Introduction

Paskwayak Business Development Corporation (PBDC) was originally mandated by the OCN Chief & Council to oversee the management of OCN owned businesses and to identify and research the establishment or acquisition of additional business enterprises and to promote economic development for the membership of OCN.

Founded in 1987, PBDC is a commercial holding company owned by the Opaskwayak Cree Nation. PBDC plans and implements commercial development and business investment initiatives and controls short and long term growth of business portfolios. Current portfolios include retail and service outlets, property management, concrete and gravel operations, as well on-going plans for community economic development projects.

The request for assistance in the areas of private business development and entrepreneurship resulted in the establishment of an economic development department within the PBDC organization. The economic development department was and continues to be responsible for identifying business opportunities, identifying sources of loan and grant funds, determining the viability of business plans, entrepreneurial and occupational training initiatives, consulting and advisory services for the community of OCN.

 

PBDC Board of Directors

Consisting of 6 Directors, 1 Chairperson, and 1 Elder, the PBDC Board of Directors acts as advisors to the PBDC management team. As the board has many years of experience in acting in this strategic capacity, they offer strategic advice and direction on growing our business operations.

The PBDC Board members are appointed to two year terms, with the current term expiring in September of 2007. The current PBDC board consists of:

• Garth Flett, Chairman
• Irene Cowley-Personius, Elder
• Gary Cook, Director
• Rosina Hester, Director
• Rhonda Norman, Director
• Michael Constant, Director
• Eric Sanderson, Director
• Mike Bignell, Director

Paskwayak Business Development Corporation has its principal offices located in the Otineka Mall on the Opaskwayak Cree Nation.

 

Creating the Freedom to Choose

Government paternalism, inadequate social networks, and conflicting cultural values have all contributed to an Aboriginal history of diminished self-confidence and unrealized dreams.

The Paskwayak Business Development Corporation, through its initiatives, investments, and programs, provides the Opaskwayak Cree Nation and its members with the most valuable of benefits, specifically the freedom to make their own choices. This freedom and independence is now available to all First Nations by accessing the experience and knowledge of the Paskwayak Business Development Corporation.

 

Financial Planning

The success of the Paskwayak Business Development Corporation hinges on our ability to develop and maintain proper financial resources. While our main source of finances are from those profits generated by our business ventures, PBDC also uses these funds to lever additional funds from external sources. The resulting funds are then used for investments, new business ventures, and program development.

 

Economic Planning

A community in any region is like an individual. Each community has its own needs, goals, and character. Recognizing that planning is critical, one of PBDC’s main focuses is the development of an economic plan that considers regional economic conditions, industry trends, community needs, business opportunities, and overall regional growth. The goal of our economic planning efforts is to help foster a region that has a sound and sustainable economic base, thereby providing our membership with a myriad of economic and employment opportunities.

 

Business Plans

In many instances, Band development projects experience many problems due to inadequate research and planning. This often leads to problems with under funding, improper hiring of management, improper purchases of inventory, and inadequate follow-through on project startups. Realizing that business plans are useful management tools after they have served the initial purpose of helping the business to acquire financing, PBDC has developed extensive experience in business plan research and development, as well as experience in the viability analysis of existing projects.

 

Human Resources Development

There is nothing more important in an organization than staff who complete day-to-day operations. PBDC staff are retained based on their education and experience, and are encouraged to continue on their educational path during the course of their employment. As a result of PBDC’s commitment to ongoing training, we continue to improve the overall confidence of our management and staff and the competency of the organization. This further translates to ongoing business successes and client satisfaction as we continue to grow with the business environment.