Beauval Development Inc.

Formerly the Amisk Development Corporation, Beauval Development Inc. (BDI) was relaunched in 2014 to pursue economic development initiatives for the community of Beauval. The community had known about CCDF for some time and decided to reach out to the organization after the reestablishment of BDI to learn more about CCDF’s programs.

Beauval’s arena was destroyed by fire in 2011, and the community wished to pursue the development of a community centre to replace it. CCDF issued Community Business Development Program grants in 2015 and 2016, as well as a Métis Energy and Resource Program loan in 2015 for the project. The grant available through CCDF’s Community Business Development Program in particular made a significant impact on BDI’s ability to pursue this project; the community is not aware of any other organization that provides this type and level of support for community economic development projects.

Construction on the community centre was complete in 2016. The centre enables the community to host business and community events. It contains office space for BDI, space for GDI training, and a hall that is rented out as a source of revenue for the community. A take-out food service also operates out of the centre’s kitchen, which employs 2.5 FTE cooks; the community is looking at adding a part-time delivery position in the future. The new centre represents major progress toward economic improvement for the village.

The community feels the MCCS has put a spotlight on economic development, and that, in addition to capacity building, involvement in the initiative has enabled opportunities for networking, relationship building, and brainstorming of potential business ideas.

In 2017, CCDF launched MCCS, and Beauval was selected as one of the nine communities to participate in the pilot project. Since this time, BDI has worked closely with Matt Vermette from the Northern Research Group Inc. (NRG), CCDF’s primary consultant for MCCS delivery. CCDF and NRG have worked diligently alongside BDI to improve and enhance BDI’s operations, with activities completed to date including:

• Enhancing bylaws, governance, policies, and board composition
• Developing and updating a strategic plan
• Developing a website
• Developing an annual budget
• Developing internal accounting and investment procedures
• Administering financial statement analysis training for management
• Administering business governance training for the board and management
• Developing a corporate code of conduct
• Assisting in identifying and analyzing business opportunities

CCDF and NRG played a major role in the community’s recent acquisition of MDeez Confectionary. Support included initial analysis of the opportunity, business plan development, negotiation support, development of a letter of offer for purchase, and business transition advice. A loan and grant were also issued by CCDF in 2018 under the Community Business Development Program to support the purchase of the business.

Beauval is extremely happy with the assistance they have received and continue to receive from both CCDF and NRG. The community feels the MCCS has put a spotlight on economic development, and that, in addition to capacity building, involvement in the initiative has enabled opportunities for networking, relationship building, and brainstorming of potential business ideas. The “human component” of CCDF is important to BDI; the organization frequently interacts and brainstorms with CCDF. BDI has attended a number of networking and other events CCDF has informed the community of, developing significant relationships with other funders as well as exploring ideas in collaboration with others through these events.

This case study is a part of the Clarence Campeau Development Fund’s Independent Evaluation: 2014 – 2018 conducted by MNP LLP, which fully examined CCDF and its program offerings, including relevant aspects related to governance, management, operations, and achievement of outcomes. Each case study profiles the entrepreneur(s), the business idea, the role played by CCDF, and the outcomes achieved in a personal and meaningful way that provides the reader with real insight into the Fund.