Regional Distribution
Centre

Six First Nation- Municipal pairs across Canada
 Two-year pilot project

Northwestern Ontario First Nation-Municipal Partners
 Lac Seul First Nation,
 Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI)
 And, Sioux Lookout

Joint initiative with Federation of Canadian Municipalities
(FCM) and the Council for the Advancement of Native
Development Officers (Cando)

Partners are to work collaboratively on a regional
development project
CEDI Partners
LAC SEUL FIRST NATIONS

CEDI partners are exploring the feasibility of a
Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) that would serve
as a central distribution point for fresh foods and
consumer goods

The objective is to sources direct from manufacturers
or importers to allow for:
 competitive pricing,
 better ‘use by’ dates,
 shorter delivery times, and
 reduced stock holding.

The RDC would provide the space and equipment for
food and consumer goods to be stored, lightly
processed, packed, and palletized as well wholesale
and retail vending space, and offer storage space for
communities with limited capacity

The RDC would operate as a non-profit social
enterprise

Lac Seul and Sioux Lookout are located 430 and 400 road
km respectively northwest of Thunder Bay

KI (Big Trout Lake) is a remote FN community located 430
air km north of Sioux Lookout (limited access in winter
by road)
Why Sioux Lookout
RDCs are strategically placed close to point
of use, taking advantage of local transport
hubs to serve several communities from
one point

Sioux Lookout
services 30,000
people from 29
remote First Nation
communities
Sioux Lookout
Lac Seul
Thunder Bay

Sioux Lookout
Airport - CYXL

30,000
movements
annually

120,000
passengers
annually
First Nations-Municipal
Community Economic
Development Initiative (CEDI)
a joint initiative of FCM & CANDO
KI, Lac Seul First Nations,
Municipality of Sioux Lookout
DEVELOPMENT
SOURCING
ECONOMIC
LOGISTICS
CONSUMER
GOODS &
FOODS
EDUCATION
TRAINING
EMPLOYMENT
REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTRE
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE



In many ways, developing a co-operative business is a
lot like developing a traditional business.
Where things differ is that a co-op is shaped through
collective effort and group decision-making as well as a
set of co-operative principles that help to guide the
business.
This makes the business planning more complex, but it
also means the resulting corporation is stronger and
more likely to succeed.
Why start a co-op?.




You (and your organizing group) want to respond to a
need/challenge/opportunity in your community in a
democratic and sustainable way;
www.ontario.coop
http://cloverbeltlocalfoodcoop.com
http://www.foodbanksnorthwest.ca/

Sioux Lookout and
Big Trout are
important
transportation
hubs
Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug


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Sustainable Employment
Training Programs for Youth at Risk
Increase warehousing capacity
Avoid Expiration
Increase Security
Lower Costs
Healthy Choices
Quality Assurance
Consolidated Deliveries
Help In Emergencies

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KI (Big Trout Lake)
Lac Seul First Nation
Municipality of Sioux Lookout
Federation Canadian Municipalities
Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers
Lakehead University – Food Security Research Network “Mapping Local Foods
Systems in Northwestern Ontario”
Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre “Greenhouse Project”
Thunder Bay Economic Development Commission “Logistics Project”
Cloverbelt Local Food Co-op
On Co-op – The Ontario Co-operative Association
Advisors: FedNor and NOHFC
For more information, contact:
 Bruce Sakakeep, KI Director Economic Development
bsakakeep@gmail.com

Chris Angeconeb, Lac Seul Economic Development,
General Manager cangeconeb@lsfn.ca

Vicki Blanchard, Sioux Lookout Economic Development
Manager vblanchard@siouxlookout.ca
Q&A