Construction began on the O'Chiese Truck Stop Site 2009

Philosophy is to create a successful, self-sustaining, long term operation that provides economic and employment opportunities that benefits the O’Chiese community.

Goals are to incorporate a business that we can be proud to own. We want a good image, efficient operations and a professional and fun atmosphere. Training, educating and employing our members is our first priority to achieving these goals.

Objectives are to build and provide a business with a strong foundation. We want this business to be successful and profitable.

Accountability: The Truck Stop operates under a Board of Directors: the Chief and Council, Beatrice Carpentier, and Cedric Whitford, Councilor is the Portfolio Head. Our direction comes from Chief Darren Whitford, Band Manager, Councilors, and our Community.

Truck Stop Development Project Synopsis

The following show a list of work our team has done over the past two and a half years:

Since being hired in June 2006, our team has been continually learning about being Entrepreneurs. We began in the summer of 2006 under the mentorship of Emil Owl Child, Consultant. He created the Truck Stop Business Plan, taught us about government business dealings and guided us through meetings. We began networking and researching funding opportunities and started looking for money for the project.

Important Meetings: We have had to attend many meetings to get where we are today. We have attended and presented to several different kinds of meetings for various organizations, agencies, businesses, municipalities, conferences, both federal and provincial meetings, etc. These meetings ensure consistent communication and accountability to the community, board of directors, Chief and Council, Band members, local governments (both federal and provincial) and funders.

WORK CARRIED OUT DURING 2007 WOW!

Find funding sources and adhere to their criteria usually required a Proposal, Business Plan and application form before they would be processed. These bureaucratic requests created an immense amount of paperwork, required expensive services and created funding deadlines. Ex. One federal request took 11 months to meet: the Land Designation and Referendum.

Obtain contractor quotes from 13 different corporations

Submitted 8 lengthy proposals (3 declined, 4 approved and 1 in process)

Adhered to over 14 different surveys and studies. This included working with several different companies such as surveyors, architects, environmental specialists, fuel reps, etc.

Creating Partnerships with the oil and gas industry which is ongoing

Incorporated the business, Legal name: O’Chiese Truck Stop Incorporated

Obtained Land Designation through a lengthy referendum process. Without land designation the process was at a standstill. (An 11 month process)

WORK CARRIED OUT DURING 2008 WOW!

Obtained grant money for architect and engineer as of March 31, 2008

Experienced delays:

• Partnership difficulties: Intermediate Gas Company and O’Chiese First Nation Partnership talks ceased; both parties disagreed on ownership percentage. O’Chiese chooses to begin a new partnership with other industry
• Engineer difficulties: Original engineer and O’Chiese had different visions regarding the project and terminated the arrangement. October 29, 2008 O’Chiese signs contract with a reputable engineering firm with a pre-design to be completed December 28, 2008

Obtain architect: Sherri Shorten Architect Ltd.

Obtain engineer: Barry Potter Engineering.

Site preparation: Clearing of the brush, raise ground level to prepare for fall 2009 construction.

Ensure adequate water supply for a restaurant done by Alken Basin Drilling

FUTURE PLANS FOR 2009: EXTREMELY BUSY!

More proposal writing, presentations, and meeting attendance

Architect to design 3D concept Architect will issue tender July 2009 so construction can begin September 2009.

Engineer design phase of infrastructure installations to ensure it is correctly built for infrastructure such as utilities, drainage, etc. and to ensure future expansion such as full serviced RV Site, tire shop, laundry, shower building, and market area

• Continue partnership negotiations to clearly define relationship and expectations
• Investigate different sewage disposal treatments, determine best location and ground conditions.
• Road accessibility for large trucks and meet Brazeau County highway requirements

Training: train staff for food safe, cashier training, customer service, first aid etc. To ensure the O’Chiese Truck Stop staff are adequately equipped to run a successful business. Please take your own initiative and do not hesitate to take these courses ahead of time. We know most of these courses are offered at NAIT, SAIT and other training institutions. You can gain access to funding through YTC and financial aid.

Ongoing projects: scrapbook, maps, images, information binder of entire project.

MAJOR SUCCESSES:

Received more than $400,000 towards our Truck Stop Project

• Over 19,000.00 dollars for Feasibility Study Report
• Over 12,000.00 dollars for Land Designation Information Meetings
• Over 322,000.00 dollars for Architect and Engineering
• Plus 50,000.00 dollars for Labour Skills Community Survey

We are on top of our Projects Budget and Project Status Reports.

Planning and holding a Referendum for our Land Designation which passed the first time around.

A Total OVER $400,000.00 we have garnered for our Nation.

Our Commitment: We will continue to seek funding sources. We will remain focused and work together. We will have a Truck Stop.

Our Truck Stop will provide quality services, while promoting opportunity to the O’Chiese membership. We will do this under the guidance of the O’Chiese cultural values and beliefs.

Our team believes in this project. We are committed to making sure this project is developed properly, helps get jobs for our people and create revenue for our community.

Conclusion: It has been a long road, there have been many barriers in the way of restrictions, and it has been hard work but we have met each requirement step by step and as you can see, we have made progress. Thus far, we have met all the government regulations, received four approved proposals totaling over $400,000.00 and anticipate receiving additional dollars from proposals in the works.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our Chief, Darren Whitford, our Council and our Community for their support and patience as we have been combating the bureaucratic barriers that have been set up. As we all know it takes time to build a business which will lead to jobs and opportunity. We are grateful to Chief and Council and the Community for standing by us and believing in this Project. We believe this business venture will create long term employability opportunities for its people.

Contact Tania Daychief, Senior Project Manager of O’Chiese Truck Stop.