Two wood paddles on a table with a black table top. The paddles have floral designs on the end. At the Asper School of Business.

Visionary Indigenous Business Excellence (VIBE) Awards

2024 nominations are now open

  • Woman holding framed certificate and award that looks like a dreamcatcher on an antler. She is wearing a dress and smiling.
  • Visionary Indigenous Business Excellence Award nominations are now open! 

    Do you know an Indigenous-led business that is innovating and making an impact in Manitoba? Are you an entrepreneur whose business fits this description? If so, we encourage you to nominate yourself or that business.

    Submit a nomination

    Nominations are due by 4:30 p.m. (CT), May 15, 2024.

    Or, download the VIBE nomination package (PDF).

VIBE recipients

Past Visionary Indigenous Business Excellence Award recipients.


Past recipients

2023

LA BRASSERIE NONSUCH BREWING CO.


LA BRASSERIE NONSUCH Brewing Co. has a strong sense of purpose that goes beyond crafting beer. Nonsuch was built on a mission to create experiences for everyone to savour, remember and cherish – from intimate gatherings to grand celebrations.

 

Nonsuch is a Métis-Francophone majority owned business led by President Matthew Sabourin. Since 2017, Matthew and the team at Nonsuch have worked to contribute to Manitoba’s Métis Francophone culture and envision a province richer in culture and more diverse, equitable, just, sustainable, inclusive and progressive.

The craft brewery has won more national beer and brewery awards than any other Manitoban brewery, and they earned the #2 spot on the Globe and Mail’s 2019 list of best new restaurants on the prairies. Beyond award-winning beverages and food, Nonsuch aims to inspire pride in their province, city and neighbourhood. They are actively involved in their community: fundraising for Main Street Project, working with the Exchange District Biz and partnering with the Winnipeg Foundation as well as joining Circles for Reconciliation, the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada and working with Métis Employment and Training (MET).

Sharing their name with the historic seventeenthcentury ship, Nonsuch hopes to honour the past as they strive to shape its future.

To visit La Brasserie Nonsuch Brewing Co.'s website, click the link below.


DREAMCATCHER PROMOTIONS


WITH A MISSION TO ELEVATE and amplify Indigenous voices, Dreamcatcher Promotions is Canada’s largest Indigenous owned promotional company. They offer organizations, First Nation communities and artists opportunities to create custom apparel and promotional items that suit their unique needs and voice.

CEO/Owner Michelle Cameron started Dreamcatcher as a home based business in 2012 from their home in Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Reserve. In the beginning, Michelle attended tradeshows, Pow Wows, and other similar gatherings in Manitoba and across Canada to build clientele personal and community connection. Today, the company operates out of Swan Lake First Nation Urban Reserve and fulfills contracts across Canada, employing more than 50 people, with a large percent being of Indigenous descent. In 2022, they designed a campaign called Home Fire as part of Every Child Matters, honoring Survivors of residential schools and is one of the largest orange shirt distributors in Canada. They are also active supporters of Drag the Red and Orange Shirt Day, advancing reconciliation through visibility and outreach.

From their work with Indigenous communities and First Nations (who make up 90% of their clientele) to their monthly feature of Indigenous artists through limited edition clothing collections, they have become a go-to promotional services provider for unique and authentic products that reflect their values and mission.

To visit Dreamcatcher Promotion's website, click the link below.

2022

At the 16th annual Visionary Indigenous Business Excellence (VIBE) Awards we celebrated Bloom + Brilliance and Shortline Moving Solutions on November 17, 2022 at the RBC Convention Centre.

Bloom + Brilliance

Is a queer, Indigenous, and intersectional feminist-led design agency. They build beautiful brands, websites and strategies for Indigenous and intersectional feminist entrepreneurs; organizations, and community leaders as they change the world.

Janelle and her team serve their clients by creating brand identity, stationery, social media and packaging design; informational, ecommerce websites, subscription, membership and online event websites; copywriting and SEO.

B+B believes that by channeling their passion, purpose, and power, women are uniquely positioned to effect positive change on individual, community and global scales.

To visit Bloom + Brilliance's website, click the link below.

Shortline Moving Solutions

Founded in 2015 by Alexander Hupe, with a single 5-tonne truck that would build the foundation of the business. With a dedication to honesty, integrity, and respect towards employees and customers, Shortline continues to grow and thrive.

