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Can/Am Report Vol. 19 Issue, No. 2
April 9, 2026
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Waves of Innovation: Dr. Kip Glazer on Leading the AI Revolution
A MindShareTV CanAm Deep Dive with Author and fellow Pepperdine U Alumna Dr. Kip Glazer on Her New Roadmap for Future-Ready School Leadership
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Dear MindShare Community Member,
Happy Thursday! As we look toward the optimism of Spring and the heat of conference season, this issue captures a pivotal moment in Canadian EdTech. We are moving beyond the "what if" of Artificial Intelligence and into the "how-to" of system-wide implementation.
This edition of the Can/Am Report spotlights the shift toward human-centered design, where trust, ethics, and tangible learning outcomes take center stage. From the halls of the Toronto District School Board to global convenings in Paris, the message is clear: innovation is powered by people, not just platforms. I trust you'll enjoy this packed issue! Please do comment and reshare!
Report Highlights & Inside This Edition
Human-Centered AI Leadership
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From Pilots to Practice: Research from Katina Papulkas (Dell Technologies/C21 Canada) reveals a shift toward system-wide AI use, prioritizing data governance and educator well-being.
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Global Reach: MindShare’s own Robert Martellacci has been appointed to the Global EdTech Alliance Board in Paris, helping shape an international charter for EdTech ecosystems.
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Building Trust: Highlights from Ontario Tech’s AI Forum and the C21 AI Leadership Series underscore the necessity of accountability in the classroom.
K-12 & Policy Insights
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Online Safety: Bipartisan momentum grows for the Kids Online Safety Act to hold tech platforms accountable.
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The E-Learning Evolution: Concerns rise in Ontario regarding e-learning being used for "grade boosting" rather than subject exploration, sparking a debate on academic integrity.
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Student Excellence: Youth Science Canada announces Team Canada 2026, featuring elite student projects in AI and robotics heading to the international stage.
Post-Secondary Acceleration
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The "Personal Tutor" Threat: A Penn professor successfully replicated a master’s course using AI in 12 hours, challenging traditional university business models.
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Sovereign Compute: Queen’s and SFU partner with Bell Canada to bolster national supercomputing capabilities for AI research.
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The Return of Oral Exams: To combat AI-generated "perfect homework," colleges like Cornell and NYU are returning to oral defenses and Socratic questioning.
Innovation in Practice
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TDSB Unleashing Learning: A massive success with over 1,000 attendees; special kudos to Peter Singh and the team for a masterful event.
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Mapping the Future: UVic’s AI-powered drones are achieving millimeter-level precision for disaster response and environmental monitoring.
Book of the Week
"A Teacher’s Guide to Using AI" by Meenoo Rami An essential companion for educators, offering actionable strategies to save time, personalize instruction, and teach students about AI ethics.
Upcoming Professional Learning Events
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ASU + GSV Summit: April 12 - 15, 2026
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CoSN2026, Chicago: April 13 - 15, 2026
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Mental Health Summit: April 17 - 18, 2026
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Advancing AI Leadership Summit: April 22, 2026
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17th Canadian EdTech AI Summit: October 28 - 29, 2026
C21 Canada Spotlight
AI for Personalized Reading Recommendations
Peel District School Board, Ontario See All C21 Use Cases!
Career Opportunities
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Senior Solutions Architect - MagicSchool AI (Remote)
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VP, Operations - Riipen (Remote)
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Senior Director, Content Strategy - The College Board (Remote)
Stay inspired, stay connected, and as always, keep the learning curve steep!
