Government of Canada Invests more than $4.8 million in Northern Ontario’s Indigenous Businesses and Communities

As our economy recovers from the impact of COVID-19, the Government of Canada is stepping up its efforts to help Northern Ontario First Nation communities and organizations not only survive, but strengthen and build for a sustainable future.

In recognition of National Indigenous History Month, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor, today announced FedNor investments totalling $4,893,475 in support 16 strategic initiatives led by Indigenous communities, businesses and organizations in Northern Ontario, creating or maintaining up to 76 local jobs Provided through FedNor’s Northern Ontario Development Program, and Jobs and Growth Fund.

Indigenous initiatives supported by FedNor through the Northern Ontario Development Program

Keewaytinook Okimakanak
$3,752,000

Keewaytinook Okimakanak (KO) which serves the Deer Lake, Fort Severn, Keewaywin, McDowell Lake, North Spirit Lake, and Poplar Hill First Nations, will receive more than $3.7 million in Northern Ontario Development Program (NODP) funding to build new multi-purpose training, art, cultural and entrepreneurial centres for each of its member-First Nation communities. The centres will serve as the key community meeting facility for cultural and social activities, while providing youth with valuable training and entrepreneurial skills development. Each centre will include a commercial kitchen, office, and washrooms as well as a training and education area. A total of 18 construction/trades jobs will be created as a result of these building projects:

Deer Lake Community Centre
$737,000

• A $737,000 NODP contribution to build the new 2,400 square foot Deer Lake Community Centre with 1800 square feet of training and education space. Three jobs will be created.

Fort Severn Community Centre
$637,000

• A $637,000 NODP contribution to build the new 1,824 square foot Fort Severn Community Centre with 1,200 square feet of training and education space. Three jobs will be created.

Poplar Hill Community Centre
$637,000

• A $637,000 NODP contribution to build the new Poplar Hill Community Centre with 1,300 square feet of training and education space.  Three jobs will be created.

North Spirit Lake Community Centre
$637,000

• A $637,000 NODP contribution to build the new 2,160 square foot North Spirit Lake Community Centre with 1,300 square feet of training and education space.  Three jobs will be created.

Keewaywin Community Centre
$637,000

• A $637,000 NODP contribution to build the new 2,160 square foot Keewaywin Community Centre with 1,300 square feet of training and education space.  Three jobs will be created.

McDowell Community Centre
$467,000

• A $467,000 NODP contribution to build the new 1,440 square foot McDowell Community Centre with 1,000 square feet of training and education space. Three jobs will be created.

Lac Seul First Nation
$342,000

FedNor will provide Lac Seul First Nation (LSFN) with a $342,000 NODP contribution to support the planning, logistics and capacity building phase of its Bioenergy Pilot Project. This project will support the purchase of the biomass boilers funded through NRCan’s Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities (CERRC) program, which is designed to reduce the reliance of rural and remote communities on diesel for heat and power. LSFN will hire a Program Manager for a 27-month period to oversee the planning, implementation and first years of facility operation. The project is intended to be a pilot, or demonstration model which could be replicated and scaled to the needs of other remote First Nations communities. One full-time Project Manager position will be created.

GCT#3 Representative Services
$214,197

A NODP contribution of $214,197 from FedNor will enable the Grand Council Treaty #3 (GCT3) to undertake a feasibility study to determine the state of the commercial fishery in the Treaty 3 territory. The study would examine the potential resources available for harvest and the commercial fishery’s potential for future development as well as opportunities available to commercial fishers, in addition to identifying and supporting value-added products and enhancing access to local markets. The project is expected to create or maintain 30 commercial fishers, as well as create 10 Fish processing and value added positions and five marketing, delivery, and retail sales jobs.

Naicatchewenin First Nation
$163,250

Naicatchewenin First Nation will use $163,250 in NODP funding from FedNor to develop detailed architectural designs and construction documents to build the Naicatchewnin First Nation Culture and Learning Centre (NCLC). The new centre will be used for community training sessions in partnership with the Seven Generations Education Institute, Ontario Works training initiatives, as well as vocational and other training programs.

