Presenters 2021 (come back for more profiles)
Joe Daigneault, Chair
NWC
Joe was born at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Ile a la Crosse and was raised across the lake from the community at historical Fort Black. He moved to Beauval in 1976.
Joe began his formal education at Rossignol Boarding School at Ile a la Crosse and subsequently achieved his B.Ed. in 1995. Joe is now retired after 40 years of work experiences which include: store clerk, carpenter’s helper, recreation director and Regional Director with Northlands College. Joe currently sits as a Trustee with Northern Lights School Division and on the Saskatchewan School Boards Association provincial executive.
Mr. Daigneault continues to work to remove geographic, cultural, and socio-economic barriers to education. Furthermore, he offers leadership to address local and northern issues for the betterment of the communities throughout the north.
In December of 2014 Joe was appointed to represent the Northern Village of Beauval Council on the North West Communities Management Company board. He currently serves as Board Chair.
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Keith Henry,CEO
Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
Mr. Keith Henry is a Métis person that was born in Thompson, Manitoba and raised in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Mr. Henry achieved a B.Ed. from the University of Saskatchewan in 1995.
Mr. Henry began his career in 1995 with teaching positions and has become well known for his strategic administrative and negotiations skills. Since 1998 Mr. Henry has led numerous provincial, federal and industry negotiations on a variety of issues. He has been directly responsible for financial administration of a number of Aboriginal non-profits and has a proven track record of success.
Mr. Henry has become an international Aboriginal cultural tourism leader receiving Aboriginal/Indigenous recognition as the former CEO for Aboriginal Tourism Association of British Columbia (AtBC). In April 2014 the inaugural World Indigenous Tourism Alliance award recognized the work of AtBC and Mr. Henry’s leadership. Mr. Henry has been spearheading the growth of authentic Aboriginal tourism in Canada as he worked to redevelop the national Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada as elected chair when this organization incorporated in April 2015. In October 2015 Mr. Henry took the full time role as the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada’s CEO.
In Canada Mr. Henry continues to be recognized across the country as one of the leaders in Aboriginal tourism and has led many new initiatives including the national strategy entitled “The Path Forward 2016-2021”, contributions to the development of national standards on market readiness and authenticity, cruise industry opportunities and the national Aboriginal tourism research project on the economic value of Aboriginal cultural tourism. Mr. Henry was instrumental in the development of the national Aboriginal tourism strategy The Path Forward 2016-2021 which will focus on increasing Aboriginal market readiness, increasing jobs, and increasing revenues. Over the course of the last number of years Mr. Henry has been invited to numerous international locations to support Aboriginal tourism strategies.
Mr. Henry volunteers time in the Aboriginal community and maintains several board positions including the former President of the Industry Council for Aboriginal Business, former chair of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, current Chair for the Native Education College, member of the Minister’s Council on Tourism, former member of the Vancouver Board of Trade’s Aboriginal Opportunities Committee, member of the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance, member of the International Marketing Committee Destination Canada member, and current President of the BC Métis Federation.
Christian Boyle, Owner and Principle Service Provider
Glyph Creative Strategy, Saskatoon
Christian Boyle is the Owner and Principle Service Provider of Glyph Creative Strategy, an economic development consulting agency with a focus on tourism development. Christian has worked professionally in the tourism and economic development sectors for the past 12 years. Christian firmly believes that the key to developing a transformational tourism-based economy hinges on building high quality experiences rooted in the stories that tie cultures to place and forging partnerships to deliver them in a meaningful way that is sustainable to land and community.
Through his firm, Christian is currently leading the development of Indigenous Tourism clusters in Saskatchewan. It’s a unique model that creates partnerships between Indigenous Nations, regional attractions and the supply chains that connect them. These partnerships will become a showcase of Northern Plains Indigenous experiences for both domestic and export tourism visitors.
Michela Carriere,
Indigenous Adventure Guide
Michela Carrière is an Indigenous adventure guide from the trapline 60 km from Cumberland House, Saskatchewan. She has grown up learning from her parents and grandparents, who have lived in this area for generations, practicing the Cree way of life. Passing on her knowledge and experience through her company, Aski Holistic Adventures, she guides people on healing adventures in the wild nature of the north, on the homelands of the Cree and Métis.
Gerald Roy,
Business Development Officer
Gerald was born and raised in the historic Metis community of Ile-a-la Crosse and is a lifelong resident of Saskatchewan’s North. He graduated from Rossignol High School and convocated from the School of Human Justice at the University of Regina. Gerald is a Business Development Officer with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Trade and Export Development and oversees the north west region of the province. Gerald is an outdoor enthusiast and enjoys boating, angling, ice fishing, snowmobiling and hunting. He is serving in his fifth term as counsellor for the Northern Village of Ile-a-la Crosse.
