Please Click Here To Apply Applications are open to all Canadian First Nations, Inuit, or Métis ages 16+    Where: Online via Zoom When: Program Start April 6th, 2026! Monday-Friday 28 weeks. What: ONLINE Indigenous Friends Association (IFA) IndigiTECH Cohort 8 In Partnership With CCAE Indigenous Business & Entrepreneurship Skills Training (BEST) Program. 100% online 28-week program, Monday-Friday Project-based learning Nutrition, childcare support 1-1 mentorship 12-week internship connection opportunities FREE digital art pad & laptop, which becomes yours upon successful program completion CCAE BEST (Business and Entrepreneurship Skills Training) is the only entrepreneurship program of its kind in Canada, in operation for over 25 years! The BEST Program has helped over 5,000 Indigenous participants start successful new businesses and achieve greater levels of professional, personal, and entrepreneurial success! BEST benefits people in all stages of business development who want to turn their dreams into a reality. Some people are looking for a part-time business to increase their income, others have a big idea and need access to tools to make it work, and some are eager to write a plan that will help them get the funding they need to grow their venture. TOPICS INCLUDE: 101 Business Ideas for Indigenous Entrepreneurs |  Technology to Enhance Your Business |  Polishing Your Idea |  Building Your Business Plan |  Marketing |  Financing and Tax |  Assessing Your Idea |  Market Research |  Operations Strategy |  Operating Challenges |  E-business: "How to make sales online" |  Financial Literacy |  BEST Business Technology for You |  Hiring the BEST |  Basic Bookkeeping |  Funding & Sales Presentations PROGRAM INCLUDES: Business coaching |  Ongoing mentoring |  Help to start and grow your business |  Canadian Indigenous guest speakers CCAE Indigenous Business & Entrepreneurship Skills Training (BEST) Program

Please Click Here to Apply Applications are open to all Indigenous People (Status, Non-status, Métis and Inuit). The application Deadline is January 26th, 2026, at 5 pm (or until the program is filled).   There are only 70 spots available. After we receive your application, we will contact you within 7 business days to provide your letter of acceptance and confirm your participation. Full Program Details Below:    Where: ONLINE Via Zoom When:   Class Schedule: 13 Classes 6:00 p.m. To 9:30 p.m.   (Pacific Standard Time), on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, February 3rd to March 3rd, 2026. Dates:  February 3rd, 4th, 5th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 24th, 25th, 26th and March 3rd 2026. Participants must be available to attend at least 75% of the classes. Equipment needs - The following equipment is required: A Windows (PC) or Mac Computer that is less than 6 years old. (Tablets, Smart Phones, Chromebooks will not work) Working Webcam/Microphone, Internal or External. Stable Internet/Wifi access If you do not have access to the above equipment, we recommend applying for our upcoming In-Person Cohort For more information or if you require assistance completing the application, please contact:  Sts'its'áp'new̓as Employment & Future Skills Nexw7áýstwaý Training & Trades Centre: | Office: 604-980-7946 | Email:  tradescentre@squamish.net What:  Aboriginal BEST (Business and Entrepreneurship Skills Training) is the only entrepreneurship program of its kind in Canada, in operation for over 25 years! The BEST Program has helped over 5,000 Indigenous participants start successful new businesses and achieve greater levels of professional, personal, and entrepreneurial success! BEST benefits people in all stages of business development who want to turn their dreams into a reality. Some people are looking for a part-time business to increase their income, others have a big idea and need access to tools to make it work, and some are eager to write a plan that will help them get the funding they need to grow their venture. TOPICS INCLUDE: 101 Business Ideas for Indigenous Entrepreneurs |  Technology to Enhance Your Business |  Polishing Your Idea |  Building Your Business Plan |  Marketing |  Financing and Tax |  Assessing Your Idea |  Market Research |  Operations Strategy |  Operating Challenges |  E-business: "How to make sales online" |  Financial Literacy |  BEST Business Technology for You |  Hiring the BEST |  Basic Bookkeeping |  Funding & Sales Presentations PROGRAM INCLUDES: Business coaching |  Ongoing mentoring |  Help to start and grow your business |  Canadian Indigenous guest speakers

