Industry News News
Launch of Aboriginal business award

May 13, 2013, Ottawa, Ont. – The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) and the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) announced that nominations are open for this year's 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," said David 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 Aboriginals are a key target. We particularly want to encourage Aboriginal businesses that show a long term commitment to Aboriginal employment."

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 fourth time that the award will be handed. Previous recipients have been  – Grace Esquega, the president of Niigaani Enterprises in Gull Bay, Ontario; Percy Guichon, the Chief of the Alexis CreekIndian Band; Tsi Del Del Enterprises of Chilanko Forks B.C. and Al Humphrys, the general manager of Duz Cho logging, owned by the McLeod Lake Indian Band.

Nominees are judged against six criteria – business leadership, longevity, employment of Aboriginal peoples, safety and environmental performance, consistency of goods and services provided and commitment to the Aboriginal community.

Nominations are due July 30, 2013, and the award will be handed out in the fall of 2013 at the CCAB gala in Vancouver on September 23, 2013.

For more information visit, www.FPAC.ca/BusinessLeadershipAward.

May 14, 2013  By FPAC