Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council

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CAMSC announces winners of Business Achievement Awards

Winners demonstrate the benefits of linking corporate Canada with aboriginal and minority-owned businesses

TORONTO - Sept. 26, 2006 - The Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC) has announced the winners of its Business Achievements Awards, celebrating Canadian companies that have made a great impact in aboriginal and minority business development. This is the second year for the annual event, which will take place on October 12, 2006.

The awards include five categories, honouring minority and aboriginal-owned businesses as well as large companies that demonstrate sophisticated policies toward the inclusion and development of aboriginal and minority suppliers.

"In highlighting the successes of these companies, we are showcasing some of the forward-thinking businesses that have recognized the tremendous positive impact aboriginals and minorities have in the development of the Canadian economy," says Orrin Benn, president, CAMSC. "We are incredibly proud of these organizations and we sincerely commend their efforts towards building a truly diverse and productive Canadian business community."

The awards will be given at a gala dinner on October 12, 2006 at the Toronto Hilton Hotel. The keynote speaker will be Steve Gupta who, since arriving in Canada nearly 30 years ago with $108 in his pocket, has built a multi-million dollar collection of hotels, restaurants and residential apartment buildings. Mr. Gupta is CEO and founder of Easton's Group of Hotels, proprietors of a multi-million dollar collection of hotels, restaurants and residential apartment buildings including the Courtyard by Marriott, Residence Inn, and Hilton Garden Inn, Comfort Inn & Suites, Quality Inn, Comfort Suites, and the first Canadian property to open under Marriott's Fairfield Inn & Suites brand. At the dinner, he will share his formula for success: underpromise and overdeliver; build for the long term; exceed expectations; and cultivate relationships with trusted partners and vendors.

The Supplier of the Year Award will be given to Metro Label, a Scarborough, Ontario-based South Asian success story. The company leads the North American market in the production of pressure sensitive labels, with the past two years seeing a 91% sales increase. Metro Label also created 57 jobs and entered the automotive sector, complementing its dominance in the cosmetics, supermarkets, health and beauty, wine and spirits, and petrochemical industries.

DaimlerChrysler, a CAMSC founding member, will be recognized as Corporation of the Year. A true champion of aboriginal and minority business development, the automaker has made a big difference in the lives of individuals and communities through its ongoing initiatives. Its Diversity Supplier Development Department, established in 1983, works to build and maintain a supply base that is reflective of the company's diverse customers. DaimlerChrysler also hosts a variety of annual events, including "Supplier Circle," an information session educating diversity suppliers on the requirements for conducting business with DaimlerChrysler; and Matchmaker, an event that links suppliers with each other, as well as company personnel, in an effort to coordinate synergies.

The Small Business of the Year Award will be given to Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation (WLON), an aboriginal business community 50 km east of Dryden, Ontario. The company, which is 100 per cent owned by the community, produces a variety of innovative, eco-friendly products, including organic Wild Rice Health Bars, extreme outer apparel and environmentally-friendly cleaning products. Thanks to heavy investment in research and development, WLON's product line increased from five to 19, and its sales grew 105 per cent over the last two years. Its products are listed in the Acklands Grainger national catalogue, the leading source for industrial supplies in North America.

The Aboriginal Workforce Participation Initiative (AWPI) is the winner of the Partnership Award, which is presented for excellence in partnerships or strategic alliances intended to facilitate procurement opportunities with aboriginal and minority-owned businesses. AWPI is an initiative launched by the Government of Canada to promote increased participation of Aboriginal peoples in the Canadian economy. AWPI has been working to promote Aboriginal procurement and has made significant strides toward the development of an Aboriginal Benefits Policy that would apply to the federally regulated sectors of the Canadian economy.

Finally, Charles Gastle, Adjunct Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School, will be honoured with the Procurement Business Advocate of the Year Award. Dr. Gastle has conducted extensive research into the economic importance of aboriginal and minority business integration. He is a widely published author, and recently completed an in-depth analysis of aboriginal culture and international trade. Dr. Gastle also mentors and encourages his law students to advance aboriginal, minority and social justice causes.

To become a sponsor of the CAMSC Business Achievement Awards, purchase tickets or learn more about CAMSC's Business Achievement Awards, please visit www.camsc.ca. Sponsors of the awards include Cisco Systems, 3M, Metro Label, RBC Financial Group, EDS and Computech Canada.

About CAMSC
The Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council is an independent, non-profit organization that aims to boost economic development efforts, employment and inclusion for aboriginal and visible minority businesses through business relations and mentoring. Corporations operating in Canada also benefit from this initiative by gaining a better understanding of and access to ethnic communities, while diversifying and improving their supplier chain base. CAMSC is headquartered in Markham, Ontario. For more information, visit www.camsc.ca.

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