Building strength and sustainability in Aboriginal communities is a shared vision for Enbridge and Alberta’s Banff Centre. We have come together to support two extraordinary programs that will help to make this vision a reality for years to come.
In 2007, Enbridge pledged $1 million over seven years to support the Indigenous Women in Leadership and Best Practices in Aboriginal Business and Economic Development programs at the Banff Centre. These two programs help Aboriginal leaders to meet the challenges and opportunities facing their communities in a practical way, so that members of these communities can achieve their full potential in the future.
The Indigenous Women in Leadership program was created specifically for female leaders. It examines the issues and challenges that women leaders face as they strive to fulfill the responsibilities of their positions, while balancing the needs of their families and the demands of their communities. This program guides participants to acquire skills they can implement in their home communities, including:
- strategic planning
- decision-making
- delegation
- communication
- conflict resolution
- mentoring
The Best Practices in Aboriginal Business and Economic Development program assists Aboriginal leaders to build effective economic policy for their communities. Participants benefit from expert training in issues related to governance, business planning, and financing, ultimately helping their communities become more successful economically.
In 2011, Enbridge provided scholarships to 12 Aboriginal leaders to attend the Best Practices program in Aboriginal Business and Economic Development course. As a result of this pilot initiative, Enbridge and The Banff Centre have agreed to allocate twelve Enbridge scholarships each year to Aboriginal leaders from communities in proximity to our projects. Enbridge scholarship participants will have the opportunity to attend any of the nine programs offered through Aboriginal Leadership and Management at The Banff Centre.