Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
Newswire Release | Nov 15, 2018
NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NetworkWire -- NetworkNewsWire (“NNW”), a multifaceted financial news and publishing company, today announces its participation in the upcoming VanFUNDING 2018: CONVERGE (#VF2018) conference, taking place Nov. 29-30, 2018, at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver in Vancouver, B.C. NetworkNewsWire is the official social media sponsor of this leading fintech and capital conference, which will explore the explosive growth currently happening relative to blockchain, AI, fintech and funding innovations, global market developments and alternative investing opportunities.
“Our team is proud to be chosen as the official social media sponsor of VanFUNDING 2018,” said Jonathan Keim, communications director for NetworkNewsWire. “We look forward to lending our expertise in promoting the conference to our 1.6+ million followers via dozens of investor-focused brands, helping greatly expand the reach of VanFUNDING 2018 and its sponsors and exhibitors.”
As part of its sponsorship, NNW is featuring VanFUNDING 2018 on its website and the website of its sister brand CryptoCurrencyWire. NNW is also providing a summary profile for each conference partner and disseminating these profiles through its many social channels and robust editorial syndication network with 5000+ outlets to help expand the reach of the event’s sponsors beyond the conference halls.
“NetworkNewsWire is a leading news and publishing entity within the financial world, and we are excited to be including its team of experts among our sponsors at this year’s event,” said Craig Asano, founder and CEO of the National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association of Canada (NCFA), the organizational body presenting VanFUNDING 2018. “Their impressive syndication network, robust following and vast expertise make them a valuable partner to help promote this year’s immersive conference.”
The theme of the expanded, fourth annual VanFUNDING conference is “CONVERGE,” which centers on immersion and building bridges to connect today’s most disruptive emerging technologies, capital market innovations and key stakeholders that are powering new global markets, new decentralized models, new forms of computer intelligence, new IP, new infrastructure and new alternative investment opportunities that encapsulate the vision of a Web 3.0. The conference is a not-to-be-missed event for any fintech innovator, investment professional, company actively raising capital and key decision maker/stakeholder in technology and digital finance. The world’s premier fintech leaders, investors and emerging innovators will be in attendance, as will policymakers and representatives from government regulatory bodies with an eye on the future of finance.
For more information about VanFUNDING 2018: CONVERGE, visit http://vanfunding.com.
NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is a financial news and content distribution company that provides (1) access to a network of wire services via NetworkWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible, (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets (3), enhanced press release services to ensure maximum impact, (4) social media distribution via the Investor Brand Network (IBN) to nearly 2 million followers, (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions, and (6) a total news coverage solution with NNW Prime. As a multifaceted organization with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, NNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, NNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. NNW is where news, content and information converge. For more information, please visit https://www.NetworkNewsWire.com.
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the NetworkNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by NNW, wherever published or re-published: http://NNW.fm/Disclaimer.
VanFUNDING 2018 is a not-to-be missed BLOCKCHAIN, FINTECH & FUNDING INNOVATION and ALT INVESTING conference that features high growth emerging technologies, regulations, game changing projects, the latest trends, deal flow, and investment opportunities. VF2018 brings markets to life with authentic dialogues and engaging stories that educate, inspire and resonate with innovative start-ups, scale-ups, investors, service providers, thought leaders, policy makers and financial institutions who are leading the next generation of finance. Connect with leading experts and learn how to build, buy or sell in Canada’s innovation finance markets. For more information, please visit: http://vanfunding.com.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada’s Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org.
Corporate Communications Contact:
NetworkNewsWire (NNW)
New York, New York
www.NetworkNewsWire.com
212.418.1217 Office
Editor@NetworkNewsWire.com
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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FrontFundr Release | Victoria Bennett | Oct 31, 2018
As Squamish, on B.C.'s busy west coast, cements its reputation as the Outdoor Capital of Canada, it opens up a challenge, what do you do if you can't or don't want to do extreme sports?SQUAMISH, BC, October 31, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Squamish sits between two of the biggest tourist destinations in Canada – Vancouver, B.C. and Whistler, B.C. and is quickly becoming a destination itself. The Squamish tourism market has been growing at an amazing rate, even faster than B.C.'s tourism market as a whole. In 2017, there was a total of 5,713,926 overnight international visitor arrivals to the province, including 3,691,074 visitors from the US, 1,277,878 from Asia Pacific. The government has been putting more and more resources into attracting tourists to this amazing part of the world and the investment is paying off – in B.C., the tourism gross domestic product grew more rapidly in 2016 than all other industries combined.
