“He (Kevin Danchuk) was a guy that saw something in me, he brought me along.
In Northern Saskatchewan, where mining camps and exploration sites dot the landscape, Ray Edwards has had quite a remarkable career journey powered by his determination, hard work and the opportunities provided by Athabasca Catering Limited Partnership (ACLP).
Edwards, now the Director of Northern Operations at ACLP, began his journey with the company in 1992 as a young cook. Little did he know that this entry-level position would be the first step in a career spanning over three decades, filled with growth, challenges and wins.
“I was eager to learn,” Edwards recalls, reflecting on his early days with the company. Recognizing his potential, ACLP’s leadership invested in his development, providing on-the-job training and sending him to various courses to hone his skills in administration, bookkeeping and professional communication.
Under the guidance of mentors like Alan Cole and Kevin Danchuk, Edwards quickly rose through the ranks, transitioning from Cook to Lodge Manager, overseeing camps and ensuring the smooth operation of ACLP’s services. His ability to adapt to change and embrace new challenges caught the attention of his superiors, who promoted him to the position of all-site manager in the early 2000s.
Edwards’s journey with ACLP is intricately tied to the company’s growth. He remembers being part of the team that serviced the McArthur River exploration camp from its humble beginnings as a 10-capsule camp to its eventual expansion into a thriving 750-person operation. “Being a part of that and seeing it grow from the very grassroots of exploration to building a mine, it was really exciting for me,” Edwards shared.
Throughout his career, Edwards has witnessed firsthand the impact ACLP has had on the lives of countless individuals from the north. “It’s great to see all the northern folks that I kind of grew up with getting a good shot at supporting their families and being a part of the community,” he remarks, emphasizing the importance of providing opportunities for growth and development to the region’s workforce.
Today, as the Director of Northern Operations, Edwards oversees a diverse range of responsibilities, from managing exploration camps to ensuring the smooth operation of logging camps and SaskPower sites. His days are filled with coordinating logistics, addressing client needs and tackling the ever-changing challenges that come with managing a large-scale operation in the north.
When asked about the advice he would give to someone considering a similar career path within Kitsaki’s Group of Companies, Edwards highlights the importance of being open to change.
“Things change on a daily basis. The people around you, I’ve seen people come and go all the time. You have to be open to change. That’s the biggest piece of advice I would give somebody,” he says, underscoring the need for adaptability in an ever-evolving industry.
Ray Edwards’ inspiring journey from Cook to Director at Athabasca Catering shows the opportunities for growth and advancement that exist within Kitsaki’s Group of Companies.
As ACLP continues to grow and expand its operations, it remains committed to providing opportunities for individuals from the north to build meaningful careers and contribute to the economic well-being of their communities.
The spring of 2023 was the start of a new chapter for Prudence McKenzie when she stepped into the room where PLATO Testing was launching its software tester training program in Prince Albert.
“At the kick-off, PLATO co-founder Denis Carignan. was introducing me to some of the PLATO staff, and I heard more about the training, said McKenzie. “I was impressed by how PLATO was answering the Call to Action 92 from the Truth and Reconciliation by ensuring Indigenous people have access to jobs, training and education.”
After a few months of reflection, Prudence made a pivotal choice. She left her longstanding position with the Federal Government to join forces with PLATO, driven by a mission that resonated deeply with her: “Changing our world by building a stronger, more inclusive technology workforce.”
Walking away from the security of her federal role to embrace the unknown at PLATO was challenging for McKenzie, but the transition also marked her best decision. “The best decision I made was to accept this new and exciting position with Plato, I had the opportunity to leave the workforce completely but decided to stay and see how this role can benefit PLATO and my own personal career growth.”
In her journey, Prudence has confronted and navigated many barriers that women in leadership face, however, she’s stood firm in the belief that women are essential to steering us through adversity. “I was told that women are the ones to lead us out of difficult times and we are seeing that,” said McKenzie.
When asked if there was a greatest moment in her career serving as an RCMP officer or during the past 27 years with Indigenous Services Canada, she noted, “There isn’t a defining moment but more of a realization that all my life experiences have made me the person I am today, and these lessons and skills that I have gained can be used to help others.”
Now, as the Indigenous Resource Advisor with PLATO, she takes pride in every chance to guide students and interns through their transitions into the classroom and workplace. Whether offering advice, lending a listening ear, or providing resources, she thrives on the variety each day brings.
The excitement she holds for her position at PLATO is evident. “It’s not just a job; it’s a chance to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others, to be the support they need in times of transition, and to embrace the uniqueness of each new day. “
When Andrea Harrabek stepped into the role of AGI receptionist in August 2001, she had no idea it would grow into the dynamic, fulfilling career she has enjoyed for the last 22 years.
“Looking at the date now, it seems like a VERY long time,” she laughs.
Harrabek’s journey with AGI mirrors the growth and evolution of the company. Each role she has taken on has been a building block for the next, as she has embraced new challenges with enthusiasm and expertise.
Today, she is AGI’s Office Manager.
