THE LOWER NICOLA INDIAN BAND MAKES HISTORY TODAY AS IT
ESTABLISHES ITSELF AS A LEADING BUSINESS ENTITY IN BRITISH
COLUMBIA’S ENERGY SECTOR
July 25, 2018, Vancouver B.C. — Lower Nicola Site Services (LNSS), a limited partnership between the Lower Nicola Indian Band Development Corp. and Vancouver-based construction company, Infracon, announced today the purchase of Ogilvie Mountain Holdings.
Ogilvie Mountain Holdings is an established pipeline integrity and right-of-way management services company based in Hope, B.C.
“This is a real first for us. It’s going to create a lot of opportunity – to build capacity, create jobs and provide training, as well as to forge strong relationships with government, industry and other stakeholders, including neighbouring First Nations groups,” says Lower Nicola Indian Band Chief, Aaron Sumexheltza.
Recognized as an emerging leader in pipeline maintenance and right-of-way services, Ogilvie Mountain Holdings offers a full suite of services looped around pipeline integrity, maintenance and capital projects with a broad service territory that incorporates traditional Nlaka’pamux First Nation lands, including those of the Lower Nicola Indian Band.
As chair of the Lower Nicola Indian Band Development Corp., Chief Sumexheltza, who is a lawyer, will be taking an active leadership role in Ogilvie Mountain Holdings.
“Our mandate is to take a proactive, hands-on approach to ensure that our environment is cared for both now and for future generations. Our ownership of Ogilvie gives us an opportunity to take action, rather than just talk about it, while taking a leadership role in the energy sector,” says Chief Sumexheltza.
Chief Sumexheltza brings to the table a multi-faceted skill set. He holds degrees in both Law and Environmental Studies and sits on several environmentally focused boards.
Established in 2016 as a limited partnership between Infracon and LNIB Development Corp., Lower Nicola Site Services currently has various mining and construction projects ongoing in the Thompson/Nicola Valley. Ogilvie Mountain Holdings will be the partnership’s latest and largest business collaboration and acquisition.
“This is a historic acquisition in B.C.,” says Dennis Wilson, president and CEO of Infracon, adding that the LNSS partnership brings together diverse and powerful skill sets. “We believe that collaboration with First Nations, and their communities is crucial towards establishing economic, social and environmental wellness in Canada.”
Wilson says that the future vision for Ogilvie Mountain Holdings includes expanding its suite of clients and scope of services to include new pipeline construction and capital projects, as well as broadening the service territory. OMH’s client roster currently includes Kinder Morgan and Spectra-Enbridge.
“We are already in negotiations with new clients and are starting to move further north into the province,” says Wilson. “We look forward to growing the business and providing opportunities in the Nlaka’pamux region for current and future generations.”
ABOUT LNSS: Established in 2016 as a limited partnership between Infracon and LNIB Development Corp., LNSS takes a unique approach, which includes three key facets – training and employment, mentorship, procurement and social investment. Current and past projects include a three-year contract with Teck Highland Valley Copper to provide 65,000 tonnes of crush per year and to build the crusher backstop replacement, along with various construction projects with B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. Ogilvie Mountain Holdings will be the partnership’s fourth business collaboration.
ABOUT INFRACON: Infracon is a progressive, fully integrated construction service provider with offices in Vancouver, Merritt, Kamloops, Dawson Creek, Calgary and Saskatoon. It is committed to establishing and maintaining meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships with First Nations groups through partnerships, joint ventures, and working agreements. www.infracon.com
ABOUT THE LOWER NICOLA INDIAN BAND (LNIB): Part of the Nlaka’pamux Nation, the 1,250 member-strong LNIB is located in Lower Nicola, adjacent to Merritt, B.C. Its business arm – the LNIB Development Corp. has spearheaded several economic development ventures including Shulus Farms, Shulus Forest Enterprises and Lower Nicola Site Services. www.lnib.net