Latest news with #FirstNations-owned
Winnipeg Free Press
04-07-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Huge step for us': Opaskwayak opens downtown apartment building
At first, Lisa-Marie Lathlin's apartment hunt did not go well. The Opaskwayak Cree Nation member sought a place off-reserve in Winnipeg. She's enrolled to attend Yellowquill University College this fall. 'I couldn't find anything affordable,' Lathlin said Friday. BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Paragon Living President & CEO Nigel Furgus helps Opaskwayak Cree Nation Chief Maureen Brown cut the ribbon at the new apartments at 380 Young St. Then Lathlin heard about a complex OCN was building downtown. By Friday, she'd settled in to her suite at 380 Young St. The Winnipeg apartment is the first of three that OCN plans to build and own by 2028. A handful more — led by various First Nations — are in the pipeline. They are rising up as governments pump funding into affordable housing projects. 'This is a huge step for us,' said Ginger Martin, chief executive of Paskwayak Business Development Corp. She and fellow Opaskwayak members were on hand for 380 Young's grand opening Friday. All 69 units have been rented, the crowd was told. First Nation members — mainly OCN, but some from places such as St. Theresa Point — account for more than 40 per cent of the tenants. OCN members took first priority. There's a mix of students, seniors and young professionals. Rent starts around $680 per month — roughly 69 per cent of the median market rent for the Centennial neighbourhood, said Nigel Furgus, president of Paragon Living. The developer ensured at least 40 per cent of the units met the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. criteria for affordable housing. That way, the seven-storey tower would be eligible for the CMHC affordable housing fund. There was a mad rush for the lesser-priced units: more than 200 applications were submitted in two weeks, Furgus recalled. 'The higher-priced units are struggling a bit more,' he said, speaking about the rental industry broadly. The most expensive units at 380 Young — at least $1,600 for two bedrooms — have been taken. (Average overall rent in Winnipeg was $1,663 in May, per and Urbanation data.) Construction on 380 Young began at least two years ago. It opened to tenants this May — nearly a year later than expected — because of two fires, Furgus said. At least one was arson; one started after the final floor had been erected and the place was drywalled. 'We kind of had to strip it, gut it and redo it,' Furgus said, adding insurance covered the cost. Ottawa contributed $15.6 million to the apartment through a national housing fund involving low-interest and forgivable loans. OCN fronted $1.8 million. It's among the first projects funded by the $14.6-billion CMHC Affordable Housing Fund that's solely First Nations-owned. 'We need to create our own source revenues,' Martin said. 'It's going to build our assets, our generational wealth.' OCN aims to open a 129-unit apartment block in St. Boniface, on Marion Street, in September 2026. A third complex in Bridgwater, with 240 units, could come in 2028. CMHC funding would be used in both projects, Martin said. 'We've always been visionaries,' said Chief Maureen Brown. The community near The Pas has more than 7,000 members, including some 3,300 who live off reserve. OCN's upcoming apartments are largely in the permit stage, Furgus said. Paragon Living has been tapped to create both. Furgus hinted at three other multi-family buildings in the works with First Nations. One, with Roseau River Anishinaabe First Nation, is being built on Chancellor Drive. Another — with 450 suites — is set for Edmonton. A third in Winnipeg should be announced within the next year, Furgus said. Now is a good time to aim for government support on housing projects, said Jino Distasio, a University of Winnipeg urban geography professor. The City of Winnipeg has received two of four $30.6-million installments through Ottawa's housing accelerator fund. The agreement targets 1,354 affordable housing units, at minimum, between December 2023 and December 2026. A remaining 1,070 are targeted between 2025 and 2026, city spokesman Adam Campbell wrote in a statement. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. 'What we're seeing across Canada and certainly within Winnipeg (is) a tremendous advancement of First Nations-led development,' Distasio said. It extends beyond housing: Distasio pointed to transformations at the former Kapyong Barracks on Kenaston Boulevard, the former downtown Hudson's Bay store and the historic Bank of Montreal at Portage and Main. Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn alone, the Southern Chiefs' Organization's redevelopment of the Bay, could add more than 300 housing units, a child care centre and commercial space. '(Indigenous nations are) really adding a unique and important dynamic to the urban development of Winnipeg,' Distasio said. 'We're going to begin to see a dramatically different downtown and Portage in the next couple years.' Gabrielle PichéReporter Gabrielle Piché reports on business for the Free Press. She interned at the Free Press and worked for its sister outlet, Canstar Community News, before entering the business beat in 2021. Read more about Gabrielle. Every piece of reporting Gabrielle produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
