Canada’s Forestry Sector Honours Agoke Development Corporation of Thunder Bay with Indigenous Business Leadership Award

  |  
September 20, 2021

As National Forest Week is celebrated across the country, Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is seizing the opportunity to announce the recipients of its annual Awards of Excellence program. Today, FPAC announced that Agoke Development Corporation of Thunder Bay, Ontario is the recipient of the Indigenous Business Leadership Award.

The Indigenous Business Leadership Award, presented in partnership with Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB), celebrates Indigenous entrepreneurs in the forest products industry who exemplify business leadership through exceptional environmental and safety performance and the delivery of high-quality products and services. The recipient must also demonstrate a long-term commitment to the Indigenous community, particularly in supporting Indigenous employment.

“The forest products sector works in partnership with over 1,400 Indigenous-owned businesses, each of which are critical partners in advancing forest health and economic prosperity in our forestry communities,” said FPAC President and CEO Derek Nighbor. “The Indigenous Business Leadership Award provides FPAC and CCAB with the opportunity to highlight the great work being done in these communities and showcase how Indigenous business leaders like Agoke Development Corporation are driving environmental, economic, and social opportunities across the country,” he added.

The Agoke Development Corporation (ADC) is a partnership between three First Nations in the Thunder Bay region of Northern Ontario. The name ‘Agoke’ represents the 3 partner First Nations in the Corporation – the A for Aroland, E for Eabametoong, and Agoke for Marten Falls which is located by Ogoki Post. Growing the local economy, providing employment for Indigenous people and sustainable forest management are three areas of priority to Agoke Development Corporation. Since being incorporated in 2016, the partnership has revitalized the forest sector in their region and greatly improved the participation of local First Nation communities and people in the forest management process.

Lynn Palmer assumed the role of interim General Manager for Agoke Development Limited Partnership in May of 2021. She holds B.Sc. and M.Sc. Forestry degrees and a PhD in Forest Sciences from Lakehead University, and has over twenty-five years of experience doing research, technology transfer, teaching, working on conservation and socio-economic issues related to forests with environmental/non-governmental organizations. She has also worked extensively over the past decade on behalf of First Nations to advance their rights and interests related to their lands and natural resources, notably in relation to their forests. She began working to support the three First Nations that established the Agoke Development Limited Partnership in 2015-16 during her role as Sustainable Forestry Advisor at Four Rivers, the Environmental Services Group of Matawa First Nations Management (Matawa Tribal Council).

“I am honoured to receive FPAC’s 2021 Indigenous Business Leadership Award on behalf of the Agoke Development Limited Partnership,” said Palmer. “I have greatly enjoyed working on a range of forestry initiatives throughout my career and am especially passionate about working to advance the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples related to their forests.”

“Indigenous business is stronger when nations and Industry come together for a common goal,” said Tabatha Bull, President and CEO, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business. “Agoke Development Corporation is a leading example of what can be accomplished when we work together collectively. CCAB is proud to partner with FPAC and recognize Agoke’s leadership in the forestry sector. Congratulations to Lynn Palmer and Agoke Development Limited Partnership. The long-term jobs and sustainable prosperity created will have lasting impact across in Northern Ontario and beyond.”

To learn more about FPAC’s Awards of Excellence recipients, please visit: https://www.fpac.ca/posts/fpac-awards-of-excellence

About the 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 $80B, Canada’s forest products sector is one of the country’s largest employers operating in over 600 communities, providing 230,000 direct jobs, and over 600,000 indirect jobs across the country.

About Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB)

Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) is committed to the full participation of Indigenous peoples in Canada’s economy. A national, non-partisan association, with a mission to promote, strengthen and enhance a prosperous Indigenous economy through the fostering of business relationships, opportunities, and awareness.  CCAB offers knowledge, resources and programs to its members to foster economic opportunities for Indigenous peoples and businesses across Canada. For more information visit www.ccab.com.

