McKay further notes that the Goldcorp part-
nership has been a key catalyst for busi-
ness growth. “Profits generated through
Windigo Catering are financing other as-
pects of our business, which include Win-
digo Property LP and Windigo Distributors
LP. The Skookum Jim award feels like icing
on the cake.”
The key to such accolades? “At the end
of the day, when you are tired it is nice to
know you can look forward to a wonderful
meal and then go to your room which is
immaculately clean. It’s a little more like a
home away from home,” says Debbie Ko-
robanik, General Manger, Windigo Venture
General Partner.
It’s also the employee-first philosophy.
“We try to maintain an open-door policy,
and we also offer group benefits and a reg-
istered pension plan,” Koro-
banik says. “Having leader-
ship where you have a very
clear idea of where you
want to be in five years or
in 10 years is a major factor
in any successful company,”
says Korobanik.
The Windigo Chiefs com-
pleted a strategic plan in
February of 2016, which out-
lines five priorities for the
next five years. TheWindigo
leadership is now focused
of the economic opportunities arising from
an all-weather road and the construction of
the Hydro Grid project led by Watay Pow-
er. The large-scale, $1.3 billion project will
connect 16 remote First Nations commu-
nities to the power grid over the next five
to 10 years.
MARCH 2017
H
business elite canada 75