Events

CHAMBER EVENTS

POWER LUNCH

STATE OF THE CITY WITH Mayor Charlie Clark

Thursday, May 20th

11:30 am - 1:00 pm $15 plus GST • Via Zoom Open to Members and future Members

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PARTNER SPONSORS:

AGM 2021

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Wednesday, May 26TH

4:45 PM - 5:45 PM • VIA ZOOM

Sponsored by:

Featured Speakers

Honorable Perrin Beatty Honorable Don Morgan

President & CEO Canadian Chamber of Commerce Minister Responsible for SaskTel

Wednesday, June 2nd

VIA ZOOM FREE to attend Open to Members and Future Members 5:15pm

Speaker: Monica Kreuger

President, GLOBAL INFOBROKERS Inc.

SERIES SPONSOR

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Widening Our Circle

Our Chamber has embarked on a path to promote Indigenous economic reconciliation and the inclusion of Indigenous people in the economic life of our city. We are not alone. Chambers across Canada have embraced their role as leaders and conveners on this front. Locally, many in our business community are responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and working to create real opportunities for Indigenous people to participate in the economy as workers, investors, business owners and entrepreneurs.

The case for Indigenous economic inclusion has never been more clear or urgent.

According to a recent report by the National Indigenous Economic Development Board, the opportunity cost of “doing nothing” will erode Canada’s growth and competitiveness into the future. Highlighting the economic gap between Canada’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous population in terms of income, education and training, the report concludes: “If all Indigenous people had employment, income, education and poverty rates comparable to that of all Canadians, Canada’s GDP would grow by 1.5% or $27.7 billion.”

Organizations like the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) have suggested the cost of inaction is even higher, closer to $100 billion in lost GDP growth and expansion.

Notwithstanding the hard cost of failing to close these gaps, there is growing recognition that we have a moral responsibility to advance economic reconciliation in a real and meaningful way. Historically, the economic playing field has been one-sided, working against the participation of Indigenous people. Systems and structures that were designed to exclude Indigenous people from employment, investment and business opportunities are now being re-examined with a renewed focus on inclusion, fairness and shared success. Today, businesses of all kinds are taking stock of their inner workings, and their external relationships, and reflecting on how they can do better.

At the Chamber, we are taking steps to deepen our understanding of Indigenous history, culture and ways of doing business through Indigenous-led development workshops for our board members and staff.

We have partnered with our friends at SREDA to co-promote and deliver its SOAR grant program which provides funding to promising Indigenous entrepreneurs starting or growing their businesses in the Saskatoon region.

We are working closely with the leadership of the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce of Saskatchewan (ICCS) to help bring their events, programs and offerings on stream and build for the future.

We are seeking to foster stronger relationships with Indigenous economic development corporations with interests in Saskatoon Jason Aebig, CEO Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce

to explore issues of concern, barriers to success and opportunities that we could help advance or jointly pursue.

We are looking for new ways to spotlight Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs who are growing our local economy by creating jobs, attracting investment and forging partnerships inside and outside our region.

And, this year, we’re introducing a new SABEX Award to recognize businesses and organizations that are working to foster good relations with Indigenous enterprises in our community, and promote economic reconciliation, through community investment, business partnerships and/or procurement.

Learning. Listening. Partnering. Celebrating. These are the early steps we’re taking to widen our circle, promote Indigenous economic inclusion and become a strong ambassador for Reconciliation in our city. We invite you to walk with us.

Jason Aebig, CEO Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce