Deer Lake and North Spirit Lake First Nation businesses honoured at NADF's Awards
Kejick's business portfolia keeps growing, expanding
by: Rick Garrick - Wawatay News
North Spirit Lake’s Darcy Kejick picked up his fourth business award at the 19th Annual Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund Business Awards.
“It was a surprise to find out I won Businessman of the Year,” said Kejick, who owns two businesses with partner Susan Rae and is currently building a two-unit motel in the community. “We hope it will address the need for places to stay in North Spirit Lake as we only have one scheduled flight into North Spirit Lake every day.”
Kejick and Rae first went into business with Darcy and Susan’s Gas and expanded into the grocery business with North Spirit Foods in 2007 after Kejick won the 2006 Project Beyshick business plan competition. He used the $15,000 award and an NADF loan to start up the grocery store.
He was also awarded the NADF Youth Entrepreneur of the Year and Partnership of the Year awards in 2005.
Seven other winners from across northern Ontario were announced during the Business Awards Dinner, which was held Oct. 21 at the Valhalla Inn in Thunder Bay.
Nadya Kwandibens of Northwest Angle #37 was awarded the Youth Entrepreneur of the Year award for successfully establishing her photography business, Red Works Studio.
“It certainly came as a shock,” said Kwandibens, who went into business a year ago after focusing on portraiture photography since 2006. “If you work hard and believe in what you are doing, other people will see it.”
A former artist in residence at the Native American Indigenous Cinema and Arts, Kwandibens has also exhibited her work in several group and solo shows throughout Canada and the United States.
David Paul Achneepineskum of Marten Falls was awarded the Executive of the Year award for his contributions at Matawa First Nations.
“I want to share this award with my colleagues at Matawa,” said Achneepineskum, CEO fo Matawa First Nations. “It’s good to see the commitment people give back to our people.”
Achneepineskum has been working with First Nation people since 1971, when he began his administrator career in his home community. He has also pursued his career with Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, Rainy River First Nation and Constance Lake.
Kevin Connor, owner of Milestone Construction Solutions, was awarded the Building Communities award for his commitment to providing housing and training in First Nation communities.
“Over the past four years we have grown exponentially,” Connor said. “We hope to continue that growth over the next few years.”
Connor has been involved in residential and commercial construction for the past 20 years, including an 80-unit housing project in Aroland in 1992.
Rocky Shore Development Corporation was awarded the Development Corporation of the Year award for developing, implementing and operating a number of projects for the Ginoogaming band.
“We’d like to get the Longlac sawmill going,” said Adolph Rasevych, president of Rocky Shore Development Corporation. “The jobs will be there, the mill will be there for the next 30 years.”
Rocky Shore Development Corporation is also involved in an exploration project with Prenier Gold Mines Limited, a gold/mineral search on its traditional territory and the Ginoogaming wind turbine project.
Madil and Elaine Rae of Deer Lake were awarded the Partnership of the Year award for their gas station business, Dustrollane Gas Bar.
The Rae’s business is a family-run business, which encourages their children to learn how to operate a successful business by assisting in its day-to-day operations.
Kevin Belmore of Gull Bay was awarded the NeeChee Achievement award for his artwork, including his recently completed City of Thunder Bay Aboriginal Liaison logo.
Belmore has developed his style of art since participating in a workshop with the late Woodlands artist Roy Thomas; he describes his work as Minowewegabow Art, which means Standing Tall.
Laureen Wassaykeesic of Mishkeegogamang was awarded Businesswoman of the Year award for her long-running business, Laureen’s Gas and Grocery.
Wassaykeesic has provided financial support from her business to local youth groups and community members; she has also served as chief of her community for a number of years.
Sponsors for the awards were: Ontario Power Authority for the Partnership of the Year, Bearskin Airlines for the Executive of the Year, Wasaya Airways for the Businessman of the Year, Ontario Power Generation for the Development Corporation of the Year, Royal Bank of Canada for Building Communities, Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry for NeeChee Achievement, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation for Youth Entrepreneur of the Year, and Hydro One for Businesswoman of the Year.
The Awards handed out include:
Partnership of the Year: Madil and Elaine Rae Bio- Dustrollane Gas Bar;
Executive of the Year: David Paul Achneedpineskum, Matawa First Nations;
Businessman of the Year: Darcy Kejick- North Spirit Foods;
Development Corporation of the Year: Rocky Shore Development Corporation (RSDC);
Building Communities: Kevin Connor- Milestone Construction Solutions;
NeeChee Achievement: Kevin Belmore- Minowewegabow Art;
Youth Entrepreneur of the Year: Nadya Kwandibens- Red Works Studio;
Business Woman of the Year: Laureen Wassaykeesic- Laureen’s Gas and Grocery.