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Timmins-area Business Awards honour First Nations entrepreneurs

First Nations entrepreneurs from across Northern Ontario arrived in Timmins last week to celebrate their own at the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund's 18th Annual Business Awards.

First Nations entrepreneurs from across Northern Ontario arrived in Timmins last week to celebrate their own at the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund's 18th Annual Business Awards.

The event featured eight winners from a broad spectrum of categories, including Business Man of the Year, which went to Bill Lacroix, chief of the Brunswick House First Nation and owner of the 101 Gas Station and Trading Post.

Business Woman of the Year went to Edna Beardy, a member of the Sachigo Lake First Nation and owner of Henry's Place, a popular hangout in her community.

Other winners include Cree Aski Services Ltd., a two-year-old construction company based out of the Moose Factory First Nation, which walked away with the Building Communities Award.

The winner of the Youth Entrepreneur of the Year award was Chris McKay, owner and head of W.C. McKay Consulting Services, located on the Mattagami First Nation. The 29-year-old assists with the development of programs with regards to First Nations lands and natural resource departments, and helps to bridge industry and government with the First Nations communities.