Vegetation – Kitsaki Management Limited Partnership

Kitsaki Management expands footprint in downtown Saskatoon, buys former HSBC building

"A group of six people stands in front of a modern building with reflective windows under a clear sky. The building is located at 321-21st Street East. The group appears to be posing for a photo, dressed in a mix of casual and business attire, and the setting suggests a professional or corporate environment. Autumn leaves are visible on a tree in the foreground.

Oct. 2, 2024

SASKATOON, Sask.—Kitsaki Management Limited Partnership (KMLP), the economic development arm of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB), has purchased the former HSBC building at 321 21st Street East in downtown Saskatoon, further solidifying its presence in the city.

The purchase represents a significant investment in the economic future of the LLRIB and underscores Kitsaki’s ongoing commitment to expanding its footprint in key urban centres, while also supporting the growth and importance of downtown Saskatoon.

“Kitsaki’s purchase of the HSBC Building aligns with our vision of prioritizing investments that provide long-term value and growth opportunities,” said Ron Hyggen, CEO of Kitsaki Management. “Its proximity to several of Kitsaki’s group of companies offers exciting possibilities for investing in our infrastructure that supports the significant growth we’ve experienced over the last three years, including adding 1,000 people to our workforce, mainly in Saskatchewan.”

Kitsaki purchased the property for $6.5 million, and already owns the land being set aside for Kitsaki’s first Saskatoon urban reserve, located in the Marquis Industrial area through Canada North Environmental Services.

“Building on our success with the City of Saskatoon and the transition of the Kitsaki-owned CanNorth building to an urban reserve, this investment in the downtown area opens opportunities to be vested partners in Saskatoon,” said Hyggen. “It is also a chance to showcase the potential for successful partnerships between Indigenous businesses, especially with our downtown neighbours Yellow Quill Holdings Inc and Métis Nation–Saskatchewan, and municipal governments in achieving mutually beneficial outcomes.”

“It is important to create a space for LLRIB band members to work in Saskatoon and provide our community with opportunities for economic development, while also creating numerous employment opportunities through Kitsaki’s Group of Companies,” said Chief of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Tammy Cook-Searson. “The purchase of an additional building in Saskatoon is an important milestone for Kitsaki and for the economic future of LLRIB.”

The property will become the new home of Kitsaki Management once the Additions to Reserve process is complete with Indigenous Services Canada. Commercial real estate leasing opportunities will be available in the near term as Kitsaki finalizes the design of the property and markets the property to organizations looking for on-reserve commercial property.

For more information, please contact:
Jennifer Thoma
Director of Marketing and Communications
jennifer.thoma@kitsaki.com
306-270-4513

Glen Ertell reflects on a 25-year career at NRT

“And I think it’s a testament that we [NRT] must be doing something right to have drivers who have been with NRT for 37 years.”

Glen Ertell, who’s been a staple at Northern Resource Trucking for 25 years, is retiring.

Ertell’s journey in the trucking industry began 50 years ago when, at the age of 18, he obtained his chauffeur’s license. “The only criteria to get it was it had to be in a vehicle that had a standard transmission,” he laughs. “I had a 1967 Mustang with a standard transmission, and in Tisdale, it wasn’t really all that hard.

From those beginnings, Ertell’s career took him through various roles, including Gravel Truck Driver, Concrete Plant Operator, and Truck Owner Operator. However, it was in 1998 that a chance encounter with a friend led him to Northern Resource Trucking (NRT).

“He said, ‘You should come over to where I am and have coffee. This is really pretty unique place,” referring to NRT’s Indigenous ownership group. and hauling into the northern mines.

Starting as a dispatcher, Ertell witnessed first hand the company’s growth and evolution. “I think when I started, there might have been 50 trucks. A few months after I got there, Cameco slowed down big time, and we had to lay off a lot trucks to get right sized. “

Despite the challenges, Ertell remained dedicated to NRT, working his way up to Operations Manager, Branch Manager, and eventually, Vice President.

