When: June 4, 2024

Time: 8:30AM to 3:45PM

Where: Holiday Inn Conference Centre (South Edmonton),

4485 Gateway Blvd. NW, Edmonton, AB

Join us on June 4th as we continue to Break Down the Barriers to Indigenous contractor inclusion with Collaboration in Procurement: Exploring Meaningful Business Partnerships.

The inaugural event was a great step into starting the important conversations. Now, we will carry the topic event further looking at what meaningful business partnerships between Indigenous business and communities and industry could and should look like.

This next event in the series will focus on exploring and defining meaningful business partnerships, continue with the important discussions that were started, and dive deeper into Indigenous inclusion and equal opportunity in the resource sector.

The full day workshop will showcase Indigenous business owners and leaders as they share their experiences collaborating with industry and building partnerships. Speakers will share the challenges they have faced and identify specific barriers they overcame that ultimately lead to successful business partnerships.

The workshop will provide opportunities for information sharing, topical breakout discussions, and open conversations with our guest speakers.

Register

Speaker Session #1: Overcoming Barriers to Success

In this session, Kyle Heroux, CEO, Driftpile Enterprises will provide an intimate insight into Driftpile Enterprises' journey from struggle to success, as a company once dependent on their JV partner to becoming a self sufficient, independent, high-quality civil earthwork’s provider.

Kyle will share how the company has broken down the barriers they faced from being able to bid competitively on jobs, creating strong long lasting industry relationships, and to becoming financially independent.

Driftpile Enterprises has been able to grow substantially over the years and has been recognized as a leader in their field, completing contracts for projects with Tolko, Aspenleaf Energy, and many others in the resource industry.

Join us to hear this incredible story of success, and how Kyle and Driftpile Enterprises broke down barriers to work in true collaboration with industry.

Kyle Heroux,

Chief Executive Officer, of Driftpile Enterprises

Under Kyle’s leadership, Driftpile Enterprises has over doubled in size and been a key driver for growth of the company and the community. New facilities have included a healing center, mechanic shop and service station. The pride, confidence and capability of the people have grown exponentially too.

Kyle will provide an intimate insight into Driftpile Enterprises' journey from a company dependent on their JV partner to a self sufficient to a high-quality civil earthwork’s provider. Since Kyle’s arrival, Driftpile has purchased a gravel pit and expanded into underground work. Kyle’s easy going and practical management style along with a customer service mindset is driving opportunities on the community and has created a loyal and high-satisfaction client base. This also makes

Dritpile a great partner and collaborator with other nations and settlements. He is passionate about uniting to provide even better Indigenous Service offerings.

Today, Driftpile Enterprises boasts a full-service heavy-duty mechanic facility with 5 large bays – including a wash bay. The shop has attracted top mechanics from across the country – partly because of the opportunity Driftpile provides and partly because of the culture and team environment created under Kyle’s leadership. Driftpile provides auto and heavy duty mechanic repair – including CVIPs and engine repair – and are attracting business not only from the community but from the surrounding area. Business is coming in from new customers 2-3 hours away as word spreads. The shop is a profit center, and central services gathering place for the community, and a great source of pride.