Daki Menan Lands And Resources Corporation
$35,000

Daki Menan Lands And Resources Corporation (DMLRC) is receiving a $35,000 NODP contribution to hire a Forestry Coordinator Intern who would complete and execute a series of activities to support and modernize their forestry business. Key duties of the intern will include mapping using GPS/GIS, creating and maintaining databases and reporting tools, managing digital records and working with DMLRC and Temagami First Nation to develop a Standard Operating Procedures document. The intern would also work along-side the crew to help with tree planting, thinning, saw milling, and firewood production operations. One job will be created.

Kinoomaadziwin Education Body
$35,000

The Kinoomaadziwin Education Body will benefit from a FedNor contribution of $35,000 in NODP funding  to hire a Communications Assistant Intern for a 12-month period to develop a strategic social media plan that will support the marketing and communications needs of the Anishinabek Education System (AES). The intern would research social media platforms, content development, and outreach activities to maximize the overall marketing and promotion. In addition, the Communications Assistant would develop an overarching AES System Operations Manual to  support the orientation and ongoing learning for new Chiefs and Education Directors in communities, as well as the recruitment of additional communities to the AES. One job will be created.

Wahgoshig First Nation
$28,528

FedNor is providing Wahgoshig First Nation (WFN) with $28,528 in NODP funding to complete an Economic Leakage Assessment and an updated Economic Strategic Plan that would Identify economic development opportunities for the community and strategies to reduce economic leakage. The plan will also identify new industries in the region, new trends in Indigenous economic activities, feasible economic opportunities and next steps. One job will be created.

Misamikowis Community Economic Development Corp.
$23,500

Through an NODP contribution of $23,500 from FedNor, Misamikowis Community Economic Development Corp will assist Beaverhouse First Nation (BFN) to move forward with a key planning and decision making priority initiative. More specifically, BFN will complete a financial and operational review of its organizational readiness to undertake economic development activities in a variety of sectors for future community growth opportunities.

Indigenous initiatives supported by FedNor through the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI), Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF)

Tri-Town Welding
$100,000

With a contribution of $100,000 through the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI), Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF) from FedNor, Tri Town Welding will scale-up and expand its current facility to increase their manufacturing capacity, grow their client base, sales, and workforce. Specifically, the project involves building a 30 ft x 40 ft (1200ft sq) addition and installing new innovative equipment to support the manufacturing of products for local, regional, and Northeastern Ontario markets. New equipment includes installing a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, new garage door, and electrical transformer, purchasing a Water Table plasma cutting machine and state of the art TIG welder, as well as installing a Jib crane. The expansion is expected to create two new jobs.

Beam Paint and Colour Inc.
$100,000

FedNor will provide Beam Paint and Colour Inc, an Indigenous women-owned business, with a $100,000 contribution through the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI), Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF), to purchase new equipment and expand its current building on Manitoulin Island, and to undertake greening activities that will meet the international and national demand for its paint products. Specifically, the company will add a 20 x 40’ manufacturing deck, with proper ventilation for handling pigments, purchase a larger paint mill and high shear mixer to increase the efficiency of the manufacturing process, add a geothermal heating system to reduce the environmental footprint and operating costs, and purchase additional wood shop equipment to increase the productivity of the wooden paint pallet manufacturing process. Five jobs will be created.

Raven Rising Global Indigenous Chocolates
$100,000

A $100,000 contribution from FedNor through the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI), Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF), will allow Raven Rising Global Indigenous Chocolates, an innovative Indigenous food manufacturing e-commerce business to increase its capacity by adopting new digital technology and growing its online presence to increase its export potential. Activities include modifying its new rental space in Sudbury’s downtown to create a large kitchen and food preparation area, purchasing kitchen appliances and equipment, increasing its e-commerce capacity through the development of a new website, and hiring a red seal certified pastry chef and a marketing/social media coordinator. Three jobs will be created.