In this edition:
- Niagara real estate market holding steady heading into spring
- World’s largest nuclear facility could be built in Ontario with new $300M deal
- Airbus secures 150-plane order with AirAsia in boon for Quebec aviation
- Niagara Falls Farmers’ Market returns May 23
- CCIB and BDL launch tracker to measure impact of Indigenous businesses
- Number of foreign workers in agriculture down 6.2%
- Retail sales rose 4.9% year-over-year in February
- Solomon says delayed federal AI strategy coming soon, will address impact on jobs
- Hotel trade group says World Cup demand is below expectations
- Focus on International Trade
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The Niagara Powerhouse Summit Brings International Faculty, Advanced Clinical Training, and Industry Leaders to the Region
The Niagara region will welcome leading medical professionals from across Canada this spring as the Niagara Powerhouse Summit, Canada’s National Aesthetic Medicine Conference, takes place May 29–31, 2026 at the Hilton Fallsview Conference Centre.
Hosted by Empower Aesthetic Medicine Collaborative (EAMC) in partnership with Nurses & Needles, the three-day summit is designed to advance clinical excellence, elevate safety standards, and foster collaboration within the rapidly growing field of aesthetic medicine.
The event will feature internationally recognized faculty and offer a comprehensive program focused on advanced education, including cadaver anatomy training, ultrasound-guided techniques, and complication prevention and management. Attendees will also experience live demonstrations, leadership development sessions, and wellness-focused programming aimed at supporting sustainable careers in the industry.
Featured content by Empower Aesthetic Medicine Collaborative
Photo credit: Brad Demers / Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce
Niagara real estate market holding steady heading into spring
“The Niagara region continues to show signs of steady market activity as we head into the spring season,” says Johnny MacDonald, Chair of the Niagara Association of REALTORS®. In April 2006, residential home sales totaled 556 units, marking a slight increase from the 552 units recorded in April 2025. Month-over-month, the region experienced a robust 20.1% surge in sales compared to March 2026.
Picture credit: Airbus
Airbus secures 150-plane order with AirAsia in boon for Quebec aviation
Airbus Canada has signed a deal to supply AirAsia with a massive order of 150 of its Canadian-made A220 jets in a multibillion-dollar coup for Quebec’s aviation industry.
Unveiled on May 6, the agreement with the low-cost Malaysian airline marks the largest single firm order for the narrow-body planes — assembled north of Montreal in Mirabel — in the manufacturer’s history.
Picture credit: City of Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls Farmers’ Market returns May 23
The Niagara Falls Farmers’ Market returns for the 2026 season on Saturday, May 23, at the MacBain Community Centre. The market runs every Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., rain or shine, until October 10, 2026.
More information, including a full vendor list is available at niagarafalls.ca/market.
Picture credit: Canadian Chamber of Commerce
CCIB and BDL launch tracker to measure impact of Indigenous businesses
The Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB), in collaboration with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Data Lab (BDL), has launched the Indigenous Business Insights Tracker, an interactive dashboard providing a clearer picture of the impactful role Indigenous entrepreneurs play in the Canadian economy.
Photo credit: @Nailotl / Adobe Stock
Number of foreign workers in agriculture down 6.2%
Following a sharp increase in 2023, the number of temporary foreign workers employed in the agriculture sector was down 6.2% to 74,789 in 2024.
In 2024, temporary foreign workers in agriculture continued to come primarily from Mexico (32,036) and Guatemala (19,443), which together accounted for the majority of temporary foreign workers. Jamaica (8,812) remained the third-largest source country.
Picture credit: Krakenimages.com / Adobe Stock
Retail sales rose 4.9% year-over-year in February
Statistics Canada reports that retail sales reached $59.6 billion in February, up 4.9% from the same month in 2025, with gains in 15 of 18 commodity classes. Food and beverage sales rose 5.3%, led by fresh meat and poultry, while motor vehicle sales increased 6.2%, driven by a 9.9% gain in new motor vehicle sales. Automotive and household fuels posted the largest decline, down 4.7%, as lower gas prices reduced fuel sales.
Photo credit: Summit Art Creations / Adobe Stock
Solomon says delayed federal AI strategy coming soon, will address impact on jobs
The federal government’s promised new national AI strategy will consider the technology’s impacts on the labour market, Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon said recently.
It’s been six months since the government wrapped up fast-tracked consultations on the strategy. Solomon initially promised it would be tabled by the end of last year.
Picture credit: j_chincoya / Adobe Stock
Hotel trade group says World Cup demand is below expectations
With less than 40 days to go before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is warning that World Cup-related hotel demand is falling short of expectations.
The AHLA’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Hotel Outlook report, which features survey data from properties across 11 U.S. host cities, found that 80% of respondents say bookings are tracking below initial forecasts.
Focus on International Trade
Continental divides: North American and global exporters in a new trade era
Deloitte Future of Canada Centre
Through the Daily Updates, the GNCC aims to deliver important business news in a timely manner. We disseminate all news and information we feel will be important to businesses. Inclusion in the Daily Update is not an endorsement by the GNCC.