Shortline prides itself in giving back to community. A cornerstone since inception, Alex and his team provide much needed service to charities around the city such as Willow Place and Main Street Project.

To visit Shortline Moving Solutions' website, click the link below.

2019

Our 2019 recipients are strong and vibrant Indigenous entrepreneurs who are invested in the wider Winnipeg community. We celebrated the 15th annual Visionary Indigenous Business Excellence (VIBE) Awards recipients, HUB Technology Solutions and BeYOUTee School, Factory & Bar on November 7, 2019 at the Fort Garry Hotel.

BeYOUTee School

Be●YOU●Tee Bar offers full service luxury salon experiences at its location in the Corydon Village area, specializing in makeup, hair, lash extensions, waxing, laser, and nail services. They also offer wedding and private party services.

Angie Zachary - owner and founder of Be●YOU●Tee – is a member of the Peguis First Nation and dedicates herself to giving back to the community. Over the years she has contributed time, make-up, and funds in support of The Dream Factory, Variety Club, Ronald McDonald House, and The Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba, The Aboriginal Film Festival.

Be●YOU●Tee regularly offers donates time and services to ensure that Indigenous women feel special and receive top-notch salon treatment for both Galentine’s Day at Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development’s (CAHRD) annual graduation ceremony.
 

HUB Technology Solutions

Through the years, HUB has grown from a modest two-person operation to a strong, dynamic organization with over 20 employees and more than 100 active clients throughout Manitoba, Canada, and the US.

Having lived and raised his family in Winnipeg, McLennan has deep roots in the community. McLennan believes in building strong relationships with clients, community, and his employees. HUB solutions offers employees’ paid personal time to volunteer for charitable organizations of their choice, supports the Christmas Cheer board, Winnipeg Harvest food drives, Bell Let’s Talk Day, Pink Shirt Day, and International Women’s Day, and supports employees with paid education programs. Further, HUB offers its employees paid education programs.

HUB has partnered with the Manitoba Métis Federation Employment and Training to bring the Red River Business Information Technology (BIT) program to the HUB team. McLennan is a proud member of the Métis Business Club and has been actively involved with the Winnipeg Métis Liberty Local, working on fundraising and raising awareness for youth bursary opportunities.

2018

Christa Bruneau-Guenther - Feast Café Bistro

Regan Greenwood -  Style Bar Boutique

2017

Noel Bernier - Hermanos Hospitality

Arrowhead Development Corp - Madison Petro-Canada

2016

Caralyn and Robert Rabichuk - Covert Logistics

Andréanne Dandeneau - Voilà par Andréanne

2015

Chief Peguis Investment Corporation

Connie and Robert Chartrand - Connie's Corner Café

2014

Métis Economic Development Organization

Sagkeeng Superstore


Beyond Excellence IBEP Alumni Business Award

Julie DesLauriers - EMOTiCOM Marketing

2013

Brenda Parsons - All Nations Print

Louis Champagne & Russ Rothney - Neechi Foods Co-op Ltd

2011

Chubb Chabot - L. Chabot Enterprises

E.J. Fontaine & Eva Wilson-Fontaine - Amik.ca

2008

Bernie Vermette - B. Vermette Back-Hoe SVC Ltd.

2007

Pat Turner - E.T. Development Ltd.

2006

Arnold Asham - Asham Curling Supplies

Our 2023 sponsors

We would like to thank our 2023 sponsors for their contributions in helping our students achieve their aspirations, while committing to celebrating Indigenous business excellence.

VIP Reception Sponsor


Event Partners


Corporate Table Partners

  • Asper School of Business
  • Clan Mothers Healing Village
  • CPA Manitoba
  • Indigenous Engagement and Communication
  • Louis Riel Capital Corporation
  • Ernst Hansch Construction Ltd.
  • First Peoples' Economic Growth Fund
  • Manitoba Hydro
  • Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation
  • Me-dian Credit Union
  • MNP LLC
  • The North West Company
  • Pollard Banknote
  • RBC Convention Centre
  • SHEanalytics

And a special thank you for Payworks, for sponsoring our students to attend.

V.I.P. Sponsor

Event Sponsors

Contact Us

Indigenous Business Education Partners
Room 374, Drake Centre
181 Freedman Cres.
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V4 Canada

204-474-7401