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Private equity investment in Canada hit a record $30.9 billion in the first half of 2025, up 258% from last year and surpassing all of 2024, according to the Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association. Mid-market deals under $25 million dominated, but a few megadeals pushed the average to $95.8 million.

Venture capital lagged, with $2.9 billion raised—the lowest first-half total since 2020—despite a modest Q2 uptick. Average VC deal size held at $11.4 million as investors favored fewer, larger transactions. Exit activity was muted, with minimal M&A and no IPOs.

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Canada’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources has announced over $25 million for 33 projects advancing electric vehicle infrastructure and freight decarbonization. Natural Resources Canada will provide $10M to install 850 EV charging stations nationwide, while $8M through the Energy Innovation Program will fund six heavy-duty vehicle projects.

Another $8M from the Green Freight Program will help fleets boost fuel efficiency. Much of the funding targets Quebec. Since 2016, Ottawa has committed more than $1B to charging infrastructure, with 35,000 ports now operational. Demand could reach 700,000 by 2040.

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The federal government is investing $8.2 million in Northcliff Resources to advance the Sisson Project, a tungsten-molybdenum deposit in New Brunswick. Federal energy minister Tim Hodgson called the project vital to Canada’s supply of critical minerals used in technology, energy storage, defence, and aerospace.

The funding, part of the $4B Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy, will support a feasibility study update and engineering design ahead of a construction decision. Northcliff, founded in Vancouver in 2010, aims to become a reliable domestic producer of these minerals, which are essential to strengthening Canada’s industrial competitiveness.

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Parks Canada, the University of Waterloo, and provincial partners have launched the “Icy Initiative,” a community science project to monitor Alberta’s glaciers. Starting in Jasper National Park and other protected areas, visitors can use cellphone “Icy stands” at glacier viewpoints to photograph and submit images online.

Researchers analyze submissions to track changes over time, supporting glacier preservation efforts. The project builds on the 2021 “Coastie program” for coastal monitoring and is powered by the GeoReach Education Platform. Canada holds one-fifth of global glacial volume, making such data vital for conservation.

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Calgary’s going big on clean transit. The city’s adding 120 Canadian-built electric buses from Volvo Group’s Nova Bus to replace aging rides and keep service running smoothly.

It’s part of a massive shift launched with a $165M Canada Infrastructure Bank investment in 2023, aiming for 259 zero-emission buses by 2027 and feeding into Ottawa’s goal of 5,000 ZEBs nationwide. Sharon Fleming of Calgary Transit says the move cuts costs, cleans air, and preps the city for future demand. The new buses hit streets by 2028, echoing similar green fleet moves in Whitehorse and Brampton.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Calgary.tech.