Many of the activities in and around Squamish are designed specifically for the extreme sports enthusiast and very able outdoors people, even the hiking is difficult. The Sea to Sky Gondola (constructed in 2014) is one of the only attractions in the Squamish area that caters to visitors of all abilities. Additional attractions and activities that all levels and abilities can enjoy are needed in this area, to address the surge in visits by local and international tourists. Robin Sherry, founder and project lead of Squamish Canyon has met with the different levels of government from the city to roads to parks and first responders and they are all struggling to keep up with the rate of tourism growth in the region. There is still a need for investment and support by the government to the Parks, but there is also a need for private industry to play its role.
As the area has grown through tourism the community has grown too and having alternative activities for both tourists and the community that are safe, all weather and all ages has become paramount.
Working closely with the logging community and industry in the area, Squamish Canyon is preserving 26 acres of forest and creating low impact activities including interpretive forest and canyon walks, playground and entertainment area. Five years in the planning, Sherry is working with local businesses and contractors with international and local experience to have Squamish Canyon ready to open in Summer, 2019.
Robin Sherry commented, "I've lived in Squamish for over ten years and seen the huge growth in tourism but also the growth in the town. I am very involved in the outdoor community, but I also want everyone to be able to participate in this stunning location. Participation means a number of things; to be able to walk safely through temperate rainforest and understand the history ,culture and ecology, to bring local businesses in as suppliers, to create meaningful jobs that enable people to live in Squamish and to open up the investment to the community, so people can benefit from revenues made by Squamish Canyon."
Squamish Canyon launched their equity crowdfunding campaign on Canada's largest investment crowdfunding platform, FrontFundr on Tuesday, October 30th. Canadians can invest from $250 on the platform. Prior to launch, nearly $300,000 has already been reserved by investors.
Key Data
- Approximately 7.6 million people drive the Sea to Sky Highway per annum; 60 – 70% of those are estimated to be visitors to the area.
- Squamish Canyon is located 65 km from Whistler BC, which sees approximately 2.7 million visitors annually.
- Squamish Canyon is nestled in the Coastal Mountains at the end of the Howe Sound surrounded by fjords and waterfalls in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. The canyon is a few minutes off the spectacular Sea to Sky Highway, close to the world famous Stawamus Chief (340,000 visitors annually), Shannon Falls Provincial Park (475,000 visitors annually) and the Sea to Sky Gondola (400,000 visitors annually).
- The Sea to Sky Gondola sees approximately 400,000 visitors annually and far exceeded its highest visitor projections in the first year of operations. An estimated 80% of gondola visitors were specifically coming to the area to ride the gondola and not just passing through on the way to Whistler (Kirby Brown, General Manager, Sea to Sky Gondola).
Squamish Canyon will be located 62 km from Capilano Suspension Bridge, North Vancouver, BC – over 800,000 visitors annually
- The focus for Tourism Squamish is currently on attracting multi-generational tourists from the Lower Mainland (Lesley Weeks, Executive Director of Tourism Squamish)
For more information or to arrange an interview contact Victoria Bennett victoria@bmwconsults.com (403) 589 7992
Full details of the offering can be found in the Offering Memorandum. This document is for information purposes only. Please consult your finance professional before making an investment.
Squamish Canyon is a proposed destination addressing the Sea to Sky Corridor's critical lack of engaging, safe, and fun experiences for visitors of all ages. British Columbia's Highway 99 from Horseshoe Bay to Lillooet (known as the Sea to Sky Highway) links Metro Vancouver with Whistler and Squamish, BC. It is one of the busiest tourist highways in Canada, with day parks along the route seeing up to 900,000 visitors per year. And for those without advanced abilities, it's a destination they cannot fully experience.
Mamquam Adventures Inc, a local company with world-class partners, is changing that, designing a year-round, all-weather experience; one that can be enjoyed by the local 'big kids', parents with toddlers, grandma and grandpa, and almost anyone in between on the Vancouver - Squamish - Whistler highway.
