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CANADIAN INDUSTRY ONLINE - DECEMBER 2013
CCAB
fact that they represent every sector is
imperative to our success,” Gladu ex-
plains.
The Board is led by Ron Jamie-
son, Co-Chair and Corporate Director,
and Erin Meehan, Co-Chair, President
of ESS Canada, a member of Compass
Group Canada. Board members in-
clude representation from Canada’s oil
and gas industry, food and beverage,
mining, financial services, legal, and
the products and services industry to
name a few.
GROWING THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY
According to Gladu, CCAB is a
unique organization because it is na-
tional, but very locally-based. “We get
to see businesses on every level suc-
ceed,” he says. CCAB offers a variety
of programs to help Aboriginal and
non-Aboriginal businesses, and in-
tends to develop more.
CCAB’s Progressive Aboriginal
Relations (PAR) certification program
recognizes and supports continuous
improvement in Aboriginal relations
with Canadian business. According
to CCAB “it is the premier certifica-
tion program of its type in the world,
assisting companies in achieving
greater results through increased un-
derstanding of Aboriginal peoples,
communities and business.” As well
the newly launched Certified Aborigi-
nal Business (CAB) program certifies
that Aboriginal businesses are 51% or
more owned and controlled by an Ab-
original person(s). The CAB program
ensures that Aboriginal businesses
are easily identified by industry, gov-
ernment and other organizations and
certified businesses can promote them-
selves using the designated CAB logo.
CCAB runs a variety of network-
ing and recognition events across the
country, including CCAB galas, business luncheons featuring Canada’s lead-
ing CEOs, and Aboriginal Business Series conferences with industry experts on
areas of opportunity.
The common thread of CCAB programs is that they facilitate the growth
of Aboriginal businesses and Aboriginal entrepreneurs. “Our unique programs
such as the Aboriginal Business Mentorship Program for example, is a highly
effective and instrumental relationship and network building platform that nur-
tures through peer mentorship — business skills and abilities and best practice
approaches utilized by our Aboriginal business leaders,” the website notes.
CCAB also integrates awards and recognition into its programming, hon-
ouring sustainable relationships between Aboriginal communities and the
Canadian business community. These awards include the Aboriginal Business
“
It was appall-
ing to me that
our communi-
ties didn’t have
access to hire
their own peo-
ple and that
industry, at
the time, wasn’t
waking up to
this issue.”
CCAB Co-Chair Ron Jamieson and CCAB President JP Gladu
