At Black Diamond Group, we are very proud of our ability to foster long-lasting relationships in the communities where we live and work. Over the last 18 years, we have managed to sustain impressive partnerships with several Indigenous communities across Canada. 2020 marked two 10-year milestones for Black Diamond Dene and Black Diamond Cygnus.
“Indigenous relations is a core pillar of our organization, and these longstanding partnerships with West Moberly and Fort Nelson first nations are the result of respect, honour and hard work by all parties involved,” says Trevor Haynes, Chairman & CEO of Black Diamond Group. “We are extremely proud of these partnerships, what we have achieved together, and the friendships fostered along the way.”
Black Diamond Dene
On Jan. 10, 2020, Chairman & CEO and President, Trevor Haynes joined Fort Nelson First Nation to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their strategic business relationship. Black Diamond Dene was Black Diamond Group’s first Indigenous partnership and is still going strong.
The partnership began as a creative way to respond to the global interest in the Horn River Basin and its vast reserves of natural gas. Over the last 10 years, Black Diamond Dene has accomplished many significant milestones:
- Opening of Horn River Lodge
- Building, and operating several Lodges for Spectra, Encana, EOG, Enbridge and TC Energy. Through Black Diamond Dene, we have had in excess of 2,200 beds operating across the Horn River Basin
- Being awarded the partnership of the year by the BC Achievement Foundation in 2012
- In 2010, we hosted the Flames Alumni for the Black Diamond Leadership and Inspiration Day. The evening included a traditional drum prayer and tea dance as a reminder that “respecting our past will sustain our future.”
We look back on these milestones fondly and look forward to the accomplishment of so much more as our partnership continues.
Black Diamond Cygnus
On Thursday, October 21, 2010 our joint business with West Moberly First Nations, Black Diamond Cygnus, was filed with the B.C. Registrar Office. Together we have built a robust business that has provided immense benefits to all parties. Whether it be investing equipment at
Sunset Prairie Lodge or Rig Mats for Conoco, Black Diamond Cygnus continues to shine as a meaningful business partner.
Over the last decade, we have achieved a great deal together. Providing best-in-class service to oil and gas producers in the Montney region and establishing several lodges that are still operating today. Significant Black Diamond Cygnus accomplishments over the last 10 years include:
- Being a two-time recipient of the BC Aboriginal Business Award (2012 and 2017)
- Participating in West Moberly Days. Some highlights from the weekend-long event involve serving steaks at the kickoff BBQ lunch and hosting a youth golf clinic
- Opening the 252-bed Little Prairie Lodge in 2011. The lodge, which is fully operated and partially owned by Black Diamond Cygnus, features the comforts of home and conveniences of a hotel
- Opening the 658-bed Sunset Prairie Lodge in 2011, located between Dawson Creek and Fort St. John, B.C. The comfortable lodge, fully operated by Black Diamond Cygnus, boasts 24/7 security, private washrooms, key-card entry and satellite programming, so guests always feel safe and comfortable
- Opening the private, 700-bed Sukunka Lodge in 2019 to accommodate workers involved in the construction of the Coastal GasLink Pipeline
Although we have not been able to engage in an in-person celebration with our valued partners from the West Moberly First Nations, we look forward to coming together to commemorate 10 years in partnership, and many more to come.
“The mission of our Indigenous relations department in Black Diamond is to work in partnership with communities to build pathways to prosperity. Our goal is to create a network of trusted partners working harmoniously to enable communities to be better tomorrow than they are today. Our partnerships with Fort Nelson First Nation and West Moberly First Nations are examples of achieving that mission. It has been an honour to work with these communities over the past 10 + years and I look forward to working together for many more,” says Jonathan Stringer, VP Marketing and Community Relations.
We are very proud of our partnerships with these two Indigenous communities, all the achievements we’ve made thus far, and the promising future ahead of us. Here’s to many more years of success in partnership!
