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Paper Excellence contributes to Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship Fund

Paper Excellence donated $50,000 to the Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship Fund (IWEF) that is operated by the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business (CCAB).

“Paper Excellence is focused on building beneficial business partnerships and supporting community investment with initiatives that focus on business capacity, education, health and culture, and sustainability projects,” said Graham Kissack, vice-president of environment, health and safety and corporate communications. “Thanks to the recent research (Oct 2021) carried out by our partners at CCAB, we know that Indigenous women entrepreneurs across Canada have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, and we see stepping up and supporting these economic initiatives as one way to live out our ‘Commitment to Indigenous Peoples’.”

IWEF offers grants to Indigenous women-owned businesses that might not have access to conventional financing. A business must be at least 51 percent owned and controlled by an Indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) woman and be registered in Canada to be eligible to apply to the program.

“We are grateful to Paper Excellence for their support and commitment to Indigenous women in business through an investment in the IWEF program,” said CCAB president and CEO, Tabatha Bull. “Supporting economic initiatives for Indigenous women and entrepreneurs is a great step toward reconciliation.”

Successful applicants of the IWEF receive a Certified Aboriginal Business membership during the first year of their grant that allows the business to participate in the Aboriginal Procurement Marketplace as well as valuable networking events.