b'ORIGIN STORYNiilo Edwards on Parliament Hill.St. Germain brought political influence and credibility. Harold Calla offeredCODES ACCELERATION PROGRAMunmatched financial expertise. But it was Niilo Edwards, who passed away in December 2024, who provided the driveDO YOU KNOW WHAT and day-to-day leadership that made the Coalition real. THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE Described by St. Germain as a giant manNATIONAL ENERGY CODEand a genius at building relationships, Edwards helped bridge the worlds ofFOR BUILDINGS IS?government, industry, and Indigenous leadership. As a non-Indigenous person, he gained the trust of member Nations not through rhetoric, but throughBUILDINGENVELOPE|LIGHTING consistency, humility, and results.Edwards was fundamental in creatingSYSTEMS | SERVICE WATER HEATING | credibility within the organization, says Calla. He gained the confidence of theHVAC SYSTEMS | ELECTRICAL POWER First Nations who were part of it, and that is not easy to do. He was beloved by allSYSTEMS & MOTORSthe original members of the Coalition. It was a substantial achievement and a reflection on his integrity, his character and his desire to see change.Blackwater agrees. His connections to both community and to industry wereJOIN THE CONVERSATION:unmatched. Everyone knew him. He hadAsk questions and discuss the program & such an impeccable way he talked andbuilding codes on our Facebook page.carried himself.Edwards never wanted to remain at the helm indefinitely. He worked with intention to build a First Nations-led organization. Current CEO Mark PodlaslyBuilding Code Adoption for Building Stronger Connectionsnow carries that legacy forward. Niilo ensured the foundation was strong, he says. Our work now is to build on it.THE WORK AHEADChallenges remain. Many First Nations still face barriers to accessing affordable capital, the Indian Act continues to18NATIONS FORWARDIssue 12025First Nations Major Projects Coalition19'