AIOC board growing into new mandate

Three new board members will bring their expertise to the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation (AIOC) following its mandate expansion.

Three new board members will bring their expertise to the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation (AIOC) following its mandate expansion.

The AIOC board is expanding the number of board positions now that it is backing investments in new sectors.

Alberta’s government is pleased to welcome community leaders as board members through 2025:

• Jim Boucher, chairman, Fort McKay Group of Companies and president, Saa Dene Group of Companies
• Ruby Littlechild, national director of Indigenous Relations, SNC-Lavalin
• Vitaly Milentyev, portfolio manager, Cornerstone Fiduciary Wealth Management

Boucher and Littlechild become the fifth and sixth Indigenous board members of the nine now appointed.

“Alberta’s government is pleased to have the knowledge and leadership of the AIOC’s newest board members. I want to thank the current board for all their hard work and dedication. These new members will provide valuable leadership to meet the new demands of the recently expanded mandate to boost Indigenous investment in agriculture, transportation and telecommunications projects.”

Jason Kenney, Premier

“This is one step further in our commitment to meaningful reconciliation. These new board members will assist in creating additional opportunities through AIOC for Indigenous communities across the province to create partnerships and to ensure economic prosperity and job creation.”

Rick Wilson, Minister of Indigenous Relations

With backgrounds in finance and investing, and experience working with Indigenous communities, the AIOC board sets the AIOC’s strategic direction, oversees management of the AIOC’s business and makes investment support decisions that help to flow money back into Indigenous communities.

“AIOC is transformational for Indigenous communities through the creation of new and innovative opportunities which are contributing directly to economic reconciliation and the health and well-being of First Nation and Métis peoples. As AIOC grows, prosperity for Indigenous communities is created.”

Stephen Buffalo, board chair, AIOC

Quick facts

• The AIOC has backstopped more than $160 million in Indigenous investment in natural resource projects and related infrastructure in the energy (which includes oil and gas, renewable energy and coal), mining and forestry industries.
• In February 2022, the Alberta government expanded the AIOC mandate to include investments in major agriculture, telecommunications and transportation projects.
• The AIOC has a limited pool of discretionary capacity funding to provide access to technical support like legal or economic expertise for qualified project opportunities.

Related information

• Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation board of directors

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