When asked about the future of trucking, he said, “Canada’s trucking and logistics industry is growing, and it is hard to explain how important it is to Saskatchewan and Canada’s economy. There are careers outside of driving, so I remind young people that there are roles for Mechanics and Dispatchers and that the industry offers lots of opportunities for those seeking a dynamic and rewarding career.

Ertell is a strong advocate on getting an education, he was fortunate to have great mentors and by taking available courses to help his career grow including completing post secondary Business Admin at The University of Saskatchewan when he was 53.

NRT is committed to training and developing skilled professionals, so really, there has never been a better time to consider joining the trucking and logistics industry.”

“Trucking is never the same,” he says. “I told Dave (McIlmoyl) lots of times, ‘There’s probably only a couple of days in my career that I wished I would have phoned in sick.’ But it’s always that crazy curiosity that makes you want to come back the next day to see what happened overnight.”

Prosperous Partnerships

*This story was originally published in the 40th-anniversary issue of CCAB’s Aboriginal Business Report.

By Nikita Weiss Day
Insights on how to build successful business partnerships that will stand the test of time.

Many factors go into creating a successful partnership, whether it’s between individuals,
businesses, organizations, or Nations. When a partnership is founded on genuine collaboration, the mutual benefits to both parties grow exponentially.

For Indigenous peoples in Canada, the business marketplace has provided fertile ground for the development of outstanding partnerships that deliver a range of benefits: economic reconciliation, self-determination, capacity building and wealth transfer, to name a few.

Kitsaki Management Limited Partnership, which manages economic development for the Lac La Ronge Indian Band in Saskatchewan, is one example of an Indigenous business that has prospered thanks to strategic partnerships. As is often the case, its biggest partnership, with energy giant SaskPower, began with an opportunity.

“They were working on a transmission line from one of their hydro projects to the main grid. And they needed cutting along that transmission line to be completed. They were really looking to engage First Nations in that area, which was us,” Kitsaki CEO Ron Hyggen says.

While work initially began in partnership with Valard Construction, Kitsaki was able to build enough capacity throughout the project to take it over.

“We took it in bite-sized pieces, and that was by design, to make sure that we were able to succeed and reduce risk,” says Hyggen. “That really became the beginning of a long-term relationship.

This part of Kitsaki is now called Kitsaki Vegetation, and it completes all integrated vegetation management for SaskPower, ensuring the stability of the provincial power grid.

For Hyggen, collaborating with clients isn’t just a matter of fulfilling a contract. It’s about working to make sure both sides know what is really needed from the partnership.

“It’s not just the job for us,” Hyggen says. “We’re trying to fulfil more than that. We have different mandates as a First Nation, on employment, on training – and really on economic development in our Nation and our partner First Nations.”

For many First Nations, says Hyggen, development often starts in the Nation’s own backyard. “A lot of First Nations will build a gas station. And that’s the first real business opportunity to start with. From there, they add on, and they take on more and more companies and different types of operations.”

Over the years, Kitsaki has built a large portfolio of investments across multiple sectors, including transportation, catering, underground mining, engineering, insurance and forestry. When it comes to maintaining a strong partnership, Hyggen believes having a seat at the table is key, along with a mutual understanding of what the long-term goals are.

“The way I look at it is we have 12,000 First Nation members in our band, one of the largest in the country, and that’s all my family,” he says. “Whatever we do for profits actually goes back to them…. So, I always say I have 12,000 bosses.”

On the other side of Kitsaki’s partnership is Rhea Brown, executive vice president of customer experience and procurement for SaskPower. In working with Kitsaki, says Brown, SaskPower understands that the value truly flows back to the people.

“When we think about the prosperous relationships that we’ve had with Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups, a consistent theme is the prioritization of meaningful contribution to capacity building, skills growth, and sustainable economic impacts for the workforce and the communities that they represent. And I think through this lens, Kitsaki is the definition of a good partner,” Brown says.

Brown feels proud to see the positive growth SaskPower and their Indigenous supply partners have experienced, meeting and even exceeding targets every year for contracting with Indigenous suppliers. “It’s important that our supply chain is committed to creating direct impacts for and with Indigenous communities. For SaskPower, a big lesson has been that we have to continue to evolve and continue to raise the bar,” she notes.