07-06-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Indigenous-owned Dugald café all about bannock, brew and belonging
DUGALD — The Grey Wolf Café in Dugald is holding its grand opening this weekend and if early reviews are any indication, traffic along neighbouring Highway 15 will be busier than normal. 'You can feel a wonderful spirit as you walk through the door,' wrote one person on the coffee shop's social media page, days after the First Nations-owned enterprise hosted a soft opening in mid-May. 'The bannock was fluffy and tasty… and don't even get me started on the coffee,' commented another. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Tanya Clarke named Grey Wolf Cafe in Dugald, which opens this weekend after her father, who was bestowed the traditional name Grey Wolf Man after his death. 'Great prices, friendly staff… 6/5 in our books,' came one more. 'We've only been open for (three) weeks but we already have our fair share of regulars, including a group of 10 or 12 ladies who'll join a few tables together and stay for a couple of hours, plus students who pop in for caramel lattés and macchiatos,' says owner Tanya Clarke, seated in the tastefully decorated spot situated directly across the street from the Springfield Curling Club. Clarke, a mother of four and grandmother of one, laughs as she recalls a piece of wisdom she received from the manager of Lift Coffee & Tea in nearby Oakbank, when the Grey Wolf Café was still in the formative stage. 'They told me opening a café is like having a child — you can forget about sleeping for the first six months or so,' she says, noting she has invited various dignitaries, including Chief Larry Barker from her home community of Hollow Water First Nation, to this weekend's festivities. 'What I've since discovered is that's the perfect metaphor. There are definitely days when I've felt like I was floating on my feet, not so much from staying up all night fretting over numbers, but more from wondering what else we can do to make coming here a positive experience for everyone.' 'They told me opening a café is like having a child – you can forget about sleeping for the first six months or so'–Tanya Clarke Clarke, a mediator, leadership coach and professional development trainer based out of Yellowquill University College, split her time growing up between Transcona and Interlake districts such as Lundar and Komarno. Her father, who was Anishinaabe, was a residential school survivor. It wasn't until 2016 — five years before he died at 79 — that he began openly discussing that period of his life with his four children. 'My cousins grew up in community but we didn't, and there were definitely occasions of me feeling like I didn't belong,' says Clarke, who was seven when her mother, who was of German descent, died following a prolonged illness. 'When I did find out more about my dad, whose name was George but went by Buddy, things started to make sense for me. I was able to process a lot of what I'd been dealing with — or lacking — when I was younger.' Clarke and her partner Kevin moved to Dugald three years ago. Last June, she was out for a walk with their dog Blue when she noticed there was a vacant space in Dugald Station, a multi-tenant strip mall. The self-described coffee aficionado had always dreamed of running a café of her own, and because her youngest was about to graduate high school, she figured she might actually have the necessary free time to do so. Not to mention that nothing comparable existed in the town of about 800 — a number she understood would continue to grow over the coming years. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Grey Wolf Cafe came to be with the support of First Peoples Economic Growth Fund, an organization that assists First Nations entrepreneurs. After discussing the notion with her family, she set up a meeting with the First Peoples Economic Growth Fund, an organization that encourages and supports First Nations people in Manitoba who are delving into entrepreneurship. She next put together a multi-detailed, 63-page business plan, listing everything from desired menu items to job descriptions for prospective staff to projected sales. The venture required a tag, of course. Clarke says it was an easy decision to go with Grey Wolf for Grey Wolf Man, the traditional name her father received at a ceremony that was held following his death. 'When I was thinking about what to call it, Grey Wolf Café just made sense,' she says, crediting her 29-year-old daughter Sierra for coming up with the howling-wolf logo that adorns one of the café's bay windows. 