Dec. 03, 2025

On November 6, The North West Company was honoured to attend this year’s Visionary Indigenous Business Excellence (VIBE) Awards as a corporate sponsor. The event was held in Winnipeg and celebrated Indigenous business visionaries who create meaningful impacts through their ventures.

Pictured above: From left, Category Manager Nadine Parsons and Director of Corporate Responsibility Andrew Thunder from North West with community members and award recipients at the Fort Garry Hotel.

For 19 years, the VIBE Awards, organized by the Indigenous Business Education Partners (IBEP) within the I.H. Asper School of Business, have brought together students, alumni, faculty, entrepreneurs, and community members. In addition to celebrating the passion and perseverance of Indigenous business leaders, all proceeds from the event directly support IBEP students through scholarships, bursaries, academic resources, and other programs.

This year’s recipients included E. Oliver Owen, founder of Amik Aviation Ltd., recognized for his work in making air travel more accessible to Indigenous communities, and Cody Gonslaves, founder of Purposeful Movements Ltd., whose business philosophy focuses on empowering Indigenous well-being through exercise and fostering resilience across generations.

The North West Company is proud to support traditions that recognize Indigenous economic development while inspiring the next generation of Indigenous business leaders, reflecting our ongoing commitment to reconciliation.