November 7 & 8, 2023
Kikiwak Inn, The Pas, Manitoba
Presented by:
University College of the North, Manitoba Chamber of Commerce and Look North
Linkages: Fostering Economic Development is focused on initiating creative, critical thinking and collaborative conversations about northern economic development and the future.
With the commitment and investment on Canada’s North it is now that we look at opportunities to building and attracting new investments in economic and resource development to Northern Manitoba.
OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES
Assess the current northern economic situation
Identify Northern Manitoba resource development opportunities
Identify strategies for growth and regional prosperity
Understand the importance of reconciliation for the economy
OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER
The Hon. Jody Wilson-Raybould
Former Member of Parliament | Former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada | Bestselling Author
The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, PC, OBC, KC, was raised to be a leader. The daughter of a hereditary chief and Indigenous leader, she always knew that she would seek leadership roles and responsibilities. As a lawyer, an advocate, and a leader among Canada’s Indigenous Peoples, she’s built a strong reputation as a bridge builder and champion of good governance and accountability. She shares her unique perspective as both a community and political leader on topics such as Indigenous rights and reconciliation, democracy and governance, leadership, and justice.
Wilson-Raybould was first elected as a Member of Parliament for the new constituency of Vancouver Granville in 2015. She was then appointed the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada making her the first Indigenous person to serve in this portfolio. In January 2019, she was appointed the Minister of Veterans Affairs of Canada and Associate Minister of National Defence, positions she held until her resignation from cabinet in February 2019.
During the 2019 election, Wilson-Raybould was re-elected as an Independent Member of Parliament for Vancouver Granville, making her Canada’s first ever female Independent MP elected and the only elected Independent in the 43rd Parliament.
Prior to politics, Wilson-Raybould was a provincial crown prosecutor in Vancouver and served three terms as an elected Commissioner of the BC Treaty Commission. She was also elected BC Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in 2009, where she devoted herself to the advancement of First Nations governance, fair access to land and resources, as well as improved education and health care services. She served until 2015, holding responsibilities for governance and Nation building on the Assembly of First Nations Executive.
Wilson-Raybould is a descendant of the Musgamagw Tsawataineuk and Laich-Kwil-Tach peoples, which are part of the Kwakwaka’wakw and also known as the Kwak’wala speaking peoples. She is a member of the We Wai Kai Nation with her traditional name, Puglaas, meaning “woman born to noble people.” She served two terms as an elected councillor for her Nation and was also a director and chair of the First Nations Finance Authority and a director of the First Nations Lands Advisory Board.
Wilson-Raybould is the bestselling author of three books, the political memoir “Indian” in the Cabinet: Speaking Truth to Power, which was a finalist for The Writers’ Trust Balsillie Prize for Public Policy and the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing; From Where I Stand: Rebuilding Indigenous Nations for a Stronger Canada; and, her most recent, True Reconciliation: How to Be a Force For Change.
OUR FEATURED SPEAKERS
Keith Collier
Keith Collier grew up in Newfoundland, where he earned a BA in English and MA in History from Memorial University of Newfoundland. In 2011 he moved to Arviat, Nunavut, and spent six years working for the Hamlet of Arviat as Community Economic Development Officer and Director of Community Development.
Keith moved to Nova Scotia in 2017, and since then has continued to work to support community and economic development in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut. He is currently the Executive Director of the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce, and the Coordinator for the annual Kivalliq Trade Show.
Andrew Forward
Andrew is the General Manager of Nisokapawino Forestry Management Corporation (NFMC). He has an education in Forestry, Engineering, and Project Management and a cross section of work experience in private and public sectors. He also is a former Councilor with the Town of the Pas for two terms of service. His working career started with data collection and inventory work in California, treeplanting in British Columbia, and in 1999, supervising treeplant operations in Manitoba. This led towards further employment in the areas of Forest Management which then shifted in 2006 towards northern Community infrastructure maintenance and renewal with the Provincial Government’s Department of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs.
Janice Gladue
Janice Gladue (Asini waciy iskwêw – “Rocky Mountain Woman”) is a member of the Sweetgrass First Nation in Treaty 6 Territory. Janice has spent the past 20 years growing her skills and knowledge base through her work in various fields including marketing and communications, finance, community economic development and insurance. Beginning her journey in the insurance industry in 2009, she now serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the TIPI Group of Companies. The TIPI Group is a national family of companies that provides cost-efficient and effective insurance and risk management solutions, group benefits, HR consulting services, talent acquisition services, learning & development services and truth & reconciliation engagement.
