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Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) was pleased to present its 2024 Awards of Excellence at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa yesterday, with Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd. (CCR) and Executive Director Percy Guichon being awarded the 2024 Indigenous Business Leadership Award.
The Indigenous Business Leadership Award is administered in collaboration with the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB) and celebrates Indigenous entrepreneurs and organizations that exemplify business leadership by delivering high-quality products and services while upholding environmental stewardship and safety. This award also recognizes the recipient’s unwavering commitment to their communities, particularly in promoting Indigenous employment and cultural continuity.
"The team at Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd. Is leading the charge in integrating Indigenous knowledge with modern forestry practices, resulting in meaningful economic opportunities and sustainable land management," said Derek Nighbor, FPAC President and CEO. "Their excellent work on forest rehabilitation, along with their dedication to cultural and ecological stewardship, make them truly deserving of this recognition. FPAC is honoured to celebrate their achievements and the positive impact they continue to make within their communities and the forest sector,” added Nighbor.
Percy Guichon, a Councillor of Tŝideldel First Nation, has been a driving force behind CCR's success. A graduate of the College of New Caledonia in Prince George, BC with a Forest Technician Diploma, Percy has blended his passion for community involvement with his expertise in forestry to lead CCR, a joint venture owned by the Tŝideldel First Nation and the Tl’etinqox Government.
Under his leadership, CCR has become an innovative leader in the forestry industry, focusing on large-scale forest rehabilitation work that ensures the long-term sustainability of traditional forest lands while creating economic opportunities for Indigenous communities.
"Our team at Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd. (CCR) is delighted to be the recipient of FPAC’s 2024 Indigenous Business Leadership Award. Our joint venture of Tŝideldel First Nation and Tl’etinqox Government has been working for many years to help lead the way to take on large-scale forest rehabilitation work that provides many economic, social, and environmental benefits for communities now and for future generations," said Percy Guichon. "For CCR to be recognized by the Forest Products Association of Canada is an acknowledgment of all the hard-working, innovative, and resilient people who work for, and with, our CCR team," Guichon added.
About Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB)
CCIB helps keep Indigenous businesses at the forefront of the Canadian economy, fostering relationships between Indigenous entrepreneurs and Canada’s institutional enterprises to cultivate shared prosperity. Today Canadian Council for Indigenous Business provides more than 2,500 members, including more than 1,300 Certified Indigenous Businesses, with programming, tools, training, network-building, business awards, research, advocacy and national and regional events to advance economic reconciliation across the country and keep Indigenous entrepreneurs positioned for growth.
About Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC)
FPAC provides a voice for Canada’s wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. As an industry with annual revenues exceeding $97B, Canada’s forest products sector is one of the country’s largest employers operating in over 600 communities, providing 200,000 direct jobs, and over 370,000 indirect jobs across the country. Our members are committed to collaborating with Indigenous leaders, government bodies, and other key stakeholders to develop a cross-Canada action plan aimed at advancing forest health, while supporting workers, communities, and our environment for the long term.