“I wear a lot of hats in this position,” Harrabek says. “Quality assurance, design coordination for a team of seven drafters and five engineers-in-training, document control for all projects, client relations, project coordinator assistant…and then, of course, the general office managerial duties. It sounds like a lot, and it is, but I LOVE it!”
Harrabek says her organizational and prioritization skills have played a key role in her success, crucial to her ability to manage AGI’s diverse and constant flow of projects.
“This is a crazy busy place,” Harrabek says. “No day – and no tank – is ever the same. It keeps us on our toes!”
Known for going “with the flow,” Harrabek juggles whatever comes her way while always prioritizing the client. She says she hasn’t struggled with decisions or barriers because Jeff and Wade Burton have created a supportive culture and a cooperative, inclusive environment with fair treatment and equal opportunities for all employees, including women.
“We all try to work together to get the job done,” she says.
Away from AGI, Harrabek is a mother to three incredible children, grateful for AGI’s support of work-life balance.
“Field trips, activities — AGI has given me the flexibility to be involved in all those important moments,” she says. “You know, it goes by fast, and I really appreciate being able to have a career and also to be present with my family.”
Q: Tell us about your journey, what led you to your area of study for post-secondary, and when did you decide Kitsaki was where you wanted to be?
A: My journey started in Stanley Mission and then moved to Air Ronge, where I finished high school. I was always involved, like being the football medic and working with Special Olympics – La Ronge. In 2021, I started studying Commerce in Marketing at Northlands College, and later, I moved to Saskatoon for the Edwards School of Business. While there, I also started studying for an Indigenous Governance and Politics Certificate. I’m part of the Indigenous Business Student Society, helping organize events. I’m also in the Cooperative Education Program, aiming to work at Kitsaki.
When I started university, I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do, but I liked Commerce and connecting with people. I also wanted to work for my community. Growing up, I always heard about Kitsaki and saw their ads but didn’t know much about what they did. Learning about Indigenous Business in Canada at university, I understood how important companies like Kitsaki are for community support. That’s why I became interested in Economic Development. The Cando Economic Development Indigenous Youth Summit I attended this summer really confirmed my interest in this field. I want to make a difference in my community like the professionals I met there.
Q: What are you most excited about in your new role?
A: I’m really excited about working for my community and knowing that my work will help improve people’s lives. I’m looking forward to learning from the experienced people at Kitsaki and building relationships within the communities. It’s great to learn about marketing in an environment that I’m
comfortable with and where I want to be in the future. I’m also happy to learn things during my coop placement that will help me and the communities in the long run.
Q: What are your goals when you are finished school?
A: After school, I plan to work in a city marketing position for a few years. Then, I want to move back to La Ronge and start building my life there. I hope to keep working with Kitsaki after my coop term. I also want to keep volunteering with Special Olympics in La Ronge and look for other ways to help in the community. My main goal is to help Indigenous youth from Lac La Ronge show what we can do to the world.
When I have more time, I’d love to get a dog, have a big garden, and maybe some pet chickens.
Sienna’s first day is January 10, 2024 and she will spend her time between Kitsaki’s offices in Saskatoon and La Ronge.
Welcome to the December 2023 issue of Kitsaki News. In this edition, we shine a spotlight on the inspiring women leading the way in growth and change across our diverse group of companies. Join us in celebrating their achievements and exploring their stories.
Our 2023 Annual Impact Report is here, showcasing how Kitsaki and its group of companies are creating opportunities through sustainable growth.
This document is a testament to the resilience, innovation, and collaborative spirit that has driven Kitsaki through a remarkable journey of growth and community impact.
You can find the entire report below.
The concept of lifelong learning is more than just a philosophy for Ron; it’s engrained into nearly everything he does.
Born in Swift Current, Ron and his family moved to Prince Albert, and then Saskatoon, where he spent most of his younger years.
“My parents wanted to live near a university. Neither of them had gone, and they wanted us to have that chance,” he says. “Once my two sisters and I were all in elementary school, my Mom went back and got her degree in education and she recently did her masters.”
After graduating with his B.Ed and wanting to make some money over the summer before he started teaching, Ron applied for an IT job with SIGA – an opportunity that would lead him to adjust his career plans.
“A month into it, my manager asked if I would stay on as Help Desk Manager,” he says. “While I was there to gain experience in IT, what I really learned was how to manage projects. I’m a planner – I like to have Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C, and to write and communicating those plans, so project management was a good fit for me.”
Ron was soon promoted to HR Manager of Information Systems and then Director of HR & Business Planning, where he focused on compliance, learning all aspects of SIGA’s business, including marketing, human resources, IT, finance, payroll, and operations. He quickly discovered that he enjoyed the work involved with business planning and designing and implementing effective policies and systems that promoted positive organizational change.
“I was process driven, you know, ‘walk me through how you do this,’ and then I’d map and systemize the processes, train staff on the systems, and deploy,” he says. “I liked the problem solving, and I got to do things at my pace, which is always fast.”