Jeff Killeen
Jeff Killeen is the Director, Policy & Programs for the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) and leads the association’s advocacy, government relations efforts and policy programming. Mr. Killeen was previously a Director for CIBC World Markets, specializing in equity research and providing recommendations to investors around the globe, and has done due diligence on mineral exploration and mining projects on five continents. Mr. Killeen holds a B.Sc. (High Honors) in Geology from Carleton University and has extensive experience in exploration and mining within several major Canadian camps, including the Sudbury basin and the Abitibi greenstone belt.
Jonathan Pameolik
Jonathan is a family man with four daughters and lives in Rankin Inlet with his wife, who is a teacher. He has worked extensively with the public service, in resource management, research and conservation. More recently, he has been working with Inuit Organizations, in various roles from IT support to management and leadership. Jonathan is currently the Manager, Community Relations with the Nukik Corporation. Jonathan also owns an outfitting company, providing guided hunts for various wildlife in the Arctic and is an avid outdoorsman, hunter and fisherman who loves boating out on the Hudson’s Bay.
Lorne Pelletier
Lorne Pelletier is Red River Métis born and raised in Ile des Chênes, Manitoba. He is Senior Economic Advisor to the President at the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF). In this position, which he began in July 2021, he provides strategic economic and investment advice to President Chartrand and members of his Cabinet. In his role Lorne equally provides recommendations and support to MMF’s government priorities in traditional economies, market access for Red River Métis artists, international trade, lands and properties, and business development. Prior to joining the MMF, Lorne served with the Government of Canada for over 23 years last serving as an Executive with Western Economic Diversification, now Prairies Canada.
PROGRAM
Tuesday, November 7 | Host: Jennifer Flett
9:00AM – 10:00AM
Registration
10:00AM – 10:30AM
Conference Opening
Drum Song
Opening Prayer
Chief Maureen Brown, Opaskwayak Cree Nation
Vice President Judy Mayer, Manitoba Métis Federation
Mayor Andre Murphy, Town of The Pas
Becky Cianflone, Governing Chair, University College of the North
10:30AM – 11:15AM
Matching People with Jobs & Job with People
Stephany Laverty, Canada West Foundation
11:15AM – 11:45AM
Shifting Sands in the Mineral Industry – VIRTUAL
Jeff Killeen, Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada
11:45AM – 12:45PM
Lunch
12:45PM – 1:15PM
Rankin Inlet – Resource and Community Development – VIRTUAL
Keith Collier, Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce
1:15PM – 2:00PM
Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link
Jamie Dumont, Chadwick Consulting
Jonathan Pameolik, Nukik Corporation
2:00PM – 2:30PM
Break
2:30PM – 3:45PM
Marcel Colomb First Nation and The Alamos Lynn Lake Gold Mine Project – VIRTUAL
3:45PM – 4:30PM
Economic Resource Panel
Moderator: Monte Koshel, UCN
Andrew Forward, Nisokapawino Forestry Mgmt Corp.
Michael Wolecke, Arctic Gateway Group
Lorne Pelletier, Manitoba Métis Federation
Chief Maureen Brown, Opaskwayak Cree Nation
Jamie Dumont, Chadwick Consulting
4:30PM – 4:35PM
Closing Prayer
4:00PM – 5:15PM
The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould Book Signing
University College of the North Campus
5:30PM – 6:30PM
Networking Reception
University College of the North Campus
6:30PM – 9:00PM
Linkages Dinner
University College of the North Campus
7:30PM – 8:30PM
Keynote Address
The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould
Wednesday, November 8 | Host: Jennifer Flett
8:00AM – 8:30AM
Breakfast & Networking
9:00AM – 9:30AM
Daily Opening
9:30AM – 10:15AM
Northern Manitoba Tourism
Colin Ferguson, Tourism Manitoba
10:15AM – 11:00AM
Nisokapawino Forestry Management Corporation
Andrew Forward, Nisokapawino Forestry Management Corporation
11:00AM – 11:45AM
Arctic Gateway Group
Michael Wolecke, Arctic Gateway Group
11:45AM – 12:45PM
Lunch
12:45PM – 1:30PM
MMF Future Economic Outlook
Lorne Pelletier, Manitoba Métis Federation
1:30PM – 2:15PM
TIPI Group of Companies
Janice Gladue, TIPI Group of Companies
2:15PM – 2:30PM
Conference Closing