SUDBURY – On January 21, the Waubetek Business Development Corporation was recognized by the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce as Indigenous Enterprise of the Year.
This award, sponsored by CTV, acknowledges an Indigenous-owned enterprise that has investigated the opportunities, weighed the risks, and demonstrated significant business achievement and sustainable financial performance. The criteria goes on to state that, “This organization has proven to be a trailblazer and paved the way for other Indigenous businesses/entrepreneurs, while contributing to the economic prosperity of their community and peoples.”
The award was presented on January 21 as part of the PEP (Procurement, Employment and Partnership) conference hosted by the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business (CCAB). During the acceptance speech Jason Peltier, manager of business services, acknowledged the dedication of Waubetek General Manager Dawn Madahbee Leach, who was recognized in 2018 as one of Canada’s top 100 most powerful women by the Women’s Executive Network. He also recognized Waubetek’s founding board members who had the vision and foresight to establish Waubetek back in 1989.
The Waubetek Business Development Corporation is an Indigenous financial institution that delivers business financing, advice and economic development services to First Nations and Indigenous businesses located throughout Northeastern Ontario. Waubetek is a member of the network of Community Futures Development Corporations in Ontario and Aboriginal Financial Institutions in Canada.
“Waubetek,” meaning “the future” in the Ojibwe language, has been honoured to help significantly strengthen the regional economy through providing a variety of business services and over $95 million in investment financing to more than 3,000 aboriginal businesses and First Nations initiatives in a variety of industry sectors since 1989.
