Det’on Cho in acquisition mode

By Derek

The Det’on Cho Group of Companies, the economic development arm of the Yellowknives Dene First Nations, made several notable moves over the past year.

In February, Det’on Cho Management LP announced the acquisition of Kavanaugh Bros. Ltd., Yellowknife’s largest waste management company.

Det’on Cho purchased the Nunasi Building on 48 Street in Yellowknife as the company “continues to expand its commercial real estate management operations,” it stated in December.

Last October, Det’on Cho Management LP and subsidiary Det’on Cho We Le Dai LP, operators of the Vital Abel Boarding Home, announced that they had taken possession of the former 31-room Slave Lake Inn on Franklin Avenue in Yellowknife. The purpose of the deal was to move boarding home services to the former hotel from the Vital Abel Boarding Home in Ndilo.

Also in October, Det’on Cho assumed 100 per cent interest in Det’on Cho Logistics, buying out partners Rudolph Swanepoel, Stu Impett and Matt Mossman — the latter two individuals were involved since the company’s founding in 2009.

There was also a change in senior management announced in April as Det’on Cho Management LP president and CEO John Henderson stepped down as of May 1. He was succeeded by Mark Lewis, who had been chief operating officer for the company.

Inuvialuit Corporate Group

The Inuvialuit Corporate Group (ICG) announced in February that it had acquired

Inuvik’s Mackenzie Hotel as of Dec. 16, 2022.

“The purchase of the hotel can be attributed to the exponential growth of the Inuvialuit Corporate Group over the years, with more plans to build and expand its infrastructure and revitalize our Northern economy by putting money back into Inuvialuit communities,” the ICG stated, adding that it was working toward opening the hotel’s restaurant. “The goal is to provide employment opportunities for Inuvialuit beneficiaries and residents and to provide a family-friendly establishment that can be enjoyed by all.”

In its 2022 annual report, the Tlicho Investment Corporation (TIC) reported that 62 per cent of TIC staff were from the Tlicho region while 15 per cent were Northern Indigenous and 14 per cent were non-Indigenous Northerners compared to nine per cent of workers from the south.

The document contains highlights from the construction, motels, property management, engineering and environmental services, logistics, retail, power and road maintenance divisions.

Among the projects listed were completion of the Wekweeti Tlicho Government building, Tlicho Government staff housing phases three and four, Tlicho Highway construction completed and the route opened, Highway 3 chip seal repair, winter road construction and an upgrade at North Arm park.

The real estate and property management section made note of 100 commercial and residential properties within its portfolio.

TIC chair Eddie Erasmus, a former Tlicho grand chief, passed away in July 2022. Ted Blondin has been serving as interim chair.

BDIC

The Business Development and Investment Corporation’s five subsidiaries collectively produced $593,000 in sales in 2021-22.

The five subsidiary companies sustained the equivalent of 6.8 full-time jobs and helped support 53 artists and crafts-makers.

Fort McPherson Tent and Canvas led the way with $396,000 in sales and provided four jobs. Acho Dene Native Crafts in Fort Liard was next at $94,000 in sales, then Dene Fur Clouds Ltd. in Fort Providence at $59,000 while Ulukhaktok Arts Centre reported $44,000 in sales.

The BDIC made contributions of $250,000 to Fort McPherson Tent and Canvas, $110,000 to Ulukhaktok Arts Centre, $100,000 to Dene Fur Clouds and $50,000 to Acho Dene Native Crafts in 2021-22 for a total of $510,000.