CCAB » Aboriginal Economic Development Corporation Award

About the Award

It takes vision, tenacity, and courage to support community economic development, and the winners of the Aboriginal Economic Development Corporation Award have these qualities in spades. Responsible for wealth creation, rising levels of employment, and business development in Aboriginal communities, the recipients of this award increase the prosperity and sustainable economic development of entire communities.

Presented at the 5th Annual Calgary Gala on May 10, 2018

Nomination deadline: February 2, 2018

Nomination Form

Nominate a great Aboriginal Economic Development Corporation for this Award!

Most Recent Winner

2017

Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation

Read the official press release

The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) and Sodexo Canada are pleased to announce Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation as the recipient of the CCAB 2017 Aboriginal Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) of the Year Award.

Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation (SNGRDC) manages the economic interests of the people of Six Nations of the Grand River (Six Nations) located between Hamilton, Brantford and Simcoe Ontario. One of the primary drivers behind the creation of the Corporation was recognizing the need to separate business from politics.

Past Winners

2016

Tsuut’ina Chief Roy Whitney-Onespot and Vice President, Communications & Corporate Affairs Sodexo Canada

Tsuut’ina Nation – Economic Development Lands and South West Ring Road

Read the official press release

CCAB and Sodexo Canada are pleased to announce that Tsuut’ina Nation – Economic Development Lands and South West Ring Road are the recipient of the Aboriginal Economic Development Corporation Award for 2016.

Tsuut’ina was chosen among a field of excellent candidates for its historic Transportation and Utility Corridor (TUC) Agreement with the Province of Alberta that transferred 1058 acres of land to the province for the construction of the final portion of the South West Ring Road.

2015

Penticton Indian Band Development Corporation

The Penticton Indian Band Development Corporation is a for-profit Corporation, incorporated under the provisions of the British Columbia Companies Act in 2007, owned by the Penticton Indian Band.

Read the official press release

PIBDC is the principal economic development, marketing and promotional organization for the Penticton Indian Band. PIBDC is the business investment vehicle pursuing business joint ventures and investment opportunities on behalf of Penticton Indian Band community and stakeholders that meet the established investment criteria developed by PIBDC.

PIBDC exists to ensure the certainty of the Penticton Indian Band’s traditional values and provide a sustainable economic return.

Watch Penticton Indian Band Development Corporation vignette here

2014

Membertou Economic Development Corporation

Read the official press release

Named after the Grand Chief Membertou (1510-1611) the community of Membertou belongs to the greater tribal group of the Mi’kmaw Nation.

Membertou is situated 3 kilometres from the heart of the city of Sydney, Nova Scotia, within its tribal district of Unama’ki (Cape Breton). It is one of five Mi’kmaw communities in Cape Breton, and one of 13 in the Province of Nova Scotia.

Membertou is an urban First Nation community consisting of over 1260 people, and one of five communities that make up the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, with a total population of over 115 thousand people.

The community of Membertou successfully overcame the significant challenges facing an urban First Nation community. In a two-decade span from 1995-2014, Membertou First Nation lifted itself from a poor community with low morale and a high unemployment rate to a very strong community within a community that has seen progress, economic growth and a commitment to its culture and heritage.

The CCAB would like to recognize and thank Sodexo Canada the founding and exclusive sponsor for the Aboriginal Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) of the Year Award. Sodexo is proud to be celebrated as one of the top diversity employers in Canada and a CCAB Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) Gold Certified company.