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21 MBiz May 2014 P E M B I N A VA L L E Y PEMBINA VALLEY ALTONA & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MORDEN & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MORRIS & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PLUM COULEE & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ROSENORT & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WINKLER & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEW & NOTEWORTHY >> Altona & District Chamber of Commerce presented its 2013 Business Excellence Awards to two businesses at the chamber's annual banquet in early May. A chamber sub-committee selected the recipients based on criteria such as: Business achievement and growth, employment growth and positive impact on the community through spirit, drive and vision. Rhineland Car Co. Ltd. received the award for a business with 11 or more employees. A family-owned company, Rhineland Car has served the area since 1927. The dealership has also earned recognition on a national level, receiving the Ford Canada President's Award in six of the last seven years. The award is based on growth and high levels of customer service. For the last three years, the company also received the Diamond Club award for being in the top 5% for growth and customer satisfaction across Canada. Border Real Estate received the award for a business with 11 employees or less. Established 36 years ago, the company has grown over the past 10 years from four agents to 11 full-time and part-time agents, and it recently opened a new location in Morris. Border Real Estate's management and employees are active in the community, participating in local churches, Gardens on Tenth fundraising efforts, sports organizations and municipal politics. >> The Winkler Chamber of Commerce has announced that WestJet co-founder Don Bell will be the special guest speaker at the 2014 P.W. Enns Business Awards Gala Sept. 25. S wan Lake First Nation is on a winning streak. The Sand Hills Casino & Resort is slated to open in Carberry on June 23, on land owned by Swan Lake First Nation (SLFN). It's the latest phase of a dramatic economic turn-around that's put the once cash-strapped community on a solid fi nancial footing. Twelve years ago, the reserve faced a housing crisis and a $2.8 million debt. But it reached out and built partnerships to help foster self-sustaining prosperity, and transformed the community in the process. "We set out to learn what was important — what people needed, what they wanted and what they had to offer," Chief Francine Meeches says. "We ourselves learned what we needed and what we had to offer." The community has pursued economic development opportunities that should keep it prospering well into the future. Through a Treaty Land Entitlement agreement with the federal government, it increased its land base in western and central Manitoba, which allowed the band to open a gaming centre, gas bar and smoke shop in Headingley and set its sights on the Carberry casino project. Today, the debt has been paid off and the community is thriving. The main reserve, located along Swan Lake at the eastern edge of the Pembina Valley, developed a new band offi ce, built and renovated homes, supported new education, training and business initiatives — including a wind farm — and added a spray park and other improvements for local families. SLFN's transformation has been recognized on a national level. The community earned the Gold IPAC Deloitte Public Sector Leadership Award for municipal development in 2011. "We had a fi erce desire to improve the quality of life here in our community," Meeches says. "Our community members agreed and not one person has opposed any of our initiatives. We have been able to accomplish so much because of their support." The Sand Hills Casino is a strategic business venture aimed at generating revenue on several fronts. Along with earnings from 350 slot machines, gaming tables, a restaurant and lounge, future plans for the site include developing a conference centre and 90-room hotel. Revenues will be divided equally among Manitoba's 64 First Nations communities. SLFN has big plans for some of its land in Headingley as well. "The main priority for Headlingley is offi ce space, given its convenient location near Winnipeg and community demand," Meeches says. "We plan to build a three-storey, 36,000-square-foot building with offi ce spaces for lease. With so many projects on the go, it's hard to say when we'll start construction." SLFN has come a long way in a short time. As leader of its elected council since 2007, Meeches says she's most proud of the fact the band now has its own land code and controls its own destiny. "We manage our own land, are self-reliant and just do what we feel needs to be done." Meeches says the community's most valuable asset is its people. There are about 1,250 members, 750 of whom live within the community. "I'm so grateful for my community and for how it has grown. It means a lot to me to say, 'I come from SLFN.' I'm proud to be from here. We don't rely on anybody and we don't reach for anybody. We are just our own community and what we're doing just happens to be working well for us." Independent thinker: Swan Lake First Nation Chief Francine Meeches is proud of her community's greatest asset — its people. Thanks to co-operative effort, the reserve is a model of self-reliant prosperity. Photo by Ruth Bonneville MBiz_spring2014.indd Sec1:21 MBiz_spring2014.indd Sec1:21 5/14/14 8:27:14 AM 5/14/14 8:27:14 AM

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