Since 2003 and without falter through the pandemic, our Aboriginal (BEST) Business and Entrepreneurship skills training program has been providing opportunities for the Canadian Indigenous communities to explore entrepreneurial aspirations by providing business programming, website development, advisory services, mentorship support, technology access and training, online marketing tools, community event space, connections to business networks and much more! Bring BEST to Your Community Bring BEST to Your Community Please complete the form below so we can gain an understanding of your community/organization's interests, and a member of our team will get back to you within one business day. If you have any difficulty completing the form or would prefer to chat over the phone, please get in touch with us at 1-226-243-5635, and one of our team members will be happy to assist you. Full Name? * Email Address? * Phone Number? * Band/Groups/Company/Organizations Name? Name of Affiliated First Nations, Métis and or Inuit Community? (If Applicable) Approximate Community Population? Or Number of Annual Community Members Served? Less then 100 100-1,000 1,000-2,500 2,500-10,000 10,000+ Other Would You Like This Training Program To Be Delivered In-Person, Online, or Hybrid? In-Person Online Hybrid To Be Determined Other Ideal Start Date of Your Requested Training? (Leave Blank If To Be Determined) Year Month Month Day Approximately how many people will attend this training? 1-5 5-30 30-50 50-100 100-250 250+ To Be Determined Other What level of training do you feel is appropriate for your group Beginner Intermediate Advanced To Be Determined Other Any other notes you would like to share? Submit

a2ecfbca-cae7-40a9-bffc-632944d09fdb KISS THE BRIDE Custom Wedding and Grad As a 2005 graduate of the Helen Lafaux School of Fashion Design in Vancouver, Andrea Hughes had been putting together her accumulated knowledge and experience, gleaned from years of working in the film industry, for her idea of a full-service bridal shop. The answer for the Castlegar resident came in the form of the Bruce Lacroix and the 2008 Aboriginal BEST program in Nelson. “I just wanted to get inspired to get it all done. This course gave me the push to do it.” Next Item Previous Item Contact Contact us First name Last name Email* Phone Message* Individual or Organization* Individual Organization Submit Bruce Lacroix, Founder The Canadian Centre for Aboriginal Entrepreneurship, Inc. 406 Richards Street Nelson, BC, Canada V1L 5K1 Phone: 1-226-243-5635 © 2024 The Canadian Centre for Aboriginal Entrepreneurship, Inc. Bring A Course To Your Community In-Person, Online or Hybrid! Our programs are designed to be live, interactive trainings that engage all participants in the most effective and fun way to learn and share. INQUIRE NOW Bring A Course To Your Community

Learn about the Canadian Centre for Aboriginal Entrepreneurship (CCAE). Discover our mission, vision, and dedication to empowering Indigenous entrepreneurship and economic development across Canada Contact Contact us First name Last name Email* Phone Message* Individual or Organization* Individual Organization Submit Bruce Lacroix, Founder The Canadian Centre for Aboriginal Entrepreneurship, Inc. 406 Richards Street Nelson, BC, Canada V1L 5K1 Phone: 1-226-243-5635 © 2024 The Canadian Centre for Aboriginal Entrepreneurship, Inc. Bruce Lacroix Founder Bruce enjoys volunteering locally and has served as a Director with the Nelson and District Credit Union, Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce, Nelson Municipal Library, and the Rotary Club of Nelson – Daybreak. Having been broke and on welfare in his past, he understands the challenges of starting a business from nothing. An avid cyclist, scuba diver, and pickleball player, when not working, he can usually be found enjoying these activities. Zechariah James Indigenous Entrepreneur & Lead Facilitator Zechariah James is a Youth Métis entrepreneur and multi-business owner. He started his first incorporated business in Calgary at the remarkably young age of 17 in 2012 and currently resides in Toronto. Zechariah has been featured as the keynote speaker at over 500 professional training events since 2012. Teaching and inspiring other potential entrepreneurs with the CCAE’s Aboriginal BEST programs across Canada, and gets rave reviews for his teaching style, knowledge, and commitment. Carol Shaw Indigenous Entrepreneur & Indigenous Womens Business & Entrepanuership Training Facilitator Cree Musician, author, poet, speaker, playwright, artist, and entrepreneurial spirit. Carol's life and professional experiences give her a unique approach to Entrepreneurship Training. Certified in Trauma-Informed Education and Aboriginal Employment Development, Carol brings a combination of professional development and empathy, developed through her lived experience, to her teaching. Integrating ancestral knowledge, trauma-informed care, and self-empowerment, she guides individuals toward success, and participants love her humorous and down-to-earth style. We have years of experience working with all people, all across Canada. We are super easy to get along with, speak in every day, easy to understand language, and are ourselves currently entrepreneurs. We believe in having fun while helping others. OUR TEAM Testimonials It’s not important what we say about ourselves: It’s what others have to say that is the true worth of a business. COMMENTS FROM FUNDERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND OTHER BIGWIGS… Home About Community Training Business Courses Gallery Shop Sponsors Back to Top Program mentors are alumni who graduated from the CCAE Aboriginal BEST program with honors, continue to operate high-achieving businesses in specialized fields, and have demonstrated commitment to supporting other entrepreneurs through community support. OUR ALUMNI MENTORS About CCAE The CCAE Canadian Centre for Aboriginal Entrepreneurship 100% Indigenous Owned & Operated. Putting