Toronto’s Indigenous develop plan for ICIE

By Madeline Fiore – Nov. 16, 2018

The City of Toronto is hosting an Indigenous Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ICIE) event on Friday at the First Nations House located on 563 Spadina Ave.

(RSJ/Kiernan Green)The Economic Development and Culture Division is looking to work with the local indigenous community to seek input from Indigenous entrepreneurs. The goal for this event is to help further develop the Indigenous Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Andrew Wesley, U of T Elder in residence said, “I’ve been here 18 years now and I see lots of growth in the Aboriginal community. Especially in the area of housing. I even see some businesses appearing that are run by Aboriginal people.”

According to a 2016 Environics survey of Indigenous business owners commissioned by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB),  Indigenous entrepreneurs have established businesses in every province and territory. These industries range from construction, manufacturing, retail, natural resources, and service sectors.

“We need a place to go and network – you know we do our networking events and things like that as a national organization,” said Paul-Emile McNab, CCAB Director, Business Development and Strategic Initiatives. “But really something to support the opportunities and challenges that an Indigenous business faces on a daily basis. I think it’s something that obviously we’ve put our full support behind.”

McNab also said how space and place are very special for Indigenous people especially a centre of innovation or Indigenous Business District.

Coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam (Ward 27 Toronto Centre-Rosedale) began a conversation in 2012 about the possibility of creating an Indigenous business and cultural district in Toronto.

According to an Urbanized article, Wong-Tam said “The ICIE will become a foundation and cornerstone for future Indigenous entrepreneurship in Toronto. I am pleased to champion this innovative initiative.”

 

(RSJ/Adrian Bueno)When presenting this innovation, she shows that Indigenous entrepreneurship and businesses in Canada are growing and expanding more than ever.

One of the points for this development is to Cultivate the components and accelerate the transformation of the Dundas St. corridor into a world centre for Indigenous innovation and leadership.

The ICIE will be located on 200 Dundas St. E., located at the northeast corner of Jarvis St. and Dundas St. The building is currently under construction and is hoped to be opened by end of 2019.  

The first two floors of 200 Dundas St East will be Canada’s first-ever Indigenous Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a 16,000 SF community hub space. View is looking west toward Jarvis Street on Dundas Street East. (C: courtesy of Councillors presentation)