For Brown, SaskPower’s biggest success comes in the form of Indigenous ingenuity and capacity growth. “It makes us very proud when we are able to help an Indigenous business get their foot in the door, get work experience, grow capacity and skills and then compete on other work in our province and outside of our province – and knowing that we had even a small role in helping that supplier gain that experience that helps their success.”

You can read the full article on the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) website. Click here to read more about building resilient partnerships.

From Aquatic Biologist to Division Manager: Kelly Wells’ journey at CanNorth

Joining Canada North Environmental Services (CanNorth) as an Aquatic Biologist was the dream job for Kelly Wells post-university, offering her summers in the field in Northern Saskatchewan.

Now, fast forward 22 years, Kelly stands as CanNorth’s Environment Division Manager, where she finds joy mentoring budding biologists. Moreover, she is pivotal in CanNorth’s operations and management teams.

Even as a child, Wells had a clear vision: a career in the environmental field. Her summers were often spent at the family cottage, where she developed a love for fish biology and the tranquil waters. For Wells, the allure of a new adventure triumphs a desk job any day.

During her early years, guidance came from a senior fisheries biologist, a colleague of her father. “I talked to her about consulting and the kind of work she did. She really inspired me to delve into consulting. I love the pace, the diversity, the blend of field and office work, and the applied science aspect,” she recalls.

CanNorth emerged as the perfect fit for Wells. Beginning as a modest venture, the company grew conservatively. With only four employees when Wells joined in 2001, the scope of work was broad. “I learned quickly. From the start, I dove into cost estimates, project management, and client relations. But I also found myself mending fish nets and conducting fish surveys,” she recounts. It’s this diverse environment that sustained Wells’ interest in consulting over the years.

Now, CanNorth boasts a family of 90 employees, with many women occupying senior positions, and their operations and management teams are predominantly women. “I’m surrounded by competent, amazing women,” she beams. While Wells acknowledges the persisting challenges for women in the workplace, she’s found an egalitarian atmosphere at CanNorth.

Being part of the Kitsaki group of companies significantly contributes to CanNorth’s triumphs, according to Wells, and garners various advantages. The entity’s Indigenous ownership attracts individuals keen on being part of such a unique establishment.

“Kitsaki and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band are hugely supportive, with Chief Tammy Cook-Searson serving as a global role model for women,” she said.

For Wells, the job has been a source of fantastic “moments”, especially her time spent in the north, around Lake Athabasca and Uranium City area. “I learned immensely from the locals, both on personal and professional fronts… I fell in love with Northern Saskatchewan, the lake, and the remoteness,” she reminisces.

Looking back, what captivated her as a child hinted at her destined path. She opted for a boutique company like CanNorth with robust leadership, sustainable hiring practices, room for growth, and a varied workload. And she has never looked back since.

Kitsaki News

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.

Kitsaki-News-Dec-2023 Download

NRSI acquired by CanNorth, creating national leading environmental services provider

(SASKATOON/WATERLOO) Canada North Environmental Services (CanNorth) is excited to announce it has completed its acquisition of Natural Resource Solutions Inc. (NRSI), combining two of the industry’s top
environmental firms in Canada.

By joining forces with NRSI, the acquisition brings together two highly respected firms with complementary capabilities in the environmental consulting industry. This strategic integration significantly expands CanNorth’s team of experts with the addition of NRSI’s talented aquatic, wetland and terrestrial biologists, GIS specialists, and project managers. More importantly, it allows NRSI and CanNorth to extend their geographical reach and industry knowledge in new and exciting directions.

“The acquisition between CanNorth and NRSI allows us to focus on leveraging the synergies between our two organizations to provide enhanced and expanded services to our clients,” said Peter Vanriel, General Manager of CanNorth. “By combining NRSI’s strengths in certain regions and sectors with CanNorth’s existing expertise, we will offer expanded capabilities and value. This union is about multiplying joint talents between two organizations to better serve client needs nationwide.”