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Robert Martellacci, M.A. EdTech
Founder & President, MindShare Learning Media & Consulting
Chief Digital Publisher, The MindShare Learning Report™
Chair, 16th Canadian EdTech Leadership Summit
Founder, MindShare Workspace--Your Place to Work & Learn
CEO & Co-founder, C21 Canada--Canadians for 21st Century Learning & Innovation
Follow us on Twitter @MindShareLearn @c21can @mindsharework
https://mindsharelearning.ca/ |
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The 18th Schools of the Future AI For Student Wellbeing Challenge OFFICIAL LAUNCH
@ Dell Technologies Education Summit on AI
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18th Canada’s Schools of the Future Student AI for Well-being Challenge Teacher Webinar |
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Al for Personalized Reading Recommendations
Peel District School Board, Ontario |
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Inside the Dell Technologies Education Summit: AI, Leadership & the Future of Learning
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From Pilots to Practice: How Canadian Educators are Adopting AI
By Katina Papulkas, Dell Technologies, Sr. Education Strategist, C21 Canada Advisory Council Member | DELL | March 25, 2026 |
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AI adoption in Canadian education is evolving from small-scale pilots to more practical, system-wide use, with institutions focusing on improving teaching, operations, and student support. Schools are prioritizing strong data governance, privacy, and clear goals before implementing AI, though many still lack formal policies and consistent approaches. Early use cases show AI helping teachers with lesson planning, reducing administrative workload, and enabling more personalized learning experiences for students. Overall, successful adoption depends on starting small, collaborating across institutions, and keeping student and educator wellbeing at the center of implementation. |
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From Classroom to Cosmos:
Inspiring the Next Generation of Space Innovators
Thrilled to be part of an inspiring #2026SpringMoonshot #CanonCanada high school career pathways exploration day Celebrating the #NASAArtemisII mission. Cool to connect with students & partners exploring #STEM career pathways in the space sector projected to be grow to $40B by 2040. My future would have been very different had I been given this incredible opportunuty! Kudos to Kyle Boyko InspireTech Canada for his leadership, along with #CanonCanada |
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Unleashing Learning 2026: Innovation, Connection & Momentum @ TDSB
That’s a wrap on #UnleashingLearning Toronto District School Board 2026! As a proud TDSB alum always enjoy going back to my alma mater to connect with amazing teachers embracing innovation to help students thrive. Congrats to the graduating mentor #DLL teachers! Thanks to Peter Singh for the kind invitation & Kudos to Peter, Kevin Bradbeer Jason Trinh & team on a masterfully executed event with over 1,000 attendees, speakers & partners!
While I missed legendary (and I truly mean it) prof Dr. Kris Alexander's keynote, we caught up on a number of items, including cohosting our Canadian EdTech AI Summit at Toronto Metropolitan University in the future |
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EdTech Digest 2026 Winners Announced: Celebrating Canadian Innovation in Learning |
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Announcing Robert Martellacci Appointed to the Global EdTech Alliance
Thrilled to share in my role incubating EdTechCanada, we recently participated as a Founding Member of the Global EdTech Alliance of Alliances at its Convening Meeting in Paris.
Incubated by UNESCO‘s Global Education Coalition, the Alliance brought together 30 organizations across 50+ countries, representing all seven global regions- highlighting both the diversity and shared ambition within the global #EdTech community.
The day focused on dialogue and interactive workshops around what makes successful ecosystems, the common challenges we face, and how we can collaborate more effectively at a global level.
We concluded with the formal Convening Meeting, where members: Adopted the Alliance Charter
Elected the inaugural AoA Board, congratulations to all appointed
A particularly strong theme was the importance of learning from both successes (and equally as important, failures!) to build a truly inclusive and impactful global ecosystem. Honoured part of this team of remarkable and passionate global edtech leaders.
Please reach out to me directly if you'd like to learn more.
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A Teacher's Guide to Using AI |
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A Teacher's Guide to Using AI is an essential companion for educators navigating the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence in schools. Meenoo Rami, a former classroom teacher and longtime advocate and builder of thoughtful technology in education, offers clear, specific, actionable guidance to help educators understand, incorporate, and make sense of AI's role in the classroom, including:
- practical strategies for using AI in your own work to save time, personalize instruction, communicate with caregivers, and spark creativity
- integrating AI into lesson planning, creating and refining assignments, planning curricula, analyzing student data, and providing feedback
- guidance for teaching students about AI's capabilities, limitations, ethical considerations, and potential risks as well as how it can supercharge their learning and agency
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MindShare Learning is a Proud Media Partner of Mental Health Summit |
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1. A Bipartisan Agreement is Brewing to Protect Children Online
Washington Post | March 26, 2026
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Recent jury verdicts against major social media companies signal a shift toward holding tech platforms accountable for harm to young users, including issues like addiction and exposure to predators. These cases have fueled growing bipartisan momentum in the U.S. to pass legislation such as the Kids Online Safety Act, which would require stronger protections for minors online. Public concern is rising, with polls showing many Americans and teens viewing social media as harmful and supporting stricter regulations, including age limits and reduced access. Despite this alignment, uncertainty remains over whether Congress will successfully pass meaningful reforms amid its slow legislative pace.
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2. Ontario mandated e-learning to expand course options. Some worry it's being used to boost marks
CBC | March 24, 2026
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Ontario’s mandatory e-learning requirement has led many high school students to take online courses primarily to improve their grades rather than explore new subjects, contrary to the policy’s original goal. Data shows that the most popular online courses are core subjects and university-focused electives, reinforcing concerns about grade inflation and strategic course selection. While some students and educators say online courses can be easier and lack hands-on learning experiences, especially in science subjects, others highlight their flexibility and accessibility benefits. The trend also reflects broader pressures from increasingly competitive university admissions, pushing students to prioritize higher marks by any available means.
