Countdown begins to close of nominations

Nominations are set to close on the BC Aboriginal Business Awards, administrated by the British Columbia Achievement Foundation.

As Sept. 24th approaches, all the stops are being pulled out to encourage as many Aboriginal business in the province to participate in the second year of the awards program.

Nora Newlands is the executive director of the achievement foundation. She said the awards are designed to recognize excellence in business achievement, and points out the award categories, seven in all, were chosen to serve everything from the small business and home business to large joint ventures.
An independent jury of Aboriginal business experts will review the nominations and select the recipients in accordance with the awards’ criteria. The selection process is swift, and winners are to be announced by Nov. 1, she said.

That’s when the real fun begins, because the next step is a public display of acknowledgment for the winners’ business acumen. A gala dinner and evening will be hosted in Vancouver and the recipients of the awards, and the runners up, will be showcased.

Last year the event, in its inaugural year, was a sold-out affair with leadership, both Aboriginal and from the wider political spectrum, and senior business leaders from across the province in attendance.

The awards were the brainchild of former Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Michael DeJong. He recognized that there was already a surge of economic activity at all levels in Aboriginal business, but he wanted to encourage more.

He reached out to the foundation and seven categories of business excellence were chosen.

Business of the Year Awards have three subcategories: a one to two person enterprise; a two to 10 person enterprise, and a 10 or more person enterprise.

To be eligible for a business of the year award, the enterprise must be at least 51 per cent Aboriginal-owned and operated.

There is also the Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year and Young Male Entrepreneur of the Year Award categories.

These awards recognize achieved success in the start-up and operation of a new or existing business. Nominees must be under 30.

There is a Joint Venture Business of the Year Award which promotes and celebrates efforts that contribute to the economic well-being of the area; increase the employment of Aboriginal people; provide learning or training opportunities to Aboriginal people and businesses; and show a commitment to the community in which they operate. The joint venture can be with either an Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal partner.

To be eligible for the Community-Owned Business of the Year Award businesses must be 100 per cent community-owned. This award celebrates the contribution the unique business undertaking has made to capacity building and strong economic foundations in British Columbia’s Aboriginal communities and the wider economy.

To be eligible for any of the awards, nominees must be Aboriginal people or businesses (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit).

Business may enter only in one category.

If someone is nominating a business or a business person for an award approval from the business or business person must be sought.

If unsuccessful, an entrant may apply again in the next or future years.

Non-profit or charitable groups, government agencies and institutions are not eligible for these awards.

During the gala, lifetime achievement awards will be announced. Last year’s winners were Dorothy Grant, a fashion designer situated in the Vancouver area, and Angelique Merasty Levac of Prince George, who operates a Native Arts and Crafts store.

The purpose of all the awards, said Newlands is to showcase business role models, to inspire others in the ways to accomplish a goal, or overcome challenges.
If you are thinking about nominating a business, but you’re intimidated by the paperwork involved, reach out to the foundation. Newlands said the foundation is ready to help out.

People can nominate a business or self-nominate their own business. What is important, she said, is that they get a good selection of nominations from around the province.

Visit www.bcachievement.com for more details.