Richmond, B.C. (June 16, 2026) — As temperatures begin to climb across B.C., WorkSafeBC is reminding employers to prepare now for risks associated with summer weather before conditions become hazardous.

“Heat, UV exposure and wildfire smoke pose health risks for workers, and conditions can change quickly,” said Todd McDonald, head of Prevention Services at WorkSafeBC. “Don’t wait for a heat wave or smoky skies to start planning for these hazards. Employers should have a plan in place now and must engage workers and joint health and safety committees in the planning process.”

As part of its prevention work this summer, WorkSafeBC officers will check that employers have assessed these risks and implemented appropriate controls.

Plan ahead for heat exposure

The risk of heat stress is higher in certain occupations and sectors, both indoors and outdoors. Outdoor workers in industries such as construction, agriculture, transportation, and public works are at higher risk. Heat stress can also affect those working in indoor environments such as kitchens, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities, particularly those without air conditioning.

Heat stress can lead to serious health effects. Risk increases with factors such as high humidity, radiant heat from equipment, limited air movement, physically demanding work, protective clothing, and individual factors such as hydration, fitness level, or certain medications.

Employers should assess heat stress risks based on workplace conditions, job demands, and any factors that may increase a worker's susceptibility to heat-related illness.

Once risks are identified, employers should:

• Monitor workplace conditions and reassess regularly.
• Provide cool drinking water and regular rest breaks.
• Set up shaded or cooled recovery areas.
• Schedule strenuous work during cooler parts of the day.
• Improve ventilation and cooling in indoor work areas.
• Rotate workers between hotter and cooler environments.
• Train workers to recognize the early signs of heat stress in themselves and others and how to seek first aid. Symptoms can include excessive sweating, muscle cramps, nausea, weakness, dizziness, agitation, or confusion.
• Encourage workers to report symptoms early and speak up if conditions become unsafe.

Protect workers from wildfire smoke

Wildfire smoke can affect air quality across the province. Employers should treat smoke exposure as a workplace hazard and be ready to respond as conditions worsen.

Employers should:

• Monitor air quality and weather forecasts.
• Adjust work schedules, pace, or location when smoke levels rise.
• Reduce strenuous outdoor work when possible.
• Ensure ventilation systems are working properly and replace filters as needed.
• Ensure any respirators used are approved for the hazard and properly fit-tested.

Protect workers from UV exposure

During the summer months, outdoor workers also face risks associated with UV exposure. Prolonged sun exposure can cause skin damage — making outdoor workers 3.5 times more likely to develop skin cancer than indoor workers.
Risk can be reduced by monitoring the UV index, using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, and seeking shade when possible.

Resources:
WorkSafeBC resources help employers and workers prepare for summer conditions:

• New: Heat stress warning poster
• Heat stress
• Heat stress screening tool
• Methods for measuring heat strain or stress
• Wildfire smoke: Frequently asked questions
• Sun and UV radiation

[SURREY, BC, JUNE 19TH—] Reflecting Ishida Canada’s ongoing improvements to country-wide operations, the company is pleased to announce the promotion of David Parussini to National Service Manager.

In this new capacity, David oversees the technical service department, managing a team of service engineers and technicians. His responsibilities include supervising technical training, managing client service interactions, and developing preventative maintenance programs to optimize Ishida equipment performance across Canada.

David previously served as Service Technician and then Senior Service Engineer at Ishida Canada. Since joining the company in 2016, David has successfully secured new annual service contract revenue, strengthening long-term customer partnerships and expanding recurring business opportunities. He has also played a pivotal role in Ishida Canada's strategic growth by helping facilitate the launch of a new facility in Calgary and the addition of the company’s first Alberta-based team member, enhancing local support for customers and creating a stronger presence in Western Canada.

“David's combination of operational excellence and commitment to customer success exemplify the values that drive Ishida Canada's continued growth,” said Bill Taylor, President. “We are excited to recognize his contributions and look forward to his ongoing leadership as we continue expanding our service organization across the country.”

For more information on roles at Ishida Canada and to apply, interested candidates may visit www.ishidacanada.ca/careers.

CALGARY, AB, June 18, 2026 /CNW/ - Factor Meals, Canada's leading ready to eat meal brand, has officially opened a new 50,000 sq. ft. kitchen and distribution centre in Calgary, Alberta. The state-of-the-art facility establishes localized production in Western Canada, serving as a milestone in unlocking nationwide delivery for the brand this Fall.

Initially launched in 2022 to serve Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes, the Calgary expansion allows Factor Meals to seamlessly scale its dietitian-approved, chef-crafted meal deliveries from coast to coast.

"Activating our Calgary kitchen is a critical piece of the puzzle for Factor Meals in Canada," said Ian Brooks, CEO of HelloFresh Canada, Factor Meals' parent company. "This facility positions us to achieve national service in the coming months, bringing fresh, nutritious, and convenient meals to millions of new households across the Western provinces."

The facility represents a major economic investment in the region, creating 400 new jobs across production, logistics, and management. The launch was supported by $3.6 million in provincial and federal funding, including $2.3 million from an Alberta Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit (APITC) and $1.3 million from a Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership (SCAP) grant.

Tara Sawyer, Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, emphasized the impact of this regional integration. "Factor Meals' new facility is a prime example of how Alberta is attracting major investment in value-added processing. The Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit and the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership help companies establish and grow in our province while taking advantage of some of the best agricultural inputs in the world. Investments like this support local farmers, strengthen our ag sector and help meet the growing demand for high-quality agri-food products."

Calgary Mayor Farkas echoed the sentiment on the local impact. "Calgarians will benefit directly from this investment as Factor Meals expands in our city, creating hundreds of jobs and strengthening our local economy. This expansion reflects Calgary's continued growth as a destination for investment, where companies are choosing to scale, invest and be part of a city that is diversifying and building long-term economic strength."