Kirk Westgard,
Saskatchewan Ministry of Trade & Export
Kirk Westgard is Assistant Deputy Minister with the Economic Development Division of the Ministry of Trade and Export Development. With 17 years of experience with the department Kirk’s background includes: Advancing economic growth in Saskatchewan by increasing investment through domestic and international engagement; Managing several labour recruitment missions abroad including the Labour Recruitment Mission to Ireland in March 2012; Recipient of Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Public Service (2010 and 2012).
Gerald & Tracy Tinker,
Tinker's Camp
Tinker’s camp is owned and operated by Gerald and Tracy Tinker. Gerald is originally from the area and knows it very well. Tinker's Camp hosts a variety of people and groups. Tinker's is a drive-in camp approximately 30 minutes from Buffalo Narrows, Saskatchewan. The Niska River runs directly in front of the cabins and flows into Little Peter Pond Lake. The Niska River along with the Peter Pond Lakes are prime Walleye and Pike fishing areas. Come and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and awesome fishing.
Brian & Sylvia Hoffart,
Baitmasters Hunting Camp
Brian Hoffart has been involved in the outfitting industry in northern Saskatchewan for the past 35 years. He is past President of the Saskatchewan Outfitters Association and played a decisive role in efforts to establish the Saskatchewan Outfitting Commission, announced in December 2015. Brian and his wife Sylvia own and operate Baitmasters Hunting Camp, located on the shores of Green Lake. They have been involved as both growers and harvesters in the Wild Rice Industry for the past 30 years. Community-minded, Hoffart has shared his leadership with a number of organizations and activities, including the local Boy Scouts and minor hockey. His commitment to the community of Green Lake is evident in such roles as volunteer fire chief, which he has served for over 18 years. Hoffart was also on the Board of Directors for the Boreal West Enterprise Region.
Mary Taylor-Ash
Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Saskatchewan
Mary Taylor-Ash has been a champion for tourism in Canada for more than 30 years, sharing her leadership with both the private and public sectors. Her experience in tourism includes positions in the transportation, accommodations and not-for-profit sectors. She served as Assistant Deputy Minister for Tourism in Newfoundland and Labrador for seven years before joining Tourism Saskatchewan in 2013 to manage the marketing and communications division. Taylor-Ash was named CEO of Tourism Saskatchewan in 2014. Under her direction, the organization has implemented a sweeping content strategy, commissioned a ten-year destination development plan for Saskatchewan and implemented a number of programs to advance Saskatchewan’s tourism sector and grow the visitor economy.
Corrina Kapeller
Corrina Kapeller currently works within the Industry Development department in Tourism Saskatchewan as the Regional Tourism Development Consultant. The industry development department is responsible for assisting in the development of tourism related businesses and initiatives throughout the province.
Before being employed with Tourism Saskatchewan Corrina owned and operated her own guest ranch business with her family near Arborfield SK for 15 years.
During that time, she was also on the Executive of the East Central Tourism Region as the Membership chair and eventually moved into the Marketing manager position before the region was dissolved into the operations of Tourism Saskatchewan in 2011.
Richard Hansen
Hansen's Camp
Bruce and Judy Roy, Owners
Sandy Beach Resort, Beauval
Jordyn Burnouf,
Pemmican Lodge
Jordyn Burnouf grew up in Île-à-la-Crosse and is a member of Black Lake First Nation. Jordyn is a Sr. Associate with the consulting firm, Medicine Rope Strategies (M-R Strategies), dedicated to providing sustainable, practical, and innovative approaches to community, economic, and strategic partnership development. With a strong passion and relationship with the land, Jordyn is the Director of Culture and Programming with a focus on land-based connections to environment, energy, and cultural inclusion. Jordyn is a member of Indigenous Clean Energy's Advisory Council, and as the Co-Chair of the 2021 SevenGen Indigenous Youth Energy Summit.
Kim Burnouf, CEO
Pemmican Lodge
Kimgrew up in Île-â-la Crosse and is a member of Black Lake First Nation. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Indigenous Studies from NorPAC. Kim has a vast history working with youth, Elders, and is a community builder through positions with Battleford River Treaty Six Health and the White Buffalo Youth Lodge.
As the CEO of Pemmican Lodge, Kim has a vision of creating a space for all visitors to experience the land, culture, and all the joys and beauty northern Saskatchewan has to offer.
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