Pic River citizen now Chamber of Commerce chair

Pic River’s Joe Moses was installed as the first Aboriginal chair of the board of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 28 during the 50-year-old business organization’s Annual General Meeting and Chair's Dinner.
Pic River’s Joe Moses was installed as the first Aboriginal chair of the board of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 28 during the 50-year-old business organization’s Annual General Meeting and Chair’s Dinner.

By Rick Garrick

THUNDER BAY – Pic River’s Joe Moses aims to encourage more dialogue between Aboriginal and non-aboriginal stakeholders as the 2015 chair of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce.

“Let’s get to know one another, shake hands with one another and start having that conversation because when markets turn around and opportunities start to present themselves we want to be in a position to capitalize on those together,” says the Royal Bank of Canada commercial account manager who was installed as the Chamber’s first Aboriginal chair on Jan. 28. “One of the significant milestones we have accomplished is our Aboriginal Opportunities Committee, which has been in the works for the past two years. This morning we announced APEX 2015 — the Aboriginal Partnership Exchange — a one-day business event focused on … building relationships with all stakeholders to provide opportunities for everyone.”

Moses looks forward to the APEX 2015 gathering on June 4 at the Victoria Inn and Conference Centre, which was developed in partnership with Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund to prepare for emerging opportunities in the region. He cites the Ring of Fire mineral exploration area, located about 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay in the James Bay Lowlands, as a prime area for development once the mining markets improve.

“We’ve got the most abundant natural resources in northern Ontario,” Moses says. “There are plenty of opportunities for everybody to share and participate in that, so if we can focus on building relationships with one another, getting dialogue going and figuring out what our wants and needs are and then building a framework for how we can capitalize on those opportunities together, it will just be good situation for all.”

Moses says it is a “great honour” to serve as the first Aboriginal chair in the Chamber’s 50-year history. He served previously as chair of the Chamber’s Aboriginal Opportunities Committee, where he helped reintroduce the Chamber’s Status Cards Welcome decals to businesses in 2013.

“This event marks a significant milestone for our organization,” says Moses, about his installation at the Chamber’s Annual General Meeting and Chair’s Dinner at the Airlane Hotel and Conference Centre. “While I am fortunate to be the individual to represent this positive step forward, it is a milestone shared by many. I would not be here today without the tremendous support, partnership and encouragement of many people who are here with us today to share in this occasion.”

Moses first started out in the business community by selling tires before moving on to work with Wasaya Group and RBC.

“I quickly got involved with some of the northern communities, which were a pleasure to work with,” Moses says. “I still continue those relationships with many of the communities.”

Moses credits the business role models and mentors he worked with over the years for his success in business.

“That is so key and critical to me being where I am at today is having those positive role models and mentors to lead me along the way.”