Invest Alberta and Calgary Economic Development were instrumental in bringing this investment to life, providing Factor Meals with direct access to local supply chains, skilled talent, and government resources critical to establishing and scaling operations in the Calgary region.

"Factor Meals' decision to expand in Calgary reflects the momentum we're seeing across sectors where local innovation is transforming how we produce, move and deliver goods, including food-tech and agri-processing. With a competitive cost environment, room to scale, a highly skilled workforce and strong partnerships, Calgary offers what businesses need to scale with confidence." Said Brad Parry, President and CEO, Calgary Economic Development.

The facility will also integrate deeply with the regional agricultural supply chain, utilizing provincial incentives to advance the Province's agricultural sector.

"Factor Meals' investment underscores the growing strength of Alberta's integrated supply chain—from locally produced ingredients to advanced food processing and distribution. By choosing Alberta as a base for their Western Canada operations, HelloFresh and Factor are helping improve access to high-quality, affordable food options for consumers across the region. Invest Alberta is pleased to support companies making meaningful, lasting investments that connect our agricultural strengths with innovative food solutions and deliver tangible benefits to households," said Invest Alberta, Acting CEO, Keith Bradley.

Kevin Marban, General Manager of Factor Meals, confirmed that the facility is already operational and heavily focused on this regional network. "With 400 new roles, this facility allows us to work closely with local suppliers while delivering fresh meals directly to customers' doorsteps across Western Canada," Marban said. "We're incredibly grateful for the partnership with the city and the Province and look forward to continuing to support the local community."

Inside the State-of-the-Art Calgary Kitchen

The facility operates as a large-scale commercial kitchen and production site designed to prepare high-quality meals fresh daily. Built to support premium flavour development, freshness, and strict food safety, the infrastructure includes advanced industrial ovens, grills, braisers, and blast-chilling capabilities. To seamlessly manage the supply chain from raw ingredients to final fulfillment, the site features extensive commercial-scale warehouse space with dedicated receiving docks for fresh-cut produce and proteins. The operation utilizes multiple temperature-controlled zones and ambient storage to maintain strict cold-chain integrity.

Community Partnerships

Beyond economic development, Factor Meals is establishing local food rescue initiatives to distribute surplus ingredients and meals to residents experiencing food insecurity. The brand has partnered with Second Harvest nationally, alongside local organizations including the Calgary Food Bank and the Community Kitchen Program of Calgary.

Learn more about Factor Meals at www.factormeals.ca

Nestlé, Arcus, Interzero, and thirteen other leading companies are joining forces in a landmark project to turn household plastic waste into new packaging - including food packaging - as Europe tightens requirements for recyclability and recycled content.

Every year, vast quantities of flexible plastic packaging — coffee bags, meat packaging films, crisp packets and confectionery wrappers — are incinerated or downcycled into lower-value products rather than recycled into new packaging. Today, less than 15 percent of this packaging type is recycled, despite accounting for nearly half of all plastic packaging placed on the European market. InFACT aims to change that.

A complete value chain from bin to shelf

InFACT brings together 16 international partners covering the entire value chain: collection, sorting, recycling, packaging production, and food companies. The project is led by Danish Technological Institute and runs from 2026 to 2028, and is funded by Innovation Fund Denmark through the TRACE programme.

"We have brought together partners covering the entire chain from household waste bins to supermarket shelves. That is essential if we are to build a circular infrastructure that works technologically, environmentally and economically," says Per Sigaard Christensen, Business Manager at Danish Technological Institute.

A technical challenge meets political reality

Modern flexible food packaging is technically advanced - typically built from multiple polymer layers, barrier films, printing inks, adhesives and, in some cases, metallised surfaces. This makes the material almost impossible to recycle through conventional mechanical remelting. InFACT combines several complementary recycling technologies to crack that challenge.

In addition, key barriers have been a fragmented value chain and the lack of viable business models. InFACT is designed to address this by connecting technologies, documentation and market demand across the full packaging chain.

The project launches at a pivotal moment. The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which entered into force in February 2025, tightens requirements for recyclable packaging and documented recycled content by 2030. InFACT is designed to help industry translate these requirements into practical circular infrastructure.

"If we can establish a commercially viable infrastructure for flexible plastic packaging, we can both support the implementation of EU requirements and strengthen the resilience of European industry. InFACT can help reduce Europe's dependence on imported fossil oil and build a more self-sufficient circular plastics economy," adds Per Sigaard Christensen.

Business-critical for the food industry

"For a food company, packaging is business-critical. It must protect products, meet high food safety standards, and, at the same time, be documented as part of a more circular economy. No single company can create these solutions alone. That is why InFACT matters: the project brings the full value chain together to develop the infrastructure the food industry will need," says Birgitte Krenk, Nordic Head of Operations at Nestlé.

FACTS ABOUT InFACT

• InFACT stands for Infrastructure for the Flexible plastic pAckaging Circular Transition
• Project period: 2026–2028
• Total budget: EUR 3.2 million
• Funded by Innovation Fund Denmark via the TRACE program, a mission-driven research and innovation partnership focused on circular economy for plastics and textiles.
• Goal: Demonstrate circular infrastructure in which flexible plastic packaging is converted into new packaging
• Partners: Nestlé Danmark A/S, BKI foods A/S, Hilton Foods Denmark A/S, Cloetta AB, City of Copenhagen, Interzero GmbH, TotalEnergies, Fraunhofer IVV, ARCUS Greencycling Technologies, Re:Lab AB, Topsoe, Coveris GmbH, Dapofa A/S, University of Southern Denmark, VANA and Danish Technological Institute
• PPWR: Regulation (EU) 2025/40, entered into force 11 February 2025