Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business honours growing corporate commitment to Aboriginal communities Alberta Pacific Forest Industries, BC Hydro, Canada Post, IBM, and Syncrude win big
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/ February 4, 2009
CCAB Media contact: Claire M. Tallarico 416 690 0316
Toronto, February 4, 2009 — Five forward thinking companies — Alberta Pacific Forest Industries, BC Hydro, Canada Post, IBM and Syncrude — are being awarded Canada’s only recognition of performance and success in building positive relations with Aboriginal people and communities. These companies are certified by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) Progressive Aboriginal Relations Program (PAR) for their significant progress and commitment to working with Aboriginal people, businesses, and communities. Clint Davis, CCAB President and CEO said: “Strong, measurable and on going commitments by Alberta Pacific, BC Hydro, Canada Post, IBM and Syncrude create opportunities for a growing and eager Aboriginal workforce. Real and dynamic relationships with Aboriginal people and communities is not only socially responsible, it makes smart business sense.” Davis noted that Aboriginal people are the fastest growing demographic in the country and the number with post secondary degrees has doubled in the last decade.
Through PAR, companies establish an effective strategy to maximize their involvement in the Aboriginal market. Through a comprehensive self-assessment exercise, companies assess their individual performance in working with Aboriginal communities, which are then verified by an independent organization – the National Quality Institute. This verification is submitted to an independent PAR jury to determine whether a company’s level is Bronze and at the beginning of the PAR journey, Silver with significant accomplishment or Gold, where it is exhibiting leadership and sustainability.
Winner Snapshots
One of the most modern pulp mills in the world, Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries’ (Al-Pac) 450 team members are committed to using environmentally sustainable practices to produce approximately 650,000 tonnes of high quality, elemental-chlorine-free bleached kraft pulp annually. Al-Pac works with the Aboriginal communities living within or near its 58,000 km2 Forest Management Agreement (FMA) area through partnerships in the areas of consultation, employment, education and economic development. By working with communities, Al-Pac encourages economic benefit in a manner that respects Aboriginal traditional uses of the forest land base. It has recertified at the PAR Gold level.
“We value the knowledge and wisdom that Aboriginal peoples within our region have to share with us, and we, in turn, are committed to providing opportunities and benefits for their communities,” said Al Ward, Al-Pac President and Chief Operating Officer.
BC Hydro, the first utility company in Canada to participate in the CCAB’s PAR Program, is awarded a silver designation in its first year in this program. BC Hydro is one of North America’s leading providers of clean, renewable energy, and the largest utility in British Columbia. It services 95% of the province’s population over a network of more than 74,000 km of transmission and distribution lines. As all of these assets are located on one or more of the traditional territories of BC’s 198 First Nations, BC Hydro recognizes that maintaining strong and lasting relationships with First Nations is both a business imperative and a central pillar of its corporate social responsibility agenda. BC Hydro’s long-term goal is to continue building relationships with First Nations, built on mutual respect, that appropriately reflect the interests of First Nations.
“The silver designation confirms we are on the right track,” said Bob Elton, BC Hydro President and CEO. “We want to ensure that there are lasting benefits to the Aboriginal communities that we work with, which includes maintaining initiatives around Aboriginal training, employment and business opportunities, health and wellness, cultural programs, and other interests that the community may raise. This is just the start. Over the coming years, we will continue to look for opportunities to improve aboriginal relations.”
Canada Post, one of Canada’s 10 largest employers, is now certified at the PAR gold level. Canada Post maintains its commitment to the PAR program by developing important equitable business relationships with Aboriginal communities across Canada, Aboriginal entrepreneurs and Aboriginal-owned ground and air transport providers. The Canada Post Aboriginal Education Incentive Award (AEIA) celebrates the hard work and determination of Aboriginal people who have overcome personal, economic, or social adversity in their pursuit of learning. The AEIA, first offered in 2004, is open to all Aboriginal people in Canada.
“Canada Post is pleased to be recognized by the CCAB for our commitment to the PAR program,” said Robert Waite, Canada Post Senior Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility. “Aboriginal communities are constantly changing. We frequently see examples of recognition for the contribution Aboriginal peoples have made and continue to make to this nation and to Canada Post.” Aboriginal communities have been essential to fulfilling Canada Post’s commitment to universal postal service by making mail delivery possible in some of the most difficult terrain in Canada, and possibly the planet.”
IBM Canada has achieved its first gold status in PAR. As a global leader in technology-enabled solutions, IBM recognizes the importance of increasing personal and business opportunities for First Nations, Métis and Inuit through knowledge of and access to technology. With a focus on skills development and community relations, IBM’s strategy is to expand participation through employment and growth in Aboriginal technology businesses. IBM, along with our industry partners and civic, provincial, federal and Aboriginal governments, continues to collaborate to improve accessibility, infrastructure and skills in Aboriginal communities. IBM has also developed programs to stimulate interest in math and science, and to improve literacy. Called I.G.N.I.T.E. (Igniting Interest in Technology and Engineering) camps, this program has reached more than 1,000 students, inspiring them to stay in school and consider careers in technology. Progressive Aboriginal Relations is fundamental to IBM’s diversity commitment and its success in business.
“IBM is committed to building strong Aboriginal relations across the country,” said Dan Fortin, President, IBM Canada. “We congratulate the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business for launching and sustaining the PAR program as it serves as a key tool for Canadian businesses to evaluate their progress and recognize the successes.”
Syncrude has earned its PAR Gold Level accreditation for the fourth time. It is the only oil sands company and one of 11 Canadian companies to hold this distinction. It is among the largest industrial employers of Aboriginal people in Canada, totaling 8.5 per cent of the company workforce. Among its PAR related activities, Syncrude has spent more than $1.1 billion on goods and services with local Aboriginal businesses, donated $2 million to the Keyano College Syncrude Aboriginal Trades Preparation Program to train up to 40 local Aboriginal people per eight-month term and co-manages the Beaver Creek Wood Bison Ranch with the Fort McKay First Nation. The ranch, now in its 14th year of operation, is located on reclaimed Syncrude land.
“Achieving Gold Level accreditation in this national program is a testament to our long-term commitment to ensuring local Aboriginal people share in the benefits of oil sands development,” said Marc Theriault, Syncrude Vice-President of Production. “Celebrating our achievement reminds us how much we are able to accomplish by working with and reaching out to the local Aboriginal community.”
These five latest PAR winners will receive their awards at CCAB’s 25th Anniversary Gala Celebration in Toronto on Wednesday February 18th. Also in February, CCAB will also release inaugural research on its findings to date on how companies build strong relationships with Aboriginal communities, using PAR data and featuring selected company practices.
ABOUT CCAB: The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) was founded in 1984 by a small group of visionary business and community leaders led by Murray Koffler. CCAB is committed to the full participation of Aboriginal people in Canada’s economy. A national non-profit organization, CCAB offers knowledge, resources, and programs to both mainstream and Aboriginal owned companies that foster economic opportunities for Aboriginal people and businesses across Canada.
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