The Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund presented six awards for business achievements this past week at the Days Inn in Timmins, Ontario at its 26th annual Business Award Dinner.
The NADF Awards are given to aboriginal businesses that have been funded, in part, by NADF, to companies and individuals in Nishnawbe Aski Nation comprising Cree and Ojibway communities in Northern Ontario.
Stan Wesley, MC for the evening acknowledged some communities in NAN are hurting but accomplishments should be celebrated.
“We are about to see, that pain doesn’t apply to who I am and it doesn’t apply to who we are,” Wesley said. “It is like that flower that blooms in the desert.”
“What we are going to see tonight is the blooming flowers in our communities,” Wesley added.
The Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Award went to Chris Ratte, Gracie Jujitsu - Timmins.
Ratte started as a computer technologist for the District School Board Ontario North East. He also trained in Taekwondo receiving a black belt. He was introduced to Gracie Jujitsu martial arts. Eventually, Ratte then opened the second Gracie Jujitsu academy in Canada in Timmins.
“I started in 2011 in Father Costello’s old church in Schumacher with a passion for the Gracie Jujitsu method of teaching martial arts,” Ratte said in accepting the award.
“I moved to a new location to Pine St. S. in Timmins,” Ratte said. “We are expanding our facility and my goal is to have 50 schools across Canada.”
The winner of Business Woman of the Year award went to motivational speaker Sandy Boucher.
“Sandy Boucher started her motivational speaking company in 2009 to assist First Nation people be proud of who they are and honouring her mother’s Nishnawbe teachings,” presenter Abdul Khan from the TD Bank told the audience.
Boucher’s seminars serve indigenous women, indigenous youth, indigenous communities and allies of indigenous communities. She has spoken groups elementary, secondary and post-secondary students as well as conferences and penal institutions. In the summer of 2016, Boucher started a one-on-one speakers training program.
“Tonight has nothing to do with me, but everything to do with you,” Boucher said. “I was taught to pay it forward to pay back for my success.”
The Business Man of the Year Award went to Corey Wesley, for Juice Monkey. Wesley was a top sprinter in 2008 North America Indigenous games and after graduating with a Master of Science in kinesiology he gained 25 pounds working for a local health unit,” said by Arlene Jung, Chair of NADF when presenting the award.
This was a turning for Wesley who decided to become his own personal trainer to inspire others.
In 2016, Corey Wesley became the owner of Juice Monkey travelling to community events to promote healthy eating.
“I want to thank NADF because without your support my dreams would never be realized,” said Wesley.
The Business Partnership Award went to Melissa Hardy and Paul Giles, of Hardy Giles Consulting.
Hardy Giles Consultants have designed and managed strategic and business planning; fitness and recreational and multiple types of training projects.
“Then they revolutionized heavy equipment training programs through the creation of their second business called Origin,” said Cathy Campbell, CMHC in presenting the award.
“We are living our dream and I feel blessed,” said Paul Giles.
The Corporation of the Year Award went to CreeWest, an aviation company from Sioux Lookout serving Northwestern and Northeastern Ontario. Accepting the award for CreeWest were Chair, Michael Fox, Weenusk First Nation and CEO Ron Basaraba.
In 2013 Cree West invested $1.3 million dollars for the purchase of hangar facility, maintenance operation and charter services located in Sioux Lookout. They have expanded their service to Timmins and James Bay communities. In 2015 it earned $2.5 million in gross sales compared to $630,000 in 2012.
The New Business Award went to Jason Okimaw of Okimaw Consulting from Attawapiskat, Ontario.
“For Jason it all started in 1999 while working on the security team for DeBeers’ Victor Mines and he was introduced to computers,” said Brian Davey CEO, NADF presenting the award.
Okimaw graduated from Cambrian College and worked for Ross Pope before opening Okimaw Consulting, which generated $225,000 in revenue in its first year.
The NADF have been awarded annually since 1990. The award presentations alternate between Timmins and Thunder Bay. The 2017 Awards will be held in Thunder Bay.
