Recognize! Celebrate! Honour!

Sharing our stories and celebrating our successes will ensure that economic development initiatives continue to grow.  In 1995, the CANDO Economic Developer of the Year Award was created to recognize and promote recent or long-standing Aboriginal economic development initiatives throughout Canada.

Three outstanding examples of Aboriginal economic development were awarded for their hard work this year. Delegates at the National Conference voted for three categories: Individual EDO, Community & Aboriginal Private Sector Business.

Learn more about the Economic Developer Awards



Congratulations to this year's Winners and Recognition Recipients!


2009 Economic Developer of the Year Award Winners
  • Enoch Cree Nation, AB (Community Category)
  • Paulette Flamond, BC (Individual EDO Category) 
  • Gespe'gewaq Mi'gmaq Resource Council Inc., NB
    (Aboriginal Private Sector Business Category)

2009 Economic Developer of the Year Recognition Recipients

  • Little Black Bear's Band, SK (Community Category)
  • Robert Morin, AB (Individual EDO Category)
  • Lyall's Drafting & Design Ltd., NL (Aboriginal Private Sector Business Category)


ENOCH CREE NATION, AB
Economic Developer of the Year Award Winner - Community Category

Enoch Cree Nation (ECN) has been a leader in the gaming industry of First Nations as well as in Alberta. The Enoch Cree Nation Economic Development's Department mission is to actively seek, promote and secure economic initiatives that will enhance the quality of life for a prosperous First Nation's community.

The Enoch Cree Nation (Enoch) is a Sovereign Government pursuant to Treaty 6, which was signed by Cree leaders in 1876 and 1877, and has traditionally used and occupied lands in and around what is known today as the Central Alberta Region.

The Enoch Government is recognized by the Federal Government of Canada under the authority given to Enoch through the Treaty, the Canadian Constitution, and the Indian Act.  The Enoch Cree Nation today consists or 12,933.5 acres, or 20.21 square miles, located west of Edmonton.  The current Enoch population includes 1,776 members, with approximately 1,400 living on the reserve and the remaining members living off (primarily in Edmonton). Read the complete Enoch Cree Nation bio.

PAULETTE FLAMOND, BC
Economic Developer of the Year Award Winner - Individual EDO Category

Paulette Flamond has true entrepreneurial spirit. As an experienced small business owner and operator, she has also worked full time for ever 15 years providing economic development value to her community.

Paulette projects strong leadership and ethical values. Through her work, she has been successful at increasing capacity amongst Aboriginal communities; this has resulted in many Aboriginal individuals starting small business ventures in competing markets.  Paulette shares the vision of economic development that is modeled around community values.  She has been instrumental in encouraging individual wellness and strong personal values within her community and she has presented wellness as an evident role model. Read Paulette's complete bio.


GESPE'GEWAQ MI'GMAQ RESOURCE COUNCIL, NB

Economic Developer of the Year Award Winner - Aboriginal Private Sector Business Category


The Gespe'gewaq Mi'gmaq Resource Council is a vibrant company located on the Listuguj Mi'gmaq First Nation.  It is build on a solid foundation currently shared by three Mi'gmaq communities benefiting from our services are Listuguj, Eel River Bar, and Pabineau.


The Organization provided services in the area of natural resource and oceans management.  Its core services are aquatic and resource oceans management under the Aboriginal Aquatic Resource Oceans Management Program (AAROM).  The Organization is committed in providing First Nation communities with the highest quality of service available.


The vision of the organization is to assist First Nation communities within the traditional district of Gespe'gewa'gi by creating awareness and understanding and gathering support to further sustainable natural resource management.  We see a future where we can work together in the bay, managing our resources and having a greater say in how they are managed, at the same time building cultural bridges with the common goal of effective natural resource management practices. Read their complete bio.



LITTLE BLACK BEAR'S BAND, SK
Economic Developer of the Year Recognition Recipient - Community Category


During the early 1800s, members of this Cree-Assiniboine Band were nomadic, hunting and camping within in the Cypress Hills area. Cree Chief Kees kee hew mus-coo muskwa (Little Black Bear) signed Treaty 4 on September 15, 1874. His Band settled on the reserve surveyed for them in the File Hills (4 km south and 4 km west of Goodeve) in 1880. Like most Treaty Bands in the province, members of Little Black Bear began farming once settled on reserve, progressing at the rate that technology, climatic conditions, and government policy allowed.


The Band Government consists of a Chief and 4 Headpersons, an advisory group of 17 Elder Family Representatives and a fifteen member civil service. Community infrastructure includes a Band Office, Child Care Center, ball diamonds, a small swimming pool and a cultural area.  Currently there are a total of 452 band members, 158 of whom live on their 17,006-acre reserve. Read their complete bio.



ROBERT MORIN, AB
Economic Developer of the Year Recognition Recipient - Individual EDO Category

Robert Morin, President of the Enoch Casino Corporation and Enoch Community Development Corporation has been one of the key members in assisting overall development of the River Cree Resort and Casino playing a major role to ensure the success of this project for the Enoch Cree Nation Community.

Robert has worked with Enoch Cree Nation since his early years (16); he has worked in recreation, economic development, RBC, YTC Education, YTCCS (corrections), and continues to work with our Resort along with future economic initiatives (Kitaskinan Education Authority).

LYALL'S DRAFTING & DESIGN LTD., NL
Economic Developer of the Year Recognition Recipient - Aboriginal Private Sector
Business Category

Lyall's Drafting & Design Ltd. is an incorporated body and a registered 100% Inuit owned business. Our objective is to achieve success as an aboriginal engineering support firm through the provision of quality service in an efficient and cost-effective manner by utilizing and further developing aboriginal technical skills and capabilities. We are committed to the identification and promotion of aboriginal employment and technical training initiatives. We are also a recipient of the 2008 Aboriginal Business of the Year Award for Newfoundland and Labrador at the 4th Atlantic Aboriginal Entrepreneur Awards Show.

The business is a professional design consulting firm, offering computer aided design support services to the engineering industry with a specialization in Geographic Information Systems and spatial data mapping. We deliver workable, efficient and economical design solutions to a vast clientele throughout Atlantic Canada. We had total revenue exceeding $1M in 2008 and will surpass this achievement with revenues exceeding $2M for 2009. Read their complete bio.



2009 ED of the Year Awards by Keith Nolan


Artist - Keith Nolan

Wolf painting - Aboriginal Private Sector Business Award
Horses painting - Community Award
Moccasins painting - Individual EDO Award
 
Artist Biography

As a member of the Missanabiee Cree First Nation in Ontario, Canada, and living across the country from the wild, northern land where I was raised, a longing grew to document Native culture- the beautiful people memories that I know.

I have lived and traveled across North America- experiencing connection with many First Nations peoples. My artwork tries to share the stories to capture a variety of subjects as they inspire me- through both plein air painting and studio work.

Although I love creating varied art forms, my voice is found best through the medium of oil on canvas. I studied for 2 years at Grant MacEwan College and with various teachers including David Leffel at the Art Student’s League in New York City.

Along with winning a number of awards, I have been privileged to have my work displayed in the Provincial Museum of Alberta and with the Canada Council for the Arts, as well as with many private corporations and individuals. My paintings have been sold throughout Canada and internationally and have been featured by greeting card companies, and in calendars sold in the US and Canada.

I seek to embrace life and live each moment as fully as I can. Being able to share my feelings and the life and energy of others through painting is a gift I am so grateful for!