Ron earned his project management designation and moved on to a position with Deloitte, where he worked on global systems
implementation for many different businesses. From there, he took a job as VP of Business Development with Athabasca Basin Security (ABS) and was named its CEO a few months later. ABS took on an Alberta-based acquisition during Ron’s leadership as it expanded operations across the western Canada, growing from 26 employees to a workforce of over 300 with significant Indigenous employment numbers. In 2018, ABS made the 2018 Canada Business Growth 500 list as one of the country’s fastest growing companies.
STEPPING INTO NEW ROLES
Ron joined Kitsaki as Chief Operating Officer in June 2021. He was appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer this July – a role he takes on with great pride.
“It’s a real honour to serve my community as CEO,” he says. “Having the opportunity to work with the team this past year has been extremely valuable. I see so much opportunity ahead for Kitsaki, a testament to all the hard work of Russell, the board, and our past leaders.”
Ron’s connection to Kitsaki and his community is strong – his great uncle, Chief Myles Venne, was the leader who founded Kitsaki in 1981.
“I spent most summers up in Sucker River with my kohkom and nimosom, helping them haul water, cut wood, and check nets,” he says. “We had a big crew of cousins and spent lots of time on the water, at the ball diamond, camping and walking to Wadin Bay for ice cream.”
When it comes to supporting Kitsaki and every asset under its umbrella, Ron says he sees nothing but good things for the company.
“Kitsaki will be completing a number of acquisitions this year that will diversify our portfolio even further,” he says. “We’re at the beginning of a real growth phase, and it’s really exciting tobeapartofit.
While Helen Burgess is looking forward to spending more time with all her grandchildren, she will sorely miss her clients and the staff at First Nations Insurance Services (FNIS). Burgess recently retired after spending 22 years as the manager of FNIS.
“I was an emotional wreck for the first week (after retiring) because of the parties held on my behalf,” Burgess said. “I have felt this brokerage deep in my heart for the past 22 years.”
Burgess began her career with FNIS after working at Saskatchewan Legal Aid for 19 years. Burgess said she really didn’t know much about the insurance industry, but it was a chance to work in her community. “To begin with it would take me to a place that I always wanted to be, and that was to work with my First Nations people,” she said.
Burgess said historically First Nations people hadn’t brought a lot of insurance coverage into their lives, never mind the retirement portion of it, and this was a way to bring a great product into their lives.
Back then FNIS was a small enterprise. In fact, the year before she started the business had a net income of $252. But over time Burgess and her staff helped grow the business. She said three employees in particular, Cindy Johnson and Beatrice Arcand, who are still with FNIS, and Stuart McLellan who left a few years ago, were important to growing the business.
“They were absolutely key to my learning and to the success of the brokerage, and continue to be to this day,” Burgess said. “They were really my saviours, my anchors. They just shared the knowledge they had because they had been there for a couple of years already.”
FNIS started out exclusively offering services to Indian bands and their institutions, said Burgess, who is a member of the Montreal Lake Cree Nation. And it differed from anything else on the market because their plans enhanced and protected Treaty health rights, she said. As the years passed FNIS opened their services to more First Nations people in the province and expanded over the border into the North West Territories and northern Alberta, specifically Fort Chipewyan. “We brought the services to the Mikisew Cree Nation and the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation,” she said. “And we still have those clients to this day.”
Burgess remembers her first flight into Fort Chipewyan in a small, eight-seat airplane from Fort McMurray.
“I do battle claustrophobia somewhat, but I turned it over to some of my traditional beliefs and I just knew the Creator put me where I needed to be at the time and it was all in the Creator’s hands. “However, I will not say I wasn’t afraid,” she said. “It was quite the experience.”
Burgess was a hands-on administrator who travelled to meet her clients wherever they lived in Saskatchewan.
“There isn’t a community I have not been to,” she said. In the past year Burgess stepped aside as manager to work as a licensed agent and to help the new manager, Tammy McKay, get established. She said the best part of the job was building relationships with the staff and clients.
“I didn’t think of them as clients first, but more as friends and family,” she said. “And knowing you were bringing such a positive life change to them.” She said it was so rewarding to explain the importance of having benefits in place and having a plan for retirement. And then to help someone who had a death in the family or who had been stricken with a disability.
Burgess has spent her life helping other people, including her own ever-growing family. She and her husband Larry have three sons, a daughter, 12 grand children and one great grandchild. She had thought about retirement, but when a young friend developed a terminal illness it brought home the fact that life is too short. “Not everyone has the privilege of retiring and it is something we really need to embrace and give a lot of thought to,” she said.
Besides seeing more of their grandkids, Helen and Larry plan on exploring the Yukon and to continue to spend more time near the water at Sandy Lake, not too far from their farm north of Prince Albert. But she won’t forget what an honour it was to manage FNIS.
“Kitsaki gave her the opportunity of a lifetime,” she said. “I’ve absolutely loved what I’ve done. That is what I’m really going to miss. The relationships with our client base and the people I worked with at the community and Kitsaki management level.”