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3. How districts are experimenting with outcomes-based contracts in ed tech
K12 Dive | March 16, 2026
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School districts are increasingly reconsidering their ed tech investments due to budget pressures and concerns about effectiveness, leading some to adopt outcomes-based contracts that tie payments to student achievement. Research found that this approach gives districts more control, improves implementation, and encourages stronger collaboration between schools and vendors to focus on measurable learning outcomes. In practice, districts like Fresno Unified have used ongoing data monitoring and regular collaboration with providers to adjust usage and avoid paying full costs when results fall short. While effective, these contracts require significant effort, clear communication, and reliable data systems to implement successfully across a district.
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4. The next wave of K-12 innovation: How educators are shaping the future of edtech
Google | March 30, 2026 |
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K-12 innovation is increasingly being driven by educators rather than new technology products, with teachers playing a central role in shaping how edtech is used in classrooms. Schools are prioritizing accessible, inclusive, and practical tools while also training students and teachers to use technologies like AI safely and effectively. There is a growing shift toward student-centered learning, where learners take more ownership through creative, higher-order tasks instead of relying on passive or test-based approaches. At the same time, districts are giving teachers more autonomy to experiment and collaborate, recognizing that meaningful innovation comes from human-centered learning experiences rather than technology alone. |
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5. Youth Science Canada names Team Canada for the world’s largest youth science competition
Youth Science Canada | March 23, 2026 |
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Youth Science Canada has announced eight students as Team Canada for the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair 2026, where they will compete against nearly 2,000 participants from over 60 countries. Selected from the Canada-Wide Science Fair, these students developed advanced projects in areas like robotics, AI, medical research, and environmental engineering. The team has undergone additional training to prepare for the international stage, focusing on both research excellence and communication skills. Canada continues to perform strongly at the competition, reflecting the high level of innovation and talent in its national STEM programs. |
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6. Leading Through Change: How Ontario Universities Are Navigating the Age of GenAI
HEQCO | March 25, 2026 |
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Ontario universities are rapidly adapting to generative AI by integrating it into teaching, administration, and student support while balancing innovation with ethical concerns. Leaders see potential benefits such as improved efficiency and access, but also raise issues around job security, environmental impact, student wellbeing, and trust in academic work. Institutions are shifting toward teaching critical AI literacy, encouraging responsible and thoughtful use of the technology rather than avoiding it. Overall, universities are focusing on flexible governance, collaboration, and human-centered values to ensure AI strengthens rather than undermines higher education. |
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7. A Penn professor used AI to replicate part of a master's course, and says it threatens universities' business model
Business Insider | March 31, 2026
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A University of Pennsylvania professor, Jesús Fernández-Villaverde, used AI to replicate a master’s-level course in just 12 hours, demonstrating how AI can serve as a highly personalized tutor. Using Anthropic’s Claude, he created a tailored syllabus, completed readings, and engaged in interactive discussions, reaching the same level of understanding a traditional week-long course would provide. While AI excelled at structuring learning and clarifying concepts, it could not replicate classroom peer interactions or challenge students in the way human professors do. Fernández-Villaverde warns that universities reliant mainly on lectures may face economic pressure, while institutions offering research mentorship, lab access, and strong peer networks remain uniquely valuable.
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8. Queen’s and Simon Fraser University partner to strengthen Canada’s supercomputing capabilities
Queens U | March 26, 2026 |
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Queen’s University and Simon Fraser University have partnered to enhance Canada’s supercomputing capabilities, aiming to support research, industry, AI, and national priorities. The collaboration seeks federal funding through the AI Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program to build secure, sustainable high-performance computing systems across both provinces. Queen’s contributes expertise in system design and advanced computing, while SFU brings experience operating large-scale AI and quantum research facilities. Together with industry partner Bell Canada, the project aims to ensure Canada has the infrastructure to lead in AI, attract talent, and drive innovation nationwide. |
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9. Teaching drones to think: UVic’s AI-powered aerial mapping system
U of Victoria | March 31, 2026 |
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University of Victoria is advancing autonomous drone technology through its Advanced Control and Intelligent Systems (ACIS) lab, led by Professor Homayoun Najjaran. The lab has developed AI-powered drones capable of mapping unknown environments and detecting critical details with millimetre-level precision, using photogrammetry and “language embedding” to label and contextualize objects. These drones have dual-use applications in civilian sectors—such as disaster response, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure inspection—and defence operations, providing rapid, high-resolution mapping in complex or remote areas. With support from UVic’s Arbutus cloud computing infrastructure, the research is transitioning to real-world deployment via the lab’s spinoff, Cognia AI, enabling broader access to advanced AI-powered aerial mapping for organizations across Canada. |
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10. Perfect homework, blank stares: Why colleges are turning to oral exams to combat AI
AP News | March 25, 2026
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Colleges are increasingly turning to oral exams to address the challenges posed by AI-assisted assignments, which often produce perfect work but reveal gaps in student understanding. Professors at schools like Cornell, the University of Pennsylvania, and NYU are using oral defenses, Socratic questioning, and AI-powered oral agents to assess whether students truly grasp their material. These methods aim to preserve critical thinking, creativity, and accountability, while also providing benefits for shy students through one-on-one interactions. Educators view this shift as essential for ensuring that learning remains meaningful, even as generative AI transforms traditional homework and testing. |
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Professional Learning Events |
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ASU + GSV Summit: Learning at the Speed of Light
April 12 - 15 2026
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CoSN2025, Chicago
April 13 - 15 2026
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Mental Health Summit
April 17 - 18 2026
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ULead: The Summit of Educational Leadership
April 19 - 21 2026
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Advancing AI Leadership Summit
April 22, 2026
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ISTE Conference
June 28 - July 1 2026
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17th Canadian EdTech AI Summit
October 28 - 29 2026
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The April 2026 Issue of the edWeb Voice is out now, covering timely topics of Curriculum Implementation, AI, Literacy, PLCs, Student Well-Being, Data Privacy, Career Pathways, and Writing, with video recordings, podcasts, and articles for convenient access.
