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Aboriginal business award launched

July 2, 2014, Ottawa - The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) and the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) have opened nominations for the 2014 Aboriginal Business Leadership Award. The $5,000 award recognizes and celebrates First Nations entrepreneurs for their success in a forest products business that exemplifies business leadership, exceptional environmental and safety performance and the delivery of high-quality products and services. The recipient must also demonstrate a strong, long-term commitment to the Aboriginal community, particularly in supporting Aboriginal employment.

"We are delighted to once again offer an award to recognize the leadership excellence of an Aboriginal business in the forest products sector," saidDavid Lindsay, President and CEO of FPAC. "Under Vision2020, we are aiming to refresh our workforce with an additional 60,000 recruits by the end of the decade, and this includes increasing Aboriginal engagement through employment, business development, and entrepreneurship within our sector."

"We are in the business of showcasing the leadership and contributions of outstanding Aboriginal business in Canada each and every day," says JP Gladu, the President and CEO of CCAB. "The forest products industry continues to contribute to the health and vitality of our Aboriginal communities while the success of Aboriginal businesses in this sector demonstrates our enormous accomplishments and economic potential. The Aboriginal Business Leadership Award celebrates our continued business success and is an important step on the road to ongoing sustainable economic prosperity."

There are now approximately 1,400 Aboriginal owned businesses in Canada, and about 17,000 Aboriginal people working in the sector, making the forest products industry the largest employer for First Nations workers.

This is the fifth time that the award will be handed out. The award nominees are judged against six criteria: business leadership, longevity in the sector, employment of Aboriginal peoples, safety and environmental performance, consistency of goods and services provided and commitment to the Aboriginal community.

Nominations are due August 31, 2014. The award will be handed out in the fall of 2014. For more information go to URL:http://www.fpac.ca/BusinessLeadershipAward fpac.ca/businessleadershipaward

SOURCE Forest Products Association of Canada

July 2, 2014  By CNW Telbec