable supply chains and foreign aid." Project Highlights First-of-Its-Kind Humanitarian Hydroponic Farm – The Moldova farm features 1,024 plant ports, each serving as a dedicated growing site, enabling year-round fresh produce production in a compact, resource-efficient system. Direct Support for Ukrainian Refugees and Local Communities – The farm grows culturally significant crops, ensuring the produce aligns with local diets and traditions. Technology-Driven Resilience – The green wall system optimizes space and efficiency, allowing communities to grow fresh, pesticide-free produce with minimal inputs. Award-Winning Storytelling – The farm's development and human impact are documented in an acclaimed short film, offering a rare window into how Canadian-led innovation is changing lives abroad. Global Humanitarian Collaboration – Made possible through a partnership between: Just Vertical – Provider of indoor farming technology GlobalMedic – Humanitarian aid partner Katalyst Kitchens – Local Moldovan implementation partner The Myhal Foundation – Project funder and philanthropic partner Expanding Impact in Eastern Europe – This is Just Vertical's first major project in Eastern Europe, setting the stage for future food security initiatives in vulnerable regions. About Just Vertical As the demand for sustainable food production continues to rise, Just Vertical is providing scalable solutions through its cutting-edge indoor vertical hydroponic farming systems. Designed for both commercial and consumer markets, the company's systems are changing how businesses, institutions, and consumers grow fresh produce in any space. Just Vertical's systems empower organizations to meet sustainability goals by producing fresh, local, and pesticide-free food all year round, using 95 per cent less water and significantly less land than traditional agriculture. Learn more at About GlobalMedic Founded in 2002, GlobalMedic (The David McAntony Gibson Foundation) is a Canadian charity committed to providing rapid and effective humanitarian aid to communities affected by poverty, disaster, and conflict. Driven by a team of professional humanitarians and dedicated volunteers, GlobalMedic ensures that critical aid reaches those who need it most—efficiently and effectively. Through innovative programs like the award-winning RescUAV initiative, the organization continuously improves aid delivery while maximizing impact and cost efficiency. Learn more or support GlobalMedic's mission, visit About Katalyst Kitchens Katalyst is a Moldovan initiative that empowers communities through entrepreneurship, food security, and education. By building commercial kitchens and training centers, it fosters local innovation, supports small businesses, and promotes self-sufficiency. Katalyst integrates social impact with sustainable development, helping individuals turn ideas into action and build stronger, more resilient communities. Learn more at About Myhal Foundation The Myhal Family Foundation, led by Rayla and George Myhal, advances healthcare, education, and humanitarian aid. Their contributions include a $10 million matching gift to St. Joseph's Health Centre, support for the Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation at the University of Toronto, and a $6 million pledge to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation. The foundation emphasizes community impact, sustainability, and long-term development.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Just Vertical and GlobalMedic Launch Moldova Indoor Farm to Support Ukrainian Refugees and Local Communities
Vertical indoor farm in Eastern Europe will provide year-round fresh produce in a region plagued by security concerns and inadequate growing conditions. TORONTO, June 12, 2025 /CNW/ - A Canadian-built indoor farm is now feeding refugees and local families in Rîșcova, Moldova—offering a sustainable food solution amid war and food insecurity. The initiative, led by Just Vertical and GlobalMedic, marks the first time hydroponic technology has been deployed for humanitarian aid in the region. The farm, which is able to grow more than 1,000 plants at once, is now fully operational, providing year-round access to fresh, culturally significant crops in an area where farming is restricted by extreme climate conditions. Located in Eastern Europe, Moldova borders Ukraine and Romania. While historically an agricultural nation, the country faces harsh winters, economic constraints, security concerns, and logistical disruptions that make the supply of fresh produce almost impossible throughout the year. Since the onset of the war in Ukraine, over 1.9 million Ukrainian citizens have passed through Moldova, with around 127,000 currently residing in the country. This influx has significantly increased the demand for food and resources in stressed and vulnerable communities. This project provides an immediate food security solution while demonstrating how indoor farming technology can be applied in long-term humanitarian efforts. Award-Winning Documentary Captures the ImpactA short documentary chronicling the project—"Moldova Feeds," directed by Just Vertical's Conner Tidd and Christopher Di Grazia—was recently awarded Best Short Documentary – Advertising at the 2025 Niagara Canada International Film Festival. The film features powerful visuals and first-person accounts of the farm's development, community impact, and refugee support. It was edited by Andrew King, a Toronto-based video editor with more than 15 years of experience in reality and non-scripted television in both Australia and North America. King's past work earned him a Canadian Screen Award nomination. Quotes"Conflict, climate, and economic instability have made it increasingly difficult for communities to access fresh food," said Conner Tidd, co-founder and CEO of Just Vertical. "By implementing hydroponic technology in Moldova, we're giving people the tools to grow their own food—helping to create long-term stability in an unpredictable world." "Food insecurity isn't just about access—it's about control," said Rahul Singh, executive director of GlobalMedic. "In Moldova, families who fled the war in Ukraine are trying to rebuild their lives while local communities face the strain of supporting them. This project ensures that refugees and their hosts have a sustainable, local food source, reducing dependence on unstable supply chains and foreign aid." Project Highlights First-of-Its-Kind Humanitarian Hydroponic Farm – The Moldova farm features 1,024 plant ports, each serving as a dedicated growing site, enabling year-round fresh produce production in a compact, resource-efficient system. Direct Support for Ukrainian Refugees and Local Communities – The farm grows culturally significant crops, ensuring the produce aligns with local diets and traditions. Technology-Driven Resilience – The green wall system optimizes space and efficiency, allowing communities to grow fresh, pesticide-free produce with minimal inputs. Award-Winning Storytelling – The farm's development and human impact are documented in an acclaimed short film, offering a rare window into how Canadian-led innovation is changing