Aboriginal Business: CELEBRATED IN ALBERTA MARCH 2011 IN THIS ISSUE: th ✔ Sunchild E-Learning 20 ANNIVERSARY Community (page 1) This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Alberta The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring ✔ United Protection Services – Business Awards of Distinction – a great honour for that Aboriginal communities and entrepreneurs are able Securing Positive Futures entrepreneurs, small businesses, corporations and to make the best possible use of government support (page 2) individuals in the province. Finalists in 10 categories will and services in exploring economic opportunities. be acknowledged at a gala presentation on March 4, 2011 Improving economic opportunities for Aboriginal ✔ Royal Bank of Canada – at the Edmonton Marriott at River Cree Resort in Enoch. people is a priority for the Government of Canada. Not only is robust economic development in Aboriginal A Chosen Journey Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Alberta Region communities vital to Canada’s future prosperity, it is an Continues to Bring Results is proud to once again be a sponsor of two Alberta effective way of improving the well-being and quality of (page 3) Business Awards of Distinction: the Aboriginal Relations life of Aboriginal people in Canada. – Best Practice Award of Distinction, awarded to a ✔ PTI Group Inc. – Building mainstream company that is a leader in its corporate Learn about this year’s INAC-sponsored award finalists Proactive Relationships at policies regarding Aboriginal relations and practices; in the following stories of dedication, vision and love of Every Level (page 4) and the Eagle Feather Business Award of Distinction industry. that honours an Aboriginal-owned business working to ✔ TransCanada Corporation – improve the lives of its employees and peoples. Working Cooperatively with Its Neighbours (page 5) ✔ The Sawridge Group of Companies – “Your THE ALBERTA SUNCHILD E-LEARNING BUSINESS AWARDS Natural Choice” for Local OF DISTINCTION Accommodation (page 7) Eagle Feather Award finalist COMMUNITY ✔ Aseniwuche Development Innovative Learning Equals Positive Results Corporation – Working Together in Unity (page 8) “Education is the key to unlocking the doors of success.” This mantra has been proven time and time again, and Sunchild E-Learning Community is at the forefront of adaptive, ✔ Lesser Slave Lake Management Services Ltd. – electronic learning methods aimed specifically at Aboriginal youth. Overcoming Diversity to Succeed (page 10) Recognizing the gap that exists in administration through its recently high school graduation rates for expanded state-of-the-art school. Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Fresh from an $11 million expansion, youth, Sunchild E-Learning CEO the school houses students from Martin Sacher has dedicated kindergarten to Grade 12 on First himself to reducing it through Nations land 40 kilometres northwest innovative, flexible programs of Rocky Mountain House. individually tailored to fit the student. School principal Martin Sacher worked with Board Chairman Nelson Daychief It is a strategy that is benefiting First graduates from Chief Chiniquay and staff to launch the electronic everyone involved. E-Learning centre in Morley learning program in 2000, recognizing the need for an initiative like this. Sunchild E-Learning is a not-for-profit program delivered independently of the Sunchild First Nation (Continued on back) 1 Aboriginal Business: CELEBRATED IN ALBERTA THE ALBERTA BUSINESS AWARDS UNITED PROTECTION OF DISTINCTION Best Practice Award finalist SERVICES Securing Positive Futures Started in 1989, United Protection Services Inc. – a subsidiary of publicly-traded United Protection Security Group Inc. – has grown exponentially along with the security industry as a whole. Nine branch offices are now in operation across Western Canada. In 1996 the company developed an Aboriginal-focused affiliate, United teaches recruits life skills, conflict resolution management and physical First Nation Corporation (UFNC), realizing a win-win situation was deterrence. Participants graduate with a Security Officer Basic certificate at hand. It aligned industry needs, Aboriginal communities and the and all the safety tickets required by industry. structure and expertise of United Protection Services Inc. As John points out, until this past year no training was required to “Our philosophy allowed us to see our become a licensed security officer in Alberta. “Our training programs clients, communities and shareholders have provided quality far beyond other companies in the past. Our as partners, and they empower us to be clients recognize the value we provide.” leaders in our field,” said Vice-President of Aboriginal Affairs Earl John. “They work Employment with UFNC is seen as a