Market Opens

Steven Leong, Head of Canada iShares Product, BlackRock Inc. (“Blackrock” or the “Company”), joined Graham MacKenzie, Managing Director, Exchange Traded Products, Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), to open the market and celebrate the launch of their two new ETFs; iShares Flexible Monthly Income ETF (TSX: XFLI and XFLI.U) and iShares Flexible Monthly Income ETF (CAD-Hedged) (TSX: XFLX). RBC iShares ETFs are comprised of RBC ETFs managed by RBC Global Asset Management Inc. and iShares ETFs managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited. RBC iShares is a strategic alliance formed in 2019 between RBC Global Asset Management and BlackRock Canada. RBC iShares provides the largest suite of ETFs to Canadians, and leverages the combined investment expertise of Canada’s largest asset manager and the world’s largest ETF provider to help advisors build efficient portfolios that meet the needs of their clients. BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate RBC Global Asset Management (RBC GAM) is the asset management division of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). RBC GAM is a provider of global investment management services and solutions to institutional, high-net-worth and individual investors through separate accounts, pooled funds, mutual funds, hedge funds, exchange-traded funds and specialty investment strategies. RBC Funds, BlueBay Funds, PH&N Funds and RBC ETFs are offered by RBC Global Asset Management Inc. (RBC GAM Inc.) and distributed through authorized dealers in Canada. The RBC GAM group of companies, which includes RBC GAM Inc. (including PH&N Institutional) and RBC Indigo Asset Management Inc., manage approximately $660 billion in assets and have approximately 1,600 employees located across Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia.

Clint Davis, Chief Executive Officer, Cedar Leaf Capital, joined Rob Peterman, Chief Commercial Officer, Toronto Stock Exchange, to open the market to create awareness of the need to foster greater Indigenous participation in capital markets. Scotiabank together with Nch'ḵay̓ Development, Des Nedhe Group, and Chippewas of Rama First Nation announced this morning that Cedar Leaf Capital received regulatory approval and plans to open its doors later this month. Cedar Leaf Capital is Canada’s first majority Indigenous-owned investment dealer. This collaboration brings together financial and market knowledge with deep insights into the needs of Indigenous businesses in order to create opportunities for Indigenous communities to access tailored financial advice, build capital, and contribute to economic growth. The firm will provide services as an underwriter or placement agent of new debt issues for corporate and government clients in Canada, with plans to potentially expand into advisory services and equity capital markets.

Mark Tadros, Chief Executive Officer, Stardust Solar Energy Inc. (“Stardust” or the “Company”), joined Andrew Creech, Managing Director, TSX Venture Exchange Listings, to close the market to celebrate the company’s new listing on TSX Venture Exchange. Stardust Solar is a leading franchisor of residential renewable energy installation services based in North America. Specializing in solar PV installations, energy storage systems, and EV chargers, Stardust Solar empowers entrepreneurs through comprehensive training and robust business management support. With hundreds of franchise applications in process and expansion into the U.S. market, Stardust Solar is positioned for rapid growth. The company is the largest solar training provider in Canada, having trained and certified over 2,500 professionals. With strategic acquisitions and a focus on sustainability, Stardust Solar is committed to driving environmental stewardship and economic growth through renewable energy solutions.

Mason Mitchell-Daniels, Chief Operating Officer, Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance, Dr. Christine Brezden-Masley from Mount Sinai Hospital, and Dr. David Lim from Women's College Hospital, joined Brenda Cunnington, Managing Director, Americas, Trayport at TMX Group, to open the market to recognize the first ever Global Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day, on October 15th. Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), also known as lobular breast cancer, comprises 15% of all breast cancer diagnoses. Despite this incidence, there has been a lack of attention paid to the disease and a lack of funding for scientific research. October is breast cancer awareness month worldwide; declaring October 15th Global Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day – will help raise worldwide awareness of this breast cancer type. Many scientific studies have confirmed that lobular breast cancer is a distinct breast cancer type and that it behaves differently from the more common non-lobular breast cancers. But, for decades, in part because of the smaller numbers of patients at any one site and the insufficient standardization of the diagnosis for pathologists and radiologists, there has been a paucity of research. Therefore, though quite different, lobular breast cancer is treated the same as other non-lobular tumors.