lives abroad. Global Humanitarian Collaboration – Made possible through a partnership between: Expanding Impact in Eastern Europe – This is Just Vertical's first major project in Eastern Europe, setting the stage for future food security initiatives in vulnerable regions. About Just VerticalAs the demand for sustainable food production continues to rise, Just Vertical is providing scalable solutions through its cutting-edge indoor vertical hydroponic farming systems. Designed for both commercial and consumer markets, the company's systems are changing how businesses, institutions, and consumers grow fresh produce in any Vertical's systems empower organizations to meet sustainability goals by producing fresh, local, and pesticide-free food all year round, using 95 per cent less water and significantly less land than traditional more at About GlobalMedicFounded in 2002, GlobalMedic (The David McAntony Gibson Foundation) is a Canadian charity committed to providing rapid and effective humanitarian aid to communities affected by poverty, disaster, and conflict. Driven by a team of professional humanitarians and dedicated volunteers, GlobalMedic ensures that critical aid reaches those who need it most—efficiently and effectively. Through innovative programs like the award-winning RescUAV initiative, the organization continuously improves aid delivery while maximizing impact and cost more or support GlobalMedic's mission, visit About Katalyst KitchensKatalyst is a Moldovan initiative that empowers communities through entrepreneurship, food security, and education. By building commercial kitchens and training centers, it fosters local innovation, supports small businesses, and promotes self-sufficiency. Katalyst integrates social impact with sustainable development, helping individuals turn ideas into action and build stronger, more resilient more at About Myhal FoundationThe Myhal Family Foundation, led by Rayla and George Myhal, advances healthcare, education, and humanitarian aid. Their contributions include a $10 million matching gift to St. Joseph's Health Centre, support for the Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation at the University of Toronto, and a $6 million pledge to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation. The foundation emphasizes community impact, sustainability, and long-term development. Interviews & Resources Watch the award-winning video: Link Media kit: Link High-resolution photos and video b-roll available upon request Interview access with project leads in Toronto and Moldova SOURCE Just Vertical View original content to download multimedia:
CTV News
05-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Saskatchewan receives out-of-province help during extreme wildfire season
WATCH: It's all hands on deck as the Saskatchewan provincial fire crews fight to limit the damage of ongoing wildfires. WATCH: It's all hands on deck as the Saskatchewan provincial fire crews fight to limit the damage of ongoing wildfires. It's all hands-on-deck as crews try to limit the damage from Saskatchewan's extreme wildfires. Resources are being brought in from around the province and across the country to help with the fight. The Warman fire department is one of many that have sent additional help to the fire crews up north, with crews currently working near Weyakwin and Denare Beach. Chief Russ Austin with Warman Fire Rescue says they are able to help other communities while still taking care of their own. 'With conditions the way they are, we just can't, we can't move all our pieces off the chessboard. Right now, we keep about 25 firefighters in Warman, that are volunteers that can come and respond when needed.' The Saskatchewan Fire Chiefs Association partnered with the Toronto-based Global Medic charity to bring in fire skids, designed to turn regular pick-up trucks into firetrucks. The donated skids arrived this week from Edmonton and are being distributed out of Warman. 'They came in at 230, and by 5:00 they were already gone,' said Austin. 'By 7 p.m., at least four of those skids were fighting fire. It's amazing efficiency.' While the skids can help fight smaller, less extreme fires, the high intensity of some of the wildfires means they can only be fought by highly trained crews. 'We've had fires where we've evacuated our entire firefighting staff at short notice,' said Steve Roberts from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA). 'From Lower Fishing Lakes, we had to evacuate over 200 people. Those are fires that are not stable enough to use resources that are not familiar with active wildfires. So, it is one reason we currently are not using the military.' The province has received additional crews and equipment from B.C., the Northwest Territories, P.E.I., Nova Scotia, Alberta, Arizona, Alaska, and Oregon. The SPSA estimates that up to 600,000 hectares of land have burned so far this year.
CBC
31-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Toronto organizations try to get relief to Myanmar earthquake survivors
Social Sharing Three days after a major earthquake hit Southeast Asia, levelling buildings and killing thousands, organizations in Toronto are scrambling to get aid to survivors in the region. The epicentre of the 7.7 magnitude earthquake was located near Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, but was felt around the country and in neighbouring nations. Survivors were still being pulled out of the rubble Monday, but the death toll has now climbed past 2,000 people. Toronto organizations are appealing to Canadians to help quickly get aid to the region. The Burma Buddhist Association of Ontario (BBAO) has been taking donations from its religious community to pass on to relief efforts on the ground. But former president Koko Kyi says the earthquake was so damaging, the organization is now appealing to all Ontarians to raise more funds, and launching a GoFundMe page. Kyi says damage in Myanmar has made it difficult to transport supplies, and BBAO is still trying to find boots on the ground who can get aid to where it's most needed. "If possible, we would like to use a local relief organization, because they know the area, they know the people and so forth," Kyi said, adding that they are also considering sending the funds they raise to international organizations in the affected areas. "Hopefully, they will be able to access those devastated areas and provide the help which is needed," he said. Rahul Singh, executive director at Global Medic, says his organization has sent drones to affected areas to help assess the damage. He says many roads around Mandalay are badly damaged, and an airport in the area was also hit. Global Medic has also offered water purifiers to people on the ground to help provide clean drinking water. Singh says he's concerned Canadians may find it difficult to give as a trade war with the U.S. threatens to raise the cost of living, but he's hopeful. "A lot of people travel through that region, so I think the people in Toronto will want to help," Singh said. "Right now, we know people are in trouble, and we're offering the right aid to get in and get people clean drinking water."
