CESO Vice-President joins Paul Martin at unveiling of CAPE Fund

CESO Vice-President joins Paul Martin at unveiling of CAPE Fund

News Release
March 11, 2009

Toronto – CESO Vice-President, Robert (Bob) Dickson, will serve on the newly unveiled CAPE Fund’s investment committee.

The objective of the $50 million Fund, which was unveiled on March 11, 2009, is to help develop Aboriginal enterprises. CAPE (Capital for Aboriginal Prosperity and Entrepreneurship) is the initiative of the Rt. Honourable Paul Martin and his son David Martin, who managed the process, taking it from a vision to reality and guiding it to a successful closing.The Fund is being backed by some major Canadian companies and private foundations, including five major banks, Barrick Gold Corp., Teck Cominco Ltd., Manulife Financial Corp., Sun Life Financial Inc., SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., the Li Ka Shing Foundation, and CSL Group Inc., which is controlled by the Martin family.

CESO is a non-for-profit development agency that works in Canada and overseas transferring the skills of its volunteers and the building the capacity of its clients. Bob joined CESO’s senior management team in May 2005 and has been responsible for overseeing its Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Programs in Canada.

Bob Dickson explains, “Aboriginal entrepreneurs are capable, motivated individuals. With the kind of services provided by CESO, and now the CAPE Fund, they will continue to work to strengthen Aboriginal economies. We need to support entrepreneurialism in Aboriginal communities to ensure continued development and self-sufficiency.”

From August 2000 to June 2004, Bob was the General Manager of Niigon Technologies, a world-class plastic injection molding plant at Moose Deer Point, ON, which is a joint effort between the Moose Deer Point community, Husky Injection Molding in Bolton, Ontario and the Schad Foundation.

In 1969, CESO Aboriginal Services began offering its services to Aboriginal people and communities as they began to emerge into a new world of greater self-government and economic independence. Since then, CESO has worked alongside more than 25,000 Aboriginal client-partners–entrepreneurs, communities and Tribal Councils, Métis and Inuit communities, and women’s and youth groups from coast to coast.

“CESO is proud of Bob’s involvement with this important Fund. We wish this new initiative every success,” said Don Johnston, CESO President and CEO.

Interested in CESO services, becoming a volunteering or leaning more about the organization? Visit www.ceso-saco.com.

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Contacts for media:

Bob Dickson
Vice-President, National Services
416-961-2376, extension 238
bdickson @ ceso-saco.com (no spaces)

Josie Marchese
Communications Manager
416-961-2376, extension 253
jmarchese @ ceso-saco.com (no spaces)