First Nations and Métis representatives will be in Saskatoon for a business opportunities show aimed at aboriginal people.
The Aboriginal Business Match - Saskatchewan will be held at TCU Place from June 16 to 19, 2014.
According to the organizers of the event, the show "connects delegates using sophisticated business matching software that efficiently facilitates the process of partnership development. Delegates create online company or community profiles and carefully review information before requesting or accepting appointments, which are 20 minutes in length."
Aboriginal Business Match is created by and is a trademark of Raven Events and Communications, Sliammon, B.C. A similar aboriginal business match event was held in Penticton, B.C. earlier this year, from Feb. 24 to 27. More than 300 delegates attended.
For the upcoming event, a provincial steering committee comprised of Whitecap Dakota First Nation, the Clarence Campeau Development Fund, the Ministry of the Economy, BMO, Westcap Management Ltd., Urban Systems, BHP Billiton, Quantum Murray and others are supporting the Saskatchewan effort.
Among the organizations supporting the event is Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs.
Ken Graham, director of economic development for BATC, attended the event in Penticton. In a video released by organizers about the ABM, he spoke about that experience.
"I did come to this event to get a feel for what the experience would be and to determine whether or not our companies would be interested in participating in the Saskatoon event," said Graham.
"I'm very, very impressed with the people I have met here. The organizational effort has been far superior to anything I've experienced in recent times."
Opportunities for the private sector to get involved are extensive. Among the examples cited include FHQ Developments Ltd., Fort La Corne Ventures LP, Urban Systems and Hugh Munro Construction.
More applicants are being sought and those applications can be submitted at aboriginalbusinessmatch.com.
ABM is also expanding into other provinces. Next year, an event called ABM West will combine British Columbia and Alberta; that is planned for May 11-13, 2015. Dates for other ABM events in Saskatchewan and Ontario that same year will be announced later in 2014.
