Toronto, ON -- The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) announced today that Nellie Cournoyea of Inuvik, Northwest Territories and Ron Jamieson of Oshweken, Ontario are being honoured for their lifetime contribution to Aboriginal business in Canada as laureates of the CCAB Aboriginal Business Hall of Fame (ABHF).
Ms. Cournoyea is the Chair and CEO of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) and is a former Premier of the Northwest Territories. The IRC has assets of over $400 million. It owns companies that provide vital services in the Arctic, from airlines to oil and gas production to heavy equipment manufacturing. Profits are re-invested in business and community development and distributed to Inuvialuit beneficiaries. The IRC was established as part of 1984's Inuvialuit Final Agreement to hold the land transferred by the agreement, manage the local wildlife and invest the financial settlement gained from the government of Canada.
Mr. Jamieson is the former Senior Vice-President of Aboriginal Banking at BMO Bank of Montréal. He led the bank's efforts to become the first choice in financial institutions for Canada's Aboriginal people. Under his leadership, BMO increased its Aboriginal portfolio to over $1 billion.
Ms. Cournoyea and Mr. Jamieson join ABHF laureates Dr. Billy "Chief" Diamond, a northern Québec Cree, Mr. Irvin Goodon, a Métis from Boissevain, MB, Mr. Fred Carmichael, a Gwich'in from the Northwest Territories, Madame Suzanne Rochon-Burnett, a Métis from Ontario, Chief Victor Buffalo, a Cree from Alberta's Samson Cree First Nation, Mr. Harry Cook, a Cree from Saskatchewan's Lac La Ronge First Nation and Mr. Garfield Flowers, an Inuk from Hopedale, Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Aboriginal Business Hall of Fame is sponsored by ESS Support Services, a division of Compass Group Canada. The Hall was created by CCAB in 2004 to mark their 20th year of operations.
The ABHF selection committee, chaired by Mr. Peter Godsoe, former Chairman and CEO of Scotiabank, met recently in Toronto to consider the 2007/08 nominations.
"Every year the lustre of the people who join the Hall add to its' prestige and every year we get more nominations from right across Canada," said Mr. Godsoe. "That so many outstanding individuals are fully qualified to receive this honour is a testament to the growing role Aboriginal Canadians are playing in our economy. Nellie and Ron have had such a positive impact on so many lives in the course of their careers that we had to single them out this year from a very strong field."
"I am very proud to be part of the effort to honour these great businesspeople. Their leadership has served as an example to all Aboriginal Canadians who are pursuing a career in business," said CCAB President and CEO Clint Davis. "They provide a special inspiration to those who are playing an increasingly vital role in the economy."
"When we heard that Nellie and Ron were the new Hall of Fame laureates we were thrilled, but not surprised," said Jack MacDonald, CEO of ABHF sponsor Compass Group Canada. "Their names are well-known across the country and we are delighted to be able to bring the stories of their many accomplishments to a wider audience.
In addition to paying tribute to outstanding business leaders of the past and the present, the Hall serves as an example of excellence for young Aboriginal people thinking about a career in business. The ABHF can be visited at the CCAB website at www.ccab.com/leaders.htm. Pages devoted to Ms. Cournoyea and Mr. Jamieson will be posted following the induction ceremony.
The ceremony will take place on Tuesday, February 19 at the tenth annual CCAB Circle for 2015 National Gala Dinner at Toronto's Four Seasons Hotel. The dinner, highlighting the successes of Canadian Aboriginal business, is sold out. Over 500 senior Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal business leaders will be attending.
ESS, a division of Compass Group Canada, is the market leader in providing complete camp services to operations in remote and offshore locations, wherever their location may be, no matter how extreme the environment may be. ESS employs nearly 1000 associates in 136 operating units across Canada.
CCAB is Canada's leading organization dedicated to promoting the full participation of Aboriginal communities in the Canadian economy. CCAB's mission is to connect Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people and companies with the opportunities they require to achieve personal and business success. Find out more at www.ccab.com.
N.B. - Biographical notes on this year's laureates follow.
For more information:
Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business:
Kenneth Tufts
416-961-8663 ext. 225
ktufts@ccab.com