“The acquisition of NRSI under CanNorth demonstrates our commitment to expanding Kitsaki’s portfolio and creating new opportunities for growth,” said Kitsaki’s CEO Ron Hyggen. “It is a significant step forward as we believe this move will continue to create economic opportunities an
benefits for the many communities we serve.”

“By coming together with CanNorth, we can achieve more for our clients and employees,” said Elaine Gosnell, Senior Terrestrial and Wetland Biologist with NRSI and owner. “We are very pleased that this new ownership will provide long-term sustainability to NRSI, its people, clients, and relationships, and we are thrilled to become an Indigenous-owned company.

“I am honoured to have assisted bringing these two exceptional environmental consulting companies together,” said David Stephenson, Senior Biologist with NRSI and owner. “Both have common goals, supporting, inspiring, and challenging our teams, providing service to our clients and the environment. Combining the companies under Indigenous ownership maintains and enhances our resilience, longevity, and expertise, as well as our services, sectors, and geographies.

NRSI will continue to operate from its head office in Waterloo with regional employees across Canada, and CanNorth will remain headquartered in Saskatoon.

For more information, please visit: cannorth.com or nrsi.on.ca

For media interviews, please contact:
Jennifer Thoma
Director of Marketing and Communication
Kitsaki Management
306-270-4513
Jennifer.thoma@kitsaki.com

Kitsaki Vegetation Services – ABEX Award Finalist

Black background with KVS in writing being named as a finalist

Kitsaki Vegetation Services (KVS) has been recognized for its commitment to diversity by being selected as a finalist for a Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce ABEX award.

Considered one of Saskatchewan’s leading Vegetation Management companies, KVS supplies aerial tree trimming, right-of-way, brush clearing, dangerous tree removal, hand slashing, herbicide application, and consenting services to the utility industry.

The ABEX awards, now in their 40th year, are the highest award for Saskatchewan business and celebrate the success of businesses and business leaders across the province. The finalists are chosen based on their impact on the industry and commitment to innovation, diversity, sustainability, and community involvement.

The winners will be announced at the ABEX Awards gala on September 16, 2023, at Prairieland Park (Hall A) in Saskatoon.

Click here to read the full news release with each of the finalists.

First Nations insurance team expands services

LaRoche McDonald’s talent base has grown to meet the company’s commitment to supporting Indigenous business and enhance its service provision in the area of First Nations housing and commercial insurance.

“First Nations Specialists Cheryl Arcand, Mitchell Clouthier, and Joe Dasiuk are quoting and making presentations at First Nations across the province,” said Keith Klassen, Manager and General Insurance Broker. “It has been a very busy year so far, especially with so many policies renewing in April 2023. We couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to become the insurance provider of choice for First Nations clients in Saskatchewan.”

Arcand and Cloutier joined LaRoche McDonald in 2022 and were joined by Dasiuk in January this year. Experts in the field, they are focused on expanding LaRoche McDonald’s First Nations insurance portfolio.

“It has been a very busy year so far and we couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to become the insurance provider of choice for First Nations clients in Saskatchewan,” said Klassen.

At the main office in Saskatoon, MaryAnn Reifferscheid and Jazmine McCracken round out the specialized team with dedicated in-house support.

“Jazmine was hired at LaRoche McDonald in mid-2022 to assist with commercial insurance and First Nations insurance business. In her former job, she supervised personal lines insurance brokers and helped with their training. She was also the main person responsible for finding solutions for hard-to-place business. We are very pleased to have Jazmine on our team.”

“We recruited MaryAnn in early 2023 to assist us in looking after commercial and First Nations business. She was already working at LaRoche, but in personal insurance,” said Klassen.

“MaryAnn and I worked together on First Nations business at another brokerage a number of years before I joined LaRoche, so I knew she would be a great fit. She has a strong background in both Personal and Commercial Insurance, and she has exceptional customer service skills.”

Established in 1933, LaRoche McDonald Agencies is a general insurance and property management firm based in Saskatoon that provides automobile, residential, and commercial insurance, and property management services. The company joined the Kitsaki Group in July 2022.