At Squamish Canyon, you will be immersed in the natural beauty of the place named "Mother of Wind", walking over waterfalls, along the edge of canyon walls, and through a majestic rainforest on boardwalks, bridges, and suspended walkways, an experience only a whitewater kayaker or climber could previously enjoy. Along the journey, visitors will learn about local ecosystems, glacial water systems, outdoor safety, the history of the land and the First Nations of the area, as well as safety and conservation.
Mamquam Adventures Inc. values environmental and social sustainability, public transparency, and accountability. The company intends to balance growth and purpose in creating Squamish Canyon. The project brings together industry and tourism, diversifying the economy of the area, and creating a place for the local community and visitors to revel in the natural, rustic beauty of Canada's outdoor recreation capital.
Squamish Canyon. A destination waiting.
Source: view release
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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About NCFA Canada | C. Asano | September 26, 2018

Sue Britton, Advisor, Corporate Innovation & Partnerships
TORONTO, Sep 26, 2018 – The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association of Canada (NCFA) today announced that Sue Britton, CEO & Founder of the Fintech Growth Syndicate (FGS), has joined the Association`s national Advisory Group to advise in the areas of Fintech corporate innovation and partnerships (view).
Sue Britton is CEO & Founder of FGS (FinTech Growth Syndicate) – Canada’s leading FinTech innovation accelerator. FGS accelerates corporate innovation, growth of start-ups and strategy for those being disrupted by consumers changing needs or technology advancements.
Sue is a product innovation and growth strategy addict with a passion for customer needs and persevering to get new products to market to address them. Sue has spent her 25 year career in corporate roles in financial technology companies such as Finastra, Symcor, Broadridge Financial and Xerox, both before and after it was cool to be a FinTech. She launched FGS to address a market need: to provide the experts, tools and processes, and market knowledge to help the FinTech space move faster.
“There has never been a more critical time for Canada to move faster and innovate. The regulatory framework in Canada is impossible to navigate, and the oligopoly keeps things status quo. A collective voice is needed asap!” - Sue Britton, CEO & Founder, FGS
“The Canadian government needs to develop a national/regional strategy that fosters industry growth and opens up new channels and opportunities for fintechs full stop. We need a national political champion to step up and shine light on the economic potential, role, and wide sweeping impact that Canadian fintechs can have on consumers and businesses globally. Regulators need to recognize the importance of internationally competitive policies and how the opposite hurts innovation. Sue has been a consummate fintech advocate and brings insight, leadership and numerous partnerships to the table, and we whole heartedly welcome her and the FGS team on-board our collective mission.” – Craig Asano, CEO & Founder, NCFA
Source: NCFA
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Craig Asano
Founder and CEO
NCFA Canada
416 618 0254
casano@ncfacanada.org
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
FinTech Growth Syndicate is an accelerator that designs, implements and accelerates corporate innovation within established companies, and drives market expansion of new entrants and strategy of technology incumbents facing disruption. We are Canada’s Premier FinTech Advisory Firm. FGS brings the synergies between FinTech and Incumbents together, and is passionate about partnering and building a strong community.
Source: NCFA
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Craig Asano
Founder and CEO
NCFA Canada
416 618 0254
casano@ncfacanada.org
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About NCFA Canada | C. Asano | July 9, 2018
TORONTO, JUL 9, 2018 – The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association of Canada (NCFA) today announced that Charlene Cieslik, Chief Anti-Money Laundering Officer (CAMLO) of Coinsquare, has joined the Association`s growing Advisory Group to advise on the areas Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering (view).
Charlene Cieslik is the Chief Anti Money Laundering Officer of Coinsquare, Canada's most secure digital asset exchange for buying bitcoin, ethereum, and other digital currencies. During her 20-year career, Charlene has held roles as the Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Anti-Money Laundering Officer, Chief Anti-Bribery Officer, and Chief Privacy Officer at several Canadian and Foreign scheduled banks, where she was responsible for the development, remediation, and execution of AML/ATF, anti-bribery, regulatory, and privacy programs.
Charlene has worked with several “Big 4” accounting firms and a Canadian fintech company, where she has assisted global financial institutions with AML/ATF program development, particularly with post-regulatory exam remediation and AML/ATF investigations. Charlene holds a Master’s degree in Criminology from the University of Toronto, is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist, and was an original founder of the Toronto ACAMS Chapter. She has lectured as a Professor at Seneca College and currently teaches in the Global Leadership Development Program at the University of Toronto on the subject of anti-money laundering and sanction compliance.
