b'PROGRESSIVE ABORIGINAL RELATIONSEllen Perry, who is Mtis, is a senior PAR verifier with a background in HR and PAR FRAMEWORK operations. She points out that as a verifier, she is a consultant rather than an employee of CCAB, so her input PAR was originally designed as a framework for Canadian organizationscomes from a third-party perspective. wishing to create or upgrade corporate strategies for Indigenous hiring,Thats whats nice about this processtraining, procurement and community engagement.its independent, she says. We have seen PAR make amazing differences It has two streams: Committed, which is structured around a three- in many organizations, moving some part framework-building process, and Certified, which recognizesfrom being in complete shambles on Bronze, Silver and Gold stages of growth within the programs fourIndigenous relations to achieving posi-drivers: Leadership Actions, Employment, Business Development andtive improvement and results. We learn Community Relationships.from them every time we go out on a review exercise. Its really a joy to see how Although some organizations proceed directly toward the Certifiedorganizations change.stream, it is normal for organizations to begin by progressing throughPAR COMPANIESthe Committed steps. Former CCAB board member Randy Moore is vice-president of strategic We have seen PAR make amazing differences in many organizations, moving some from being in complete shambles on Indigenous relations to achieving positive improvement and results. We learn from them every time we go out on a review exercise.Ellen & John Perry PAR Verifiers (Current & Former)development and Indigenous relations with Bee-Clean Building Maintenance, based in Edmonton. The company has been enrolled in PAR for a dozen years, six of them at the Gold level. We did it because it was the right thing to do, but Better Informed it has been incredibly rewarding from the business perspective, Moore says. Better Advised The PAR program has given us focus, form and substance and tells us how Better Decisions were doing. We employ 15,000 people coast to coast to coast, but were still a Aon is here to support thefamily business. Being a PAR member insurance needs in Indigenoushas made us better.communities across Canada. Moore says the third-party audit system Contactlies at the heart of the programs value. Angela Ferguson Its relevant, its real, and its not easy, he angela.ferguson14@aon.casays. Our company has been involved aon.com for many years, and still, every time we go through it, its an arduous process, and it should be. You should earn it.42A CCAB PUBLICATIONSpring 2024'