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For Immediate Release
June 24, 2003

News Release

Fourth Annual Ontario Aboriginal Partnerships Recognition Award

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TORONTO – Nominations for the fourth annual Ontario Aboriginal Partnerships Recognition Award (OAPRA) are now being accepted, Minister Responsible for Native Affairs Norm Sterling announced today.

"Promoting and recognizing business excellence is a prudent investment in the future," said Sterling. "With innovative initiatives such as the Ontario Aboriginal Partnerships Recognition Award, the government is keeping its promise to support jobs and growth throughout the province."

The Ontario Aboriginal Partnerships Recognition Award, established in 2000, together with the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, recognizes a successful Ontario-based business partnership between an Aboriginal business, community, or organization and either a non-Aboriginal or Aboriginal business, community, or organization. The award is intended to promote and celebrate Aboriginal business partnerships that have increased Aboriginal employment, provided learning or training opportunities to Aboriginal people and businesses and showed a commitment to the community in which they operate. Partnerships must be located in Ontario and be at least two years old.

Last year's award winners, the partnership that founded Niigon Technologies Ltd. were recognized at a ceremony in December 2002.

"The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation is once again pleased to be part of the Ontario Aboriginal Partnerships Recognition Award for the fourth year," said John Kim Bell, Founder and President, National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation. "The strength of the awards is their message to encourage the growth and development of business partnerships between the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities."

The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation is a national charity established in 1985. The foundation provides $2 million in direct scholarships to students across the country and is also involved in strategies to open the doors to employment opportunities.

"Last year we had 37 nominations. This year we hope to increase the number of nominations," said Sterling. The final decision on this year's award recipients will be made by the minister based on recommendations from Ontario's Working Partnerships Advisory Committee. The committee is comprised of volunteers from the Aboriginal business community and the corporate sector. The award recipients for 2003 will be announced in December.

The deadline for nominations is Monday, September 8, 2003. Nomination brochures are available in English and French from the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation Web site at: www.naaf.ca; and in the Working Partnerships Section of the Aboriginal Business Development Online Web site at: www.aboriginalbusiness.on.ca and the Building Aboriginal Economies section of the Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat Web site at: www.aboriginalaffairs.gov.on.ca.

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Judy Tobe
Director of Public Affairs
National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation
416-926-0775
1-800-329-9780

Merike Nurming
Communications Branch
Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat
416-326-4079

Related link: National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation