CCAB Announces More Achievements in the Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) Program – Six Companies to Be Recognized for Accomplishments

Toronto, February 12, 2007 — The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) will honour six corporations as leaders in working with the fast-growing Aboriginal sector of the Canadian economy. The ceremony will be part of the Ninth Annual CCAB Circle for 2015 Gala Dinner in Toronto on Tuesday, February 13.

The dinner is being co-chaired by Yvan Bourdeau, CEO of BMO Capital Markets and Doug Lord, President, Chairman and CEO of Xerox Canada. The 2007 laureates of the Aboriginal Business Hall of Fame (ABHF) will also be inducted at the sold-out the dinner, which brings together nearly 500 leaders of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal businesses from across Canada.The six companies to be recognized for demonstrating leadership in the Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) are:

• BMO Financial Group – Toronto, Ontario – Gold Achievement, 2004, renewed in 2007
• Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. – Lac De Gras, Northwest Territories – Gold Achievement, 2005, renewed in 2007
• ESS Support Services – Burnaby, B.C. – Gold Achievement, 2005, renewed in 2007
• Sodexho, Remote Sites Division – Montreal, Québec – Gold Achievement – 2003, renewed 2005, renewed in 2007
• SaskTel – Regina, Saskatchewan – Silver Achievement, 2007
• EDS Canada – Oshawa, Ontario – Bronze Achievement, 2007

“The companies in PAR are making a significant contribution to the prosperity of Aboriginal Canadians,” said CCAB President and CEO Jocelyne Soulodre. “They are showing leadership in employment, business development, individual capacity development and community relations – the four sectors that PAR examines,” she said.

PAR provides a framework for businesses and other organizations to self-assess their approach to the emerging Aboriginal marketplace and tools to help them improve their performance. PAR is a long-term process that will allow participating companies to expand their knowledge of and interaction with the Aboriginal community. See the PAR section at www.ccab.com for more information.

The following organizations have also achieved advanced standing in PAR:

• Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries – Boyle, Alberta – Gold Achievement, 2006
• Cameco Corporation – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – Gold Achievement, 2002, renewed 2005
• Xerox Canada – Toronto, Ontario – Gold Achievement, 2006
• Syncrude Canada – Fort McMurray, Alberta – Gold Achievement, 2002, renewed 2004, 2006
• Place Louis Riel All-Suite Hotel – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Gold Achievement, 2003
• Manitoba Lotteries Corporation – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Silver Achievement, 2006
• Canada Post Corporation, Operations Division – Ottawa, Ontario – Silver Achievement, 2006
• Donna Cona – Ottawa, Ontario – Silver Achievement, 2001
• Western Lakota Energy Services Ltd. – Calgary, Alberta – Silver Achievement, 2006
• Scotiabank – Toronto, Ontario – Silver Achievement, 2005
• IBM Canada – Markham, Ontario – Bronze Achievement, 2006
• Pitblado Barristers & Solicitors – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Bronze Achievement, 2006
• World Wildlife Fund, Canada – Toronto, Ontario – Bronze Achievement, 2006
• Nasittuq Corporation – Ottawa, Ontario – Bronze Achievement, 2005

Six companies are in the program at the Commitment, or initial, level:

• Delta Bessborough Hotel – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
• EnCana Corporation – Calgary, Alberta
• Global Television – Toronto, Ontario
• Higgins International – Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Radisson Hotel Winnipeg Downtown – Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Red River College – Winnipeg, Manitoba

CCAB is the country’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.

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For more information:

Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business:
Jocelyne Soulodre, President & CEO
416-961-8663 ext. 235 jsoulodre@ccab.com