'And because I do a lot of cultural-awareness training, I felt like it was a good, positive way to celebrate culture not just by honouring my dad, but also anybody else who attended a residential school.' She received the keys to the site on Dec. 1, at which point she promised herself she'd be serving her first cuppa joe by the beginning of February — a timeline she quickly realized wasn't viable, given the amount of updating that was required. New flooring, new wainscoting, a fresh coat of paint, a brick-encased gas fireplace built from scratch, she says, listing some of the renovations she undertook with the assistance of Kevin, her kids and her new landlord. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS A Red Seal chef from York Factory First Nation helped with menu items like the bannock breakfast sandwich. When Clarke wasn't busy making things over, she was spending hours taste-testing as many as 20 coffee blends, prepared with beans roasted in the province. She also recruited Dana Constant, a Red Seal chef from York Factory First Nation she knew from volunteering at Folklorama's First Nations pavilion, to lend a hand on the food side of things. 'We definitely wanted bannock for the breakfast sandwiches and Dana, who is 28 and brilliant, came in and worked with my son Vincenzo. Between the two of them, they arrived at three different (breakfast) sandwiches, as well as a lunch menu that, for now, includes a turkey-BLT and a ham-and-Swiss, both served on ciabatta.' (There is also a selection of pastries and for the younger set, soft-serve ice cream.) Oh those, Clarke smiles, when a visitor asks about a set of handsome wooden armchairs positioned around a live-edge table. Her father gave them to her years ago, and as soon as she decided to open a café she enlisted the services of Anishinaabe textile and interior designer Destiny Seymour to recover them with one of her Indigenous-inspired patterns. Fabian Sanderson (no relation to writer) is the chief executive officer of the First Peoples Economic Growth Fund. While the organization has in the past aided businesses such as gas bars and convenience stores, Sanderson says what they are particularly interested in is working with places where 'restoration… perhaps some reconciliation' is part of the agenda. 'Obviously there are a lot of advancements that have been made — which is fantastic — but there are still prejudices that are alive and well today,' Sanderson says. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Vincenzo Marinelli prepares lunch sandwiches. 'So when you have a company that comes up like this, sometimes it's throwing a dart and hoping it lands because you might have a community that supports it or you might have one that totally rejects it, because of lack of understanding or ignorance. That's why for us, it's super exciting to say, 'Hey, this is what an Indigenous business looks like.'' Sanderson says he and his colleagues feel like 'proud parents' whenever a venture they're involved with begins to get its feet under it and attain its goals. Weekday Evenings Today's must-read stories and a roundup of the day's headlines, delivered every evening. 'To have somebody like Tanya who has kids and who wants to create a business to help support her family is fantastic,' he continues. 'Unfortunately, you still don't see a lot of inter-generational prosperity within the Indigenous community — you see it all over in other areas of the world — so when we witness something that has the potential to be carried on by the next generation, we do whatever we can to help them achieve that success.' Besides running the café, Clarke, who currently has seven employees, all from the general area, intends to market bagged coffee under the Grey Wolf banner at the retail level. That includes one type, Buddy's Blend, named for her dad. She'll also be designating space inside the 23-seat locale — occupancy can be expanded to 37 for anticipated book readings and corporate get-togethers — where Indigenous artisans such as Caroline Cheekie of Cheeky Beader can sell their wares on a consignment basis. 'And my long-term goal would be to have more Grey Wolf Cafés, right?' she says, adding whenever she's unsure of next steps, she seeks guidance from more knowing sorts. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Grey Wolf Cafe will sell bagged coffee, along with wares from Indigenous artisans on a consignment basis. 'I have my dad's photo on the fireplace mantle and if I'm ever stuck, I'll smudge and we'll talk. Mom, too.' MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Lexi Taylor feeds a sweet treat to a canine customer. David Sanderson Dave Sanderson was born in Regina but please, don't hold that against him. Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
29-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
CentrePort Canada adds three firms to West Creek Industrial Park
