On Sept. 12, the BC Achievement Foundation announced the recipients of its 15th annual highlighting the accomplishments of Indigenous businesses, entrepreneurs, and partnerships across the province.
Two of this year’s height recipients are from the Valley.
One of them is Comox’s Marcia Turner, the sole owner of Daxgedim Haanak Nation Building, who won the one-to-two-person enterprise award.
Serving as an Indigenous leader within her community, Turner places her efforts on promoting the autonomy and self-governance of First Nations communities in B.C. and beyond.
Courtenay’s Erin Brillon, the leading force behind Totem House Design, has also earned a place on this year’s list of winners, hers in the category of enterprises with three to 10 employees.
An entrepreneur, designer, creator and author, Brillon has dedicated herself over the last years to the growth of her business.
Fulfilling her dream of collaborating on a clothing line featuring her brother’s Haida designs, Brillon single-handedly designed, produced, marketed and administrated every aspect of the business thus far.
Through her work, Brillon has been actively involved in non-profit empowerment work, particularly through Copper Legacy - an initiative that focuses on uplifting First Nations communities through cultural revitalization, art development, wellness, and sustainability.
The recipients of the 2023 Indigenous Business Award will be recognized during a formal gala ceremony at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver on Nov. 1. The event is open to the public, and tickets can be purchased for $250 per person online at
The Record reached out to both Turner and Brillon for reaction on their awards but did not hear back before press deadlines.
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