b'LEADERSHIP PROFILEAssociation. This coming May, she will alsoEconomic reconciliation host CCABs East Coast Business Forum and Award Dinner in Halifax.is about rekindling that Mentor, entrepreneur and role modelrelationship with the land all rolled into one, LaBillois serves as an inspiration to Indigenous entrepre- and waters, and building neurs and business owners who are just starting out. She actively works to improveour economies based on the business environment in Canada for Indigenous professionals and businessour traditional values of owners, all while continuing to run her own construction businesses. kinship and taking care of each otherLaBilloiss entrepreneurial journey began in 2011, when she launched WejipegVictoria LaBillois, Wejipeg ExcavationExcavation, a company that manufactures excavation machinery that can work on windfarms. At the time, she didnt know the difference between a loader and an excavator, but LaBillois knew the wind industry was flourishing in Canada andAround the same time, the entire worldfor us all to put a deep dive in with our recognized a good business opportunitywas about to change with the onset ofhearts and our minds to make [NIES] a when she saw one. Im a serial entrepre- COVID-19, which LaBillois says presentedreality, she says. There were no limita-neur at heart, and Im always looking fora number of challenges as well as pluses.tions on what we could do or envisionnew opportunities to make an impact,We had to move meetings online butit was fantastic.she says. being virtual really was an advantage for busy people running various IndigenousNIES includes 107 Calls to Economic She brushed up on the federal govern- organizations and companies, she says.Prosperity, as well as four strategic path-mentsProcurementStrategyfor[It] allowed us to move the strategyways titled People, Lands, Infrastructure Aboriginal Business (PSAB) and devel- forward in a short amount of time withand Finance. It is designed for every oped a business plan. While she workedvirtual meetings.organizationinCanadaregardless on building her own business, LaBilloisof size, as well as Indigenous entities also committed herself to improving theOn a personal note, working on NIESand communities. status quo so all Indigenous businesseshelped LaBillois keep stay focused at could access larger markets and bid ona time when construction came to aAs many in the Indigenous business key contracts. As she puts it, Ive alwayscomplete halt in Quebec. It was perfectcommunity know, Call to Action #92 of been driven to make a difference in my community.ECONOMIC STRATEGYIn an effort to support Indigenous business, LaBillois eventually took on her current role at the NIEDB, a body that advises Ottawa on Indigenous economic oppor-tunities with the aim of improving policies to support Indigenous business. It was the NIEDB that brought to life the National Indigenous Economic Strategy (NIES) based on a recommendation that cameWilliams Communication Services out of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).specializes in Mission Critical Wireless Communications. LaBillois has been directly involved in theWe offer an extensive portfolio implementation of NIES. A core group, an advisory group and a peer review groupof products & services meant to [came] together to work, she explains.provide fast, secure & reliable We were full of energy and ideas in the first meeting back in 2020.Differentcommunications for your network.organizations and people came together for Indigenous economic development. Aboriginal BUSINESS REPORT 75'