Three businesses have expanded in Manitoba's rapidly growing CentrePort Canada — and European companies might be on the way. Medline Canada, a medical supplies manufacturer and distributor, has doubled its company's Manitoba warehouse footprint by leasing 46,000 square feet in CentrePort at the northwest edge of Winnipeg. Arctic Beverages — Canada's only First Nations-owned Pepsi franchise — has cemented 36,000 sq. ft. of space. And Polymershapes Winnipeg, which distributes products like plastic sheets, has settled into 19,000 sq. ft. All three are tenants of the West Creek Industrial Park. The new development is notable because it was built before any tenants had signed on, said Carly Edmundson, CentrePort Canada's chief executive. West Creek Industrial Park spans 294,150 sq. ft. in the Rural Municipality of Rosser. Of the space, 189,860 sq. ft. is left available. Hopewell Development LP created the park's two buildings. '(They) believed that the market was strong enough,' Edmundson stated. A delegation of 18 European Union ambassadors toured CentrePort during their April visit. Edmundson described the event as 'really positive.' 'They were … extra excited when they considered the connectivity to the Port of Churchill,' she added. — Free Press staff
Hamilton Spectator
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Stars of Tomorrow celebrates a half century of talent
Over 400 people attended the 50th annual Stars of Tomorrow Showcase on Saturday, May 17, 2025. The free event was held in honour of Michelle Farmer's Studio of Dance and Modelling's 50th anniversary. Located in Ohsweken, it's one of the longest running First Nations-owned and operated talent studios in Canada, and for five decades now, Farmer has dedicated her time to empowering thousands of Indigenous youth through the art of dance, modelling and performing. Hosted by Gary Farmer, Michelle's older brother and a well-known film and television actor, the evening featured a line-up of performances from several musicians as well as Nova Scotia born comedian, Janelle Niles. In all, the night was stacked with 27 dance performances from Michelle's competitive teams as well as her recreational dancers. From jazz to tap, hip-hop and ballet, performers of all ages had the opportunity to show off their talent throughout the nearly four hour event. While introducing the competitive mini team large jazz group, Gary noted that Michelle's students' hard work and dedication often pays off at competitions throughout the U.S. 'Michelle's got about 65 dancers in the whole school this season, and 30 of them are competitive dancers,' he said. 'That means they travel around North America to compete in various festivals and events, so that's quite an accomplishment.' In between the dances, there were two modelling demonstrations and five different video presentations, as well as a vocal performance by Adalyn Miller. The nine-year-old junior singer delivered a rendition of 'Defying Gravity' from the hit Broadway musical Wicked. Keeping with the broadway theme, the young musical theatre group performed 'Maybe' and 'It's the Hard-Knock Life' from the musical, Annie. As well, the adult jazz group later performed to 'Cell Block Tango' from Chicago. Ange Hart and her aunts, Marcia Davis and Cynthia Monture, were just a few of the attendees there to support their loved ones and celebrate Michelle's 50th anniversary. 'We've been coming to this for 40 years now, so we're really glad to be here again,' said Davis. 'It's great, everyone is just killin' it out there,' added Hart. 'I'm really happy that I could come out and see my family dance. During intermission, Gary sat down with Michelle for a short interview. The two discussed how she got her start in dancing and modelling, her journey to becoming a teacher and creating her own studio, her pursuits of a professional career in dance, as well as potential ambitions in regards to creating her own Broadway-style musicals. Before resuming the showcase, Gary brought up Sherri-Lynn Hill, the 59th elected Chief for Six Nations of the Grand River, as well as Councillor Greg Frazer, to say a few words. 'We're here today and I'm just amazed at the quality of the production; I can just see the dedication and how much work and effort has gone into putting on a production like this,' said Frazer. 'I really commend you Michelle on all that you've done for our community. It's amazing that we can keep our young children active, interested and dedicated. …On behalf of the Six Nations Council and the Chief, we'd like to give Michelle a little plaque of excellence for the 50 years that she's put this on.' Six Nations of the Grand River musicians, Derek Miller and Lacey Hill, also performed during the show. The two sang several original songs including 'Colorado Springs,' 'Delphine' and 'Can't Get You Out of My Head.' As well, Six Nations singer-songwriter, James Wilson, also performed for the crowd. The 28-year-old sang his original song, 'Good Life,' along with a cover of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' and The Animals, 'House of the Rising Sun.' Kimberly De Jong's reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at .