For more information contact:
Kerry Patterson-Baker
Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs
kpatterson-baker@fpac.ca
(613) 563-1441 x 314
Follow FPAC on Twitter: @FPAC_APFC
May 8, 2023
FPAC Announces Recipients of 2023 National Forestry Innovation Awards
FPAC Announces Recipients of 2023 National Forestry Innovation Awards
Read This
April 14, 2023
Canada’s Forest Sector Welcomes Federal Emissions Report’s Focus on Worsening Fires
Following the submission of Canada’s 2023 National Inventory Report (NIR) of greenhouse gas emissions to the United Nations, Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) Vice President, Indigenous Relations and Forestry, Etienne Belanger, issued the following statement
Read This
March 28, 2023
Federal Budget Recognizes Canadian Forestry Leadership and Benefits of Forest Biomass
Earlier today, Forest Products Association of Canada President and CEO, Derek Nighbor, released the following statement on the Federal Budget 2023 tabled by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland
Read This
March 27, 2023
FPAC Looks Forward to Support for Canadian Forestry Workers and Communities in 2023 Federal Budget
Endorsing of a Sector Specific Approach to Accelerate Industrial Decarbonization, Recognition of forest biomass, Renewal and expansion of core sector programs
Read This
September 21, 2020
Lisa Raitt Honoured As Community Champion By Canada's Forest Products Sector
Forest Products Association of Canada recognizes former minister Lisa Raitt's leadership in the forestry sector with Forestry Community Champion award
Read This
November 13, 2019
The Search for Canada's Greenest Workforce
Canada's forest industry is a top employer and global leader in sustainability, forest management, clean technology and innovation
Read This
March 21, 2019
Standing Tall with Canada's Forest Workers on International Day of Forests
Forest Products Association of Canada celebrates forestry communities, workers and world leading forestry management for International Day of Forests
Read This
February 20, 2019
Opinion | Workforce Diversity - Canada's Forest Sector Branches Out
Forest Products Association of Canada embraces diversity and encourages women and indigenous to join the forestry workforce
Read This
August 25, 2022
Aidan Starosta: Sharing my first experiences at Resolute: FPAC 2022 Green Dream Internship Program
My name is Aidan, and I was born and raised in the Denver Metro Area of Colorado, USA. Although I lived in suburbia, I could see the Rocky Mountains from my bedroom window and got to spend a lot of time out in nature.
Read This
August 25, 2022
Aidan Starosta: Interview with Seth Kursman, VP, Corporate Communications, Sustainability, and Government Affairs: FPAC 2022 Green Dream Internship Program
An important part of working in a corporate office is networking within the company. Resolute Forest Products promotes this practice and encourages us, interns, to interact with multiple departments.
Read This
August 25, 2022
Aidan Starosta: Interview with Maria Komourdjian, Logistics Director at Resolute: FPAC 2022 Green Dream Internship Program
In my series of interviews, I decided to meet the director of Logistics, Maria Komourdjian. Maria has taken a step up within the Logistics department, while the vice president, Karen Roach, has taken a temporary relocation assignment to be the general manager of one of our mills!
Read This
August 25, 2022
Aidan Starosta: All about logistics: FPAC 2022 Green Dream Internship Program
An important part of the forestry industry is logistics. Without the logistics department, mills would not be able to create new products, as the old ones would still be taking up space on the floor.
Read This
September 22, 2022
Canada’s Forest Sector Announces Awards of Excellence Recipients, Celebrating Its Best and Brightest
As National Forest Week is celebrated across the country, Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is seizing the opportunity to announce the recipients of its annual Awards of Excellence program.
Read This
September 22, 2022
Canada’s Forest Sector Honours Ntityix Resources LP of West Kelowna, BC with Indigenous Business Leadership Award
As National Forest Week is celebrated across the country, Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) announced that Ntityix Resources LP of West Kelowna, BC is being honoured with the Indigenous Business Leadership Award.
Read This
September 22, 2022
Susan Yurkovich, Mark Tamas, and Joerg Goetsch Honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award from Canada’s Forest Products Sector
Today, FPAC announced that Susan Yurkovich of the BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) & BC Lumber Trade Council, Mark Tamas of Tolko Industries, and Joerg Goetsch of Mercer International have each been honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award from Canada’s forest products sector.
Read This
September 22, 2022
Tom Ratz of Resolute Forest Products Honoured with Outstanding Member of the Year Award from Canada’s Forest Products Sector
Today, FPAC announced that Tom Ratz of Resolute Forest Products has been honoured with the Outstanding Member of the Year Award from Canada’s forest products sector.
Read This