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Teacher/Parent Resources Corner
Essential Edtech Tools
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Leading Innovation in Education
Advertise your not-for-profit organization or EdTech company, sponsor a Webinar or Canadian EdTech Summit!, share your press releases, career opportunities, and more! To inquire about our EdTech strategy consulting services,
Contact us at robert@mindsharelearning.com
MindShare Learning Digital Marketing & Strategy Playbook 2026.
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About MindShare Learning
MindShare Learning is Canada’s Leading EdTech Media, Marketing & Strategy Consulting Company. We offer expert insight to the learning technology sector to help leaders and learners thrive in the 21st Century global knowledge-based digital economy.
The MindShare Report Mission
Our goal is to keep you current and at the forefront of innovation in Canadian education through our weekly eMag. Be sure to connect with us:
- Contribute a story, or suggest a MindShareTV podcast
- Feedback, or suggestions on how to improve this report
- Advertise, sponsor, or strategic partnerships
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The MindShare Learning Report team consists of the following individuals:
Robert Martellacci, M.A. Ed Tech., Founder & Chief Digital Publisher
Dr. Ron Owston, PhD., Research Associate, University Professor Emeritus, Former Dean of Faculty, York University
Chris Kim, PhD., Research Associate, Software Engineer, software studio, Fresco Industries
Timothy Gard, B.Ed., OCT, M.A, Chief Learning Strategist
Hanan Mousa, M.B.A, B.C. S. Digital Media Specialist
MindShare Advisory Board
The MindShare Report is grateful for the guidance and support provided by our esteemed advisory board. Members include:
Laurent Burman, M.B.A., Chief Commercial Officer, Sound Commerce
Kevin Custer, Founding Principal, Arc Capital Development
Chip Fesko, Principal, Chip Fesko & Associates
Ian Fogarty, Educator, Riverview High School | MindShare National Video Challenge Award Winner
Dr. GuyTetrault, Award Winning Sun West School Division, Director & CEO (Retired)
Michael Furdyk, Co-Founder, TakingItGlobal
Dr. Eric Hamilton, Associate Dean of Education, Pepperdine University, Graduate School of Education and Psychology
Maxim Jean-Louis, CEO, Contact North/Contact Nord,
Gary Kern, Principal, St. George's School
Dr. Susanne Lajoie, Professor, Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University
David Marsi, Senior Manager Training Initiatives, ScotiaMcLeod
Mirella Rossi, Superintendent of Education, Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board
Sandra Chow, Award Winning Teacher, Toronto District School Board (On Leave serving as a Director of Technology & Instruction at a School in China
Ron Sedran, MD, Equity Capital Markets, Canaccord Adams
About The MindShare Learning Report™
Canada's Learning & Technology eMagazine.
Our mission is to provide insight and inspiration to K12 and Post-Secondary education and industry leaders by sharing the latest trends and innovative best practices and success stories in the Canadian education market space and beyond.
Editorial content is welcomed for our weekly and monthly EdTech Reports.
Please forward your news releases as web links to
info@mindsharelearning.com
Advertising opportunities are available, please contact,
robert@mindsharelearning.com
Consulting opportunities are available, please contact:
robert@mindsharelearning.com
Annual subscriptions to the MindShare Learning Report can be purchased at $99 CDN
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Our Valued Clients and Partners |
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