Hamilton Spectator
24-04-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Grand chief requests halt to auction of Hudson's Bay items linked to First Nations
As Hudson's Bay heads to court seeking permission to auction off 1,700 pieces of art and more than 2,700 artifacts, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is requesting a halt to the sale of items that may belong to or be linked with First Nations people. A letter by assembly Grand Chief Kyra Wilson to the monitor for Hudson's Bay, which is operating under court protection from creditors under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act, said there is 'deep concern' over the potential auction of artifacts from its collection. 'Given the nature and scope of HBC's long-standing relationship with First Nations, it is likely, if not certain, that many of the artifacts slated for auction are of profound cultural, spiritual, and historical significance to First Nations people,' Wilson said in the letter on Tuesday. 'Selling these items at auction without full transparency and consultation with impacted First Nations would not only be morally irresponsible but also represent a continuation of the colonial dispossession of First Nations' lands and belongings that the HBC directly profited from for centuries.' It is still unclear what specific artifacts could be included in the auction beyond the 355-year-old royal charter that launched the company. Hudson's Bay announced Wednesday it will liquidate all of its remaining stores and has previously said an auction 'is the most transparent, fair and efficient approach to monetize the art collection while recognizing and protecting its cultural and historical significance.' In addition to halting the sale or transfer of artifacts with possible links to First Nations, Wilson requested the full catalogue of items being considered for liquidation be made public. She also said there should be a First Nations-led review process. 'These artifacts are not simply 'valuable assets' or one-of-a-kind collectibles, but pieces of living history, some of which may be sacred, stolen from First Nations or properly First Nations-owned,' she wrote. Others have asked the company to transfer its royal charter to a public archival institution such as the Archives of Manitoba to ensure its preservation, rather than risk it being sold to a private buyer. The charter, granted by King Charles II in 1670, is 'one of the most significant archival documents that exists in Canada,' said Cody Groat, chair of the Canada Advisory Committee for Memory of the World, which is under the umbrella of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO. Groat called the document 'foundational' to discussions around political governance in Canada and treaty negotiations with Indigenous people. That's because the charter, which established Hudson's Bay as a fur trading company, also granted it 'semi-sovereign rights' which allowed it to operate both 'as a business entity and as a colonial government at the same time,' Groat said. 'So when we look at this, it's not just a document that established a business. It's a document that really created a unique political colonial structure in Canada.' Other Hudson's Bay artifacts have previously been donated to the Archives of Manitoba. In 2007, those received UNESCO's Memory of the World designation, meant to safeguard documents of historical and cultural importance. But the charter, which has remained in the company's possession, hasn't received that recognition. Groat said that to be designated, an item must be assessed to have been properly preserved according to archival conservation standards, and the general public must have reasonable access to it. 'What we're calling for is a recognition that this should not be viewed as just another corporate asset,' he said. 'If a private corporation buys it, it could be designated, but it entering a public institution is kind of how we know it's going to be preserved in a way that it ought to be preserved.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 24, 2025.
