Recent History – 1999
Sept. 15, 1999,By Daily News Staff
The Northeast B.C. Aboriginal Business Association begins operation Wednesday.
The B.C. Oil and Gas Commission and the Northern Development Commission will present $50,000 in funding at an official opening Wednesday at the Ramada Hotel in Fort St. John.
Launched as part of B.C.’s oil and gas week, the Association is a registry of aboriginal businesses in the region. In addition to administering a database of fully qualified aboriginal companies, the association will promote aboriginal business opportunities in the forestry and oil and gas sectors.
“The Northern Development Commission advocates northern economic development opportunities,” said Northern Development Commissioner John Backhouse. “The Northeast B.C. Aboriginal Business Association will improve aboriginal business competitiveness in the resource and value added sectors by linking aboriginal business with industry and government.”
Development of the registry was spearheaded by Roy Cunningham of Petro-Canada and Sam Mahood of Mahood Oilfield Consulting. Over six months, the team met with aboriginal communities and businesses to promote the registry.