Think you’d be a great fit for a career with LaRoche McDonald? Please visit lmbrokers.ca to learn more.

Growing with our partners

SaskPower and Kitsaki celebrate more than two decades of partnership

Kitsaki’s relationship with SaskPower began with a single project in 2011, when the province’s electric utility connected with former CEO Russell Roberts about the need to clear a 135-km right-of-way in northern Saskatchewan.

“Nature is part of our province’s great beauty, especially when it comes to the north,” said Kitsaki CEO Ron Hyggen. “But it also causes power outages and poses a serious safety risk.”

Over the next 18 months, Kitsaki teams cleared a stretch of land for a power line near Highway 102 between Brabant Lake and Key Lake, and Kitsaki Vegetation was born. This job planted the roots for a partnership that continues to grow more than two decades later.

“Suppliers like Kitsaki play a key role in the growth and evolution of our company,” said Rupen Pandya, President and CEO of SaskPower. “And I’m not just talking about quality service. Our partnership means innovating as we pursue common goals, building new relationships and growing capacity in all the communities we work with. I’m looking forward to continuing to work together to advance opportunities for growth in our province.”

Saskatchewan is one of the world’s most diverse power producers, home to a range of energy resources including natural gas, crude oil, coal, uranium and biofuels, as well as geothermal, wind and hydro. SaskPower operates seven natural gas, three coal-fired, and seven hydroelectric stations, and two wind facilities. The utility also purchases power from independent power producers. Combined, Saskatchewan’s total power generating capacity is over 5,400 MW of electricity serving more than 545,000 customers.

Serving a population of 1.2 million over 651,000 square kilometres, SaskPower maintains over 157,000 kilometres of distribution and transmission lines, the second-largest network of all Canadian utilities. By comparison, British Columbia, home to 5.07 million people living across 944,735 square kilometres, has an 80,000-kilometre network.

To keep the path clear, Kitsaki Vegetation uses internationally-recognized Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) practices, which include machine mulching with large equipment, sustainable and monitored herbicide application, hand slashing, and preventative methods like encouraging short grasses and shrubs that slow the growth of taller trees.

Over the years, Kitsaki’s relationship with SaskPower has expanded to include partnerships with other entities in the Kitsaki Group, including Athabasca Catering, CanNorth, and March Consulting. Teams on both sides now work together to plan and execute a range of projects across the province. This level of collaboration is necessary to complete major projects in the queue, and to aid SaskPower in meeting ambitious emission targets.

As both Hyggen and Pandya get closer to their one-year mark in the CEO seat of both Kitsaki and SaskPower, setting an example for sustainable collaboration within the industry remains a shared goal. The partnership’s achievements highlight the potential for corporations to unite in addressing pressing environmental challenges and creating economic opportunities for Indigenous communities in the province.

As businesses around the world look for ways to mitigate environmental changes, the Kitsaki-SaskPower partnership serves as a model, illustrating the impact that focused cooperation and innovative approaches can have on creating a sustainable path long into the future.

“The partnership’s achievements highlight the potential for corporations to unite in addressing pressing environmental challenges and creating economic opportunities for Indigenous communities in the province.”

Kitsaki and Lac La Ronge Indian Band Celebrate 2023 Treaty Days Across Six Communities

Over the course of six busy days, the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) and Kitsaki Management celebrated 2023 Treaty Days across six communities. The first event kicked off on May 1, 2023, in Hall Lake with Kitsaki’s first kayak giveaway and two $250 gift cards. The following days featured fish fries, festivities and five more kayak giveaways giveaways in Sucker River, Grandmother’s Bay, Stanley Mission, La Ronge, and culminated in Little Red.

Treaty Days symbolize a significant time of celebration, unity, and festivity for the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, honoring the legacy of Chief James Roberts. Chief Roberts, representing the band, formally signed an adhesion to Treaty 6 in 1889.

Treaty Days celebration highlights the strong partnership between the Lac La Ronge Indian Band and Kitsaki Management, while fostering pride, unity, and continued growth. By investing in community development and creating new opportunities for LLRIB members, Kitsaki demonstrates its commitment to preserving and empowering each community.