Indigenous businesses on every block in Canada. Providing Indigenous entrepreneurship training, resources, and opportunities for growth for over 25 years. All licensed facilitators hold a minimum of five years of experience in Indigenous community program facilitation, five years of experience in profitable business ownership, a Master's Degree in Business Administration or equivalent experience, and are of authenticated First Nations, Métis, or Inuit identity. CCAE Provides: Indigenous business & Entrepreneurship skills training programs for First Nation governments, Indigenous and non-Indigenous charitable and Non-Profit organizations. In-Person, Online or Hybrid! Entrepreneurship project management Speaking and writing services on Entrepreneurship and the New Gig Economy Entrepreneurship program & curriculum development Consulting for government, Indigenous businesses, organizations and individuals The CCAE was founded by Indigenous Entrepreneur, author, and speaker Bruce Lacroix. Born in Halifax of Mi’kmaq heritage, Bruce started his first business while on welfare and with his first child on the way. Quoted as saying “I do not want to live like this anymore” was his incentive for becoming self-employed. Since Bruce has personally started, grown, and sold dozens of businesses across the country, well helping thousands of our Indigenous Grandfathers, Kookums, Uncles, Aunties, and youth do the same through CCAE programs. Today, an avid skier, tennis player, scuba diver, and bon vivant, Bruce believes in a balance of family, travel, work, and play. “Live simply, love deeply, and carpe diem: seize the day” is his life motto. Bruce now lives in the picturesque heritage town of Nelson, BC, with his family. Over the years, graduates of the CCAE Aboriginal Business & Entrepreneurship Skills Training program have become long-standing successful business owners, mentors for program BESTies (participants), and finally certified facilitators who carry on the CCAE mission to put Indigenous businesses on every block in Canada. About Aboriginal Best BEST helps to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit of people, communities, and organizations. Participants meet guest speakers, identify viable business ideas, determine their feasibility, and take steps to start or grow their own businesses. Learn to conduct market research, write business plans, and explore financing options on your journey to self-employment success! Aboriginal BEST is for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit, status or not, who are interested in becoming self-employed or starting their own business. BEST benefits people in all stages of business development who want to turn their dreams into reality. Some people are looking for a part-time business opportunity, others have a solid idea to research, and some are eager to write a plan that will help them launch or grow their venture. Over 4,000 people in 130 communities across Canada have taken part in Aboriginal BEST in the past 25 years. “The Aboriginal BEST material that Mr. Lacroix developed is a great resource and is easy to teach to students. … When I met Mr. Lacroix I was working as the Economic Development Coordinator for my organization. I also maintain contracts with the Universities to teach business and economic development courses. The teaching material that Mr. Lacroix developed is very exceptional for our First Nations students. I have struggled to find good textbooks and I often refer to sections of the Aboriginal BEST Participant’s Manual. He maintains a First Nations perspective to business. This is hard to find.” Crystal Verhaeghe MBA, Past Executive Director, Tsilhqot’in National Government “Programs such as Aboriginal BEST – the Business and Entrepreneurship Skills Training Program illustrate our commitment to entrepreneurship development. … evaluations of the program have shown that a high percentage of BEST graduates move quickly into employment or self-employment.” The Honourable Barry Penner BC Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Strategic Conversations Annual Forum Bring A Course To Your Community In-Person, Online or Hybrid! Our programs are designed to be live, interactive trainings that engage all participants in the most effective and fun way to learn and share. INQUIRE NOW Bring A Course To Your Community In-Person, Online or Hybrid! Our programs are designed to be live, interactive trainings that engage all participants in the most effective and fun way to learn and share. INQUIRE NOW CHRYSTAL TABOBANDUNG RAISE – Indigenous Cultural Awareness & Competency Training RAISE – Indigenous cultural awareness & competency training is designed to increase knowledge, enhance self-awareness and strengthen the skills of those who work both directly and indirectly with First Nations/Aboriginal/Indigenous people. JOSEPH SAGAJ Independent Canadian Indigenous Artist Designer of the 2022 TORONTO SIGN, the award-winning terrazzo medallion at Seneca College and the Bloor Annex BIA Mural at Paul Martel Park, Joseph is Anishnaabe of the Sturgeon Clan from the remote community of Neskantaga, 433 km northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario. He graduated in Fine Arts at the Ontario College of Art & Design in 1985. Bring A Course To Your Community