McLeod Wood Associates joins forces with Enterprise in Indigenous consulting practice and First Nations community-led and owned infrastructure projects

TORONTO, ON — Enterprise, one of Canada’s leading strategic communications firms, is joining forces with McLeod Wood Associates Inc. (MWA) to offer the combined experience of each firm to Indigenous communities and businesses across Canada.

Enterprise and MWA will consult with interested First Nations on how to drive investment, build infrastructure and open development in their territories. The firms will also provide advice to businesses and governments on a consulting basis.

MWA, led by Merv McLeod and Nancy Wood, has worked successfully with Indigenous communities, resource industries and government ministries and agencies since it was founded in 1996.

Merv is a member of the Kashechewan First Nation and was raised in Moose Factory, Ontario. He is known and respected for his work with First Nations in Ontario and Canada over the past 30 years. Nancy began her early career in the Canadian mining industry and in the Ontario government. She and Merv have worked together on many projects involving First Nations communities for more than two decades.

Enterprise is proud to welcome their expertise and ability to help all parties work and understand each others business and the complex regulatory environment that includes consultation, accommodation and environment assessment processes. MWA’s goal has been to improve socioeconomic conditions in Indigenous communities by assisting businesses, First Nations and Canada’s governments to work together and understand each other’s goals and motivations in order to achieve success.

Key Facts

• Enterprise and MWA are joining forces to assist Canada’s Indigenous communities as they pursue locally-led and owned infrastructure and development projects that will deliver real, long-term benefits.
• MWA works to facilitate negotiations between First Nations, governments and businesses that lead to successful outcomes for all parties.
• MWA has a proven record of success in working with First Nations on a number of natural resource development projects, including electricity distribution, transmission, winter roads and renewable power generation.
• Merv McLeod and Nancy Wood will work in partnership with Enterprise’s new Advisory Board, chaired by David de Launay, former Ontario Deputy Minister of Northern Development and Mines, within a framework that embraces the next stage of the evolving relationship between Indigenous communities, corporate Canada and Canadian financial institutions.

Background

Since 1996, McLeod Wood Associates Inc. has been committed to establishing positive business relationships between First Nations, governments and private sector businesses. MWA’s expertise lies in the ability to bridge the gaps that exist between the goals and aspirations of Indigenous communities, the various levels of governments and private sector companies to find a successful outcome for all involved.

MWA’s proven approach helps to create viable, profitable businesses within First Nations communities by setting clear objectives, introducing legislation and clarifying concepts in relation to Indigenous issues, and guiding clients through the permitting and project development phases that lead to implementation and success.

This process provides new, innovative development options for Indigenous communities that lead to concrete socio-economic benefits that go directly to the local region and the people who live there.

Quotes

“This is a new era for Canada, and the way that governments and businesses interact with local First Nations. We are delighted to partner with McLeod Wood Associates as we move forward with communities across the country to create new infrastructure and development projects that improve local conditions.”

• Enterprise CEO Barbara Fox

“McLeod Wood Associates has long demonstrated their success in working with Ontario and Canada’s Indigenous communities and helping to move projects, legislation and general relations forward with governments and businesses. We are proud to call them our partners.”

• Enterprise President Jason Lietaer

“We are excited about this partnership with Enterprise, which will increase the scope of support that we are able to offer clients, building upon the success that we have achieved.  With our combined experience, together we can assist Indigenous communities to build an even more successful future.”

• McLeod Wood Associates Inc. President Nancy Wood

For more information, please contact:

Barbara Fox
CEO Enterprise

(647) 260-4003
bfox@enterprisecanada.com