Professional headshot photo services for

NAABA Certified Full Members

There's no denying the power of a professional headshot photo, and the need for a strong online visual presence for businesses. A professional head shot can be the starting point to telling a story about you, your business and your experience.

NAABA is pleased to offer Certified Full Members and their management teams the opportunity to have professional headshots taken on October 29, with a full day of time slots available with Moccasin Media with Nick Vardy. Come meet with Nick in a relaxed environment, where a picture tells a thousand words - which can be your business story.

Visit this link to view available time slots and sign up. The bookings are in 10-minute increments, with the first slot starting at 8:30 a.m. and running until 4 p.m. All taking place at the NAABA Office in downtown Fort McMurray, at 9917 Biggs Avenue. For more details, please reach out to programs@naaba.ca

Honouring Indigenous Veterans on November 8

Pictured above: Sergeant Tommy Prince (right), 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, with his brother, Private Morris Prince at an investiture at Buckingham Palace London, England, February 12, 1945. Photo: Christopher J. Woods / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada

First Nations, Inuit and Métis people have a long and proud tradition of military service in Canada. Indigenous Peoples have served in times of war and peace for more than 200 years since the War of 1812, World War I and II, the Korean War, to Afghanistan and right up to present day.

National Aboriginal Veterans Day was first observed in Winnipeg on November 8, 1994, and has since been observed nationwide - now known as Indigenous Veterans Day.

It was recorded that many Indigenous men brought valuable skills with them, such as patience, stealth and marksmanship. These skills were second-nature for individuals from communities where hunting was a cornerstone of life. These attributes helped many of these soldiers become successful snipers and reconnaissance scouts. There are also historical records with Indigenous soldiers translating sensitive radio messages into Cree to communicate with other Indigenous "code talkers." So messages could not be understood if intercepted by an enemy.

Despite their incredible bravery and personal sacrifices, Indigenous soldiers often faced significant challenges to serve in uniform, including learning a new language and adapting to cultural differences. Returning to Canada, many Indigenous veterans encountered unequal treatment in their post-service lives. Many status Indian soldiers had to become enfranchised before they could sign up to fight in the Second World War, which meant that when they returned to their home communities, they no longer had Indian status. They also did not have the right to obtain other benefits available to non-Indigenous veterans due to Indian Act restrictions.

Thank you to the thousands of Indigenous Veterans from across Turtle Island, both past and present. On November 8, we will honour you.

*Information referenced in this article is from Veterans Affairs Canada.

*Banner from Regina Public School website

Prime-location office space available for rent

Are you looking for the perfect place to grow your business? NAABA has spacious and modern offices available for rent, centrally located in downtown Fort McMurray.

Key Features:

• Convenient and central downtown location
• Competitive pricing
• Flexible lease terms
• High-speed internet and utilities included
• Meeting room** and shared kitchen facilities
• Parking space

Whether you're a startup or an established business, our space is designed to meet your needs. Please feel free to share with those in your network who might be interested, or email ed@naaba.ca for more information.

**Our large meeting room is also available for rent, with hourly and daily rates available. The perfect spot for team training sessions or off-site meetings.

Traditional Celebration of Achievement seeks support for upcoming year

The Traditional Celebration of Achievement (TCOA), is an annual event that was created by Irene Louttit, Julia McDougall and Father Mercredi Principal George McGuigan in 1997. The event was dedicated to celebrate the remarkable achievements of Indigenous Grade 12 graduates in the Wood Buffalo Region. It has grown to include Fort McMurray, Fort McKay, Fort Chipewyan, Anzac, Janvier, and Conklin, and is highly anticipated each year by graduates and their families.

The TCOA is more than just a ceremony; it's a vibrant celebration of cultural pride, resilience, and the promise of our youth. Each year, this significant event brings together Indigenous communities to honour and uplift our graduates, reinforcing their sense of accomplishment and empowering them for the future.

Sponsorship will not only contribute to the success of the TCOA but also demonstrate your commitment to supporting and celebrating our Indigenous youth. We believe that by coming together, we can create an event that honours our graduates and fosters a sense of unity and pride. This is what the 2025 TCOA event organizers had to say:

"We are reaching out to invite you to be a part of this meaningful occasion by sponsoring the Traditional Celebration of Achievement. Your support will play a crucial role in making this event a memorable and impactful experience for our graduates." Sponsor business logos will be featured on both the program and event slideshow.

"We look forward to the possibility of partnering with you to make this event a grand success and to celebrate the incredible achievements of our Indigenous graduates."



For more information, please contact TCOA.committee@gmail.com

Government survey seeks input from Employers

The Government of Alberta is developing a cross-ministry strategy to advance job attraction in Alberta. The strategy is aimed at raising awareness of skilled trades and professions in all sectors of the economy and their related pathways for education, apprenticeship and training. This work is intended to help support your recruitment and retention efforts. As a part of this strategy, we are conducting a province-wide Employer Survey to understand the constantly evolving workforce needs of employers in the province.

As a valued employer within our province, we are very interested in hearing about your experiences with staffing and your expectations for the future. Your input will be crucial to help us better understand any emerging gaps that exist within your sector and the provincial economy as a whole.

We kindly invite you to participate through the URL below: https://deloitte-survey.com/GoAEmployerSurvey 

This short survey will take approximately 15 minutes of your time. Please be assured that all your responses will be anonymous and kept strictly confidential.

The survey will be open between Monday October 7 to Sunday October 27, 2024.

If you have any questions or concerns about this survey, please contact:

GoA.EmployerSurvey@gov.ab.ca

Does your business or organization have news to share with NAABA members? Please send your Sharing Circle news to communication@naaba.ca to include in future e-newsletters.

Attention local Indigenous makers and artisans

NAABA would like to commission local artisans to create decorations for our Festival of Trees submission.

There are also opportunities for members to partner with NAABA on other tree additions. Please share this information with any local Indigenous artisans you may know. For more information please reach out to programs@naaba.ca

Willow Lake Métis Nation and Fort McMurray #468 First Nation are partnering to host the Career Exploration Fair: Discover and Connect.

To be held on October 17 at the Anzac Rec Centre. Click here to learn more.