Tipi Mountain Aboriginal Business of the Year in BC

Michael Keefer (centre) and employee Teresa Nelson of Tipi Mountain.

Michael Keefer, owner of Cranbrook-based, Tipi Mountain Native Plants was recently awarded with a citation as a BC Aboriginal Business Awards Achiever—Business of the Year—ten or more person enterprise.

Tipi Mountain Native Plants of Cranbrook is focused on providing local native plant material to British Columbia's varied ecosystems. It grows over 80 different species and propagates its stock from locally collected seed plants.

Tipi Mountain is at the leading edge of the upsurge in commercial and social interest in using native plant species. It has created an excellent community based training program in native plant horticulture and collaborates with other First Nations to share knowledge.

The British Columbia Aboriginal Business Awards were presented by The British Columbia Achievement Foundation, an independent foundation established and endowed by the Province of British Columbia in 2003 to celebrate excellence and achievement in British Columbia and Canada. These awards celebrate the accomplishments of the province's Aboriginal business sector and its contribution to the economy of British Columbia.

These awards honour business acumen in six categories. An independent jury of Aboriginal business experts review the nominations and select the recipients in accordance with the awards' criteria.

All Aboriginal businesses and entrepreneurs in British Columbia were eligible for these awards. Whether a small business owner or a sole proprietor running a home-based business, managing a large staff of a community-owned enterprise or creating opportunities through a joint venture agreement, or growing a business from the ground up as an entrepreneur, these awards recognize and celebrate business achievements.

Congratulations to Michael Keefer and his staff at Tipi Mountain.