Who is Project Beyshick available to?

The program, currently in its fifth year, is available to NAN entrepreneurs, students, and community leaders seeking to sharpen entrepreneurial skills and/or pursue business careers. Near-term plans are in place to enhance the program to benefit First Nation members across Ontario and Canada.

Who are the participants of Project Beyshick 2009?

Project Beyshick 2009 - Participant	Organizations & Executives
Archie Meekis ·         Majority business owner of Thunder Air Ltd  ·         Former chief of Deer lake First Nations ·         Wants to expand Thunder Air business	SkyLink Group Surjit Babra, CEO and colleagues and Cargojet Anju Virmani, CIO and colleagues
Roxann Shapwaykeesic ·         Currently works at Wawatay News ·         Goal is to excel at Wawatay News and start a print/web design firm in near future	National Post and Ogilvy & Mather
Damian Bouchard  ·         Educated in media and production, wants to start a small production company ·         Board Member for Matawa on mining	TVO Lisa de Wilde, CEO and Colleagues
Keri Lynn Cheechoo ·         Background and education in communications ·         Wants to go in publishing business	Penguin Canada David Davidar, CEO and Colleagues
Bernice Kakekagumick ·         Wants to assist the youth with independent living skills to become self-sufficient ·         Goal is to start and maintain a business in youth care	BMO Bank of Montreal Blaine Varner, VP and Colleagues
Patrick Cheechoo ·         Artist by profession ·         Wants to commercialize his artwork through embroidered items, cards, chocolates etc. and distribute it nationally and internationally	Laura Secord Bryan Crittenden, CEO; Raj Sharma, CFO and Colleagues
Kyra Kaminawaish ·         Youngest participant of Project Beyshick 2009 ·         Goal is to create economic growth within her community via  a new retail business	Laura Secord Bryan Crittenden, CEO; Raj Sharma, CFO and Colleagues
Linda Trudeau ·        Wants to expand her home based product business ·        Currently sells water purifiers	PB Marketing  Clarence Poirier, CEO and Colleagues

What is the schedule for Project Beyshick 2009?
Project Beyshick 2009 will be launched in Thunder Bay on August 15. Participants will fly to Toronto on August 15.  The first two days of the program will focus on workshops and presentations by professors and researchers. The final four days will take place in Toronto. Ryerson University  professors and the Dale Carnegie leadership group will conduct evening workshops each day while in Toronto. During the day participants will be matched with senior executives and CEOs of the public and private sector businesses in Toronto for a hands-on job training/job-shadowing experience. Closing the week will be a reception at Prego Della Piazza on August 19 which will honour delegates, participants, public officials, representatives of leading businesses and business associations. 

Who are the partners and participating mentor organizations of Project Beyshick?
The partners of Project Beyshick are Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), POA Educational Foundation,  Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (NADF), Ryerson University, Trent University and the Dale Carnegie Training.

Participating organizations for Project Beyshick 2009 include TVO, BMO, Prego Della Piazza, Laura Secord, SkyLink Group, National Post, Penguin Canada, Poirier and Brightling (P&B) Marketing Inc. and Karma Candy Inc.

2008 participanting organiaztions included HSBC Canada, Toronto Police, TV Ontario, BMO Bank of Montreal, Karma Candy Inc., Prego Della Piazza, Sears Canada, Globe & Mail, Royal Ontario Museum and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Some of the other organizations involved in past years of Project Beyshick include FedEx, TV Ontario, Globe and Mail, HSBC, Trillium Hospital, TD Canada Trust, ICICI Bank, Bell Canada, GlobalMaxx Technologies, EllisDon Construction and AMJ Campbell Van Lines. The selection of organizations is based on area of interest of the participants each year.

What are the Goals for Project Beyshick?

• To foster a vision for personal success among NAN First Nation members, boosting confidence to achieve that success.
• To provide participants with firsthand experience in a business environment, through a job shadow engagement with a senior-level executive or business mentor.
• To cultivate mutual understanding and equal relationships between First Nation and non-First Nation Canadians.
• To develop and nurture role models among First Nation people.
• To provide insight into how Toronto’s dynamic marketplace can support as well as challenge business leaders and entrepreneurs from all cultural backgrounds.

Who has participated in Project Beyshick in past years?
In previous years we have been honored to welcome the Hon. James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (2005), the Hon. David Ramsay, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs (2006) Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse, Chiefs of Ontario (2007) as special guests to the Thank You reception held on the final day of the program.

Participating each year are co- founders Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Stan Beardy, POA Educational Foundation Chairman Aditya Jha and Ashutosh Jha.

What kind of impact has Project Beyshick had?
Project Beyshick is an invaluable experience which helps participants to gain new perspectives and to develop a clear vision for success, developing relationships that can become key to achieving their personal vision and influencing their communities for future prosperity. The project, now in its 5th year has had numerous life changing impact on participants, putting them on a accelerated path towards success and personal growth.

What is the History of Project Beyshick?
Project Beyshick is a joint initiative between Nishnawbe Aski Nation and POA Educational Foundation.

Project Beyshick was launched in 2005 by Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Stan Beardy, Chairman of POA Educational Foundation and President of Karma Candy Inc. Aditya Jha, and Ashutosh Jha. 

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is an Aboriginal political organization representing 49 First Nation communities within James Bay Treaty 9 and Ontario First Nations of Treaty 5 – an area spanning two-thirds of Ontario with a total approximate population of 45,000 members on and off reserve.  

POA Educational Foundation is a Canadian charitable Private Foundation – founded and funded by Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist Aditya Jha – that supports projects based on three distinct values: the promotion of accessible and high-quality education, the nurturing of entrepreneurship and the strengthening of global civil society and governance. The foundation takes special interest in nurturing prosperity and financial independence amongst Canadian First Nation communities and individuals.

What are the next steps for Project Beyshick?
Currently Project Beyshick is mandated by Nishnawbe Aski Nation leadership to meet the needs of NAN members, however a long-term plan to expand the program to other Treaty areas in Ontario and across Canada is in development.  There is also an opportunity to engage in international experiences.