"I'm grateful for the honour to join the NCFA's Advisory Group. When it comes to securing financing for your venture, there are many powerful and impactful methods beyond traditional financing, and I'm excited to have the privilege of working to make more options accessible to entrepreneurs and investors - balancing the need for regulation, risk management, and possibilities of innovation while acknowledging the opportunities that transcend borders. The NCFA has built a stellar community that brings together thinkers and entrepreneurs in innovative technologies, and I'm looking forward to playing a role in expanding and building that community with the NCFA."
-- Charlene Cieslik, Chief Anti-money Laundering Officer, Coinsquare
“While global funding networks, protocols, models and digital asset infrastructure continue to evolve it’s critical that industry continues working with regulators and fintech champions to strike the right balance. Charlene brings an incredible amount of experience to the table and is actively engaged in addressing the regulatory hurdles that need to be solved before these new technologies can scale and reach mass adoption.” Craig Asano – CEO & Founder, NCFA
Source: NCFA
# # #
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Craig Asano
Founder and CEO
NCFA Canada
416 618 0254
casano@ncfacanada.org
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) is a cross-Canada non-profit actively engaged with cryptocurrency, blockchain, crowdfunding, alternative finance, fintech, P2P, ICO, STO, and online investing stakeholders globally. NCFA Canada provides education, research, industry stewardship, services, and networking opportunities to thousands of members and subscribers and works closely with industry, government, academia, community and eco-system partners and affiliates to create a strong and vibrant crowdfunding and fintech industry. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: ncfacanada.org


Charlene Cieslik, Advisor, AML and Compliance
Charlene Cieslik is the Principle of Complifact AML Inc., and currently spends her time assisting those in the digital asset space, as well as the traditional fiat space, who are serious about compliance and who have a goal of setting the standard when it comes to risk management, risk mitigation, innovation, and safety and security of clients and assets. She is passionate about teaching, and enjoys speaking publicly on the subject of regulator challenges in all spaces.
She was most recently the Chief Anti Money Laundering Officer of Coinsquare, and Chief Compliance Officer of a Canadian trading platform and a US-based ATM-to-Crypto company, where she created the first AML compliance regime for a registered digital asset company to be approved by a Big-5 Canadian Bank for a transparent account relationship.
During her 20 year career, Charlene has held roles as the Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Anti-Money Laundering Officer, Chief Anti-Bribery Officer, and Chief Privacy Officer at several Canadian and Foreign scheduled banks, where she was responsible for the development, remediation, and execution of AML/ATF, anti-bribery, regulatory (RCM), and privacy compliance programs. Charlene has worked with several “Big 4” accounting firms and a Canadian fintech company, where she has assisted global financial institutions with AML/ATF program development, particularly with post-regulatory exam remediation and AML/ATF investigations.
She currently teaches courses on AML/ATF Compliance and cryptocurrency, including the Osgoode Certificate in Blockchains, Smart Contracts and the Law, and is a frequent speaker on the subject. In 2019, she participated in the United Nations FATF private sector consultation meetings on digital currency in Vienna, Austria, and works closely with the Federal government in Canada advising on cryptocurrency regulation. She appeared as a speaker at Toronto's 19th annual Ideacity Conference and as a panelist at Untraceable's Blockchain Futurist Conference. Charlene also sits on the Advisory Board of Canada's National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA). She holds a Master’s degree in Criminology from the University of Toronto, is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), and was an original founder of the Toronto ACAMS Chapter.
"I'm grateful for the honour to join the NCFA's Advisory Group. When it comes to securing financing for your venture, there are many powerful and impactful methods beyond traditional financing, and I'm excited to have the privilege of working to make more options accessible to entrepreneurs and investors - balancing the need for regulation, risk management, and possibilities of innovation while acknowledging the opportunities that transcend borders. The NCFA has built a stellar community that brings together thinkers and entrepreneurs in innovative technologies, and I'm looking forward to playing a role in expanding and building that community with the NCFA."
-- Charlene Cieslik, Chief Anti-money Laundering Officer, Coinsquare
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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