stepping stone for Aboriginal closely with us to develop some exceptional youth, an opportunity to pursue their dreams with training and Vice-President, Aboriginal employees who are able to advance experience behind them. Those completing the training program are Affairs Earl John (r) receives rapidly.” expected to stay with the service award company for a minimum of Today, UFNC is one of the largest employers of identified Aboriginal 12-18 months. Most continue workers in Alberta. With the assistance of Security Officer Career beyond that, and a number College, UFNC has hired and trained over 600 Aboriginal people have taken on leadership roles from approximately 30 First Nation and Métis communities across the within their communities. western provinces and Ontario in the past 10 years. Others have moved on to careers with police forces, the In the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo alone, the company Correctional Service of Canada employs over 250 Aboriginal security officers through partnerships with and other private investigation/ three First Nations and two Métis organizations. security companies. UFNC also Security Officer Rozella Sandrlik working on-site hires from these institutions, Through UFNC, United Protection Services provides a wide spectrum with experienced security officers mentoring those just starting out. of services across its operating area. These include uniformed guards, mobile patrols, alarm response, private investigations, access control In wages alone, UFNC employees will contribute over $7 million to systems and remote video monitoring. their communities this year. For John, it is probably the most satisfying aspect of his work. “I always think of the positive role models our The company believes employees provide for the younger community members. strongly in individual and community empowerment I also think of the tangible benefits of those wages. The material and involvement. It has benefits to our youth, our elders – the community as a whole. Our worked with a number employees don’t just contribute materially to the well-being of their of communities, through community. They bring pride in a job well done, knowing their training and coordinated communities are safer and better places to live.” efforts with community leaders to establish local For the company, that in itself is the best reward of all. security services. Once up and running, daily Security Officer Shirley Adams monitoring screens on-site operations management is transferred to the community. Through Security Officer Career College, the company runs 15 Aboriginal community-based training programs annually. Over the past five years, both hiring and retention rates have been over 80 per cent. In partnership with the college, UFNC’s six-week long training program 2 Aboriginal Business: CELEBRATED IN ALBERTA THE ALBERTA BUSINESS AWARDS ROYAL BANK OF CANADA OF DISTINCTION Best Practice Award finalist A Chosen Journey Continues to Bring Results The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has been a leader in providing Aboriginal banking services and innovations across Canada and throughout Alberta. This is RBC’s “chosen journey” and it has benefited all parties equally well. With over 4,500 employees in Alberta, RBC has an extensive presence RBC has engineered a number in the province. RBC is working hard to increase the number of self- of impressive firsts. It was identified Aboriginal employees – currently around two per cent – the first financial institution through a number of initiatives. The Aboriginal Workforce Strategy to open an on-reserve branch, is one; annual scholarships of $4000 for four years of post-secondary fully staffed by Aboriginal education for Aboriginal students is another. employees. It led in creating an on-reserve mortgage program To date, RBC has awarded over $1 million nationally through its that did not require federal Aboriginal Students Award Program for continuing education funding as a guarantee. In studies. In Alberta, post- 2009, its pioneer on-reserve secondary and high school Performers at RBC’s housing program was available National Aboriginal Day celebration institutions have received nearly to 58 communities. This past $300,000 in sponsorships and year RBC became the first financial institution to offer telephone donations to organizations banking services in Inuktitut and Cree. promoting enhanced Aboriginal employment, education and skills Ever mindful of demographics that show the increasingly important training. role Aboriginal peoples will play in Canada’s future development, RBC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Assembly of Another innovative program First Nations to address shared strategies aimed at improving capital the bank has launched is its access, community and social development,